Delectable Desserts for a Delightful Holiday
Desserts and the holidays go hand in hand, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Making small tweaks to traditional recipes means that you can enjoy healthier holiday sweets at all of your get togethers this season. Try out these delicious dessert recipes!
MEAL ONE:
Baked Pears with Honey, Cranberries, and Pecans
Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar found in fruit. It’s also the sweetest of the naturally occurring carbohydrates, which means it’s a great option for dessert since very little added sugar is needed to satisfy your sweet tooth! This recipe takes advantage of the sweetness of pears and pairs it with crunchy nuts, tart cranberries, and seasonal spices. It’s a beautiful dessert to present on your holiday table this year! You can top it with low-fat Greek yogurt, a dollop of whipped cream, or enjoy it plain.
MEAL TWO:
No Bake Gingerbread Date Balls
Gingerbread has a long history of being associated with the holiday season. Instead of gingerbread houses or gingerbread people this year, try this super easy and super delicious no bake dessert! Dates are a great way to bring sweetness to a recipe without adding extra sugar, and the combination of spices enhances the flavor. You can roll these treats in chopped pecans or even unsweetened coconut flakes for even more yum!
MEAL THREE:
Sufganiyot (Israeli Donuts)
Sufganiyot, pronounced soof-gahn-eeyot, is a traditional food found at Hanukkah celebrations. Many describe it as a cross between a beignet and a jelly doughnut. While this one may be more labor intensive than other holiday desserts, the end results are more than worth it. Who doesn’t love a warm doughnut?! Since these are fried in oil, this recipe is a great example of enjoying treats in moderation and around special times of the year.
MEAL FOUR:
Pavlova
This dessert was named after a famous Russian ballerina named Anna Pavlova who was touring in Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. It’s a meringue-based dessert, so it has a slightly crispy outside crust but is soft and fluffy inside. Making a pavlova is a little bit of a science experiment since each ingredient plays an important role in the recipe turning out! When beaten, egg whites become fluffy and provide volume to the dessert, sugar stabilizes the egg whites and creates the crispy texture on the outside, and cream of tartar keeps the egg whites filled with air to add to the marshmallow-y inside. I would top with fresh fruit for serving!
MEAL FIVE:
Chocolate Covered Oranges
Let’s wrap this holiday dessert meal plan up with an easy, delicious recipe! After a heavier meal, it’s nice to have something light and fresh available for dessert. You could use oranges, strawberries, or other fruit as well!