Are Homemade Cookies Healthier Than Store-Bought?

Though shop-bought cookies are convenient, many people prefer homemade varieties. This is because people tend to prefer the taste of homemade cookies. Not to mention, home baking allows people to customize the ingredients.

Though homemade cookies taste better than store-bought cookies, you may be wondering which version is healthier. The truth is that homemade cookies tend to be healthier than store-bought. This guide aims to explore why this is.

Are Homemade Cookies Healthier Than Store-Bought?

Yes, homemade cookies do tend to be a healthier treat. This is because store-bought cookies contain unhealthy ingredients, such as preservatives.

In comparison, homemade cookies tend to feature healthier ingredients. This includes healthy fats and natural sugar. Moreover, homemade chocolate chip cookies tend to include real chocolate. As a result, they are considered healthier.

Of course, this will depend on the recipe. After all, some homemade cookies will be high in unhealthy ingredients. For instance, homemade cookies still contain high amounts of sugar, even if it is natural.

This will also depend on the type of cookie. For instance, oatmeal raisin cookies are considered more nutritious than chocolate chip cookies. Yet, oatmeal raisin cookies generally contain higher traces of sugar.

Interestingly, shop-bought cookies tend to contain fewer calories than homemade versions. So in terms of calorie counting, homemade cookies are the less healthy cookies.

Why Are Homemade Cookies Healthier?

Shop-Bought Cookies Contain Additives and Preservatives

Preservatives are a type of chemical that is regularly added to foods. These preservatives are intended to extend the shelf life of baked goods, such as cookies. This is why store-bought cookies tend to last much longer than freshly baked cookies.

Meanwhile, additives are similar to preservatives in that they are added to foods, such as baked goods, in small quantities. Additives can either extend the shelf life of food or improve its taste and texture.

When you examine the packaging of store-bought cookies, there are likely loads of ingredients that you don’t recognize. These ingredients are likely preservatives and additives. For instance, many store-bought cookies don’t even contain real butter!

Consuming large numbers of artificial preservatives and additives can be harmful to your body. Luckily, homemade cookies are free from these additional ingredients, making them a much healthier treat.

Homemade Cookies Can Be Customized

Many people enjoy baking. One of the main benefits that this hobby offers is that it allows bakers to adjust recipes. This allows them to personalize recipes to reflect their preferences.

This allows bakers to reduce the amount of sugar in their cookies or opt for healthier ingredients. This can include substituting chocolate chips for raisins or nuts. Changes such as this will affect the nutritional value and flavor of these homemade cookies.

However, one cannot customize the ingredients when it comes to store-bought cookies. Instead, you will just be eating these processed foods with limited knowledge of how they were made.

Store-Bought Cookies Contain Cheap Ingredients

You might be surprised to learn that it can actually be much cheaper to bake homemade cookies than it is to purchase store-bought cookies.

To prevent their cookies from becoming too expensive, many cookie manufacturers use cheaper ingredients. Primarily, manufacturers will cut costs by choosing cheap fats.

They Don’t Contain High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

High-fructose corn syrup is a sweetener that comes from corn syrup. Like sugar, this syrup is harmful when consumed in large quantities. Consuming this ingredient in large quantities can lead to diabetes, tooth decay, and liver problems.

Do Homemade Cookies Taste Better?

This is a matter of opinion, but homemade cookies are our personal favorite. This is because they tend to contain fresh ingredients, such as fresh butter. This gives homemade cookies a fresh feel and causes them to taste good.

These fresh ingredients aren’t used in store-bought cookies because this would limit the shelf life of these cookies. As delicious as fresh cookies are, they do not tend to last very long before expiring.

Store-bought cookies need to last for an extended time since these products are mass-produced.

Though it can be a little time-consuming to make your own cookies, it is worth it if you love the taste. Just make sure that you use quality ingredients to bring out the tasty flavors of your cookies.

How Can You Bake Healthy Cookies?

Even though homemade cookies are the healthier option, it is still not a good idea to eat cookies all the time. Yet, if you love to bake cookies, here are some magnificent methods that you can use to produce some healthier versions:

  • Substitute all-purpose flour for whole wheat flour. Whole wheat flour is thought of as healthier than white flour because it has a higher nutritional value. For instance, it is a good source of protein and fiber.
  • Swap white flour with some protein powder. Protein is essential for building muscle mass and will help you to fend off hunger.
  • Add a dollop of peanut butter to the mix. It’s a superb source of protein and healthy fats.
  • Instead of using chocolate chips, add fruits or nuts to your cookies.
  • Brown sugar is healthier than white sugar since it is usually only partially refined sugar. Plus, brown sugar tends to contain fewer calories. However, you should overall try to reduce your intake of unneeded and refined sugar.
  • Bake cookies occasionally. This tasty treat will taste better if you have it as a rare delicacy. Not to mention, even the healthiest cookies contain too much sugar for them to be a dietary staple.
  • Add oats to the cookies. Replace some of the flour with oats for a healthy twist. This will increase the fiber, specifically beta-glucan.
  • Reduce the fat. This can be done by swapping the butter with mashed fruit or peanut butter. Apple sauce also works wonderfully as an alternative to butter.

Final Thoughts

Though homemade cookies taste amazing and are the healthier version, it is still important to remember that these are not nutritious snacks. So even if you love homemade cookies, they should be kept as occasional treats!

Kathryn Sewell

Kathryn Sewell

Hi! I'm Kate and I have been baking and cooking for as long as I can remember. I like to share the most interesting tips and recipes I try here on What Kate Baked for you to enjoy. If you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share send it over on social.

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