Make These Healthy Desserts to Stay Balanced Over the Holidays

After all those Christmas cookies, is anybody else feeling like they need a cleanse? It can be tempting to simply cut out sweets entirely if you’re trying to eat healthily. That’s where the calories are, after all, right? 

But an occasional nutritious sweet treat over the holiday is ok. Choose the right healthy desserts and you can make your holiday sweet and healthy. It will make you feel enjoy eating well and afterward feeling well. 

For safe holiday treats, here are five recipes that taste good and make you feel even better. For you and your guests to devour during the holidays, click through the yummy, seasonally on-point treats.

Image Source: Pillsbury 

Poached Rhubarb with Yogurt

Fresh poached rhubarb is shockingly simple to produce, and it’s the perfect sweet way to finish a meal when combined with good yogurt and homemade granola. 

In a large skillet, blend the rhubarb, maple syrup, and 2 tablespoons of water. Cook, stirring periodically, over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until the syrup is only bubbly. 

Turn off the heat, cover loosely with a lid or parchment paper, and let sit for 4 to 6 minutes until the rhubarb is soft but still retains its shape and color. Absolutely cool. Serve side by side with yogurt and granola.

Gluten-Free Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Would you like to know about the hero ingredient for this? Spinach. You’re not really going to believe that these cookies have greens in them, but they totally do. The spinach helps to make this alternative safe recipe extra festive. 

Bake for about 12-14 minutes until they are just set, and the edges just start to harden and turn light brown. Before devouring, let them cool for five minutes. 

This simple recipe for a soft sugar cookie is also absolutely sugar-free. In this world, it is a real thing, and it means you get to eat lots and lots of cookies. 

If you don’t care for free sugar and want free grain, try these sugar cookies with almond flour! 

Blueberry Oat Bars

You’ll probably love these fruit-packed snacks if granola bars don’t really do it for you, but you want to munch on something easy and nutritious. 

Tip for Pro? Place a few in the freezer and defrost at your convenience if you want them to last a little longer than their expected shelf life. 

In a medium-sized pot set over high heat, add the 2 1/2 cups of blueberries, 1/3 cup of honey, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and use a potato masher or fork to break down and mash the blueberries until boiling. 

Continue cooking for 5-8 minutes or until half of the jam has decreased and thickened. Remove and let cool from the sun. Store in the refrigerator in a glass jar for up to two weeks.

Pistachio Raspberry Rosewater Semifreddo

With this spectacular Pistachio, raspberry, and rosewater semifreddo, make a festive dessert with a difference. 

Grease a loaf pan 6cm-deep, 19cm x 9cm (base). Line with baking paper, allowing both long ends to have a 5cm overhang. In a heatproof dish, place the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar. 

Place a bowl over a saucepan of low-heat simmering water (see note). Whisk for 4 to 5 minutes or until creamy and thick, and remove from the heat. Whisk until cold, or for 4 to 5 minutes. 

Put the mixture into a large tub. Cream, pistachio, rosewater, and two-thirds of the raspberries are folded gently. Move the mixture to the prepared tray – cover and freeze overnight. 

Until turning on a plate at room temperature, stand for 5 minutes. Top with the raspberries left. Serve.

Blueberry Cobbler

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Combine the blueberries, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and orange juice into an 8-inch square baking dish. Only set aside. Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt completely in a small cup. Set aside. 

Creme the butter and 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla extract and egg. Add the flour mixture gradually, stirring only until the ingredients are mixed. 

Drop the batter over the blueberry mixture with rounded spoons. Try to cover the filling as much as possible. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in a preheated oven until the topping is golden brown and the filling bubbles.

Image Source: iFOODReal

Conclusion

Desserts can seem off-limits when health is a top priority, whether it’s because you’re dieting or just trying to make more healthy choices.  But the above desserts tread the line and can make you happy about dessert choices.