The holidays are upon us, which means there will be gooey chocolate chip cookies and homemade pie at the ready. (who complains). While it’s the season to indulge a little more, if you’re looking to stay on track, there are healthy and delicious dessert recipes so you don’t have to sweat the sweets this year.
“A lot of people don’t realize that there are healthy alternatives to holiday sweets.” Says chef Christine Cheesman and mother of three. And, with a few tweaks, swaps, and confidence in the kitchen, you’ll enjoy these tasty, healthy holiday dessert recipes all season long.
With that, Chef Chessman has come up with protein-packed, easy-to-make desserts perfect for holiday feasts minus the guilt (and bloating).
Chef Christine’s tips for making healthy dessert recipes (without sacrificing flavor)
1. Cut the sugar
Not quite, i.e. “Cut the amount of sugar in half and/or use a sugar substitute containing stevia”. Chief Chessman said. “Try to stay away from artificial sweeteners and instead use natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, dates or coconut sugar.” She recommends.
2. Move over margarine
Replacing margarine with coconut oil, avocado oil or ghee will keep your desserts creamy and flavorful without unwanted bad fats.
3. Add tasty bling
“Add mini chocolate chips, natural sprinkles or other textured toppings to entice the family toward healthier desserts.” Chief Cheesman said. A little “tasty bling” on the outside does wonders to attract people to healthy options.
4. Don’t swap these flours
Unless you want your desserts to be as hard as a rock, “Don’t use coconut flour in place of wheat flour, because coconut flour is not a 1:1 substitute wheat flour.” Chief Cheesman said.
5. Be brave and creative in the kitchen
Even if you’re not a seasoned baker, “it can be fun to experiment with new recipes and ideas. Chief Cheesman said. Think outside the box and invite family members to get involved.
6. Always practice portion control
Even though healthier desserts are better for you and possibly more nutritious, that doesn’t mean we should eat the whole plate. Store excess candy in the freezer instead of the counter to help ration treats; We are less tempted to eat treats when they are out of sight. Chief Chessman recommends.
