Healthy Easy Christmas Recipes

The holiday season is packed with plenty of opportunities to fill up on sweets — including Christmas cookie swaps, holiday office parties, Christmas movie marathons, and so much more. It's one of our favorite times of the year! That said, sometimes you're looking for ways to indulge without overdoing it or you want an alternative to processed, overly sugary desserts. We've got you!

These ideas for healthier holiday cookies and Christmas treats cover a range of sweets and occasions, while fitting into a variety of diets. From gluten-free cakes to vegan chocolate truffles and keto-friendly cookies, there are so many delicious dessert options for everyone. Our secret? Embrace in-season or frozen fruits, homemade preserves and choose good-quality, wholesome baking ingredients you know and love. Opt for alternative flours and dairy-free milks as needed. And, spend some time making sure whatever you made looks

— gluten-free gingerbread Rice Krispies treats, vegan peppermint ice cream and no-bake peanut butter protein balls — many of which are easy to whip up with only a few ingredients in just a couple of minutes. Life is too short to skip dessert!

Easy & Healthy Christmas Treats

Crisp on the outside with a slight chew on the inside, these tasty low-calorie confections make a delicious gluten-free addition to any cookie swap.

Citrus becomes almost candy-like when dehydrated or baked at a low temp for hours. You can make your own or opt for store-bought (just check for added sugars in the nutrition label). Either way, dipping the dried citrus slices in white chocolate and adding a sprinkle of crushed pistachios is a

Decadent chocolate truffles typically contain heavy cream, but our plant-based version subs in creamy coconut milk. Be sure to use a really high-quality dark chocolate (72% cacao or higher).

Easy Healthy Appetizers For The Holidays

For those who adore it, traditional fruitcake is a can't-miss treat of the season. We love how this cookie version make serving sizes much more manageable.

These twice-baked crunchy cookies tend to contain far less butter or oil than traditional shortbread (if any at all!), so they're a solid choice. Plus, these particular ones are loaded with fresh citrus zest, ground ginger, dried fruit and chopped nuts. Just skip the optional step of dipping the ends in melted chocolate.

Like a traditional Christmas cookie, but these nutty, buttery shortbread cookies taste just like the real deal. Plus, they seamlessly fit into a gluten-free or keto diet.

Healthy Christmas Recipes For A Light Dinner

These French confections are typically served around Christmastime, basically bite-sized puddles of melted chocolate studded with dried fruit (like goji berries or apricots) and nuts. It's a no-bake dessert that is super pretty, quick to make and incredibly easy. If you can melt chocolate, you can make these chocolate buttons. (Seriously!)

Underneath the dusting of (festive-red!) freeze-dried fruit and confectioners' sugar is a bite-sized pecan cookie that will seriously satisfy any sweet tooth craving.

Swap out a few baking essentials, like butter for canola oil, to remake this classic. A batch of these deliciously soft cookies makes a great gift for the vegan in your life — but they're also a fan-favorite of non-vegans, too.

Healthy Christmas Recipes For A Light Christmas Dinner

Serving size is key with these chocolate-covered treats, but you'll love how easy they come together (no-bake!). Each bite is under 150 calories but packs in 9 g of healthy fats from your choice of peanut butter blend. (Pro tip: Go with a brand that avoids adding any extra salt or sugar.)

Made with chia seeds (a nutritional powerhouse) and skim milk instead of heavy cream, this rich chocolate pudding is healthier than other recipes, yet feels every bit as decadent.

A food processor makes quick work of putting together this gluten-free crust — made with walnuts, almond flour and vegan butter. The filling features a blend of simmered beets and pomegranate juice.

Best Healthy Christmas Recipes!

No, ice cream’s not just for summertime celebrations. Chocolate and peppermint make for a dream wintertime combo in this five-ingredient vegan version. Bananas serve as the base for this healthy Christmas treat, imparting their natural sweetness and creaminess.

A gluten-free option, this faux cake is chock full of dried fruit and fresh nuts, and gets its festive Christmas flare from an easy-to-make brandy pan sauce. Plus, it can be made up to 3 months in advance!

These vegan speculoos cookies banish refined sugar and oil, but are filled with spices, flax seed, and citrus zest for a flavor-packed punch. They make adorable holiday gifts and pair perfectly with a hot, cozy beverage.

