The holidays are a time to gather with friends and family, make memories and do some baking of course! Try these lightened up, more nutritious treats for a healthy and delicious holiday season.
Chocolate Chip Macaroons
These are fairly low calorie and wholesome cookies. Chewy and just lightly sweet as a perfect ending to a holiday meal.
Ingredients
2 cups unsweetened finely shredded coconut
½ cup honey
4 tablespoons white whole wheat or oat flour
½ cup liquid egg whites
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine the flour and coconut in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, beat together the eggs and honey. Slowly add the flour/coconut mixture to the larger bowl with the egg whites and honey until thoroughly mixed. Drop in small spoonfuls (preferably using a scooper) onto greased cookie sheets and bake 11-15 minutes, until tops are firm, and bottoms are very lightly browned.
Makes about 30 cookies.
Serving size: 1 cookie: Calories 61 Protein 1 g Carb 6 g Fiber 1 g Sugars 5 g Fat 3.5 g Saturated fat 3.5 g Sodium 8mg
Variations: Stir in a few tablespoons of the following to fancy them up- chocolate chips, pecans, dried cranberries, raisins… (doing this will up the calories a bit)
Chocolate Cheerio Crispy Bars
These chocolatey bars are easy to make, provide protein and whole grains, and are great for a snack, dessert or decadent breakfast!
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy or crunchy almond butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups chocolate Cheerios
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- Parchment paper
Directions
Add the almond butter, honey, cocoa and sea salt to a microwave safe medium sized bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and mix well. Stir in the cheerios and chips, until well incorporated. Press mixture into an 8 by 8-inch pan. (Lining the pan with a large rectangular piece of parchment paper, placing the mixture on one side and then folding the paper over to press down works nicely since the dough is so sticky.) Refrigerate or freeze for at least one hour until very firm and then cut into 16 squares. Store in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container.
Makes 16 squares.
Serving size: 1 square: Calories 162 Protein 5 g Carb 18 g Fiber 3 g Sugars 10 g Fat 10 g Saturated fat 1.5 g Sodium 49 mg
Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprints
These no bake PB and J flavored treats are a quick to prepare, healthy dessert that are filling and delicious. Perfect to satisfy a sweet tooth after a meal or as a yummy snack with a glass of low-fat milk.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter, (pre-stirred type is best)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup of finely shredded unsweetened coconut, plus extra for rolling
- 1 tablespoon raspberry jam
- Wax or parchment paper
Directions
In a medium sized bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, salt and coconut and mix well. Chill dough in the fridge for at least an hour. Roll into 12 balls, coat in extra coconut while rolling. Press a small indentation in the middle of each and fill with a small amount of jam. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Makes 12 cookies.
Serving size: 1 cookie: Calories 92 Protein 3 g Carb 7 g Fiber 2 g Sugars 5 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat < 1g Sodium 78 mg
Hot Cocoa Protein Bites
These are like a cup of hot cocoa in protein-packed portable form! They are very easy to make and perfect for holiday snacks and parties.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter
- 6 tablespoons hot chocolate mix (pre-sweetened type) or 2 individual sized packets
- ½ cup of protein powder, preferably unflavored (such as egg white or whey protein)
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup mini marshmallows
Directions
In a medium sized bowl, combine the almond butter, hot chocolate mix, salt and mix well. Stir in protein powder, chocolate chips and marshmallows and mix some more. Roll into 14 balls. Store in the fridge. They also freeze well!
Makes 14 bites.
Serving size: 1 bite: Calories 94 Protein 6 g Carb 7 g Fiber 0.5 g Sugars 5 g Fat 6 g Saturated fat < 1g Sodium 55 mg