MOCHA THUMBPRINTS

So with the holidays fast upon us, I'm thinking about what baking (if any) I'll do this Christmas season. I grew up in a home where there were ice-cream pails upon ice-cream pails stacked up in our basement, labeled with every sort of Christmas cookie you could think of, so that when company came over (or for an after-dinner treat), my mom would make the most beautiful assorted cookie plate you'd ever seen. 

Since trying to keep things a little bit on the healthier side during the holidays, I've also cut way back on my baking, and have been experimenting with making them clean eating...but this Mocha Thumbprint cookie is our family favorite, and Christmas just isn't complete without making at least a double or triple batch.

Mocha Thumbprints

So here's the goodness of Mocha Thumbprints, some day I'll have to change up the recipe and health-ify it :) But for now, here's the original. Enjoy! 

INGREDIENTS: 

Makes: 3 1/2 Dozen cookies

Prep: 20 minutes

Bake: at 350 degrees, for 12 minutes

2 1/4 C. All Purpose Flour

1 Tbsp. Freeze-dried Coffee Crystals (such as Folgers)

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/2 C. (one stick) Plus 2 Tbsp. butter, softened

1 C. Sugar

1 Egg

2/3 C. Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

2 Tbsp. Corn Syrup

1 Tbsp. Kahlúa

2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk flour, coffee crystals and salt. Set aside. 

2. In a second bowl, beat together 1/2 c. of the butter, sugar and egg until smooth, about 2 minutes. Beat in flour mixture until just combined. Knead in bowl if necessary to bring dough together. 

3. Form dough into balls, using about 2 tsp. each. Place on ungreased baking sheets and make an indentation in the center of each with thumb. 

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes until set. Press down indentations if needed. Remove from baking sheets to wire rack and let cool. 

5. In a microwave-safe bowl, add remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, chocolate chips and corn syrup. Microwave on HIGH for 1 to 2 minutes, stir until smooth. Stir in liqueur and vanilla. Let cool slightly. Place in resealable plastic food storage bag and snip off a small corner. Fill indentation of each cookie with chocolate. Let cookies set up at room temperature. 

ENJOY!!! 

If I'm like most people, I hate feeling deprived, or eliminating foods entirely from my diet long term...so instead I practice everything in moderation.  Keep going with your normal fitness routine, and think of the 80/20 rule... Save up for that once per week treat so that it doesn't completely derail your health goals!

So what are my top tips for staying on track with your nutrition over the holidays?

1 - Save up for one cheat per week. Everything in moderation. When you know you are not restricting yourself, but you have that one designated day each week to allow yourself a dessert of your choosing, it can help you keep your discipline and avoid temptations the other 6 out of 7 days.

2 - Think of you making them for someone else as a gift (which most of mine are for the kids, neighbor, the elderly, or family cookie exchange. You can even package them all up in advance in plastic wrap, bow, add a name tag, so that you know they are already spoken for. Then get them out of the house in a safe place. Ours go in the garage in ice cream pails until we are ready to dish them up on special occasions, for company, or to deliver!

3 - Have a distraction when you are baking so that you don't snitch them off the cooling rack during baking. I always have a Shakeology treat handy to sip on, a glass of wine, cup of tea, or some cut veggies and hummus. That way if I'm tempted to grab something, I go for what I have set aside for myself, and not the cookies.

4 - I think about how far I've come with my progress and health goals, and recognize a few things. I know that when i eat sugar, my body craves more sugar, putting me in a downward spiral. So it's smarter for me to stay away. I also remember how my body responds to cheats like cookies and other baked goods. I feel bloated, tired, irritable... for a normal person who can have only one and walk away, probably not a biggie. But me, knowing myself as mentioned earlier, it's hard for me to walk away after just one.

5 - If you know yourself, and know you will have a really hard time with it, wait till the last possible day to do your baking and recruit your kids to help you so it gets done. Sometimes no matter how strong you think you can be and stay away, your favorites call your name and you just have to snitch! One year I asked each of my kids and hubs what their favorite cookie was, and only made those. I survived without having my favorite(s) around, and I had one at Christmas with my mom and dad (I knew my mom wouldn't let me down! LOL).

6 - Surround yourself with other healthy-conscious people who have the same health priorities as you do! It was for this reason, that I created my VIP Fitness Community for ongoing and continued support, motivation, inspiration, recipe inspiration, and friendships! If you are looking for a virtual community for your own support, click to join HERE! 

So there you go, hope this helps you stay on track this holiday season! Remember to celebrate the season in ways other than food and treats!!!