The holidays are an especially difficult time when following a diet. It is a challenge to see everyone around you indulging in sweets and feel like you are missing out. Fortunately, there are ways to indulge in sweets without blowing your diet, and the following three recipes are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of healthy options.
1. Paleo Gingerbread Cookies
Nothing says the holiday season like gingerbread cookies. Unfortunately, too many recipes call for loads of sugar. This recipe, however, is paleo-friendly and doesn't sacrifice flavor.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium sweet potato
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1/4 cup tahini paste
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/3 cup coconut flour
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°.
- Before cooking, wash the sweet potato and dry it. Spear with a knife a few times. Microwave until soft, typically five to six minutes.
- In a medium-sized bowl, scoop out the insides of the potato. Add the molasses, ginger, cloves, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, coconut flour, and tahini. Start stirring to combine the ingredients; as the dough thickens, use your hands to continue mixing.
- Placing the dough on a baking sheet, shape individual cookies, approximately 1/4-inch thick and 2 1/2-inch diameter.
- Place in the oven and bake for a minimum of 10-minutes.
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2. Apple Crisp
Apples are a healthy option, but they typically lose a lot of benefits when thrown into pies and desserts. This dessert maintains the nutrition and avoids a lot of the pitfalls of other sweets.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups apples peeled, sliced in 1/4 inch thick pieces
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
Crisp Topping:
- 1 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/3 cup pecans, chopped
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°, and grease an 8x8 baking dish.
- Prepare the apples by peeling and cutting them into slices. Toss the apples in a bowl with cinnamon, melted coconut oil, and ginger and set aside.
- Mix all the ingredients for the crisp topping together in a separate dish.
- Layer the baking dish first with the apple mixture, followed by the crisp topping layer.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes at 350°. Remove the cover and bake until apples are fork-tender with a golden brown topping, about another 10 to 20-minutes.
3. Pumpkin Spice Latte
Want to add a little oomph to your espresso? This recipe is healthy and flavorful, and it doesn't take too long to make.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoon pumpkin puree
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/4 cup espresso
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions:
- Warm the almond milk in a suitable saucepan and whisk in the maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and spice. Combine thoroughly. There is no need to bring the mix to a boil.
- Make the espresso while waiting for the milk mixture to heat.
- To froth the mixture, you can use a frother or whisk vigorously in the pan.
- Finally, pour the milk mixture into a mug, top with the espresso, and enjoy.
There is no reason you can't enjoy the holidays with a sweet treat. There are plenty of healthy recipes out there, but these three represent some of the best.
What are your favorite holiday treats? Comment below.
ENJOY READING.