The delicious holiday desserts that adorn your Christmas table can also help you stick to your healthy diet. With these 20 healthy holiday dessert recipes, you can enjoy the best of both worlds and indulge your sweet tooth without completely derailing your weight loss plans.
1. Holiday Gingerbread Rice Krispies >
Here’s a fun twist on gingerbread boys—make them out of crispy rice cereal! You’ll follow similar directions to making Rice Krispies treats but add some ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg to give them that classic gingerbread flavor. Then use your cookie cutter and some decorations to bring these Holiday Gingerbread Rice Krispies to life. You can also make a chocolate version with cocoa powder!
2. Holiday Jell-O Cups >
These fun Holiday Jell-O Cups use sugar-free lime and strawberry Jell-O to make a decorative (and delicious) red and green treat. Top with Cool Whip to finish it off. It’s festive, fun and very diet-friendly at a mere 27.3 calories per cup.
3. Chocolate Peppermint Marshmallow Sticks >
With just four ingredients, these Chocolate Peppermint Marshmallow Sticks are easy to make and a great addition to your hot cocoa bar. All you need is eight marshmallows, two peppermint candy canes, two pretzel rods and a quarter-cup of chocolate chips, all likely ingredients you already have on hand. This is a great way to use up those extra candy canes from your Christmas tree décor. Each treat is just 75 calories.
4. Chocolate Snowball Cookies >
These diet-friendly Chocolate Snowball Cookies can be whipped up with some simple ingredients like peanut butter, cocoa powder and shredded coconut. As the name implies, the finished product will look like little snowballs. But the best part is, they’re a diet-friendly treat and clock in at just 90 calories per serving.
5. Instant Pot Chocolate Peppermint Rice Pudding >
If you’re like us, you love your Instant Pot and are always looking for good recipes to try in it. This delicious Instant Pot Chocolate Peppermint Rice Pudding is made healthier using brown rice and milk as the base. Cocoa powder, peppermint extract and peppermint hard candies bring in that chocolaty mint flavor to this classic pudding.
6. Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies >
Here’s another cooking gadget you probably love: your air fryer. You might be surprised to learn that you can make perfectly delicious Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies using this same tool that you’ve used to cut the fat from traditionally fried foods. Cookies in the air fryer come out golden and crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside. This recipe takes a spin on classic chocolate chip cookies by adding healthful ingredients like peanut butter and oats. The result is a cookie you can feel good about.
7. Chocolate Eggnog Bread Pudding >
Bread pudding—a classic Christmas dessert—gets even more festive with the addition of eggnog in this easy-to-make recipe. If you’ve never made bread pudding before, it’s a lot less intimidating than it seems. And this particular Chocolate Eggnog Bread Pudding recipe can be whipped up with a mere five ingredients. It’s a great addition to your holiday table.
8. No-Bake Candy Cane Pudding Cups >
If you’re tired of baking—or the oven is already full—then this is the perfect dessert to whip up. It combines sugar-free chocolate and cheesecake puddings with some minty flavor from peppermint extract and crushed candy canes. Then it’s finished off with light whipped topping. Each Candy Cane Pudding Cup is just 107 calories, making it a guilt-free treat.
9. Eggnog Cheesecake Dip >
It is the season of eggnog, and this is a really fun way to incorporate it into your holiday spread. This Eggnog Cheesecake Dip is made from low-fat cream cheese, eggnog almond milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and whipped topping. It makes a great dip for graham crackers, fruit, pretzels and more.
10. Coconut-Covered Gingerbread Bites >
These bite-sized treats are indulgent and delicious without being major diet detours. A bite is just 40 calories and filled with healthy pecans and medjool dates. This recipe makes 40 Coconut-Covered Gingerbread Bites, so it’s a great option for your next holiday party. It will give you something healthy to indulge your sweet tooth.
11. Whole Wheat Gingerbread Bundt Cake >
This Whole Wheat Gingerbread Bundt Cake has the festive gingerbread flavor you love but in a much healthier version. The secret is whole wheat pastry flour and nonfat Greek yogurt. The cake is made sweet with molasses, Stevia and classic gingerbread seasonings like cinnamon, ginger and allspice. It’s a great way to stay on track while still enjoying a delicious treat.
12. Iced Protein Peppermint Cookies >
Cookies packed with protein might sound too good to be true. The secret is using our Nutrisystem Vanilla Shake Mix as a key ingredient. These Iced Protein Peppermint Cookies also use mashed bananas and whole wheat flour for the base. They are iced with a delicious peppermint-flavored frosting. One cookie is just 91 calories.
13. Instant Pot Gingerbread Cheesecake >
The Instant Pot is actually a great tool to make cheesecake because of the moist environment it cooks in. Cheesecakes made in the Instant Pot are known to come out smooth and creamy. This particular Instant Pot Gingerbread Cheesecake recipe will make the perfect seasonal cheesecake with delicious gingerbread flavor. The use of low-fat ingredients also keeps it diet-friendly at just 93 calories per slice.
14. Chocolate Peppermint Cookies >
The combined flavors of chocolate and peppermint are a holiday favorite, and these cookies bring them together flawlessly. With so much deliciousness, your guests will never know they have a healthy base of whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, nonfat Greek yogurt and stevia. No sugar overload from these sweet Chocolate Peppermint Cookies!
15. Healthy Peppermint Bark >
One of the most popular holiday desserts, chocolate peppermint bark is such a fun treat to enjoy yourself or even gift to family or friends. While it looks fancy, it’s surprisingly simple to make! This Peppermint Bark recipe also has some secret healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt and monk fruit sweetener to keep it a diet-friendly option that you can splurge on.
16. Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip >
Gingerbread as a dip? This holiday dessert dip recipe is so fun and delicious, it’s sure to be the talk of your holiday party. The best thing is that it’s guilt-free at just 77 calories per serving. This Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip goes great with fruit, graham crackers and more.
17. Gluten-Free Chewy Ginger Cookies >
We know that gluten-free baked goods can sometimes be a letdown, but these cookies are a winner! Even if you don’t live a gluten-free lifestyle, you’ll appreciate the delicious flavor of these Gluten-Free Chewy Ginger Cookies. They involve just a few simple steps and will make 16 servings, making them a great choice to share with others.
18. Chocolate Coconut Rum Balls >
These Chocolate Coconut Rum Balls are easy to prepare and so delicious. The recipe is also gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. Perfect for a holiday party or get-together, it’s a classic holiday dessert made healthy!
19. Christmas Fruitcake Biscotti >
The classic Christmas fruitcake is transformed into a classic crunchy cookie: biscotti! These two holiday desserts come together in this Christmas Fruitcake Biscotti recipe. Made with whole wheat flour, almond flour and dried fruit, it’s a healthy and tasty way to enjoy a sweet treat without all the guilt.
20. 28-Calorie Easy Holiday Fruit Cups >
With just a packet of sugar-free gelatin, some fresh fruit and dollop of light whipped cream, these Easy Holiday Fruit Cups come together in a snap. The best part about this easy holiday dessert? It clocks in at just 28 calories per serving.
The post 20 Holiday Desserts to Sweeten Up Your Christmas Season appeared first on The Leaf.
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