Filed under: Dessert, Books, Baking, Light Food, Cookbook of the Day

I definitely do a lot more baking as the holidays approach, as do many of the people I know, and while the season is supposed to be one of indulgence, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have to eat really high-fat treats at every opportunity. When you're only baking high-fat cookies, this can be challenging, which is why a book like One Smart Cookie: All Your Favorite Cookies, Squares, Brownies and Biscotti ... With Less Fat! comes in handy. The book has over 200 recipes for lower fat versions of classic cookies that taste just as good, or perhaps even better, than their more fattening counterparts. All of the instructions are easy to follow and the book offers lots of variety, from Apple Pie Streusel Squares and Banana Bread Biscotti to Oatmeal Chocolate Chip & Caramel Chunk Cookies, with lots of chocolate creations (usually the most popular, especially if served to a group) in between. Canadian bakers might want to take note that there is a recipe for lower fat Nanaimo Bars in here, and there are even some no bake recipes that the kids can safely help with.

And if you're worried that lower fat cookies will not live up to the standards of some of your favorites, check out the recipe for Reduced Fat Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies before committing to the entire book.