The holidays can be stressful enough without the added pressure of sticking to a healthy diet. But this year it doesn’t have to be that way! Enjoy the process of baking something delicious that is also healthy and nourishing for your body. Gluten-free baking can be daunting, but the key is to be open to experimenting, taste-testing and refining. There are also plenty of ways to accommodate any dietary needs by substituting healthy ingredients for not-so-healthy ones. These recipes can be made dairy-free with coconut butter and sugar-free with maple syrup or coconut sugar, so you can feel even better knowing they won’t throw you off track when it comes to healthy eating. One of these recipes is sure to become a holiday favorite that you can’t wait to make year after year!
Paleo Almond Cookies
If you are searching for a quick and easy cookie recipe to whip up this holiday season, look no further! These paleo almond cookies from Gluten-Free Baking are dubbed the “world’s easiest cookies.” They come together with only four ingredients and just a few minutes of your time. These little bites are also dairy- and refined-sugar-free and offer the perfect base for decorating with dark chocolate, nuts or dried fruit.
Chocolate Chip Pecan Sweet Potato Breakfast Cookies
These hearty breakfast cookies are the perfect way to start off the day! They are sweetened without refined sugar, and the healthy fats from the sweet potato, coconut oil and nuts will keep you feeling full until lunchtime.
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cake
This holiday staple cake recipe from Foolproof Living is sure to impress your family and friends at your next holiday meal! It is a beautiful dessert, and the list of ingredients makes it even better. The recipe calls for unsweetened cocoa and almond butter for flavor and richness and maple syrup and coconut sugar to sweeten naturally. The cake comes together with a simple cranberry compote and maple whipped cream.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms
A healthy take on the classic cookie! These peanut butter blossoms from Gluten- Free Baking can be made dairy-free with coconut oil or dairy-free butter, and you can substitute the Hershey’s Kiss for a chunk of dark chocolate if you’re looking for the perfect healthy topper. Roll these cookies in coconut sugar or colored sprinkles to maximize the holiday cheer.
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting (Paleo + Sugar-Free)
These bars from Caroline’s Kitchen are so delicious, you would never guess that they are healthy, too! This recipe calls for Lakanto, which is a sugar substitute, but you could easily swap it for another non-refined sugar option. Even the cream cheese frosting is as healthy as can be: it calls for almond milk cream cheese, coconut butter, almond milk and Lakanto. These spicy bars are an instant classic.
The holidays are the perfect time for baking, but it can be hard to stick to your diet with all the goodies around. These treats not only taste good but are good for you, too!
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