Of course, there will be cake at your wedding reception, but why not have cookies along with it? Cookies are delectable little snacks, so why wouldn't you want to choose a selection of your favorite cookies to have on your special day? There are so many different types of treats you can include, but if you stick with more health conscious alternatives, everyone will appreciate the fact that they can pop one more delicious morsel into their mouth.

How Important is a Cookie Table?

A cookie table is a unique wedding tradition, which is common in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its surrounding areas. Although this isn't a requirement for your reception, it can be a nice touch that people are sure to talk about later.

When choosing your cookies, it's more interesting if you have different colors, shapes, sizes, designs, etc. Whether you have one or two tables designated to cookies, you can request that your reception hall arrange them in an artistic way. For instance, you can have tiers of cookies as well as plates or platters, and the flowers from your wedding can also be incorporated into the arrangement.

Another reason why a cookie table is important is so you can give your guests complimentary cookies to say thanks for coming. Place small doggy bags on the cookie table so that everyone can take some cookies home. If you had a filling reception dinner, some guests might not have room for dessert, but they can at least grab some cookies on their way out for later. Just keep in mind that you should budget between 5 and 10 cookies per person.

Eat Cookies without the Guilt

It's easy to pop cookies into your mouth like it's your job on your wedding day, but why not have healthy cookies so you can enjoy a few more without the guilt? So how can a cookie be healthy? If you decide to go with healthier alternatives, you will find that wholesome cookies have less sugar, whole grains, zero preservatives, zero trans fats and favorable nutritional values. Healthy treats can also be more suitable for guests that are vegetarian, vegan or allergic to dairy products. For instance, you can incorporate dark chocolate and an egg replacer in the cookies so they are vegan.

Health Conscious Cookie Ideas

There are several ways to turn your favorite cookie into a health conscious treat. For example, use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, because it contains anti-oxidants and has less sugar. Substituting ingredients doesn't have to end with chocolate either. You can also use alternative sweeteners such as Stevia, agave nectar, honey or fruit juice. Stevia, which is 30 times sweeter than sugar, actually has zero carbs, zero calories and it also has a zero on the glycemic index. There are also egg replacers in powder form that you can use if you prefer not to use eggs, which contain cholesterol.

Below are some cookies and treats that you might want to feature on your cookie table:

• Apricot Filled Cookies
• Pumpkin Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Apple-Oatmeal Cookies
• Almond & Honey Butter Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Biscotti
• Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip
• Poppy Seed Thumbprints
• Cranberry-Honey Spice Pinwheel Cookies
• Peanut Butter Balls Dipped in Dark Chocolate
• Zucchini Bread
• Nut Bread
• Banana Nut Bread

A cookie table with a buffet like selection can be expensive, which is why it's beneficial to enlist family and friends to help with the baking. To make the process easier, you can also find natural cookie mixes. May Cookie Co. has several natural and easy-to-use cookie mixes such as Hearty & Wholesome Oatmeal Cranberry, Triple Chocolate Oatmeal and Rich & Chewy Chocolate Chocolate Chip. Then you can prepare and bake your batches even faster.

Now that you're salivating from these scrumptious and healthy cookie ideas, how can you resist having a cookie table at your wedding reception? This is another way to add pizzazz to your celebration, and your guests will appreciate that the cookie table is guilt free too.

--Marina Hanes