12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (2024)

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ByAmy Roskelley

The best treats from around the internet, homemade recipes for low calorie cookies!

Substituting healthier ingredients, and limiting the size of the cookies can reduce calories, help you eat better and still eat your favorite treats!

If you didn’t know this about me yet, I’m crazy for cookies! So much that I have a secret Instagram account, dedicated to local gourmet bakery cookies. But, of course, I also have a healthy side, and when I can eat cookies, and still stay on track for my goals, it’s definitely a WIN-WIN!

This list is the best low calorie cookies I’ve found online. It’s kind of a pet peeve of mine that recipes labeled healthy cookies can often be so high in calories, or when recipes don’t list the calories at all. Nut butters and coconut oil is both for sure healthy, but when you are eating a cookie… or 3, those calories can really add up quickly!

Hacks for Low Calorie Cookies

One of the easiest ways to reduce calories is to limit the ingredients that are high in fat. With 9 calories per gram of fat, it’s the first thing I look at.

Substitutes that can limit the calories via the fat include:

  • Substitute an egg for egg whites.
  • Sub out regular butter for light butter.
  • If the recipe calls for nuts, just cut it in half. It’s not necessary to to sub it or replace it.
  • Yogurt could be subbed for sour cream.
  • Substitute a fruit puree (like applesauce) for oils.
  • Powdered peanut butter can replace regular peanut butter with some experimenting.

Substitutes that can limit calories via carbs and sugars include:

  • Using sugar substitutes like Monk Sugar. This has worked well for me in baking. Takes hundreds of extra calories for the recipe, down to ZERO!

Size Matters- #AMIRIGHT?

Let’ be honest. Anyone on the internet can make a “low calorie” cookie if they make the cookies small enough. If I could weigh them all, I would. Because, by weight, many cookies are very close in calories. However, this is also good news. Because you could.

Low Calorie Cookie Recipe List!

1) World’s Healthiest Chocolate Chip Cookies { 6 calories }

Clearly, to make these low calorie chocolate chip cookies 6 calories, you are going to be portioning out the dough into teeny tiny cookies. However, overall the recipe is quite low in calories! The author says if you make them bigger, they are still only 15 calories each. A total calorie bargain!

12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (1)

2 ) Low Fat Peanut butter cookie {60 calories}

This indulgent peanut butter cookie recipe from The Diet Chef is the bomb! He uses peanut butter powder, which I LOVE for making the cookies low in fat. He also lowers the fat by using applesauce. Check out the ingredients list and directions here.

12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (2)

3 ) Low Calorie Thin Mint Cookies {43 Calories!}

43 calories everyone for this Copycat Thin Mint Cookie!! Seriously, do these not at least LOOK amazing? To be fair, regular packaged thin mints are the same amount of calories, but this recipe is not only healthier, but you don’t have to wait till cookie season to get your fix. I’m drooling. For real. I love Amy’s Healthy Baking blog. If you aren’t following her, you must!

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4) Soft Sugar Cookies {68 calories each and 2 smart points}

I found this site via Pinterest. A Weight Watchers recipe blog called the Pound Dropper. These sugar cookies look so delicious! She replaces full calorie sugar with the Monk Sugar I mentioned above. Great choice for these low calorie sugar cookies!

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5) Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Cookies {68 calories}

From Skinny Fitalicious, these cookies have only 68 calories! Made with yogurt, egg whites, and gluten free flour, you will want to save this recipe!

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6) Orange Sugar Cookie {50 calories}

Of course I needed to include some of my own low calorie cookies. I mean, I wouldn’t make them if I didn’t love them already! So first up from my Health Beet blog is these Orange sugar cookies. I used light butter for these, but could have further reduced calories with a sugar substitute!

7) Lemon Shortbread Cookie {71 Calories}

Mmm. I could eat these every day. Taste like shortbread and lemon. So fresh and perfect for spring! These low cal lemon cookies are made with light butter, and you would never even notice!

8) Maple Oatmeal Cookie {39 Calories}

It seems I have a handful of cookies that I only posted to Instagram. I do intend to give them all a proper home on the blog, but until then, I give you- the Maple Oatmeal Cookie! Sweetened with zero calorie maple syrup! Grab the recipe on my instagram here.

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9) The Peanut butter Macaroon {31 calories}

I call it a macaroon, because I whipped up the egg whites till fluffy like a macaroon. So, the final lightened up peanut butter cookie is a crispy, light, and delicious peanut butter treat! This one is a must try!

10) The Meringue Cookie {35 calories}

Meringue cookies (even the storebought ones) are incredibly low in calories! Plus, the egg whites give these low calorie cookies a nice boost of protein. Meringue cookies take some practice, but once you master it, you’ll be glad you did!

11) Coconut Macaroon {62 calories}

And finally, Coconut macaroons! This cookie is a miracle considering coconut is so high in calories, yet it’ displaced by the fluffing up of the egg whites, giving you a lot of volume for very few calories! Mmmm.

12) Kodiak Chocolate Cookies {20 calories}

These could possibly be my favorite cookie, just based on how simple they are! Chocolate Kodiak mix and Greek yogurt. That’s it! Grab the details here.

Oh man.. are you ready to start baking?? I know I am! I can’t wait to try some of these. For me, it helps knowing how many calories I’m getting in for, before I start baking. Hopefully this post is able to help you too!