Top 30+ Easy Keto Christmas Recipes (mains, Sides, Desserts)

Pomegranate arils are in season during the winter months and provide a good pop of red color (plus antioxidants!) to desserts. Apple slices makes for a nutritious base to so many fun toppings, including nut butters and pomegranates. Give this snack a Christmas twist by cutting out the centers with festive cookie-cutter shapes, like stars or snowmen.

This healthy twist on the classic Rice Krispie treat is free from refined sugars, using molasses in lieu of marshmallows for the same chewy result. The flavorful, spice-packed recipe is easy to make and requires no baking — so be sure to get the kids involved.

Nothing could be simpler than these two-ingredient cinnamon apple chips — yes, just cinnamon and apples with no added sugar — which take merely five minutes to make. Don’t be intimidated: There's no dehydrator required.

Southern In Law: The Best Healthy Christmas Recipes (with Options For All Types Of Diets!)

Rework some of the ingredients you may have on hand for Christmas dinner into a seasonal dessert that is both light and naturally sweet.

There are few holiday treats more iconic than gingerbread. Give the cookies a healthy update and remove butter and eggs from the dough. Instead, dates contribute to the natural sweetness.

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Low Fat Christmas Recipes

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The Best Festive Christmas Shots to Try This Year 70 Delicious and Simple Christmas Breakfast Ideas 45 Festive Christmas Cupcake Recipes You'll Love 42 Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ideas You'll LoveWe’re all about pleasure when it comes to food, and that’s especially true during the holiday months, when the festive parties, Christmas cookie exchanges and family dinners seem never-ending. And while we totally endorse indulging in all of your cravings during these festive months (what other time of year is all about the food and drinks?) we also understand that it’s easy to get a little carried away — particularly when it comes to sugar, salt and Christmas cocktails. To help you enjoy your favorite savory mains, buttery baked goods and soup recipes without eating yourself into a food coma, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite healthy Christmas recipes that emphasize both big flavors and nutrition.

Along with veggie-heavy sides and Christmas salads, this list boasts plenty of lean, flavorful proteins like turkey and steak, rib-sticking root vegetables and even a few pastas. Wintry, festive ingredients like pomegranate seeds and butternut squash abound, along with surprising add-ins like smoked almonds and grated ricotta salata are all perfect to have on your holiday table. Plus, we even have healthy Christmas treats for a little sweetness after dinner.

Easy Healthy Christmas Recipes

Each recipe we’ve included here emphasizes colorful produce, whole grains and legumes, while limiting the use of refined white flour, sugar and ingredients high in saturated fat like butter and heavy cream. Whichever recipes you choose, make sure to keep it fun and festive — after all, that’s what this season is all about!

Mashed potatoes are a staple at the holiday table, and replacing them entirely with cauliflower isn't the same. Try the 50/50 approach instead: Use half white potatoes, half cauliflower. You'll keep the classic texture and taste while sneaking in extra veggies and more volume.

This fudgy gluten-free tart looks extra festive (and gets a burst of antioxidants!) with a garnish of bright pomegranate seeds on top.

Healthy Christmas Dinner Recipes

Most green bean casseroles call for heavily processed canned soup and fried onions, causing sodium and saturated fat counts to skyrocket. Instead, opt for this zesty green bean dish that's packed with healthy fats thanks to almonds and olive oil.

Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet (it's in the name!), so there's no need for loads of marshmallows and brown sugar. Just cut your spuds into wedges, add a hint of maple syrup and some fragrant vanilla bean and roast to crisp, caramelized perfection.

Not only is traditional glazed ham super high in sugar, but its sodium count can also be off the charts due to brining. This roasted turkey ditches the sugar and much of the salt, and it's even lower in fat. Tip: White meat is a bit lower in fat than dark meat, but we say choose what you like best.

Healthy Christmas Recipes That Are As Festive As 'jingle Bells'

This two-step side makes roasted wild fungi the star of the show. Skip the standard button mushrooms and pick up some shiitakes or maitakes for an extra-flavorful kick. No matter which one you try, you'll get a boost of vitamin D and selenium.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian-American celebration, typically calls for seven separate seafood dishes. This recipe combines all the best parts into one