Healthy Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies

Published by:
Liz Marino
| 12/22/2019 | Last Updated: 12/05/2025

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These Healthy Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies are the perfect nutritious, on-the-go breakfast! Gluten free, dairy free, low in sugar and so yummy!

A plate of gingerbread breakfast cookies with a red checked linen off to the side

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my policy and more about affiliate links. This post was originally shared in February of 2017 but has since been updated. 

Cookies… for breakfast? Yep. It can be done. Our Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies and Banana Breakfast Cookies were such a hit that it was only right to make a healthy gingerbread breakfast cookie!

There’s nothing better than a healthy, portable breakfast that tastes great – and these gingerbread breakfast cookies are just that! They’re also made with super affordable, simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand, and are SO yummy.

Basically, they’re amazing.

A hand with red nails holding up a gingerbread breakfast cookie

Why We Love Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies

There are a few reasons why we LOVE these breakfast cookies

  • Portable – Think oatmeal.. but in grab + go form
  • Low Sugar – These have 4g of sugar per cookie, which is super minimal
  • Delicious – They taste festive while not being loaded with sugar and calories
  • Easy to make – SO simple to make. These are the perfect recipe to get your kids in the kitchen, or to make for yourself quickly!

We love ALL the cookies that are around this time of year, but we especially love these healthier breakfast cookies!

If you’re looking for other holiday recipes check out our Peppermint Mocha Muffins and these Healthy Christmas Recipes!

Here’s how to make them:

Ingredients for Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies:

To make these cookies you’ll need:

You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded box.  

Ingredients for gingerbread breakfast cookies on a grey background.

(You can ignore the baking powder in the photo- this is an old photo and it’s not necessary – just follow the recipe!)

A Silpat baking sheet and baking sheet are also needed, or parchment paper!

How to make gingerbread breakfast cookies:

These breakfast cookies are definitely one of our more simple recipes.

All ingredients for gingerbread breakfast cookies in a bowl before mixing.
  1. Add all your ingredients in a bowl
Healthy Gingerbread Breakfast Cookie Dough in a bowl.
  1. Mix together until combined
Unbaked Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  1. Drop onto a parchment lined baking sheet + bake!

After a short time in the oven, you’ll have gingerbread breakfast cookies ready to be enjoyed and your entire house will basically smell like Christmas!

Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies on a white plate with a red checked linen off to the side.

These are perfect for a cold winter morning with a Healthy Gingerbread Latte or cup of hot chocolate. They’re just festive enough to satisfy that craving, without being loaded with sugar.

Can you use quick cook or steel cut oats in this recipe?

No, unfortunately, you can’t use quick cook or steel cut oats to make these healthy breakfast cookies.

Quick cook oats can get too mushy when mixed with these ingredients as they are often smaller and less hearty than old fashioned oats.

With steel cut oats, they can’t soak up the ingredients and cook in time. They need to be cooked for much longer over with heat to make them edible. You’ll wind up with a mess unless you use old fashioned oats.

How to store gingerbread breakfast cookies:

You can store these gingerbread oatmeal cookies in the refrigerator in an airtight container. These breakfast cookies will last a week or so in the fridge, and a few months in the freezer!

They definitely hold their flavor/shape well – so go ahead and double the batch!

a close up of healthy gingerbread breakfast cookies on a white plate.

SUBSTITUTIONS FOR BREAKFAST COOKIES

These cookies are pretty versatile. Here are a few ways you can customize them!

OilYou can sub in olive or avocado oil for coconut oil.

Molasses – You really can’t sub molasses in this recipe. It might work if you use maple syrup, but it will not have that gingerbread flavor.

Gluten Free- You can use gluten free old fashioned oats if you need to make this recipe gluten free.

Muffins – If you love these flavors, try our Healthy Gingerbread Muffins!

A plate of gingerbread breakfast cookies with a red checked linen off to the side

Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies

Recipe by: Liz Marino
5 from 3 votes
These Healthy Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies are the perfect nutritious, on-the-go breakfast! Gluten free, dairy free, low in sugar and so yummy!
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 15 minutes
Total Time : 20 minutes
Serves : 12 cookies
(hover over # to adjust)

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 + prepare a lined cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat liner.
  2. In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients.
  3. Add in wet ingredients + stir until everything is mixed
  4. Drop cookie dough by one tablespoon balls on the baking sheet.
  5. Bake for 15 minutes + allow to cool.
  6. Store in an airtight container + enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Share it! Make sure to tag @thecleaneatingcouple or use #thecleaneatingcouple!
5 from 3 votes

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Recipe Rating




19 Comments

  1. What can I use in place of the coconut oil?

    1. All of our blog posts have a green substitutions box where we cover this 🙂 You can sub in olive or avocado oil for coconut oil.

  2. 5 stars
    Absolutely LOVE these cookies! Delicious, easy, and most important…healthy! So glad I came across this recipe!

    1. Yay! So glad you all enjoyed them Marlene. Thank you so much for trying!

  3. Janna Colaizzi says:

    5 stars
    These sound awesome! No sugar and no flour, I can’t wait to make them 😃

  4. Anon due to computer says:

    Hi. Can you please tell me if you can use blackstrap molasses in this recipe and have it taste the same?
    Thank you.

    1. The Clean Eating Couple says:

      No. blackstrap molasses is very bitter. It’s not to be used for baking.

  5. These look delicious! I’m curious if you’ve ever tried these with pumpkin instead of applesauce and had success? Sounds like a delicious fall treat!!

  6. Ann Flanagan says:

    5 stars
    i made these cookies for a welcome breakfast for a new co worker. They were a huge hit for everyone, especially for a cookie in the morning. Everyone commented about how they weren’t too sweet for a cookie and they loved the ginger flavor. I used ground ginger and it was a perfect amount of ginger; not too overpowering. They were also much quicker to make than expected and I had nothing left to bring home. I will definitely make these again towards the fall and into winter. Thanks for this recipe idea for healthy morning cookies!

  7. In the picture there is something white in the bowl with the cinnamon and ginger but it’s not listed in the recipe. What is it?

    1. The Clean Eating Couple says:

      You can ignore that! That was an older photo. I’ve since modified the recipe and that ingredient isn’t necessary. Thanks!

  8. Hey, these look delicious. Do you use fresh or ground ginger?

    1. The Clean Eating Couple says:

      Hi Nadine- These use ground ginger. Hope you give them a try!

      1. -I expect minced candied ginger would be pretty good on this recipe, too, though it would increase the sugar content.

        1. The Clean Eating Couple says:

          I’m sure it would be great! Feel free to give it a try!

  9. Eva Geier says:

    Making these for Caroline 🙂 🙂

    1. The Clean Eating Couple says:

      Yay!! I bet she will love them 🙂