09/24/2026
Let’s talk ingredients… because the way I bake is the same way I feed my family: clean, intentional, and rooted in REAL food… with room for balance. ✨
In our home, we try to follow the "80/20"... 80% clean (whole foods, organic, local when possible), and 20% not-so-clean foods (looking at you Chick-Fil-A 👀). And when I launched Salt + Light Cookie Co., I chose to bake with those same values. If I wouldn’t bring certain ingredients into my home for my own kids then I’m not bringing them in for yours either.
When I show the "instead of this, I use this" photos, it is never about judging what anyone else buys or what's in your pantry. Groceries are expensive, inflation is real, and every family does their best with what they can afford. Truly. These swaps are simply the choices I make for my home, and now for your cookies too! And I think being transparent so that you can know exactly what you are putting into your body is so important!
Here’s how “clean” is defined in my kitchen:
✅ ORGANIC flour, sugar, cornstarch, peanut butter, extracts, spices, molasses, fresh produce, etc.
❌ NO seed oils (Instead I use grass-fed butter, organic naturally refined coconut oil, and 100% pure avocado oil)
✅ Local pasture-raised eggs
❌ No artificial dyes, no artificial colors, and no chemical additives
But here's the honest, balanced part: Not every ingredient has a perfect "clean" substitute that bakes the same way. Some chocolate chips don't melt, some clean ingredient prices aren't sustainable, some not-so-clean ingredients just create a product that is not able to be replicated. So on the rare occasions where a 100% "crunchy-approved" ingredient doesn't perform well, I choose the cleanest version that still gives you the best cookie. Because clean matters, but so does quality and taste. And that’s where balance comes in; because that’s how real families eat, including mine.
A HUGE majority of my ingredients come from Wheeling’s own refillery, Appalachian Homestead, the BEST place to get clean, organic ingredients without the junk. I can bring my own containers, avoid waste, and buy exactly what I need without fillers or mystery ingredients. Supporting them supports clean living in our whole community, and I’m truly blessed for the role they’ve played in making this “clean” vision possible! Be sure to check them out!
My goal is simple: To make cookies you don’t have to feel guilty about. Cookies your kids can enjoy… made with real ingredients you actually recognize. 🎄🍪
I’m finishing up a full ingredient list PDF that lists every single ingredient I use. It will be available to all customers once it’s complete.
Real ingredients. Real food. Real balance.
Message me to order your ✨clean✨ Christmas Cookies today!
