We all know that the holiday season can really heap the pounds on if we are not careful and whilst this is not easy to avoid, there are some steps which you can take to minimize just how many calories you take on. The holiday season is not a time to be super weight conscious but there is not point in gluttony and I have some treats which are pretty healthy and can help you to get in the festive spirit, whilst being able to watch your waistline at the same time.
Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
Just the word chocolate has the power to add a few pounds but not with this super healthy, super simple festive classic. To make these little bundles of joy, add cocoa powder, apple sauce ( you won’t taste it,) honey and peppermint extract into a bowl. Once you have the ingredients together, simply mix it together. Once you have your mixture, roll them up into small balls and place in the fridge to set for a couple of hours. If you are a vegan, you should use high percentage cacao powder and some agave syrup instead of honey, the perfect Xmas treat.
Cranberry and Cream Cheese Cookies
I am quiet a demanding person and I not only need healthy treats, but also simple to make treats, step forward the cranberry cookie. For these you will need, flour, baking powder, salt, spices and cornstarch. The wet ingredients which you’ll need are melted butter, cream cheese and some blended pumpkin, we don’t use eggs in this recipe as the pumpkin helps to bind all of the mixture. Add some granulated sugar to the mixture and whisk it all together. Once you have finished your mixture, add your cookie mix in disc shapes on a pre-heated baking tray with greaseproof paper, and place them in the oven for 15-17 minutes. The cookies will stay fresh in a tupperware for around a week, but once you have tasted them, I’m pretty sure that you won’t be able to hold out that long!
Eggnog Fudge
Nothing says Christmas like eggnog and we have incorporated that into a festive treat which everyone will love, especially those who are looking to stay slim. Fudge is not easy to make so you must be careful. Using a medium saucepan, add a cup of eggnog, 2 cups of sugar, 2tbsp of butter and around 3-4 oz of white cooking chocolate. You must stir this mixture constantly to ensure that it thickens and then after bringing the mixture to the boil, pour it into a grease proofed baking tray and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, before cutting it into small and delicious fudge pieces. You may need to have a couple of cracks at this, but the final result is amazing and it is well worth it. The fudge will keep for 5 or 6 days in the fridge.
What are your favorite healthy festive treats? Got any recipes to share with us? If so then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
