Healthy Holiday Desserts

The holidays are just around the corner which means it’s time to start planning! We’ve got a great list of our best Holiday Desserts!  These lightened-up but super delicious recipes will be loved by all! They are all gluten-free, with some dairy-free and refined sugar-free too.

Gluten-Free Holiday Desserts

While the main course is often on the top of our minds when it comes to planning, we all know everybody gets the most excited about the dessert course! With the holiday season upon us, despite how different it will look this year, we’re still going to try to make the most of it and have a lovely holiday season.

If you are looking for healthy and lightened-up desserts to make for your holiday gathering, we have got you covered! And we’re sharing a variety of recipes, whether you’re celebrating Hannukah, Christmas or another holiday this season. Scroll through to see our favorite LCK Healthy Holiday Recipes

Gluten-free Holiday Pies

S’mores Pie: Made with a rich chocolate pudding-like filling, made totally gluten-free using my homemade graham crackers or gluten-free graham crackers, and is topped with good quality marshmallows for the ultimate Summer dessert you can feel good about serving!

Apple Galette This is similar to an apple pie with a buttery crust with thinly sliced juicy apple, but easier to put together! It’s the perfect dessert to serve during the holidays or a fun weekend baking project to celebrate the fall season! It’s made using unrefined sweeteners and uses the BEST gluten-free crust.

Classic Apple Pie This classic pie has  a buttery crust with thinly sliced juicy apples laced with cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s made using unrefined sweeteners and uses the best gluten-free crust.

Pecan Pie: This Pecan Pie made in a tart pan is absolutely stunning, yet simple to put together. And the best part? It’s made without any refined sugar or corn syrup!

Key Lime Tart: Made using honey and coconut milk for a rich, tangy and smooth filling! It’s simple to prepare and can be optionally topped with a honey meringue for a showstopper dessert. It’s gluten-free and made without any refined sugars.

Nut-Free Pumpkin Pie This Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie is smooth and creamy (without any cream) with just the right note of spice. It’s made using our nut-free and gluten-free crust that is so simple to put together!

Blueberry Pie: It’s juicy and sweetened just right (using unrefined sweeteners) and will be a hit with everyone! It’s gluten-free, with dairy-free options and can be made with either fresh or frozen blueberries.

Gluten-Free Holiday Cookies + Bars

Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies: With a sweet little center filled with either jam or chocolate hazelnut spread, These Gluten Free Thumbprint cookies are a must make. These cookies have a crispy exterior with a chewy middle, are easy-to-prepare and perfect to make year round. The dough is made in 1-bowl and they are free from gluten, grains and refined sugar but still perfectly delicious.

Double Chocolate Macadamia Cookies: These Double Chocolate Chunk Macadamia Nut Cookies are the perfect gluten-free and paleo-friendly cookie that everyone will love! Soft, chewy, and bursting with chocolate and macadamia nuts! A household favorite!

Gluten Free Sugar Cookies: These buttery sweet cookies have a soft vanilla flavor, a crisp exterior and a soft and chewy middle, just like any good Gluten Free Sugar Cookie should have. Better yet, they are simple to prepare using only a handful of ingredients and needing just a bowl and spoon to make the batter.

Peanut Butter Blossoms: They have all the flavor of the traditional, but using better-for-you ingredients! These peanut butter cookies cookies are easy-to-prepare and perfect for the holidays, or year round. The dough is made in 1-bowl and they are free from gluten, grains and refined sugar but still perfectly delicious.

Strawberry and Chocolate Ganache Sandwich Cookies: The cutest sweet treat, made even nicer because they are optionally free of the 14 most common allergens. Gluten free strawberry cookies are sandwiched between a dairy-free chocolate ganache with hidden strawberry jam in the middle.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: So perfectly chewy, soft, and delicious! The combination of cinnamon, chocolate, and raisins in these are heaven. No one will be able to tell that these are gluten-free and refined sugar-free!

Healthy Brownies: If you are looking for fudgy, chewy and and ridiculously chocolate-y Paleo Brownies than this is the recipe for you! These healthy gluten free brownies are made with almond flour, they’re grain-free, optionally dairy-free and simple to make.

Maple Meringue Cookies: They are simple, crunchy, light, naturally gluten-free, and perfect to have for entertaining or for a treat. Thesy are also refined sugar free, light, and the perfect beautiful cookie everybody will love!

Sugar Cookies: These buttery sweet cookies have a soft vanilla flavor, a crisp exterior and a soft and chewy middle, just like any good sugar cookie should have. Better yet, they are simple to prepare using only a handful of ingredients and needing just a bowl and spoon to make the batter.

Avocado Brownies: These dense and fudgey brownies have a secret ingredient that’s packed with nutrients and healthy fats, and nobody will know it! Chocolate Avocado Brownies are the perfect sweet treat to end a meal or even to pack in the lunch box with the kiddos. They’re flourless and Paleo friendly without any refined sweeteners.

Cut Out Cookies: These Gluten Free Cut Out Cookies are the best for decorating holiday cookies! They are so simple to put together, can be rolled out immediately and decorated (or not) to celebrate any holiday! These versatile cookies are made with only 5 ingredients (plus a pinch of salt!) and are a great activity to do with the kids. We’ve included tips and tricks for decorating using an easy powdered sugar icing so you can get your holiday bake on now!

Gluten Free Snickerdoodles: These Gluten Free Snickerdoodles are a MUST MAKE recipe. These chewy little cookies are spiced just right, easy-to-prepare and perfect for the holidays, or year round. The dough is made in 1-bowl, then rolled in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. They are free from gluten, grains and refined sugar but still perfectly delicious.

