Wake UP’s Clean “Sugar” Cookie Recipe

Pillsbury is always on top of their seasonal marketing game with their sugar cookies. You know the ones with the snowmen, Christmas trees, pumpkins, etc. If your kids see them on the shelf, there’s a high chance that they’ll be begging you for some, and at least one of the packages will end up in your shopping cart.

Kids can be really great negotiators, but before you give in so easily, do us a favor and read the ingredients. They’re alarming and not good for your kids. Let’s review just a few reasons why.

What’s in Pillsbury Seasonal Sugar Cookies?

We preach the importance of reading the ingredients here at Wake Up and Read the Labels. Way too often we’re persuaded into thinking something is healthy or not as bad for you as another option, but many times, it’s actually worse! Let’s read the ingredients in the Pillsbury Christmas Tree Seasonal Sugar Cookie, shall we?

Holy moly, these ingredients are NOT good. The only ingredients that are okay seem to be water, eggs, baking powder, and salt. The rest are doing nothing to help your kiddos. 

Enriched Wheat Flour

Oh, look! They’ve added vitamins to the flour, so it has to be healthy, right? In this case, it’s quite the opposite. We wrote in detail how bad enriched wheat flour is for you. In simple terms, the wheat is stripped of all vitamins and nutrients, and when consumed, it breaks down like sugar in your body. There’s nothing nutritional about it.

Canola Oil

Canola oil comes from the canola plant, which was bred by genetic modification from the rapeseed plant. It is highly refined and processed, and studies link it to chronic inflammation and many other diseases. Since it comes from a plant, it can also be considered a vegetable oil. 

Artificial Flavor

Artificial flavors can be summed up into just being a bunch of unnecessary added chemicals. Many of them are banned in other countries because of the health risks associated with them. Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, and Azodicarbonamide are just a few examples of additives that are banned in other countries, but allowed in the United States. 

Food Dyes

These added food colorings are in so many of the products that we consume, and it’s a real shame. Studies link artificial food dyes to ADHD, asthma, depression, and even tumor growth. Even with this information, products that are heavily marketed to children are full of these chemical additives.

Just Say No To Pillsbury Sugar Cookies

Do your kids a favor and say no to these cookies. We have to advocate for their health because the food industry sure isn’t doing anything to help. They’re looking to put your money in their pockets despite whatever their products are doing to your kids. 

With ingredients like these, there are too many health risks involved. Some may be immediate, and some may not show up until later in life.

Cheap ingredients = unhealthy products = more money for big food companies. Don’t give in! Your kids need your support.

“Sugar” Cookies made with Real Ingredients

Just because you say no to the Pillsbury Seasonal Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies, it doesn’t mean that you and your kids can’t enjoy a yummy treat! Give these simple, quick two ingredient cookies a try.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Almond Flour
• ½ cup Pure Maple Syrup

Frosting

• 1 can Coconut Cream
• 2 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions

Frosting

• It’s best if you can refrigerate your coconut cream for at least 12 hours before making your frosting.
• Once the coconut cream has chilled and you’re ready to frost your cookies, add the coconut cream, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl.
• Beat on high with a mixer until the texture is fluffy and smooth.
  
  

Wake UP’s Clean Sugar Cookies

• Preheat your oven to 325 ̊ F.
• In a large bowl, add the flour and pure maple syrup. Mix together until it becomes a dough consistency. If needed, add a little more maple syrup (1 tbsp) to keep it moist.
• Place the dough on unbleached parchment paper and wrap tightly and put in the freezer for about 12-15 minutes.
• Remove from the freezer and unwrap the dough. Place the dough on a flat counter surface, and then place another sheet of unbleached parchment paper on top. 
• Roll out the dough until it’s about ½ inch thick.
• Using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out cookie shapes. If your cookie cutter is sticking to the dough, have a bowl of water handy to dip it in between each use.
• Place the cut cookies about 2 inches apart on one of your sheets of unbleached parchment paper, and add to a large baking sheet. 
• If you have leftover dough, simply repeat the process and continue cutting more cookies until all the dough has been used. 
• Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes. If your cookies are thicker, they might take a little longer. Check throughout to ensure they do not burn.
• Once the cookies are golden brown, remove the baking sheet from the oven and place cookies on a cooling rack.
• Let the cookies cool completely, and then frost them with the clean, delicious frosting.
• Serve and enjoy!

Watch this video for a tutorial on how to make these delicious, two ingredient “sugar” cookies!

Teach Children The Importance Of Healthy Eating

While your kids may not be ready to hear “no” when it comes to getting rid of their favorite foods that contain these harmful ingredients, it’s also important to teach them the reasons why.

Listen to Wake Up and Read the Labels podcast episode, Teaching Kids to Find Power in Their Food with Haley Scheich, for even more ways to help your kids choose a healthier path. 

Haley dealt with overcoming her own health issues, and she wanted to make sure she was teaching her children this important information, too. She and her husband wrote a book, My Super Hero Foods, to help other parents and kids learn the power of clean eating.

Listen to the podcast, and check out their book! We owe it to our kids and their future.