Is it possible to have a healthy Christmas with no time pressure?
Try these light make-ahead Christmas Desserts.
Healthy Christmas menu with no time pressure?
Who wants to spend the days of Christmas in the kitchen? I definitely don’t. What about putting our feet up and relax with friends and family?
Oh, and of course not giving up our healthy eating standards…
My strategy to a relaxed Christmas is the combination of good planning and practical approach.
I mean it is really time to make a plan, put together a budget-friendly shopping list and resist all other temptation in the shop. And there is a lot of this last one: new products, 3-for2 discounts and price-cutting wherever you look. Everyone wants you to buy their product before Christmas… So may the force be with you… while you are doing your Christmas shopping.
On the practical approach, I mean that we don’t have to aim the most complicated (and calorie loaded) recipe at Christmas time. A simple, satisfying dish well presented is a better choice than a new and complicated recipe. I know that Christmas seems to be a good occasion to bake the show-stopper cake of your life – but in the middle of a stressful and tiring time of the year, – this is just the recipe for disaster. I learnt this on the hard way… So believe me, a simple, nutritious festive dish is a better choice.
It is also an advantage if you can make things ahead. Like these light make-ahead Christmas desserts listed below.
So what will satisfy our sweet tooth this Christmas?
I always plan a 3 kind of dessert for Christmas:
- One lovely dessert what can be the grand finale of our Christmas lunch/dinner
- Some cookies or simple cakes to offer to guests for tea
- Nuts and dried fruits with a festive twist and/or fresh fruits, of course
Now, I’ve already made my search and found a few inspiring and delicious recipes.
Adding the cooking time and the make-ahead time I share them here to help you at planning your Christmas meals with ease.
Healthy and delicious Christmas desserts
Mixed berry granite
from Healthy Food Guide
A lovely dessert without the sin and with all the health benefits of berries. The perfect dessert after a rich Christmas dinner.
Ready in 10 mins +freezing time
Make 2-3 days ahead
Chocolate Decadence
from Eating Well Magazine
There is just a few more luxury dessert than chocolate mousse. This one is a lighter version and still taste heaven – just watch your serving size!
Ready in 3 hours (with 35 minutes preparation time)
Make 2 days ahead and keep it refrigerated
Spiced poached apples
from Healthy Food Guide
This effortless dessert is just so wintery with the warming spices. I’ve made something similar with pear and red wine last year and it was a pure hit. It is delicious both hot and cold.
Ready in 40 mins
Make 1-2 days ahead
Cranberry-Almond Shortbread Tart
from Fine Cooking
Well, the original recipe is not so healthy, but if you cut down half the sugar (or completely swap sugar to sweetener) in the filling and add 1 grated sweet apple you will get a healthier version of this impressive tart.
Ready in 60 mins
Make it 2 days ahead
Recipe: Cranberry-Almond shortbread Tart
Merry berry pavlova
from Healthy Food Guide
If you really want to go for the wow-factor then choose this recipe. Make the meringue ahead and make the finishing touches before serving.
Ready in 30 minutes plus 1,5 hours baking time
Make the meringue 2 weeks ahead, let it cool completely, wrap in cling film and freeze. Before serving let it come to room temperature make the topping (about 15 minutes) and build your pavlova.
Get the free pdf file of the
77 Healthy Snacks
x
Christmas tea cakes and biscuits
Cookies and tea cakes are perfect if you want to be prepared for expected or unexpected visitors. Usually, the dough can be made ahead and kept in the freezer – so the biscuits can be freshly baked and delicious on the day.
Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies
from All Day I Dream About Food
Low carb and easy-to-make cookies, but the serving size is still only 2 cookies per person.
Ready in 40 minutes
Make the dough 1-2 weeks ahead: form little discs from the raw dough and freeze on a lined tray (after about 4-6 hours you can transfer them into a freezer bag). When you are ready to bake, do not thaw them. Bake from frozen on a lined baking tray. Let it to cool and make the filling.
Recipe: Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies
Coconut, Cherry, and Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
From Better Homes and Gardens
These oatmeal cookies can have a festive touch if you substitute cherries with cranberries in the recipe.
Ready in 40 minutes
Make them 3 days ahead and keep them in an airtight container or freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe: Coconut, Cherry, and Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Double Nut & Date Mini Cakes
from Eating Well Magazine
Nuts and dates are a winning combination in the winter time. These lovely mini cakes cab be made 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container or freeze for up to 3 months.
Ready in 40 mins
Make them 3 days ahead
Recipe: Double Nut & Date Tassies
Walnut Biscuits with Raspberry Dip
from Go Mummy Healthy
Well, this recipe was posted in the summer time but they are very attractive on the Christmas menu too, just use frozen raspberries (or other berries) instead of fresh ones.
Ready in 30 minutes + 30 minutes to chill
Just like with the Chocolate-hazelnut cookies above make the dough 1-2 weeks ahead: form little discs from the raw dough and freeze on a lined tray (after about 4-6 hours you can transfer them into a freezer bag). When you are ready to bake, do not thaw them. Bake from frozen on a lined baking tray. Let it to cool and make the dip.
Recipe: Walnut Biscuits with Raspberry Dip
Get the free pdf file of the
77 Healthy Snacks
x
Christmas Nibbles
Lovely little bites or snack ideas are listed here – still in the festive mood.
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds
from Sally’s Baking Addiction
Simply chocolate and almonds – use good quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) to make this recipe and add salt sparingly. A good alternative to trail mix.
Ready in 15 minutes
Recipe: Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds
Last minute healthy bites
from Yummy Mummy DIY
Not one but 3 healthy snack idea in one. It is good when you want to offer just a few light bites to your guests or simply to snuggle up on the sofa with them and watch a good movie…
Ready in 20 minutes
Make the nuts 1-2 days before, the clementine segments need to be done just before serving.
Recipe: Last minute healthy bites
Superfood Chocolate Bark
from My Fussy Eater
Chocolate is always a winner, choose good quality chocolate to make this recipe and you can make your own variation using your favourite nuts/seeds and (dried or frozen dried) berries.
I would go for a chia-cranberry-cashew version here, but it’s your choice…
Ready in 13 minutes
Make it 1-2 weeks ahead.
Recipe: Superfood Chocolate Bark
Christmas trail mix
From Go Mummy Healthy
This is not just a good Christmas gift idea for a foodie friend – you will love it too. It is also perfect snack on the go.
Ready in 15 minutes
Make it one week ahead and keep it in an airtight container.
Fruits
I show you here a few ideas how to offer fruits as a festive dish. Because we need vitamins and fibre – even at Chrismas time.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, pomelo, grapefruits, tangerines and mandarins are always a good choice – but in winter they are obligatory. See their health benefits clicking on the link below.
Link: Citrus fruits
Edible fruit tree
From Ginger & Garlic
A creative and playful way to offer fruits to friends and family is a fruit Christmas tree. Just use your creativity here, no rules.
Prep time: 20 mins
Make it before serving
Healthy fruit snacks
from A Side of Sweet
Make these lovely fruit snacks in festive colours. Cranberry, green smoothie and lemon smoothies can give a Christmasy red-green-white colour combination at the end.
Prep time: 15 mins
Make it 5-6 days ahead
Healthy Veggie Christmas Tree Share Platter
from Learn With Play at Home
This idea can work both as an appetiser and as a healthy snack too. You can add walnuts, sundried tomatoes, grapes and apple pieces to this platter!
Ready in 20 minutes
Make a few hours ahead
Recipe: Healthy Veggie Christmas Tree Share Platter
Get the free pdf file of the
77 Healthy Snacks
x
Comments
