By: Health.com
Leave the belly to Santa
Preheat your oven and stock up on baking ingredients, because we've found 25 delicious seasonal treats for less than 300 calories per serving. Give them as gifts, bring them to parties, or set them out for Santa—everyone will enjoy something on a healthy eater's “nice” list.
1.) Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies
These festive sugar cookies add an edge to their simplicity with a sweet, lemony glaze.
2.) Buttermilk Pralines
Though this recipe seems rich, it relies on buttermilk, not butter, to create a mildly sweet flavor. And with a base of pecans, you'll get plenty of monounsaturated (good) fat.
Related Article: Conscious Holiday Gift Giving: 11 Awesome And Affordable Vibration Raising Gifts
3.) Mini Raspberry Tarts
These bite-size desserts look gourmet but are a cinch to bake. Substitute strawberries, blueberries, or other fruits as a topping.
4.) White Chocolate Holiday Bark
Sweet and crunchy, every bite of this festive candy is loaded with heart-healthy dried cranberries and antioxidant-rich almonds. Kids can also help stir in ingredients and will love breaking the bark once it has set.
5.) Linzer Thumbprints
Raspberry jam and toasted hazelnuts make this cookie recipe hard to resist, and for 87 calories, you don’t have to.
6.) Turtle Bars
Making your own caramel and cookie dough helps you control the calories.
Related Article: Here are THE Best EVER Easy And Delicious Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
7.) Chewy Ginger Cookies
These cookies rely on plenty of ginger and molasses to add natural sugar and spice.
8.) Cranberry-Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies taste so decadent your kids won't know they're packed with whole wheat, fiber-rich oats, and omega-3-rich walnuts.