‘Tis the season to be healthy! If you’ve recently given sugar the flick or are just looking to cut down on your intake, you might be wondering how it lines up with your plans to enjoy delicious food this festive season – fear not, you CAN do both. We’re here to show you how with 3 fun recipes. 

The holiday season is synonymous with joy, celebration, and of course, delicious treats. However, the aftermath of sugar-laden desserts often leaves us feeling sluggish and fatigued, putting a damper on the festive spirit. Fear not! This year, you can relish the joy of Christmas without sacrificing your well-being. We've curated a collection of delightful, healthy Christmas dessert recipes that promise to satisfy your sweet tooth without the dreaded sugar crash.

Picture a Christmas dessert spread adorned with vibrant colours, enticing aromas, and the goodness of wholesome ingredients. From a luscious cinnamon-spiced cheesecake to a refreshing mango trifle, each recipe is crafted to capture the essence of the season while keeping your health in mind. Join us on a journey to discover how you can create festive, guilt-free desserts that not only tantalise your taste buds but also leave you energised to embrace the holiday festivities with open arms. Let's unwrap the gift of delightful and nourishing Christmas desserts together!

Peppermint Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup rice malt syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1/4 cup milk
• Dark chocolate shavings for topping

Instructions: 

1. In a blender or food processor, combine avocados, cocoa powder, syrup, peppermint extract, and almond milk.
2. Blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Refrigerate the mousse for at least 30 minutes.
4. Spoon the mousse into serving cups and top with dark chocolate shavings.
5. These Christmas desserts are not only delicious but also incorporate nutritious ingredients to make your festive celebrations both joyful and healthy. Enjoy!

 Cinnamon Spiced Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• For the Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 tablespoon rice malt syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• For the Filling:
• 3 packages (24 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup rice malt syrup
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C).
2. In a bowl, combine almond flour, melted coconut oil, rice malt syrup, and ground cinnamon.
3. Press the mixture into the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan to form the crust.
4. Bake the crust for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool.
5. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
6. Add rice malt syrup, eggs, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. Beat until well combined and smooth.
7. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the cooled crust in the springform pan.
8. Smooth the top with a spatula.
9. Bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes or until the centre is set.
10. Remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for at least an hour.
11. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
12. Sprinkle additional ground cinnamon on top before serving.

Mango Trifle with Homemade Custard

Ingredients:

• For the Layers:
• 4 ripe mangoes, peeled and sliced
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/4 cup rice malt syrup (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced
• For Assembly:
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup shredded coconut, toasted
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish
• For the homemade custard:
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup powdered monk fruit sweetener
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups unsweetened milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. One day ahead, prepare your custard:
2. In a bowl, whisk together cornstarch, powdered monk fruit, and salt until well combined.
3. In a saucepan, heat the almond milk over medium heat until warm but not boiling.
4. Gradually whisk the dry ingredients into the warm milk, ensuring there are no lumps.
5. Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes.
6. Once the pudding has thickened, remove it from the heat.
7. Stir in the vanilla extract, ensuring it's well incorporated.
8. Allow the custard to cool for a few minutes.
9. Transfer the pudding to a bowl or individual serving dishes. Cover with plastic wrap, ensuring it touches the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until fully chilled.
10. The next day, get out a chilled bowl, and whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form.
11. Add rice malt syrup and vanilla extract. Continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
12. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
13. In a trifle dish or individual serving glasses, start with a layer of sliced mangoes at the bottom.
14. Add a layer of custard over the mangoes, and press your strawberry slices against the glass with the layer of custard.
15. Spoon a layer of whipped cream over the pudding.
16. Repeat the layers until you reach the top, finishing with a layer of whipped cream.
17. Sprinkle toasted shredded coconut on top. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.
18. Refrigerate the mango trifle for at least 2-3 hours before serving to allow the flavours to meld.

 Join us for the 8-Week Program and we’ll help you change the way you look at food – and that doesn’t mean you have to follow restrictive diets or miss out on your favourite foods; we believe you can still enjoy delicious food without jeopardising your health. With celebrity chef Sarah Glover on our panel of experts, you’ll have an array of fun recipes at your fingertips, along with our own exclusive armoury of simple, tasty and healthy recipes for everything from daily meals to impressive entertaining. We know it can be hard to stick to your health goals – especially when you’re trying to manage it alone. When you sign up with us, you’ll have access to clear-cut meal plans, community support and exclusive access to our sugar-free content. Here’s what’s on offer:

1. 8 weeks of meal plans and shopping lists.

2. 90+ member-only recipes.
3. Community forums to share your journey.
4. Support and guidance from the I Quit Sugar team.
5. Exclusive content from our panel of experts.

So, if you’re ready to ditch sugar and the host of maladies that come with it, it’s not too late to join. We’d love to help you get started on your health journey. Sign up HERE today!