12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (19)
12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (20)
12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (21)

If you like this, you might also like

  • The Best Low Calorie Bread for 2022
  • Sugar Free Sugar Cookies! Only 44 calories
  • Low Calorie Peanut Butter Cookies
  • 85 Calorie Protein Peanut Butter Cookies

12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (22)

Amy Roskelley

Hi! I'm Amy Roskelley, a health & fitness professional and the owner of Health Beet website and blog. I have a Bachelors of Science in Community Health from BYU. Masters of Business (University of Utah) Certified Personal Trainer (ACE), RRCA Running coach, Certified Personal Chef (IAP), and Certified as a Nutrition & Wellness Consultant (AFPA), Certified Mind, Body, Eating Coach. (IPE).
I'm the creator of many low calorie recipes author of weight loss books. Mother of 3, runner, and NPC Fitness competitor.

12 Best Low Calorie Cookie recipes! (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest cookie to eat? ›

10+ Healthy Cookies That You Can Eat Every Day
  • No-Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies. ...
  • Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies. ...
  • Flourless Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies. ...
  • Flourless Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. ...
  • Healthy No Sugar Banana Cookies. ...
  • Flourless Oatmeal Cookies With Chocolate Chunks. ...
  • 10-Minute Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Cookies.
Nov 2, 2021

Can I eat oatmeal cookies on a diet? ›

Both whole grain oats and raisins are a good source of fiber. The presence of whole grain oats will also help you stay fuller longer. That said, oatmeal raisin cookies are still cookies with higher butter and sugar content than other snacks, so they should only be considered a healthy snack in moderation.

How many calories are in homemade cookies? ›

Calories in cookies that you bake at home can be harder to calculate because there is quite a bit of variation in the ingredients used and in the size of each cookie. In general, however, a homemade chocolate chip cookie is likely to provide about 75 calories and 4.5 grams of fat.

Can you eat cookies while trying to lose weight? ›

Baked sweets

Regularly eating foods like cookies, cakes, and pastries can make weight loss difficult. They're often high in calories, sugar, and saturated fat. And large quantities of these foods aren't good for our health. You don't have to completely cut baked sweets from your diet.

Will 3 cookies ruin my diet? ›

While one cookie a day isn't going to completely derail your diet goals, it's often easy to eat more than one at a time, and soon enough, downing quite a few cookies throughout the day could lead to unwanted pounds.

Is a banana better than a cookie? ›

Although bananas are a better choice than cookies, they are probably not the best fruit option. No single food has a magical power to make you lose weight. Success lies in having a balanced diet and picking foods that avoid big blood sugar spikes, which can make you hungry again soon after eating them.

Can homemade cookies be healthy? ›

Additionally, you can increase the nutritional value of homemade cookies by substituting ingredients, such as refined sugar and white flour, for healthier alternatives. You can also add nuts, oats, or dried fruit to your chocolate chip cookie for a protein and antioxidant boost.

What is the world's Favourite cookie? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co. But did you know Oreos are a copycat product?

Are Nilla wafers healthy for weight loss? ›

While vanilla wafers may be tasty, they are not the healthiest snack option. They typically contain high amounts of sugar, calories, and carbohydrates. It is recommended to consume them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

Are Quaker oats cookies healthy? ›

Each serving gives you energy with wholegrain oats, protein and fiber. Now that's a treat you can feel good about. The cookie you love gets a healthy Quaker twist. Each serving gives you energy with wholegrain oats, protein and fiber.

How many calories are in 2 oatmeal cookies? ›

Oatmeal cookies, homemade (2 each - approx 2 5/8" diameter) contains 20.9g total carbs, 20.1g net carbs, 4.7g fat, 1.8g protein, and 131 calories.

How many calories should I eat to lose weight? ›

In order to lose at least a pound a week, try to do at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days, and reduce your daily calorie intake by at least 500 calories. However, calorie intake should not fall below 1,200 a day in women or 1,500 a day in men, except under the supervision of a health professional.

Why are cookies so high in calories? ›

Cookies and doughnuts often contain high amounts of sugar, refined flour, and fat. They're also typically high in calories. For example, 1 large chocolate chip cookie can contain more than 220 calories, while a single glazed doughnut packs over 300 calories ( 20 , 21 ).

How many required calories per day? ›

Daily calories

As a guide: an average man needs 2,500kcal a day. an average woman needs 2,000kcal a day.

Can you eat cookies on a low fat diet? ›

Choose whole-grain breads, cereals, pastas and rice. Avoid high-fat snack foods, such as granola, cookies, pies, pastries, doughnuts and croissants.

Are Girl Scout cookies low fat? ›

Shortbread and trefoils: They were the lowest in calories per cookie (30 and 32 calories, respectively), and lowest in saturated fat and added sugars. Thin mints: They have just 40 calories a cookie and only slightly more saturated fat and added sugars than No.

Are sugar-free cookies less fattening? ›

A: Switching to sugar-free cakes and sweets is unlikely to lead to much, if any, weight loss. Sweeteners used in these products usually include a sugar alcohol, such as maltitol or sorbitol, which are not zero-calorie, but about half the calories of sugar.

What are some low calorie sweets? ›

Low calorie sweet snacks
  • Fresh fruit is great for a low calorie snack. ...
  • Ghirardelli Dark & Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Squares. ...
  • Nature's Bandits Organic Fruit and Veggie Stix. ...
  • Sunmaid Raisins Mini-snacks. ...
  • Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses with Almonds. ...
  • Enlightened Frozen Hot Cocoa.
Jul 21, 2021

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