We’ve come to the time of the year when it seems impossible to avoid sugary snacks, desserts, and sweets! Whether it’s leftover Halloween candy, Thanksgiving desserts or the upcoming schedule of holiday events for work, school, friends and family; November and December are not easy times when it comes to following a healthy diet. However, we’re here to tell you that with a little planning and attention, you CAN have your cake without sacrificing good nutrition and holiday fun.
Healthy Desserts With Hidden Vegetables
These nine desserts are all perfect for a workplace potluck, holiday cookie-swap, or party, and feature a healthy dose of vegetables. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how these delicious, guilt-free recipes will put you in a festive mood without putting on lots of extra pounds!
Holiday Spinach Cake
Get the recipe from Cracker Box Kitchen
This festive cake gets its lovely green color through spinach – but don’t worry, you’ll get all the vitamins and nutrients without it tasting like your lunch-time salad! Serve with slices of Delicious Apples for a beautiful red and green holiday presentation.
Zucchini Coffee Cake
Get the recipe from Pinch of Yum
Holidays can be tough in the workplace if you’re trying to follow a healthy diet! Skip the drive-through donuts and store bought cookies and contribute this zucchini coffee cake when it’s your turn to bring in a sweet treat for the breakroom.The cake can be made without or without the cinnamon sugar middle layer depending on your taste preference.
This is one of those coffee cakes you’ll love for breakfast, snack time or dessert and unlike packaged coffee cakes, has a healthy dose of zucchini in it!
Carrot Cake Bars
Get the recipe from Happy Healthy Mamma
Carrot cake is a holiday staple, but often it can be packed with unnecessary sugars and fat. These healthy, no-bake carrot cake bars are low in sugar and naturally sweetened with dates, raisins, and a touch of maple syrup. This recipe is also gluten-free, using rolled oats but no flour or wheat. For the frosting, you can use cream cheese or a non-dairy substitute, and sweeten it with liquid stevia or maple syrup depending on your preference.
Cauliflower Dessert Pizza
Get the recipe from Kiss My Broccoli Blog
If you’re following a wheat-free or gluten-free diet, chances are you’ve tried cauliflower crust pizza using “riced” cauliflower. In this desert version, the crust is given a bit of holiday spice with sweetener and cinnamon and comes out tender and chewy. The topping can be anything of your choosing! Here are a few suggestions…
- dark chocolate pudding, pomegranate seeds, coconut, and almonds.
- thawed frozen blueberries blended with Greek yogurt, shredded coconut, almonds, and a bit of lemon zest.
- peanut butter, banana, cacao nibs, crumbled graham crackers, and healthy chocolate sauce.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless!
Kale Brownies
Get the recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie
These kale brownies are rich and delicious with little flecks of green in them, adding to their holiday festiveness. You can top them with your favorite kinds of ice cream or whipped cream, too!
Red Velvet Beet Cupcakes
Get the recipe from Yummy Healthy Easy
These Red Velvet Beet Cupcakes are fluffy, decadent and a bit healthier than their traditional counterpart, as they use beets in place of red food coloring to achieve their rich red color.
Cucumber Basil Sorbet
Get the recipe from Scaling Back Blog
If you live in a part of the country that isn’t cold in December, you’ll love this festive (and cooling) cucumber basil sorbet. It’s a refreshing sweet treat that you’ll enjoy serving over and over again.
Pumpkin Pie Chocolate Chip Cookies
Get the recipe from Amy’s Healthy Baking
Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies mash it up with pumpkin pie! These are easy to make and perfect for a baking activity with kids. They’ll never guess they’re healthy and we’re certain they won’t last long!
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Muffins and Sweet Potato Caramel Sauce
Get the recipe from The Vegan 8
Here’s a two-for-one sweet potato treat! First, there are the sweet potato muffins – soft and light, with a wonderful cinnamon flavor but then there is the dairy-free, vegan, caramel sauce…..using sweet potatoes! You can make both and serve them together, or you can make them separately. We recommend making extra caramel sauce as it’s an excellent topping on ice cream, fruit or even your morning oatmeal!
Find More Healthy Dessert Ideas
Are you looking for more great ways to add vegetables to desserts? Check out our recent blog post “7 Must-try Desserts with Hidden Vegetables” and don’t forget to follow Tommy’s Superfoods on Pinterest. We have a whole board dedicated to desserts – some with hidden veggies and some that are just too tasty to pass up. We’re all about healthy eating, but every now and then there’s room for a sweet treat too…especially if it has sneaky vegetables hiding inside!
Once you try some of these suggestions, let us know what you think by posting in the comments or tagging us on social media. Happy holidays!
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