We have listed some awesome low-calorie sweet treats for your holiday. They were very easy to make and delicious.
Low-Calorie Main Course Recipes
Cookies with Citrus and Ginger
Gingerbread cutouts are given a cool twist with orange and lemon zest. A honey glaze over the top provides a slight gloss and a hint of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup of honey
- 1 cup of molasses
- 1/2 cup diced unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 3-1/2 cups universal flour
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 2 tbsp. baking powder
- 2 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, ground
- 1/2 cup honey glaze
- 2 teaspoons water
Directions
Combine sugar, honey, and molasses in a big saucepan. Remove from the heat as soon as it starts to boil. Allow to stand for 20 minutes. Stir in the butter and set aside for another 20 minutes.
Incorporate the egg. Whisk together the flour, almonds, baking powder, lemon zest, orange zest, and spices together in a separate bowl; gradually fold into the sugar mixture. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight, covered.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
The dough should be divided into 3 equal parts on a cooking sheet that has been lightly floured. Roll divided up doughs to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Cut with a 2-inch floured tree-shaped cookie cutter—place 2 ” apart on baking sheets. Make sure the baking sheet is sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for about 7-8 minutes or until gently browned. Cool for 1 minute on the pans. Remove the cookies from the oven and place on wire racks to cool completely. Combine glaze ingredients in a bowl and brush over cookies. Allow to stand until set.
To Prepare Ahead: You can prepare the dough two days ahead. Place in a resealable bag after wrapping it in plastic. Refrigerate until needed.
Can Citrus Gingerbread Cookies be frozen? Undecorated cookies should be frozen in freezer containers. Thaw in closed containers before decorating as suggested.
Nutritional Information. 1 cookie contains 66 calories, 2g of fat (1g saturated fat), 6mg of cholesterol, 13 mg of sodium, 12g of carbohydrate (7g sugars, 0 fiber), and 1g of protein. 1 starch, 1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat.
Eggnog Mousse
This light, fluffy, and delectable mousse will always find a place on the table. It’s an elegant, refreshing way to end a meal, and it’s also a fantastic way to use up any leftover eggnog in the fridge.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp gelatin, unflavored
- 2 cups low-fat eggnog
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- a half teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup whipped reduced-fat topping, split
- Optional additional ground nutmeg
Directions
Sprinkle gelatin over eggnog in a small saucepan and set aside for 1 minute. Stir continuously over low heat until gelatin is completely dissolved. Add the cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg and stir until the sugar dissolves. Transfer the batch to a mixing bowl and stir in the vanilla extract. Refrigerate until the mixture thickens.
The mixture should be light and fluffy. Incorporate 3/4 cup whipped topping. Divide the mixture into four dessert bowls. Refrigerate until completely hard. Garnish with the remaining whipped topping and, if preferred, more nutmeg.
Nutritional Information. 3/4 cup: 165 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 97 mg cholesterol, 80mg sodium, 21g carb (17g sugars, 0 fiber), 7g protein. 1 starch, 1/2 reduced-fat milk (Diabetic Exchanges).
Crackle Cookies with Molasses
You can indulge in some of my crackling biscuits without feeling guilty. Most molasses cookies have a lot of butter and sugar, but not mine. You’d never guess these are low in fat.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 big egg
- 1/3 of a cup of molasses
- 2 cups whole wheat white flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- 1 tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
Directions
In a mixing dish, combine the oil and sugar. Mix in the molasses and egg. Combine the baking soda, cinnamon, flour, salt, ginger, and cloves; gradually add to the sugar mixture, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, covered.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit—roll dough into 1 ” balls and coat with confectioners’ sugar. Place 2 inches apart on baking pans sprayed with cooking spray; slightly flatten. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Place on wire racks to cool.
Nutritional Information. 1 cookie contains 77 calories, 7 mg cholesterol, fat (0 saturated fat), 106 mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (7g sugar, 1g fiber), and 1g protein. 1 starch exchange for a person with diabetes.
Swedish Apple Pie
Every piece of this delectable Swedish apple pie is bursting with handmade flavor. This snack goes well with coffee or as an after-dinner treat.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 big egg
- 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 chopped medium tart apples
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Directions
Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large mixing basin. In a small mixing dish, combine the egg and vanilla extract. Continue to stir until the batch is moistened. Mix in the apples and walnuts.
Pour the mixture into a pie pan sprayed with cooking spray. Bake the batch at 350°F until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean. It should take about 30 minutes. If desired, dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve hot.
Nutritional Information. 1 serving has 174 calories, 25g carbohydrates (16g sugars, 2g fiber), fat (1g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 207 mg sodium, and 5g protein. Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fat.
Chocolate Brownies with a Chocolate Glaze
You’d never guess these moist and fudgy squares are low in fat because they’re brimming with rich chocolate flavor. They’re perfect for bake sales and family get-togethers. I like to decorate them with bright sugar sprinkles for the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup softened butter
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 big room-temperature egg whites
- 1/3 of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar for the glazing
- 2 tbsp cocoa (baking)
- 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 3–4 teaspoons warm water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and creamy. 1 at a time, beat in vanilla and egg whites. In a separate mixing basin, combine salt, flour, cocoa, and baking powder; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Spread the mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan sprayed with cooking spray.
Bake for about 1/2 an hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean. Place them on a wire rack to cool off.
Combine glaze ingredients and drizzle over brownies. Make into bars.
Nutritional Information. 180 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 14 mg cholesterol, 124 mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein per brownie.
Grandma’s Christmas Spice Cookies
My great-grandmother prepared these, and the family custom has been passed down without a written recipe! My mother always began them the day after Thanksgiving, which was thrilling for us kids since it meant Christmas wasn’t far away. They are simple to decorate with family, and my granddaughters look forward to them yearly.
Ingredients
- 2 quarts molasses
- 2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
- 1/2 cup melted shortening
- 2 tbsp of white vinegar
- 1 tbsp. ice cold water
- 10 cups of regular flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 teaspoon star anise powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- a pinch of salt
Directions
Mix the first five components. Whisk the rest of the ingredients; add to the molasses mixture and thoroughly combine. Refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight, covered.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out the dough to 8th-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use a floured 2-inch cookie cutter to cut out desired shapes; arrange 1 inch apart on greased baking pans. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until set. Place on wire racks to cool.
Nutritional Information. 1 cookie contains 109 calories, 1 gram of fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 47 milligrams of sodium, 23 grams of carbohydrate (12 grams of sugar, 0 fiber), and 2 grams of protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch.
Slow Cooker Baked Apples
On a dreary day, coming home to this delectable dessert is just delightful; it’s slow-cooker simple.
ingredients
- 6 medium tart apples
- 1/2 cup of raisins
- 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp. grated orange zest
- 1 cup of water
- 3 tbsp orange juice concentrate, thawed
- 2 tbsp. melted butter
Directions
If preferred, core and peel the top third of each apple. Mix the raisins, brown sugar, and orange zest and spoon into the apples. Fill a 5-quart slow cooker halfway with water.
Water should be poured around the apples. Drizzle with orange juice concentrate to finish. Spread butter on top. Cook for 4-5 hours on low or until the apples are soft.
Nutritional Information. 1 filled apple contains 203 calories, 35 milligrams of sodium, 4 grams of fat (2 grams of saturated fat), 44 grams of carbohydrates (4 grams of fiber 37 grams of sugars), 10 milligrams of cholesterol, and 1 gram of protein.
To Conclude
Consider one of our low-calorie treats. They’re all excellent and should keep you on track if you’re on a low-calorie diet.