Choosing a Sweetener

• Natural sweeteners still contain calories, but they are usually much healthier for the body than refined white sugar. There are many choices for natural sweeteners, so the first step in making healthy cookies is to choose which natural sweetener to use. Agave nectar is harvested from agave plants; it has a low glycemic index and is a good choice for diabetics. Concentrated fruit syrups, such as apple syrup, are made from reducing fruit juices to a thicker consistency; they are sweet and retain the flavor of the fruit. Brown rice syrup is made from a combination of barley malt and brown rice; it has a consistency like honey and a flavor similar to caramel. Stevia is a natural sweetener that comes from the herb of the same name; it has no calories.
  
  

Converting Recipes

• One way to work with natural sweeteners in order to create healthy cookies is to convert recipes that use refined sugar and substitute a natural sweetener.
  Look for recipes that have more healthy ingredients, such as whole wheat flour, oats, dried fruits, and nuts, rather than depending on refined flour and sugar as the sole base of the recipe. Figuring out how much to substitute is somewhat a matter of trial and error, though there are guides available. See Resources below for a link.
  
  

Using Natural Sweetener Recipes

• Cookbooks that focus on using whole foods, and websites of the same nature, may offer healthy cookie recipes that call for natural sweeteners. There's no substituting needed in this case; it's simply a matter of choosing the most healthful recipes, that is, the ones with the least processed ingredients and, usually, the least amount of fat. The recipes can then be made according to the instructions with the natural sweeteners as they are called for in the recipe.