Say It with Sweets: Cookies to Announce Your Pregnancy
There isn’t a more adorable way to announce your pregnancy to family and friends than with sweet, delicious cookies.
There are many cute cookie cutters out there that are shaped like pregnant women, babies or other precious baby-related items that would allow you to announce your new addition without words. On the other hand, with the right recipe, you could frost them and then pipe on the words, “I’m expecting!” or the baby’s gender, due date or name.
However, you’re likely trying to eat healthy during your pregnancy by avoiding foods that are not as good for you or baby and doubling up on the ones that are. So how do you get to enjoy some of those yummy pregnancy announcement treats, too? You find healthier recipes! Here are five options for some healthy delights that you can enjoy while telling your loved ones there’s a little one on the way.
Lime Glazed Shortbread
This particular recipe calls for forming the dough into a log and slicing off rounds, but shortbread dough is perfect for using cutters to shape. The glaze is drizzled into the recipe, but could easily be used to create letters or numbers instead—with a little patience. As a bonus, the citrus in this recipe can help combat morning sickness if you’re suffering from it.
Ingredients:
For the cookies:
2 C white whole-wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 C raw sugar
1/3 C light olive oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp. honey
2 tsp finely grated lime zest
For the glaze:
1/2 C confectioner’s sugar
2 – 3 tsp fresh lime juice
1/2 tsp lime zest
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.
In a large bowl, beat sugar, olive oil, egg and honey with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in lime zest and flour mixture until combined (it will be somewhat sticky). On a floured work surface, form dough into a log about 8 inches long and 1 1/2 inches in diameter; wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for 15 minutes or until firm.
Slice the chilled dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool 5 minutes on sheet; transfer to a wire rack placed over wax paper and cool completely.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together confectioner’s sugar, lime juice and lime zest, adding more juice if necessary to thin the glaze. Drizzle glaze over cookies and let set for 15 minutes.
Almond Clusters
The almonds in this recipe will help your baby’s bone development, and the cookies themselves are so easy to make. With just five ingredients and no need for extra work to shape them, these are ideal cookies for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen but still want to create their own unique pregnancy announcement. These cookies are also gluten and dairy-free if that is a concern.
Ingredients:
1 C sliced almonds
½ C coconut flakes
1 large egg white
1 pinch of salt
¼ C sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
Toast almonds in oven until lightly browned and fragrant. Once out of the oven, stir coconut flakes into almonds on the baking sheet.
In a large bowl, whisk egg white and salt until frothy and soft peaks form.
Whisk sugar into egg white mixture.
Stir almonds and coconut mixture into egg white mixture until evenly coated.
Use 1.5 tablespoon scoops to mound cookies onto parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake cookies for 10-13 minutes until they are firm to the touch and slightly brown. Let cookies fully cool before eating.
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
This list wouldn’t be complete without chocolate chips added to it. This recipe is a healthy gluten-free option.
Ingredients:
½ C brown sugar
¼ C sugar
½ C applesauce
2 tbsp butter (regular butter is fine if you aren’t vegan)
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp ground flax (mixed with 3 tbsp water)
1 C oat flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
½ C slow-cooking oatmeal
½ C chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner.
In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until well blended.
Add flax mixture, applesauce and vanilla to sugar mixture.
In a small bowl combine oat flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Then combine to wet mixture.
Add oatmeal and chocolate chips to mixture and combine well.
Scoop dough onto baking sheet and bake for 8-12 minutes.
Lava Rocks
These are low-fat and vegetarian with three kinds of chocolate; cocoa powder, cocoa nibs and bittersweet chocolate make this a chocoholic’s dream. You can spread it on the baking sheet and cut them into shapes after baking or simply ice the round treats after baking with baby’s due date, gender, or name.
Ingredients:
2 ¼ C confectioner’s sugar, sifted
6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
¼ tsp sea salt
3 large egg whites
¾ tsp vanilla paste, or 1 tsp vanilla extract
7 oz pecans, chopped and toasted (To toast pecans, cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.)
1 ½ oz bittersweet chocolate, grated
4 tsp cocoa nibs
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
Thoroughly stir together confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, flour and salt in a large bowl.
Beat in egg whites, one at a time. Add vanilla paste (or extract) and beat for 1½ minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times.
Fold in pecans, chocolate and cocoa nibs until evenly incorporated.
Spoon the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
Bake the cookies until dry and glossy on the surface but soft in the centers when pressed, 15 to 17 minutes.
Let cool.
Citrus-Kissed Honey Buttons
With hints of lemon and orange, this is another recipe that can help with your morning sickness, while also allowing you to announce your pregnancy. The recipe calls for rolling balls between your hands, but you could easily shape these the same way you would the Almond Crisps. Or you could borrow the glaze from the Lime Glazed Shortbreads to write something on top of them after baking.
Ingredients:
1¾ C all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp cream of tartar
¼ tsp salt
1 C granulated sugar
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest
1 tbsp finely grated orange zest
1 tsp lemon extract
Directions:
Whisk flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt in a small bowl.
Beat sugar and butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
Add egg, honey, lemon zest, orange zest and lemon extract, then beat until blended.
Gradually add the flour mixture, beating on low speed just until combined. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
Roll the dough into 36 balls (about 2 level teaspoons each) with your hands. Place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake until puffed and beginning to crack, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Whichever recipe you go with, there are a few other things you can do to make your announcement even cuter:
- Use baby plates to serve the treats.
- Serve ice-cold milk in baby bottles.
- If you know and want to announce the baby’s gender, add a hint of food coloring to a glaze.
- Bundle a handful of treats together with a ribbon that says something cute such as, “Here’s a sweet bundle to announce our little bundle!”
Whichever way you choose to announce your pregnancy, it will be a moment you and your loved ones will always remember. Have fun with it, enjoy it and embrace the moment. Whatever choice you make, you won’t regret it.
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