This Christmas season, instead of “avoiding” temptation at dessert time, why not create alternative options that are decadent and healthy? To prepare you for the upcoming holiday and wow your dinner guests, we’re sharing five Christmas-inspired healthy dessert ideas that are easy to make and rewarding to eat.
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5 Guilt-Free Healthy Dessert Ideas
1. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Reindeer
A twist on an old classic, these chocolate strawberries will be a big hit among the kids and creatives in your family! To make, all you need are strawberries, melting chocolate, and pretzels. Check out a simple how-to here.
2. Paleo-Friendly Gingerbread
How many of us can think back to a time in our childhood when we made gingerbread houses and cookies with our friends? This Paleo gingerbread recipe will bring this tradition back in all the right ways. All you need for this gluten-free recipe is almond flour, arrowroot flour, cashew nut butter, maple syrup, freshly grated ginger, molasses, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Salted Caramel Cashew Butter Fudge
Another Paleo friendly option, this fudge brings the flavors of the seasons together in a rich, decadent bite. You definitely won’t need to indulge too much in this dessert, so it’s great for people who are watching their portion sizes. And how’s this for a bonus—you only need three ingredients! Cashew butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil (plus sea salt flakes to garnish). Yummy and easy? Yes, please!
4. Pumpkin Bread
This rich bread dessert is great cold—and it’s even better toasted with a bit of butter or lactose-free ghee on top. Follow this recipe to make yours, and be sure to head over the river and through the woods to get the following ingredients from the market: almond flour, kosher salt, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, eggs, canned pumpkin, maple syrup, and vanilla extract (chocolate chips optional!).
5. Chocolate Pecan Pie Cobbler
You just can’t seem to make it through the Christmas season without running into pecans somewhere. This healthy pecan pie recipe brings the best of sweet and salty together and is rich in healthy fat, to boot. You’ll need ghee, pecans, eggs, coconut sugar, coconut nectar, maple syrup, tapioca flour, coconut flour, vanilla extra, cinnamon, salt, and chocolate chips. Enjoy!
Whether you’re hosting or attending a Christmas party this holiday season, consider coming fully “decked” out with one of the healthy dessert ideas listed above. By opting for a healthier option, you and your health-conscious loved ones will be able to enjoy the dessert without guilt. Need some more holiday nutrition ideas? Check out our blog for more.
And lastly: here’s to a Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!