Better Holiday Treats!

It's the time of year when all the wonderful sweet desserts come out! It seems like everywhere you go there are cookies, cakes, brownies and candies asking you to eat them. There is always the tray of cookies someone left in the break room at work. The brownies and candy at the holiday party. And of course any family holiday dinner is not complete with out at least 3 different cakes. It is so fun making and eating all these goodies, but if you are not careful the calories can add up quickly! I have listed some recipes below that are lower in calories, easy to make and so tasty!


Peanut butter and pretzel truffles
- Jar of crunchy peanut butter
- 1-2 cups chopped pretzels (note: I always put the pretzels in a zip lock bag and crush them a bit with a glass)
- dark chocolate (melted)
This recipe is so inexpensive and so easy it's ridiculous! Simply mix the peanut butter and pretzels together and set the mixture in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and roll the mixture into small balls. Freeze the mixture for 45 min to 1 hour. Dip the balls in the melted chocolate and place back in the freezer until they are set!
These little balls are only about 60 calories each. The peanut butter offers nutritious protein and the dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants.
Just try not to eat them all in one sitting!
* One of my good friends makes Oreo truffles similar to this method, but with crushed Oreos, cream cheese and white chocolate. They are also amazing! 

Here are some tips I found on making healthier cookies. Using a few healthier ingredients will have little impact on taste but make a huge difference in fat and calories.

Another fun, easy thing you can do with cookies, is stuffing them! Simply buy a roll or two of pre-made sugar cookie dough and slice into thins rounds. Lay a round on the cookie sheet and top with a thin mint cookie, a Reese's cup, a piece of caramel or anything else you want.Then top with another round of cookie dough, seal the two slices together and bake according to package instructions. Couldn't be easier! (Keep in mind whatever you stuff your cookies with can add on a lot of calories if you are not careful!)

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie
Here is another great holiday dessert recipe I recently came across. It is easy, indulgent and at just over 200 calories a better choice than that double chocolate fudge pie calling your name. Another great bonus of this recipe? 80% of your daily vitamin A needs. Who would've thought you could get nutrients in your desserts?!
Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Whatever fun and delicious treats you find yourself making this season, remember you can always find something tasty, low calorie or nutrient dense out there!

Happy Holidays and Happy Eating!