December 11, 2024 | Hui Hui Lee, RD/LD
Hello to my friends out there! Hope you all have had a wonderful holiday so far. I am enjoying this cold weather so far! Cooler weather means it is time to bake some delicious (yet healthier) desserts for family and friends! I am thankful to have you all here as “my excuse” for experimenting with many healthylicious recipes which I have been saving in my “want to try” recipe book for months now. I have had many people tell me that during the holiday season, it is very hard for them to stay on track with their eating patterns. I have to admit that during the Holiday season, many people like to offer sweets (either store-bought or homemade) to friends and family, which makes it very difficult for most of us not to look at or taste those delicious desserts. But, if you remember what I have mentioned all these years about healthy eating tips [keep your intake in moderation (be a mindful eater), practice a balanced diet, and make small and realistic eating goals], and if you have been practicing these tips, you are probably experiencing less stress than others. If you have not tried the healthy eating tips in the past, that is OKAY, we start today.
Let me provide you with some hypothetical examples to help you ‘stick to’ your eating plan during this holiday season:
Scenario #1: ‘if you know you are going to have a dessert after a meal, you will probably want to 1) skip carbohydrate-loaded items (such as baked/mashed potatoes, pasta, dinner roll) during that meal, 2) choose unsweetened beverages, 3) share your desserts with friends to help avoid going overboard on the dessert.’
Scenario #2: ‘You know you are going to be offered an array of desserts during this holiday, you may consider 1) skipping the other refined carbohydrates food/drinks (such as sweetened beverages, toast/bread/rolls at mealtime), 2) only choose one dessert item with a smaller portion to enjoy OR share it with friends, 3) kindly declined the offer.
Scenario #3: If you are craving some holiday desserts, the best practice is to make your own desserts. By doing so, you have full control over the ingredients.
If you are in scenario #3, I have great news for you. I am sharing my go-to delicious healthy desserts this December. Not only that, they are relatively simple recipes. What are we waiting for? Let’s get our hands busy in the kitchen!
Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats: This is a super simple, yet delicious treat! FYI, it is chef Colby’s favorite treat. It requires no baking AT ALL. I highly recommend this recipe for you to try this holiday season. The recipe is inspired by Feasting at Home.
Baked Stuffed Apple: It is a vegan and gluten-free recipe. These baked apples are perfect for this cozy weather, and you can enjoy it at breakfast without feeling guilty. I like to provide you with a suggestion of not overstuffing the apple, you just want to fill enough for the entire core area. The recipe is inspired by Feasting at Home.
Chai-spice Pecan Torte with Roasted Pears: If you are watching your refined carbohydrate intake closely, this is a perfect recipe for you! This torte recipe contains no flour with adequate sweetness from molasses. Not just that, the cake is flavored with a mixture of warm chai spices! The recipe is adapted from Feasting at home.
Chocolate Tart with Hazelnut Crust: This is a vegan-friendly recipe. However I used regular milk instead of water when making the filling. Please do not turn away when you see ‘TOFU’ listed as one of the ingredients. I promised you I have made this recipe for a few years now and shared it with friends that I know cannot tolerate tofu (at all), they all commented (after tasting the chocolate tart) that they loved it! This recipe is definitely a keeper recipe and I really hope you will like it. The recipe is inspired by Feasting at home.
Crusty Vanilla Pudding Bread: Have you ever baked bread or rolls (from scratch) at home, and even better stuffed with filling? If you have yet to try, I highly recommend you to try this fresh homemade French baguette recipe, which we later filled the rolls with vanilla pudding/custard. The original recipe is written in Chinese, but I found you guys the English-translated version recipe (I loved the Google translation feature). The recipe is inspired by Ciao Kitchen.
Sweet Pumpkin Basque Cheesecake: Have you heard about the trendy Basque cheesecake? It is creamy, rich, and tangy, with a caramelized crust on top. It is not too sweet compared to the regular cheesecakes. No crust is required, and no water bath is needed. This type of cheesecake recipe is very forgiving and easy. If you are new to baking or have yet to try Basque cheesecake, it is yours to try this holiday! FYI, this is an Asian recipe, the sweetness level is way lower than what you are familiar with, so I will suggest you add an additional 10-20 grams (~0.35-0.7 oz.) of sugar. The recipe is adapted from the Calorie restaurant.
Japanese Pumpkin Soufflé Cheesecake: I have to admit that this is a slightly challenging dessert, if you are experienced in baking, then this is the recipe for you to try. It is a very light fluffy version of cheesecake. This recipe has a very light pumpkin flavor, and I will suggest you add in approximately 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice when measuring your dry ingredients. This is an Asian dessert recipe, the sweetness level is way lower than what you are familiar with, so I will suggest you add an additional 10-20 grams (~0.35-0.7 oz.) of sugar. In Japan, we usually sprinkle some powdered sugar on the cheesecake prior to serving, but you are welcome to top it with a layer of homemade whipped frosting. The cheesecake recipe was adapted from Happy Sharing. For the whipped cream frosting, you can refer to Pastry Living for the recipe.
*Some ingredients used for the blog were sponsored by the DRH Food and Nutrition department.
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