The holiday season is always a time to indulge, a celebration of your sweet tooth and the most comforting flavors you love. But just because you're indulging doesn't mean you need to fill up on processed, overly sugary desserts. The most delicious treats of the season are those that make use of naturally sweet profiles found in late-season fruits, handmade preserves and wholesome baking ingredients you know and love.
Sugar is far from your enemy, and you shouldn't demonize it, especially during the holidays — it's part of a balanced diet, after all! But Christmas sweets that are store-bought can be tricky in the amount of added sugar they contain. Plus, some of the most popular dessert products in the supermarket may be too heavy on saturated fats, which you'll need to keep an eye out for.
These ideas for healthier Christmas treats cover a range of sweets, from traditional cookies rendered vegan and raw to natural fruit gussied up in holiday style. Feel good about serving (and eating) these festive holiday options — think 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. Not to mention, pretty presentations make for crowd-pleasing party foods, and they're great to give as homemade food gifts, too.
Peppermint Swirl Meringues
At just 10 calories a serving, each meringue is a sweet treat that can perk you up at night without overshadowing an otherwise healthy dinner. Plus, they're effortlessly easy to whip up!
Fruitcake Cookies
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.
Chunky Nut Butter Cookies
They may not look like a traditional Christmas cookie, but the flavor profile in these better-for-you cookies is so similar to beloved peanut butter bites of the season. Your choice of nut butter and chopped nuts add a hint of texture to these delicious treats.
No-Bake S 'Mores Pie
While cocoa powder and avocados are swapped in for traditional sugar-filled chocolate, Jamie Vespa MS, RD, retained most of the gooey marshmallow base in this delectable pie. She's upgraded the marshmallow base with Greek yogurt for a protein and calcium kick you wouldn't expect!
Keto-Friendly Shortbread Cookies
Working your way through the keto diet? These wonderfully flakey shortbread cookies will become your new Christmas fav after swapping in almond flour.
Pecan Berry Bursts
Underneath the dusting of freeze-dried fruit and sugar is a sweet bite-sized pecan cookie that emulates a classic holiday pie. You'll be looking forward to popping a few of these in your mouth all week long!
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Swap out butter for canola oil and a few other baking essentials to remake this classic. A batch of these deliciously soft cookies makes for a great gift for the vegan in your life!
Peanut Butter Balls
Serving size is key with these chocolate-covered treats, but you'll love how easy they come together (both no-bake and gluten-free!). Each bite is under 150 calories but pack in 9g of healthy fats from your choice of peanut butter blend.
Peppermint Ice Cream
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.
3-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse
Lean into dark chocolate's complex flavor profile here when you create this 10-minute treat. While the heavy-cream factor here bumps up caloric intake, you can customize the marshmallow you add to your mix.
Gluten-Free Christmas Pudding
A gluten-free option, this faux cake is chock full of dried fruit and fresh nuts, and gets its festive Christmas from an easy brandy pan sauce. Plus, it can be made up to 3 months in advance!
Vegan Speculoos Cookies
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.
Apple and Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Peanut butter sandwiched between apple slices makes for a nutritious, kid-friendly snack any time of year. Give the snack a Christmas twist by cutting out the centers with festive cookie-cutter shapes, like stars or snowmen.
Coconut Bliss Balls
Dark chocolate and coconut combine to give these decadent treats a striking black-and-white presentation that's great for serving to a holiday crowd or gifting as edible presents. They’re vegan, paleo, and sugar-free — plus, they take just a few minutes to pull together.
Cinnamon Apple Chips
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.
Sweet Potato Bites
Rework some of the ingredients you may have on hand for Christmas dinner into a seasonal dessert that's both light and naturally sweet.
Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats
This healthy twist on the classic Rice Krispie treat is gluten free and refined-sugar free, using molasses for a chewy result. The flavorful, spice-packed recipe is easy to make and requires no baking — so be sure to get the kids involved.
Raw Gingerbread Cookie Balls
There are few holiday treats more iconic than gingerbread cookies. Give them a healthy twist with this flavorful and moist gingerbread cookie dough that is raw and vegan. No butter or eggs here; dates contribute to the natural sweetness.
Reindeer Granola
Holiday breakfast for guests doesn’t have to be heavy to be comforting — and it doesn’t have to require the host to work tirelessly either. Instead, consider this simple yogurt parfait, topped with granola and garnished with pretzels to mimic the look of reindeer ears.
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