Apple Pie Bars: An easier and equally delicious way to fulfill that apple pie craving is to take all those same flavors and bake them up as bars! These Apple Pie Bars have all the deliciousness of an apple crumb pie without the time needed to actually make one. It uses nutrient-dense almond flour to make the crust and the crumble on top and is filled with sweet cinnamon-y apples.

Gluten-Free Holiday Desserts

Creme Brûlée: This dairy-free and refined-sugar free version is just as decadent as the classic version but lightened up with a secret healthy ingredient! It’s perfectly sweetened with a blend of honey and maple sugar and despite it feeling fancy, it is really easy to make.

Easy Slow Cooker Baked Apples These easy-to-make “baked” apples have just the right amount of sweet, they swarm your home with the most delicious fall scent, and they are super easy to throw together.

Cookie Truffles: The CUTEST gluten-free treat that you can make for any occasion. They’re made using a handful of ingredients, including our favorite gluten-free chocolate cookie, are no bake and are so easy they’d be a great activity to do with the kids! Perfect to serve up for any fun event!

Peppermint Bark: Using only 5 ingredients, this Peppermint Bark is simple to prepare and perfect for giving away to friends and family as holiday gifts. It’s as easy as melting and spreading chocolate but truly looks fancy. Top it with candy canes for that super festive look (and taste)!

Gluten Free Lemon Bars: They’re creamy and delicious, and best of all: so easy to make. Perfect for any dessert table.

Gluten-Free Edible Cookie Dough Dip: Think all of the delicious and creamy flavors of regular cookie dough, but without flour or the eggs… snack time, or dessert time, WIN!

Chocolate Dessert Cups: The perfect no bake healthy treat that are simple to make but so impressive! You won’t believe how easy it is to make these beautiful chocolate cups that you can fill with anything from a simple fruit mix to a decadent chocolate mousse!

Paleo Chocolate Truffles: Made with a few simple ingredients and are down-right delicious. These truffles are also vegan and don’t have any added refined sugars.

Healthy Fudge: This 5-Ingredient fudge is easy to make, made with minimal ingredients, has the perfect texture, is customizable with your favorite fudge add-ins, is packed with healthy fats, and is a rich and decadent treat that everybody will love!

Healthy Rice Pudding: The perfect, lightened up version of the creamy rice pudding recipe you grew up loving. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar free and is hands down the perfect hearty dessert!

Classic Chocolate Mousse: It’s a rich, fluffy, chocolate-y treat with just the right amount of sweetness. It will absolutely be a staple healthy dessert for holiday entertaining! Made with minimal ingredients and no baking required, everyone will love this no-fuss dessert!

Gluten-Free Holiday Baking Recipes

Grain-free Cranberry Apple Crisp This healthy apple crisp is made without oats, with a pop of color and tartness thanks to added cranberries and is sweetened just right!

Gingerbread Muffins: Nothing says December and a comforting holiday breakfast like a warm gingerbread muffin. These gluten-free muffins are easy to make and so delicious.

Hasselback Pears: Just barely sweet, yet still indulgent, Baked Hasselback Pears are a sophisticated dessert nobody will believe are a cinch to put together! This lightened-up dish is made without gluten or refined sugars, with options to make it dairy-free, too.

Paleo Banana Bread: The ultimate gluten-free banana bread made using almond flour and coconut flour and very little added sugar! Perfect for a holiday morning, or a snack anytime of the week!

Coffee Crumb Cake Muffins: These muffins are fluffy, moist, and packed with good-for-you ingredients. Made with a combination of almond, coconut and tapioca flour, this gluten-free muffin recipe is grain-free, made with unrefined sweeteners.

Gluten-Free Holiday Cakes + Cupcakes

Caramel Upside Down Apple Cake: This one is unbelievably simple to make and so delicious. It’s grain-free, nut-free and dairy-free but with no shortage of delicious apple cinnamon flavor.

Pumpkin Sheet Cake: A super simple gluten-free pumpkin cake that is perfect to serve as a low-key dessert for Thanksgiving. Easily made at least a day ahead of time, this one will be loved by everyone. It can be made to serve 9 or up to 16!

Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake: This dairy-free cheesecake is a showstopping dessert. With a cookie crumb crust,  a creamy cashew pumpkin cheesecake layer, and finally a good dollop of coconut whipped cream, this raw treat is worth putting on your must-bake-list.

Hostess Cupcakes: Now this one is a fun weekend baking project! It starts with a super moist gluten-free chocolate cupcake, filled with homemade marshmallow fluff (made without any refined sugar) and dipped in a dairy-free chocolate ganache! Pipe on either some of the marshmallow fluff or melted white chocolate to complete the classic hostess-style cupcake look!

Gluten-Free Vanilla Layer Cake: A vanilla cake with vanilla frosting that is free from gluten and grains but still so delicious! A classic recipe!

Paleo Cupcakes With Matcha Coconut Buttercream Frosting: These Paleo Cupcakes With Matcha Coconut Buttercream Frosting are seriously amazing! The creamy matcha and coconut buttercream frosting pairs so perfectly with the fluffy vanilla cupcake.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes: Everyone needs an amazing chocolate cupcake recipe, and this one is ours! These are moist with a deep chocolate flavor and simply delicious. They’re also dairy-free and made without any refined sweeteners. Grab a bowl and a whisk and head straight to the kitchen to whip some up!

Simple and Festive Vanilla Cake with Fruit: Whether you are headed to a BBQ with family or friends or hosting a get together of your own, you’ll need a classic festive cake for the all the parties! Let’s make the most perfect (AND nut-free) vanilla cake topped with an easy buttercream and garnished off with tons of fresh fruit (red and blue for good measure)!

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