Photo: Yunhee Kim
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.
Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies
These festive sugar cookies add an edge to their simplicity with a sweet, lemony glaze.
Ingredients: Flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, eggs, pure vanilla extract, pure almond extract, confectioner's sugar, lemon juice
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 12 minutes; chill: 4 hours
Try this recipe: Whole-Wheat Sugar Cookies
Photo: Randy Mayor
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.
Ingredients: Sugar, buttermilk, light-colored corn syrup, baking soda, chopped pecans, butter, vanilla extract
Time: Cook: 25 minutes; stand: 20 minutes
Try this recipe: Buttermilk Pralines
Photo: John Kernick
Mini Raspberry Tarts
These bite-size desserts look gourmet but are a cinch to bake. Substitute strawberries, blueberries, or other fruits as a topping.
Ingredients: Refrigerated sugar cookie dough, 1/3-less fat block-style cream cheese, sugar, an orange, vanilla extract, fresh raspberries
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 11 minutes
Try this recipe: Mini Raspberry Tarts
Photo: Yunhee Kim
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.
Ingredients: Almonds, unsweetened coconut, rice cereal, dried cranberries, white chocolate
Time: Prep: 15 minutes; chill: 30 minutes
Try this recipe: White Chocolate Holiday Bark
Linzer Thumbprints
Raspberry jam and toasted hazelnuts make this cookie recipe hard to resist, and for 87 calories, you don’t have to.
Ingredients: Hazelnuts, Basic Cookie Dough, flour, cinnamon, lemon juice, raspberry jam
Time: Prep: 15 minutes; chill: 15 minutes
Try this recipe: Linzer Thumbprints
Turtle Bars
Making your own caramel and cookie dough helps you control the calories.
Ingredients: Bittersweet chocolate, basic cookie dough, milk, vanilla extract, pecans, sugar, light corn syrup, whipping cream
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 30 minutes
Try this recipe: Turtle Bars
Photo: Yunhee Kim
Chewy Ginger Cookies
These cookies rely on plenty of ginger and molasses to add natural sugar and spice.
Ingredients: Baking soda, ground and crystallized ginger, butter, an egg, molasses, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour
Time: Prep: 15 minutes; chill: 2 hours; bake: 15 minutes
Try this recipe: Chewy Ginger Cookies
Photo: Randy Mayor
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.
Ingredients: Flour, whole-wheat flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, dried cranberries, walnuts, semisweet chocolate mini chips, brown sugar, butter, honey, vanilla extract, eggs
Time: Prep: 10 minutes; chill: 8 hours; bake: 10 minutes
Try this recipe: Cranberry-Nut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Photo: John Kernick
Cinnamon Streusel Crisps
Throw these together last minute to add a little personal flair to packaged cookie dough. We guarantee you won't get any complaints with this holiday treat!
Ingredients: Refrigerated sugar-cookie dough, light brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, nutmeg
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 9 minutes
Try this recipe: Cinnamon Streusel Crisps
Chocolate Chip–Butterscotch Bars
Butterscotch adds richness without packing on too much fat.
Ingredients: Sugar, brown sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, pecans
Time: Prep: 15 minutes; cook: 35 minutes
Try this recipe: Chocolate Chip-Butterscotch Bars
Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
Peppermint Ice Cream Cake
This festive cake trumps candy canes any day. And the light icing made of whipped topping will leave you able to jingle-bell rock the rest of the night.
Ingredients: Unsweetened cocoa, butter, dark brown sugar, sugar, egg substitute, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, low-fat peppermint ice cream, fat-free whipped topping, peppermint extract, peppermint candies
Time: Prep: 10 minutes; bake: 28 minutes; freeze: 6 hours
Try this recipe: Peppermint Ice Cream Cake
Photo: Yunhee Kim
Coconut Chiffon Cupcakes With Marshmallow Frosting
A meringue-based frosting and a classic chiffon cake batter made with eggs and oil (instead of butter) give these dainty treats one-third the calories and fat of traditional cupcakes. Tell the kids that each was dusted with snow (unsweetened coconut).
Ingredients: Cake flour, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, baking powder, sweetened coconut, vanilla extract, cream of tartar, unsweetened coconut
Time: Prep: 35 minutes; cook: 20 minutes; cool: 20 minutes
Try this recipe: Coconut Chiffon Cupcakes With Marshmallow Frosting
Photo: Randy Mayor
Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies
Buttery and sweet with just the right amount of cinnamon, these simple cookies are a Christmas classic.
