It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means the only flavors that have my full attention are hot chocolate, gingerbread, peppermint and snickerdoodle. I’m sharing my all-time favorite healthy holiday recipes to make for every winter occasion. Need a showstopper for the brunch table? A late night snack for Santa (you)? The perfect plate to bring to the party? Whatever the vibe, this healthy holiday recipe round-up has big winter energy and is made with WAY better-for-you ingredients than the traditional stuff.
Enjoy, and tag me if you make any of them on Instagram (@lizmoody)—I can’t wait to see!!
Grain Free Gingerbread Cookie Skillet
This recipe gets the #1 spot on the list because it’s my FAVORITE new holiday dessert to make. It’s basically the world’s best gingerbread meets the world’s ooeyiest-gooeyist cookie in skillet form. It’s also grain-free and refined sugar-free, resulting in a super moist holiday treat that people beg for year after year.
Healthy Hot Chocolate Cookies
Proof that hot chocolate doesn’t just belong in a mug, this cookie recipe is perfectly chewy and has the craziest marshmallow crust. It’s also grain-free, dairy-free, packed with protein, and thanks to the health benefits of dark chocolate, good for brain function.
Winter Spice Snickerdoodles
The difference between a snickerdoodle and THE snickerdoodle? Allspice. If you want to eat a cookie that Buddy the Elf would approve of, I’ve got you covered with this grain-free, vegan recipe that’s also anti-inflammatory.
Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
My MOST REQUESTED RECIPE EVER deserves a spot in your holiday baking line-up. If you’ve never been to Starbucks and made the ~correct~ decision during the holidays, this treat is essentially an orange zest-kissed blondie loaded with cranberries, white chocolate and frosting. In this healthier version, we make it WAY better for you with blood sugar stabilizing ingredients like unsweetened almond butter!
Healthy French Toast Cinnamon Rolls
Ready for something new and healthy to graze your tastebuds on Christmas morning? Combine two of everyone’s favorite breakfast recipes and you’ve got literal, bite-size holiday cheer.
Dairy-Free Mexican Hot Chocolate
Essentially hot chocolate on crack, spiked with cinnamon, chili and cayenne. The flavor is insane AND this recipe has blood-sugar stabilizing, metabolism-boosting properties (which is super important during the holidays).
Healthy Chocolate Chai Cookies
Impress literally everyone with elevated flavors of chocolate and black tea mixed with a decadent array of spices that’s SO dang delicious. These cookies will satisfy ALL of your cravings, trust me!
Healthy Sugar Cookie Dough Bites
Healthy cookie dough is obviously a holiday staple, but this delightful version is completely GRAIN FREE, vegan, and tastes just like cookie dough! Keep them in your freezer so every day’s a holiday or bring as a treat to a holiday party.
Healthy Holiday Gingerbread Cookies
This is arguably the best holiday cookie –boldly spiced, perfectly sweet, crispy on the outside, and chewy in the center. This recipe is gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, and packed with metabolism-boosting, inflammation-busting spices like cinnamon and ginger, with a heavy hit of mineral-rich molasses.
Healthy 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms
Yes it IS “that peanut butter cookie with the Hershey’s kiss on top” turned into a 5-ingredient, super healthy cookie! It literally tastes like peanut butter fudge and uses ingredients that are linked to better digestion and blood sugar control.
Healthy Black and White Cookies
This recipe brings you right back to your favorite New York City bodega in the snow, with cake-like cookie and glazed frosting. Dare I say, these are better than the classics because they’re made with healthy ingredients that come together in a pinch with grain-free and refined sugar-free mix and frosting.
Healthy Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake
This is the healthy recipe to make RIGHT before you sit down to watch your favorite holiday movie. It’s so healthy – like basically the same ingredients as baked oats except in CAKE form. Plus, it’s ready to go in under 2 minutes in your microwave.
Cranberry Rosemary Digestive Mocktail
This can be enjoyed as a mocktail or cocktail (just add vodka!), and it’s SO CUTE to sip on at holiday parties and throughout the holiday to feel festive, healthy and less bloated during an indulgent season.
Cranberry Orange Pancake Bread
This healthy breakfast recipe is one of my FAVORITE traditions to make and eat on Christmas morning, and honestly, snack on all day long. It’s just so delicious and perfect to share with family and friends. Plus, it’s refined-sugar free, grain free, and dairy free.
Snow-Dusted Healthy Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes
If the allure of chocolate and peppermint isn’t enough to kick-start the cravings, you HAVE to make these for the frosting – the frosting! It tastes like the creamiest candy cane you’ve ever had. Don’t think twice. They’re healthy, ok?
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