Christmas Goodies Recipes
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I think that you will love these healthy holiday treat recipes to make! I use the word Christmas sometimes in place of all the winter holidays that people celebrate in addition. So, you could use these ideas for whatever holidays you celebrate as long as the ingredients are appropriate!
Many foods made for the holidays are full of animal fats, lots of sugar, and food coloring, but many holiday goodie recipes can be lightened up into lighter, more tasty versions without sacrificing flavor or texture! Check out some of the best holiday treat recipes that you will love making!
Here Are Some Ways to Make Healthy Holiday Treat Recipes
You can make some of your own festive holiday treats healthier by considering some of these tips:
1. Consider fruit-based treats. Fruits add lots of flavor and are packed with nutrition and fiber! They also provide moisture and a great texture to recipes!
2. Be mindful of your sweetener. Many traditional recipes can be just as tasty with the sugar cut by 25% without a noticeable difference. Honey, maple syrup, sorghum molasses, agave, and stevia can be less processed options. A few of these are high FODMAP, so consider that if you have IBS. You can also add flavors like citrus peel, vanilla, or other flavoring extracts, spices like cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, anise, and allspice to make some of your lighter versions even more flavorful.
3. Use healthy fats. Plant-based fats that include nuts, soft margarine such as Earth Balance, with small amounts of coconut are healthy options. If you like to use butter in holiday sweets, use them sparingly and savor them! Nut and seed butters are also great substitutes. Some other ingredients that are sometimes used as fat substitutions include applesauce and yogurt.
Another way to decrease saturated fat is to substitute two egg whites for an egg. I only decrease half of the egg yolks in a recipe. You may also make a flax egg or try an egg replacement. This can work better for a cake than a cookie.
Balance saturated fats to about 1/3 of fat intake of your day. That means eating a higher amount of polyunsaturated omega-3 fats and monounsaturated fats!
4. Choose smaller portions and take time to enjoy them more! Almost anything can be worked in within reason! Make your dessert count! Sit down to eat it. Don’t do other things while you are eating them, and savor them to its fullest!
When making ingredient substitutions, only substitute one ingredient at a time and then try it out with family and friends. That way, it won’t drastically alter your recipe.
These tips can help you turn those older recipes into healthier holiday treat recipes!
Check out some of these other Christmas goodies to make below!
Try my Revised Holiday Treat Recipe
I am excited to share one of our family’s favorite cookies, and it has a new makeover! I replaced regular flour with almond meal and the butter with soft, tub margarine, Earth Balance, and it is just as good as ever! I also have some delightful dessert recipes that some of my registered dietitian nutritionist friends and one food science friends have created in their kitchens! Some of these are gluten-free, lower in FODMAPs, vegan, and low in sugar. I hope will sweet ideas will bring you lots of joy and health this holiday season!
I love being able to serve these holiday cookies on this vintage cookie plate and table scarf!
My Fun Holiday Treat for Christmas
Almond, White Chocolate, Cranberry & Macadamia Cookies
With a little bit of alterations, my son’s favorite holiday cookie becomes gluten-free. Almond meal is used in place of white flour, soft tub margarine is used in place of butter, and a flax egg replaces the egg. If you want it to be vegan, find some vegan chocolate chips!
Makes 10-12 cookies
1 cup almond flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill, but you can also make your own in the food processor)
Flax egg: Made by mixing 1 tablespoon ground flax with 2 1/2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup cranberries
1/4 cup macadamia nuts
1/4 cup white chocolate
Parchment paper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, add almond flour, powdered sugar, salt, vanilla, and mix well. Cream with butter and stir well. Mix in flax egg. Add cranberries, macadamia nuts, and chocolate, and stir carefully. Add spoonfuls of dough to a cookie sheet. Bake for about 8-10 minutes. Take out cookies and allow them to cool before removing.
Here are Some Additional Christmas Holiday Treat Recipes
Several registered dietitians and nutritionists share some of their favorite healthy holiday treat recipes for this post. Check out them out!
1.Emily Hein, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of Zen and Spice’s heavenly Raspberry Chocolate Cheesecake Bars!
http://zenandspice.com/raspberry-chocolate-cheesecake-bars/
These bars are a delicious addition to your holiday goodie recipe lineup!
2. Here is another lucious recipe from Lauren Grant, who is a food scientist and owner of Zestful Kitchen, shares her delicious Mini Pear and Almond Tarts with a Whole Wheat Crust!
Mini Pear Tarts and Almond Tarts with a Whole Wheat Crust
This Christmas holiday treat recipe is a keeper!
3. If a holiday cake is your sweet treat, Lauren Pincus, Registered Dietitian from Nutrition Starring You, has made a special, delicious Nutty Apple Cake!
http://nutritionstarringyou.com/nutty-apple-cake/
This would make a beautiful centerpiece on the holiday table.
4. The creamy texture of pumpkin pie sitting on top of a crispy gluten-free crust tastes like heaven from Kelli Shallal, Registered Dietitian from Hungry Hobby’s kitchen!
http://hungryhobby.net/pumpkin-pie-bars/
5. I love pecan pie and but it can be a high source of calories during the holiday season. EA Stewart, The Spicy RD, shares this delicious Pecan Tart that is gluten-free, vegan, and can easily be made low FODMAP! She made them in these sweet little skillets, but they can easily be made in some white ramekins or even clear custard cups!
http://www.eastewart.com/recipes-and-nutrition/gluten-free-pecan-pie-tarts-vegan/
More Tips on Making Healthy Holiday Treat Recipes
You may want to read this post below to give you some extra ideas on making healthy holiday treat recipes.
How to Make Healthier Holiday Cookies
In addition to these Christmas goodie recipes, you may also love a few healthy brunch ideas!
As an Asheville Nutritionist and licensed dietitian, I love helping people find lifestyle medicine components that work for them! And nutrition is a large piece of the puzzle to our health. I specialize in women’s health, digestive wellness (I am a Monash-trained FODMAP dietitian), and I am a plant-based recipe author.
You can find out more about my services here. I also write additional articles on Substack. And I have a free e-book on reducing chronic inflammation available there.
Let’s talk for a few minutes about staying active this time of year!
Staying fit for the Holidays!
Here are some exercise tips from Michelle Kuehne, the personal trainer from Specialized Physical Therapy, to stay fit to put up those holiday decorations. If you are going to use a ladder this season, this is a great exercise to help improve your climbing abilities and balance!
Using a step or small stool, step up with one foot while raising the opposite knee to parallel for a 3-5 second hold. Repeat on each side 10-15 times.
Holidays often revolve around something sweet to eat, and these plant-based dessert recipes will hit the spot and become some of your new favorites! As a registered dietitian, I love sharing healthy ways to help my clients live more enjoyable lives! I would love to hear about some of the ways that you have created a favorite healthy holiday dessert lighter! If you are new to my blog, welcome! You can find out more about me here!