15 Healthier Holiday Desserts That Taste Like a Splurge (But Aren’t!)

Posted December 23, 2014

Christmas and Hanukkah are not the healthiest of holidays (oh hey, Christmas cookies and fried latkes), but a party buffet laden with celery and carrot sticks doesn’t exactly feel festive. This year, stock the dessert table with (slightly) healthier options like raw vegan truffles, low-fat cookies, and fruity sweets. These 15 recipes are decadent enough to feel special, but not so indulgent as to make you wish you wore a sweatsuit to the office holiday party.

Photo: Cake and Allie

1. Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies

Deck the halls with these easy (we promise!) tree-shaped meringue cookies. Made with egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, flavoring, and green food coloring, these trees are totally fat-free. Just stick to one if you’re watching your sugar intake.

2. Low-Fat Gingerbread Cookies

With just a few teaspoons of butter for the whole batch and applesauce in the batter, these cheery men won’t have you popping a button anytime soon. Decorate with white icing or go crazy with dried fruits, nuts, and candies.

3. Mexican Chocolate Silken Tofu Pudding

Yes, you heard that right. This cinnamon-spiced chocolate pudding gets its indulgent texture from tofu, not cream. As long as you’ve got a food processor or blender, this recipe is as simple as melting chocolate and pressing the “pulse” button.

4. Pistachio Sugarplums

Fun fact: Sugarplums don’t actually contain their namesake purple fruit. These lighter treats are made of dried fruit, nuts, and plenty of holiday spices. They also contain brandy, so keep these sugary treats at the adult table.

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