6 simple and healthy recipes for the holiday (2024)

The holiday season is full of opportunities to indulge in sweets – including company parties, Christmas cookie swaps, Christmas film marathons and of course family meals. However, that doesn’t mean that you should always eat pastries and snacks that are high in calories, fat and sugar! Today there are many delicious ideas for a dessert for Christmas that are healthier and also fit well into different diets. From gluten-free cookies to vegan truffles, in this article we’ll share some delicious and easy recipes worth trying!

Dessert for Christmas: Here are 4 delicious, healthy recipes

These Christmas dessert recipes are perfect for any healthy, festive menu

Dessert for Christmas: 6 healthy and easy recipes

Vegan chocolate mint cheesecake

With a crumbly base, a smooth mint chocolate filling, and a layer of sweet ganache, this cheesecake is easy to make and requires no baking! A simple treat that tastes really good and is healthy! And almost forgettable – it’s super creamy and has a fresh note at the same time.

Ingredients for the crust: For the filling: For the ganache (optional):

• 100 g ground almonds
• 50g oat flour
• 20 g cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 50 g coconut oil, melted
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

• 300g cashews, soaked for 4 hours, then drained and rinsed
• 235 ml full-fat coconut milk
• 50g green tea bags Ahmad Tea Mint Mystique
• 120 ml maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 30 g cocoa

• 100 g dark mint chocolate
• 50g coconut milk

Method of preparation:

1. For the crust: Mix the ground almonds, oat flour, cocoa and salt in a large bowl. Then add the coconut oil and maple syrup and stir until the mixture is crumbly. Spread the mixture into a 20cm cheesecake tin and press well. Place the tray in the refrigerator.
2. Prepare the filling: Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan and heat until it begins to bubble. Try to remove it from the heat just before it starts to boil. Add the tea bags and let them steep for 5 minutes. Then squeeze them out and discard them.
3. Let the milk cool slightly. Then place them in a blender along with the rest of the filling ingredients. Puree everything until a smooth mixture forms. Pour the mixture over the crust and let the cheesecake cool for 8 hours or freeze for 4 hours.
4. If you want to add ganache, break the chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan and heat until it bubbles.
5. Pour the warm milk over the chocolate, let it sit for about 3 minutes and stir well. Spread the ganache over the cooled cheesecake. You can decorate the cake with dark chocolate and mint leaves.

This is a delicious, healthy dessert for Christmas

Healthy cocoa truffles (vegan, paleo)

This is a very simple recipe for a healthy Christmas dessert that requires very few ingredients. Plus, you don’t have to bake at all!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ripe avocado
• 170g 60-70% dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Method of preparation:

1. Peel the avocado and puree it in a blender until smooth.
2. In a separate bowl, melt the chopped dark chocolate, stirring every 20 seconds to prevent burning.
3. When the chocolate has melted, add the coconut sugar and vanilla. Beat until a thick mixture forms.
4. Then add the chocolate mixture with the mashed avocado to the blender and puree the ingredients again until everything is well mixed.
5. Place the mixture in the fridge for about 20-23 minutes and pour the cocoa into a small bowl.
6. After the mixture has cooled, form small balls out of it and roll them in the cocoa.
7. Store the vegan cocoa truffle in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 week (if there are any left).

*Discover many more recipes for a vegan cake without sugar.

These vegan cocoa truffles are sure to please your guests

Gluten-free and vegan sugar cookies with matcha frosting

These gluten-free and vegan sugar cookies are perfect for the holidays. They are easy to make, healthy, nut-free and have a naturally colored green glaze.

Ingredients for the cookies: For the icing:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 flax egg
• 3/4 cup oat flour
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/2 cup organic powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon matcha powder or food coloring
• 3/4 tablespoon almond milk

Method of preparation:

1. Stir the coconut oil and maple syrup until fluffy. Then add the flaxseed egg and stir until smooth.
2. Then add the dry ingredients and stir until a dough forms. Cover the bowl and chill for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper.
4. Place a sheet of baking paper on the work surface, dust it with flour and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
5. Gently knead the dough until it becomes smooth, then roll it out thinly and cut out cookies.
6. Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes until golden brown.
7. Let the baked cookies cool on a wire rack.
8. Once the cookies have cooled, mix together the icing ingredients and decorate.

*Get more inspiration on how to decorate Christmas cookies.

You can use matcha powder or food coloring for these cookies

Vegan Dark Chocolate Barks (gluten-free)

If you’re looking for a quick dessert for Christmas, these Chocolate Barks might be one of the best ideas. They are vegan and gluten-free. Plus, they are very easy to prepare! That is how it goes:

Ingredients:

• 280g dark chocolate or chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
• 4 peppermint candies, crushed

Method of preparation:

1. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper and empty the freezer.
2. Then melt the dark chocolate in a water bath or in the microwave until it is creamy. When melting in the
3. Microwave don’t forget to stir every 30 seconds. Be careful not to burn the chocolate.
4. Add the mint extract to the melted chocolate.
5. Distribute the chocolate onto the baking tray lined with baking paper and spread it out rectangularly.
6. Then sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies on top and place the baking tray in the freezer until the chocolate has set – about 30 minutes.
7. Remove the baking sheet from the freezer and then break the chocolate into pieces.

You can also cut the chocolate with a sharp knife

Healthy hot chocolate as a Christmas dessert

What better way to end a Christmas meal than hot chocolate? And no, it doesn’t necessarily have to be mega-calorie and contain a lot of white sugar! Here is a healthier recipe with cocoa and honey:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk (OR soy, oat, or any other unsweetened nut milk you prefer or have on hand)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened organic cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon raw honey or maple syrup (you can add more to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method of preparation:

1. Heat the almond milk on the stove over medium heat until hot but not bubbling.
2. Warm them up for about 5 minutes.
3. Then add the remaining ingredients minus the honey and stir until well mixed.
4. Heat the milk for another 1-2 minutes and add the honey. Stir well.
5. Pour the finished hot chocolate into glasses and serve with a pinch of cinnamon.

*Get inspiration for a Christmas dessert in glass.

This healthier hot chocolate recipe is just as delicious as the classic one

Whole wheat apple cinnamon muffins

And finally we would like to introduce you to a recipe for apple cinnamon muffins. They have a rich taste and do not contain white sugar. Here are the ingredients:

• 260g wholemeal flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 3/4 cup smooth, unsweetened applesauce, at room temperature
• 2/3 cup light maple syrup, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated apple (about 2 peeled apples)
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
• 1 tablespoon sugar for sprinkling (optional)

Method of preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 218 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray or line it with cupcake liners. Set the muffin tin aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Stir until everything is well mixed.
3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
4. Then add the grated apple and pecans or walnuts and stir with a spatula until a thick dough is formed.
5. Pour the dough into the molds. If using sugar, sprinkle it on top.
6. Let the muffins bake for about 5 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 177 degrees and let them bake for another 16-18 minutes. You can do a toothpick test to see if they are done. The total baking time for these muffins is approximately 21 to 23 minutes. (If making mini muffins, bake at 350 degrees for 11 to 14 minutes).
7. Let the muffins cool in the tin for about 5 minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. These muffins will stay fresh at room temperature for up to a few days and in the refrigerator for up to a week. Store them in a box with a lid.

These apple cinnamon muffings are a perfect dessert for Christmas