Healthy Christmas Sweet Treats

Want to indulge in some festive sweet treats while still maintaining your commitment to health? The answer is to prepare your own, so you know exactly what is in them, without the inclusion of artificial flavors, colors, inflammatory oils, or hard-to-pronounce ingredients.

Below are some of my favorites, along with links to other blogs for additional ideas. I’d love to hear what you think and if you enjoy making any during the festive period. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my Healthy Snacking Guide for some extra tips and tricks this Christmas!

1) Chocolate Orange Energy Balls

100g pitted medjool or Deglet Noir dates

100g pecan nuts

50g rolled oats

4 tbsp cacao powder

2 heaped tbsp almond butter

zest and juice 1 orange

50g Organic Raw Cacao Buttons chopped

Place all the ingredients except the buttons in a food processor. Blitz until chopped and starting to clump together. If it’s a bit dry, add a drop more orange juice. Mix through the chopped chocolate buttons. Roll the mixture into walnut-sized balls with lightly wet hands. Keeps in a sealed container for 2 weeks in the fridge.

2) Christmas Inspired Popcorn

1 tsp coconut oil

50g popcorn kernels

1 tbsp cacao

1/2 tsp ground ginger

3 oranges, zest only

3 tbsp runny honey

1. Heat the oil for 20-30 seconds over a medium heat in a large lidded saucepan. Add the popcorn, cover with a lid and cook for a few minutes, until it has all popped, giving it a shake halfway through.

2. Tip the popcorn into a bowl. While it is still hot, sieve over the cacao and ginger, then sprinkle over the orange zest and drizzle on the honey. Mix well and serve.