20 Healthy Christmas Treats for a Sweet and Light Holiday
Everything from low-sugar desserts to no-bake sweets and more!
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 good. Pretty presentations make for crowd-pleasing party foods and they're great to give as homemade food gifts, too.
Craving something sweet? Feel good about serving (and eating!) these festive holiday desserts — 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!
Peppermint Meringues
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.
Get the Peppermint Meringues recipe.
Chocolate-Pistachio Orange Slices
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 must.
Vegan Chocolate Truffles
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).
Get the Vegan Chocolate Truffles recipe.
RELATED: 26 Best Vegan Desserts That Taste Like the Real Deal
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.
Get the Fruitcake Cookies recipe.
Cranberry-Pistachio Cornmeal Biscotti
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.
Get the Cranberry-Pistachio Cornmeal Biscotti recipe.
RELATED: 20 Best Traditional Italian Christmas Cookie Recipes
Keto-Friendly Shortbread Cookies
They may not look 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.
Mendiants
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!)
Get the Mendiant recipe.
Pecan Berry Bursts
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.
Get the Pecan Berry Bursts recipe.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
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.
Get the Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Peanut Butter Balls
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.)
Get the Peanut Butter Balls recipe.
Chocolate-Raspberry Chia Pudding
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.
Pomegranate Orange Tart
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.
Get the Pomegranate Orange Tart recipe from Prevention.
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.
Get the Peppermint Ice Cream recipe from Running in a Skirt.
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 flare from an easy-to-make brandy pan sauce. Plus, it can be made up to 3 months in advance!
Get the Gluten-Free Christmas Pudding recipe from Delish.
RELATED: 25 Gluten-Free Desserts That Will Be the Hit of Any Party
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.
Get the Vegan Speculoos Cookies recipe from Sarah's Vegan Guide.
Apple Snacks with Almond Butter and Pomegranate
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.
Get the Apple Snacks with Almond Butter and Pomegranate recipe.
RELATED: 10 Top Pomegranates Health Benefits, According to Registered Dietitians
Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats
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.
Get the Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats recipe from Mile High Mitts.
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.
Get the Cinnamon Apple Chips recipe from Trial and Eater.
Sweet Potato Bites
Rework some of the ingredients you may have on hand for Christmas dinner into a seasonal dessert that is both light and naturally sweet.
Get the Sweet Potato Bites recipe from Delish.
Raw Gingerbread Cookie Balls
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.
Get the Raw Gingerbread Cookie Balls recipe from Raw Manda.
Trish (she/her) is the deputy food editor at Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things food, from cooking trends and delicious recipes to top-tested kitchen products and grocery finds. She has more than a decade of experience writing about food for GH, Women’s Health, Prevention, Redbook, Woman’s Day, The Daily Meal and Food Network. When she’s not at the supermarket or trying out a new recipe, you can find her at the beach, in her backyard or on the couch — typically with a glass of wine in hand.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY, and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
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