17 Whole Food, Plant-Based Holiday Dessert Recipes - Center for Nutrition Studies (2024)

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Pumpkin Pecan Oat Cookies

This easy recipe avoids refined sugar or syrup with the natural sweetness of bananas. Pumpkin purée keeps them oil-free while maple extract and pumpkin pie spice mix adds a seasonal flavor.

Spiced Apple Pudding

This silky, spiced pudding is a healthy, modern twist on a fall classic. The hardest part about this recipe is waiting for it to cool down before eating it.

Easy Oatmeal Holiday Cookies

Enjoy these delicious holiday cookies without the guilt! With the addition of dried red cherries and green pistachios they are a festive and sweet yet nutritious treat.

Chocolate Molten Lava Soufflé

Easy and foolproof, this irresistible vegan chocolate molten lava soufflé is brimming with rich, decadent, melty, chocolatey goodness. This perfect combination of gooey lava cake and puffy soufflé will have you doing a happy dance with every delicious bite.

When you crave a deliciously sweet yet tart dessert, this pound cake with its creamy lemon glaze is sure to fit the bill.

Ambrosia

Ambrosia is a fruit salad originally from the South of the United States. Most recipes for this popular dish call for fresh and canned fruit, mayonnaise, marshmallows, and coconut.

Stuffed Baked Apples

This simple, comforting dessert celebrates the holiday season with the abundant fragrance of baked apples, pecans, and a dusting of cinnamon and allspice. Be sure to make enough for everyone: the enticing aroma will fill your home with watering mouths.

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Muffin Cups

These fragrant, moist pumpkin muffins are perfect for cooler autumn mornings. Amazingly, they are gluten-free, sweetened only with fruit, and they don’t have a single drop of sugar or oil.

Blueberry Oatmeal Crisp

This recipe can be a breakfast or dessert and is easy to make, store and transport. I have a sweet tooth and I found that many desserts contain oil and refined sugar. I created this recipe so that I could enjoy something sweet AND healthy.

Super Simple Pumpkin Pie Bites

All the flavors of homemade pumpkin pie in a perfect bite-size dessert for a crowd! Even better, all of the ingredients are healthy and plant-based. No dairy, eggs, processed sugar, processed flour, or added oils.

Applesauce Cinnamon Muffins

Ideal for a delightful breakfast or a satisfying snack, this recipe presents a tempting creation that is both dark and moist, generously adorned with succulent raisins and crisp apple bits.

Jammin’ Almond Thumbprint Cookies

These melt-in-your mouth cookies can be filled with your favorite jam for a delicious treat.

Stovetop Rice Pudding

Delight in the rich and comforting flavors of this healthy Stovetop Pudding. Infused with aromatic cinnamon and vanilla or almond extract, this dessert is a symphony of wholesome ingredients. Easily crafted, this guilt-free indulgence promises a gratifying treat that celebrates the vibrant world of plant-based cuisine.

Vegan Cheesecake

This dairy and egg-free creamy cheesecake is melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Banana Bread With Cherries and Chocolate Chips

The stunning combination of cherries and chocolate turns this healthy little plant-based snack into an incredible delight, elevating regular ol’ banana bread from good to superb. From simple, wholesome ingredients comes a delicious indulgence. No dairy. No white flour. No white sugar. No oil. No guilt.

Whole Food, Plant-Based Pecan Pie

Pecan pie is such a popular holiday dessert that I just had to create a healthy one. This pie is so deliciously decadent, not overly sweet, but definitely sweet enough and made from whole foods.

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is a classic dessert commonly made to celebrate special occasions. This plant-based version uses cooked-down pineapple juice to create the perfect buttery smell and flavor without actually using butter. This cake will fill your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma!