Holiday-Flavored After Dinner Ginger Bites
Do you crave a little taste of something sweet after dinner? Want something that tastes like everything you love best about the holidays? These sweet, spicy, chewy and crunchy ginger bites have all the holiday-flavored joy of a spicy molasses cookie but are way healthier! Plus, their bold flavor satisfies that sweet tooth after just one. I know those are reasons enough to make these but I’ll also add that the ingredients in these bites are super nutritional. Check out all the health benefits below. They are the perfect snack or after-dinner treat to keep you strong and healthy during the holiday season! Enjoy and let us know what you think!
SWEET
- RAW HONEY is a probiotic and strengthens the immune system
- MOLASSES is a healthful sweetener that provides a variety of essential minerals
SPICY
- CINNAMON is anti-microbial and helps control blood sugar
- GINGER provides gastrointestinal relief, aids digestion and has anti-inflammatory effects
CHEWY
- OATMEAL lowers LDL cholesterol and is an antioxidant
CRUNCHY
- WALNUTS help reduce metabolic problems and are good for the heart and circulatory system
(sources: whfoods.com (World’s Healthiest Foods), Organic Facts – Health Benefits of Molasses and realfoodforlife.com)
A quick note on molasses: I used mild-flavored Brer Rabbit Molasses for this recipe. If you’re wondering about the differences in types of molasses (as I was), here’s a great little Q and A taken from the Brer Rabbit Molasses Company’s website:
Q: What are there the different grades of Brer Rabbit molasses?
A: Brer Rabbit molasses comes in three grades: Mild Flavor, Full Flavor and Blackstrap.
• Mild Flavor: Lightest color and is the sweetest, is used to sweeten hot cereals, yogurts, or hot drinks, like coffee, tea or hot cocoa
• Full Flavor: More concentrated and has a richer flavor than Mild, that is used in gingerbreads, cookies, pies, cakes, and glazes
• Blackstrap: Bold, robust flavor used in slow-cooked dishes, like such as baked beans or barbeque sauces. Blackstrap is also an excellent source of Calcium and Magnesium and a good source of Potassium.
That said, feel free to choose the type of molasses you prefer, keeping in mind that the “full-flavor” and “blackstrap” varieties are more nutritionally dense but less sweet than the “mild” flavor.
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makes 4 (1-inch) balls
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- 1/3 cup (or one packet) plain instant oatmeal (not steel-cut or any kind that requires cooking)
- 2 heaping teaspoons molasses (I used mild-flavored Brer Rabbit molasses but feel free to use the kind that you wish. Note that blackstrap molasses will be less sweet than milder kinds.)
- 5 walnuts, chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon flour (any kind)
- 1/2 teaspoon raw honey
- small pinch salt
Ingredients
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- These are really easy to make! Mix all ingredients together and then taste a bit for flavor. Add more spices if desired. Form mixture into 4 (1-inch) balls. I found that rolling the balls helps if I spray my hands with a bit of cooking spray first. This keeps the dough from sticking to your hands. Flouring your hands should also work nicely if you don't have cooking spray. If balls are not forming and mixture is too dry, gradually add additional honey or molasses until balls form. Conversely, if mixture is too wet, gradually add additional flour until balls form. Once balls are formed, enjoy right away or you can refrigerate for an hour or two if you want them a little firmer. These are great to keep in your fridge for a week or more for a convenient, nutritious and quick snack or after-dinner treat! Try them from the freezer too!