Diabetic Christmas Desserts

November 18, 2016
Photo: Jennifer Causey
Holidays are typically centered around indulgent food, making it far too easy to veer off track when that plate of Christmas cookies is calling your name. For someone trying to control his or her blood sugars, these times can be challenging. With smart portion sizes and creative substitutions, you can feel free to healthfully indulge in these diabetic-friendly Christmas desserts. Our gallery of swoon-worthy sweet treats is free of artificial sweeteners, yet full of holiday decadence.
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Almond Butter Chocolate Truffles

Photo: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Almond Butter Chocolate Truffles

Store-bought chocolates fall short compared to these homemade peanut butter and chocolate truffles. Made with almond butter and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, you can add any toppings you like, such as coconut, chopped nuts, cocoa powder, or dried fruit. For only 6 grams of sugar per serving, the options are plentiful.

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Protein-Packed Cheese Board

Photo: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Protein-Packed Cheese Board

Nuts and cheese add satiating protein while fruit and dark chocolate add just the right dose of sweetness to satisfy your cravings. Enjoy this nutrient-rich cheese board before or after dinner for only 11 grams of sugar per serving.

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Almond Butter Nice Cream

Photo: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Almond Butter Nice Cream

Made with only natural sugars, “nice cream” is the healthiest frozen dessert alternative to ice cream. To achieve the ultimate salty sweet combination, we elevate this frozen treat by adding creamy almond butter and high quality cocoa powder.

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Spiralized Cinnamon Apples with Greek Yogurt

Photo: Rachel Johnson
View Recipe: Spiralized Cinnamon Apples with Greek Yogurt

Not only is spiralizing fun for entertaining, but it’s also a great way to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet without the addition of calorie-heavy and sugar-laden ingredients. To further reduce sugar content, simply omit brown sugar.

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Chickpea Cookie Dough

Photo: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Chickpea Cookie Dough

Not only is spiralizing fun for entertaining, but it’s also a great way to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet without the addition of calorie-heavy and sugar-laden ingredients. To further reduce sugar content, simply omit brown sugar.

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Greek Yogurt Bark

Photo: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Greek Yogurt Bark

Naturally sweetened with only a touch of honey and fruit, this Greek yogurt bark can take on any flavor profile you prefer. We found that strawberries, cacao nibs, hazelnuts, shredded coconut, and dried cherries creates a winning combination for only 6 grams of sugar per serving. Store a batch in your freezer for a fast, protein-packed snack or dessert.

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Berry-Pistachio Yogurt

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, nuts, and a drizzle of honey is what we define as simplicity at its tastiest. Think of this dessert as a blank canvas that you can chose to jazz up to your liking. For minimal added sugar and a hearty dose of satiating protein, enjoy this cool and creamy treat as a healthy snack or satisfying dessert.

1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt + 2 tablespoons blueberries + 1 tablespoon chopped unsalted pistachios + 1/2 teaspoon honey

CALORIES 124; FAT 3.6g (sat 0.4g); PROTEIN 12g; FIBER 1g; SUGARS 10g (est. added sugars 3g); SODIUM 45mg

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Almond Butter and Yogurt-Dipped Fruit

Photo: Katherine Flynn
View Recipe: Almond Butter and Yogurt-Dipped Fruit

Almond butter and Greek yogurt create one protein-packed combination when it comes to sweet treats. Dip your fresh fruit of choice into the yogurt mixture and eat right away, or freeze the fruit to create a shell similar to dark chocolate covered strawberries.

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Chocolate Stout Brownies

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chocolate Stout Brownies

The typical brownie has nearly 20 grams of sugar, masking the rich flavor of cocoa in an overwhelming wave of sweetness. Here, we cut sugar in half for a richer, denser brownie that truly satisfies.

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Tangy Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Tangy Lemon Cheesecake Bars

Classic lemon squares can contain up to 36 grams of sugar per piece. By putting a tangy cheesecake spin on ours, we’ve cut the sugar down to only 6 grams per pop. Your sweet tooth will agree that these bars are good enough to enjoy year-round.

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Savory Granola

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Savory Granola

Our crunch-tastic granola has two-thirds less sugar than most store-bought varieties. A savory spin adds depth of flavor and palette intrigue. Enjoy this low sugar treat on top of Greek yogurt or mixed with fresh fruit.

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