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Healthy Holiday Treats

What makes the holidays merry? — Good food and good company. But as the holidays approach, parties and gatherings become numerous, and with each party comes the challenge of keeping your commitment to healthful eating. We’ve created a healthy spin on some festive favorites so that you can eat, drink and be merry this season — without the guilt or extra pounds!

 8 HEALTHY HOLIDAY TREATS:

1. DARK CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY ALMOND BARKDark Chocolate Cranberry Almond Bark

INGREDIENTS:

  • 10 oz. dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
  • ⅔  cup all-natural, chopped almonds
  • ½ cup dried, unsweetened cranberries

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper.
  2. Melt chocolate chips with coconut oil in microwave.
  3. Once melted, stir in half of the almonds and half of the cranberries.
  4. Pour into prepared pan and top with remaining almonds & cranberries.
  5. Gently press down so the almonds & cranberries set.
  6. Freeze for 1 hour and break into pieces (about 18, 1-inch squares).

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 18 Calories Total Fat Carbs Fiber Protein
Per Serving: 106 7g 10g 2g 1.5g

2. NO-BAKE COCONUT MAPLE PROTEIN BITESNo-Bake Coconut Maple Bites

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 scoops vanilla whey protein powder
  • ⅓ cup coconut butter
  • 1 ½ tbsp. maple extract
  • 30 drops of stevia
  • 3 tbsp. unsweetened almond milk

       Topping:

  • ⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
  2. Form 12 round balls and roll in shredded coconut
  3. Place in refrigerator for at least 1 hour until ready to be served.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 12 Calories Total Fat Carbs Sugars Protein
Per Serving: 89 5g 2g 0.6g 8.8g

3. CHOCOLATE BROWNIE FUDGE SQUARESChocolate Brownie Fudge Squares

INGREDIENTS:

  • ½ cup oat flour
  • ¼ cup coconut flour
  • 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
  • 3 tbsp Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ⅓ cup baking stevia (or 6-9 individual packets)
  • ¾ cup liquid egg whites
  • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
  • ½ cup 100% pure canned pumpkin
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a baking dish with a no-calorie cooking spray.
  2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until batter is smooth.
  3. Pour batter into dish and spread evenly.
  4. Optional: Top with shredded coconut, chopped nuts or sea salt.
  5. Bake for 18-22 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean).
  6. Cool for 15-20 minutes and cut into 16 even squares.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 16 Calories Total Fat Carbs Fiber Protein
Per Serving: 41 0.7g 5g 2g 4g

 

4. SINLESS  SNICKERDOODLES

Sinless Snickerdoodles

INGREDIENTS:

       Cookies:

  • 3 cups oat flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 scoops vanilla whey protein powder (could sub for cinnamon roll flavor)
  • 1 cup melted coconut oil
  • ½ cup coconut sugar (can be substituted with baking stevia)*
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

       Topping:

  • ¼ cup cinnamon
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar (can be substituted with baking stevia)*

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
  2. Combine flour, baking powder and protein powder in a medium-sized bowl.
  3. In a large bowl mix together coconut oil, sugar, honey, eggs and vanilla extract.
  4. Add dry mixture to wet mixture and stir until smooth.
  5. Mix together topping ingredients (cinnamon and sugar).
  6. Roll the dough into 25-30 balls and roll them in topping mixture so they are evenly coated.
  7. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 7-10 minutes.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 30 Calories Total Fat Carbs Sugars Protein
Per Serving: 144 8.4g 12g 3.6g 4.7g

*With baking stevia: Calories: 132/ Carbs: 9g / Sugars: 1.2g

5. DARK CHOCOLATE TRUFFLESDark Chocolate Truffles

INGREDIENTS:

      Truffles:

       Toppings:

  • ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ¼ cup finely chopped almonds
  • ¼ cup baking cocoa

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Soak pitted dates in warm water for 10 minutes.
  2. Remove dates from water and chop into small pieces.
  3. Blend milk and half of the dates in a blender on medium to high speed.
  4. Add baking cocoa, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and remaining dates, and blend thoroughly.
  5. Put toppings (coconut, almonds & cocoa) into three separate bowls.
  6. Form 15 small balls with truffle mixture and roll them in the toppings of your choice.
  7. Place truffles on wax paper and freeze for a minimum of 6 hours.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 15 Calories Total Fat Carbs Fiber Protein
Per Serving: 85 1.2g 19.5g 2.1g 1g

6. HEALTHY APPLE CRISPHealthy Apple Crisp

INGREDIENTS:

       Apple Mix:

  • 2 medium apples
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp baking stevia       

       Crumble Mix:

  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • ½ cup oat flour (can be store bought or made at home by grinding oats in a blender)
  • ¼ cup whole old fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 scoops vanilla whey protein powder
  • 1 tbsp water
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a small pie dish with a calorie-free non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Wash and cut apples into small chunks (remove core and seeds).
  3. Mix remaining “Apple Mix” ingredients (cinnamon & stevia) until the apples are well coated.
  4. Spread the apples evenly in the bottom of the baking dish.
  5. Combine all “Crumble Mix” ingredients together in a bowl and mix until it becomes crumbly.
  6. Top the apples evenly with the crumble mix.
  7. Bake 15-20 minutes or until apples are soft.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 4 Calories Total Fat Carbs Sugars Protein
Per Serving: 235 8g 25g 8.6g 16g

7. BUTTERSCOTCH BLONDIESButterscotch Blondies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 (15 oz) can unsalted, or low-sodium garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 3 tablespoons of almond butter (could substitute with peanut butter)
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/3 cup oat flour
  • 1/3 cup  stevia
  • 1/2 cup original unsweetened almond milk
  • 3/4 tsp instant coffee granules
  • 3/4 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbs butterscotch chips

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and spray a 9 x 9 pan with calorie-free non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Place garbanzo beans, almond butter, egg whites and almond milk in a food processor or high powered blender and mix until smooth.
  3. Add all other ingredients (except the butterscotch chips) and blend until thoroughly combined.
  4. Pour batter into prepared pan and top with butterscotch chips.
  5. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Let cool before cutting in 9 pieces, and store in refrigerator.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 9 Calories Total Fat Carbs Fiber Protein
Per Serving: 120 4.8g 15g 3g 4.5g

 

8. (FLOUR-LESS) CHEWY CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT CRUNCH COOKIESChewey Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 cup of Ideal™  powdered sugar (or other naturally sweetened, sugar-free confectionery sweetener)
  • 1/2 cup Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/8 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp fat-free milk
  • 1/8 cup Andes™ peppermint crunch baking chips

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper, or foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
  2. Mix together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
  3. Place egg whites and milk in another small bowl, and stir to combine.
  4. Mix wet and dry ingredients together, until just combined, but don’t over beat.
  5. Drop cookie batter onto prepared baking sheet to make 12 cookies. Sprinkle peppermint chips on cookies, dividing evenly between cookies.
  6. Bake cookies for 15 minutes, and enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Total Servings: 12 Calories Total Fat Carbs Sugars Protein
Per Serving: 66 2g 19g 2g 2g

 

View more healthy recipes here.

About the Author

, Celebrity Personal Trainer and Fitness & Nutrition Expert headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. He specializes in helping men and women achieve weight loss, muscle building, toning and other customized fitness & nutrition programs to create a Healthy Lifestyle. James offers private luxury personal training, 12-week custom workout plans, and personalized nutrition meal plans. Follow on Google+.

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