35 Better-For-You Christmas Desserts That Only Taste Like They’re On The Naughty List

A cookie box filled with a wide assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors is such a treat to gift during the holidays. These peppermint meringues are the perfect addition to add a pop of color and fun. They practically scream “holiday!”, are low-calorie, and taste fantastic as well.

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You won't believe these little cookies only have six ingredients, not including a pinch of salt (most of which you probably already have on hand!). We made 'em mini so you (and Santa!) can eat more than one. 😊

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Come Christmastime, here might be nothing more stunning than a deep red velvet cake covered in snowy white frosting. Thanks to this recipe, even those following a low-carb diet can enjoy! Try sprinkling with crushed sugar-free candy canes for the perfect holiday dessert.

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This version of the classic holiday cocktail has similar flavor and texture to original eggnog, but is dairy-free and vegan-friendly! The richness, thickness, and luscious creamy texture that usually comes from eggs and heavy cream is achieved with both cashews and full-fat coconut milk in this recipe.

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You already know about chocolate-covered strawberries, but have you tried chocolate-dipped oranges? They make your favorite winter citrus a little extra-special.

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If you love candy brittle and are as obsessed with brownies as we are, then this brownie brittle will be your new favorite snack. Crisp and crunchy with deep cocoa flavor, this sweet bark is insanely easy to make, and a little better for you than your average chocolate-y treat (i.e., you can have more than one!).

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Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg are what make gingerbread cookies taste so nostalgic and Christmas-y. Not carbs. These easy low-carb gingerbread cookies are so adorable, you won't even miss the molasses.

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The perfect homemade fruit sorbet is creamy, smooth, and just as easy as making homemade ice cream. We show you how to use strawberries and raspberries here, but any fruit will work. As long as you keep the same proportions, you can totally get creative.

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Soft, buttery, with crispy edges, these are the classic, quintessential sugar cookie, veganized and ready to bring to any of your holiday gatherings. Whether frosted, sprinkled, or eaten plain right out of the oven, we can't get enough of them.

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Christmas pudding might not be the dessert you make every year, but we are here to suggest you start! This one is gluten-free which will help give you a break from all of the heavy (but delicious) desserts on the table. Full of dried fruit and nuts and topped with a brandy sauce, what's not to love?

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These cookies are seriously magical. Super-easy to make and without any flour, you can feel good about eating way more than just one. Make sure neither your coconut oil or butter is melted. You want them both solid at room temperature, or the cookies will spread too much while baking.

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Peppermint Patties were developed in 1940 at a store in York, Pennsylvania. The guy behind the York Cone Company, Henry Kessler, made sure the patties had that perfect “snap.” The company became one with Hershey in the late 1980s, and the candy is now synonymous with the brand. The more you know!

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Poaching slightly under-ripe pears makes them tender and sweetens them, while allowing them to maintain their structure. Once poached, they can be served warm or cold, garnished with a caramel reduction of the cooking liquid, and accompanied with everything from dairy-free ice cream to whipped cream to yogurt.

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This recipe is as straightforward as cookies go: Everything goes into just one bowl and you don't even need a hand mixer. 😍 The one key here is to give your dough sufficient resting time so that the almond flour can fully hydrate and give you a more delish cookie.

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Making your hot chocolate with heavy cream instead of milk doesn't just make it keto-friendly, it also makes it SO much better. Sweeten it with your favorite low-carb sweetener (we like Swerve) to make it the best warm winter drink there is.

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If you're not one for greasy frying, the air fryer is a solid option for these classic Italian desserts. The shells crisp up beautifully without any excess oil. We could hardly believe it either!

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No offense to the Chipwich, but nothing compares to a classic ice cream sandwich—the kind with soft rectangular chocolate cookies on both ends. This recipe is gluten-free, keto-friendly, and just as delicious as the iconic store-bought treats you grew up with.

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Eggnog is one of the best ways we know how to celebrate the holidays so, naturally, we had to turn some into mini cheesecakes. Using a gingersnap for the crust makes these extra-easy and taste even more seasonal. Feel free to use store-bought or homemade cookies and nog; these will turn out great either way.

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These gluten-free Christmas cookies are perfect—fudgy in the middle and crispy on the outside. And you only need 6 ingredients to make them!

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These shortbread bites are one of our absolute favorite cookies to bake around the holidays. They're even easier to pull together than sugar cookies, and you can eat as many of them as you like.

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Thanks to a couple of smart swaps and a special ingredient or two, we bet you might not even be able to guess this chocolate cake is completely egg- and dairy-free (meaning it’s perfect for when you’re low on ingredients this holiday season too).

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These snowball cookies are big on walnut flavor, just how we like them. A perfect recipe to make with kids, we’re adding this one to our permanent holiday rotation.

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What makes this cookie “healthy”? We decreased the usual amounts of butter and sugar with some help from applesauce, which provides sweetness and moisture to the dough without additional fat. Plus, this cookie is made from mostly oats, which are a great source of vitamins and fiber.

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This coconut ice cream is no joke. Not only is it dairy-free, but it's completely vegan too. It's ultra-creamy with a sweet coconut flavor that only gets better topped with toasted coconut. We love it with the real vanilla bean, but you can easily use an additional teaspoon of vanilla extract if you don't have any.

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Just because you're vegan doesn't mean you have to miss out on rich, decadent brownies. Personally, we're going to turn this recipe into a plant-based version of our Christmas tree brownies, but you do you!

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These mini cheesecake bites are the easiest way to show Santa you deserve to be on the nice list this Christmas. Bonus: You can top any holiday treat with these adorable little hats—cupcakes, cookies, Jell-O shots...

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Peppermint bark is THE Christmas candy we cannot wait to get our hands on every holiday season. Luckily for you, you can make a batch in just 10 minutes flat, without any added mystery ingredients.

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The idea that vegan desserts can't be delicious is a total myth. These cookies are dangerously good—a bit crisp on the edges and pleasantly chewy in the centers—perfect for leaving out for Santa or sharing with family and friends.

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If you're looking for the ultimate paleo-friendly dessert, these sweet and salty brownies are for you. These are more than just a brownie alternative, but a delicious dessert that also just happens to be paleo-approved!

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Keto desserts can be tricky, but luckily, these Oreos are super-simple! The black cocoa gives it that iconic dark color, and the deep chocolate flavor makes them taste just like your favorite cookie!

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