Ingredients: Sugar, butter, light corn syrup, vanilla extract, an egg, cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, turbinado sugar
Time: Prep: 10 minutes; chill: 1 hour; cook: 12 minutes
Try this recipe: Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies
Photo: Ryan Benyi
Gingerbread Cookies
This no-fuss dough gives you more time to spend on decorating your culinary creations.
Ingredients: Flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, butter, vegetable shortening, light brown sugar, molasses, an egg
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; chill: 4 hours; cook: 12 minutes
Try this recipe: Gingerbread Cookie
Fruit Jellies
These homemade candies are the perfect economical, edible gift. They're made with fresh juice and cost about a dime per serving!
Ingredients: Unflavored gelatin, fresh orange, lemon, or raspberry juice or puree, superfine sugar
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; chill: 1 hour
Try this recipe: Fruit Jellies
Photo: Jan Smith
Cream Cheese Meltaways With Lemon Glaze
These rich bites are the perfect thing to bring to a holiday party. They're festive, delicious, and less than 100 calories per serving.
Ingredients: Flour, cornstarch, powdered sugar, butter, low-fat cream cheese, vanilla extract, lemon juice
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 10 minutes; stand: 30 minutes
Try this recipe: Cream Cheese Meltaways With Lemon Glaze
Classic Iced Sugar Cookies
There's a reason these cookies are a classic—they provide relief for your sweet tooth while hovering around 100 calories per cookie. Be sure to use food coloring to tint the icing to holiday hues.
Ingredients: Flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, powdered sugar, low-fat milk
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; chill: 1 hour; cook: 10 minutes
Try this recipe: Classic Iced Sugar Cookies
Photo: Howard L. Puckett
Mint-Chocolate Truffles
Trick party guests into thinking they're indulging in this minty dessert. Neufchâtel, which is lower in fat than other creamy cheeses, adds a smooth texture.
Ingredients: Semisweet mint-chocolate morsels, Neufchâtel cheese, powdered sugar, unsweetened cocoa
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; chill: 1 hour; cook: 10 minutes
Try this recipe: Mint-Chocolate Truffles
Photo: Randy Mayor
Black and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Forget spiking the punch, and pour a little bit of Kahlúa into this cookie mix to add a subtle coffee flavor.
Ingredients: Cake flour, baking powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, vegetable shortening, egg substitute, vanilla extract, semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, pecans, Kahlúa
Time: Prep: 15 minutes; cook: 14 minutes
Try this recipe: Black and White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Photo: Leigh Beisch
Micro Mini Cheesecakes
How do you make easy, low-cal cheesecake? Simple—use low-fat cream cheese, vanilla wafers, and a raspberry jam!
Ingredients: Cream cheese, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, flour, raspberry jam, vanilla wafers
Time: Prep: 10 minutes; cook: 20 minutes
Try this recipe: Micro Mini Cheesecakes
Photo: Katie Stoddard
Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins
These moist muffins get a burst of sweet and sour notes from the cranberries. And the recipe easily doubles to feed a crowd of hungry guests.
Ingredients: Flour, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, canned pumpkin, low-fat buttermilk, canola oil, an egg, dried cranberries
Time: Prep: 15 minutes; cook: 25 minutes
Try this recipe: Pumpkin-Cranberry Muffins
Brownie Bourbon Balls
Shh...don't tell Santa we used packaged brownie mix. It tastes just as delicious, but saves you time and ingredients!
Ingredients: Applesauce, egg substitute, double fudge brownie mix, bourbon, walnuts
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 30 minutes
Try this recipe: Brownie Bourbon Balls
Photo: Oxmoor House
Coffee-Hazelnut Biscotti
The subtle nutty, chocolaty flavor of these baked goods are perfect with your morning cup of joe.
Ingredients: Frangelico, unsweetened cocoa, instant espresso, vegetable oil, eggs, flour, whole-wheat flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, hazelnuts, baking soda, coffee beans
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 48 minutes
Try this recipe: Coffee-Hazelnut Biscotti
Lemon Bars
When you've hit your maximum chocolate and peppermint intakes, try this refreshing citrus dessert. With just the mix of tart and sweet, they'll be eaten in no time.
Ingredients: Basic Cookie Dough, lemon zest, lemon juice, granulated sugar, butter, eggs, powdered sugar
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 40 minutes
Try this recipe: Lemon Bars
Watch the video: How to Zest a Lemon
Photo: John Kernick
White Peppermint Snowballs
A sprinkling of peppermint is just what these cookies ordered.
Ingredients: Refrigerated sugar cookie dough, crushed peppermint candies, powdered sugar
Time: Prep: 20 minutes; cook: 12 minutes
Try this recipe: White Peppermint Snowballs
