Food Bells, Food Bells! Christmas recipes all the way.

Christmas is almost here and who doesn't love to hog on the yummy Christmas treats. Here's a list of some soulful healthy Christmas recipes to give you and your guests an unparalleled experience this Christmas.

1. Irish Cream Cookies

The word crinkle makes us smile, isn't it? Chocolate crinkle cookies are very popular but here they are with a twist. Coffee and Irish cream cookies are perfect for Christmas!

Ingredients

• 175 g (1 + 1/3 cup) All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• pinch of Salt
• 1/2 cup Oil
• 80 g (1/2 cup) Brown Sugar
• 45 g (1/4 cup) Castor Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 tsp Irish Cream Flavor

For Coffee:

• 1/2 tbsp Instant Coffee Powder
• 1 tbsp Hot Water

For Topping:

• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/4 cup Powdered Sugar or Icing Sugar

Method

1. Make the black coffee and let it cool to room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to 200 C for 10 min. Prepare a cookie tray with parchment paper.
3. Using a whisk, beat Oil and sugars till smooth.
4. Add in Egg and Irish Cream Flavor. Mix well.
5. Whisk in all the dry ingredients. Mix in coffee.
6. Scoop the cookie dough, make it to a ball shape. Roll it in granulated sugar and then in powdered sugar.
7. Line the cookie in the prepared cookie tray by 1" gap between each.
8. Bake it for 12-15 minutes.
9. Once cooled, store it in airtight containers for up to 5 days in the fridge.

The recipe is written by Sharmila Matheswara from Bitty Bakes

Check out her Instagram account bakewithbittybakes

2. Dark Chocolate Madeleines

Chocolate lovers are huge in number and so are the Chocolate recipes.  When something is yummy, it has to turn out to be your favorite right? These shell-shaped sponge cakes are absolutely appetizing! They are wholesome to have plain but to add flavor it can be dipped in chocolate. These delicious light spongy cakes can be preserved very well for a few days in a container. Christmas is on its way. Why not bake these dark chocolate Madeleine for a special Christmas.

Ingredients

• 113 g (1/2 cup) Unsalted Butter
• 120 g (1/3 + 1/3 cup) Castor Sugar
• 113 g Dark Chocolate
• 3 Eggs
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Essence
• 3 Eggs
• 130 g (1 cup) All Purpose Flour/Maida
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• pinch of Salt

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200 c for 10 min. Prepare a madeleine pan by applying butter.
2. Using an electric beater, cream butter and sugar on high speed.
3. Add in melted chocolate and vanilla.
4. On low speed, add in eggs one by one until all eggs are done.
5. Beat for 3-4 minutes till the batter turns light and pale.
6. Fold in flour and baking powder gently.
7. Now prepare the pan, dusting flour and tap the excess flour out.
8. Using a spoon, pour the batter in the molds.
9. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted, comes out clean.
10. Deep it in melted chocolate and top with cashews if needed.

The recipe is written by Sharmila Matheswara from Bitty Bakes

Check out her Instagram account bakewithbittybakes

3. Cranberry and Orange Christmas energy balls!

This is a simple Christmas themed snack that's ready in 15 minutes and is super healthy too! These delicious energy bites remind of the Christmas tree ornaments!

Ingredients

• Oats 1 cup
• 100ml Orange juice fresh
• 1 tsp Orange zest
• 1/4 cup dried Cranberry crushed coarsely
• Sweetener of choice according to taste
• Cashew butter 2 tsp

Method

1. Roast the oats till slightly brownish taking care not to burn them.
2. Crush to a powder in grinder. Add all the rest ingredients and mix well to form a dough. 
3. Pinch off small pieces and roll into balls.
4. Coat with cranberry powder/desiccated coconut/powdered sugar/chocolate powder and enjoy it!

The recipe is written by Nimrata Kaur. Check out her Instagram account dr.nimrata

4. Healthy no-bake fruit mince pie tarts!

Mince fruit pies are an iconic Christmas treat, but it takes a lot of time! This is a healthier and quicker version, which makes a mini pie tart without baking!

Ingredients

For the pie crust

• Quaker oats 1 cup
• Unsalted butter 1 tsp
• Maple syrup 3 tablespoon

For the filling

• 1 apple peeled cored cut into small pieces
• 2 small pears peeled chopped into small pieces
• 1/4 cup cranberries dried
• 8-10 grapes
• Cinnamon powder 1 tsp
• Juice of one lemon
• Water 200ml

Method

1. Dry roast the oats till brownish then coarsely crush them in a processor. 
2. Mix the oats flour with butter and maple syrup to form a semi doughy consistency.
3. Brush the pie/ tart molds with little oil. Put the oats mixture and spread it out as evenly as possible along the base and sides of the mold. 
4. Place in the freezer for 30 min to set. 
5. In meantime in a saucepan add the fruits and cinnamon powder, lemon juice and water and mix. 
6. Keep boiling on simmer till water evaporates.
7. Remove the pie crust from mold and add the now ready fruits mixture filling to it.
8. Serve it topped with maple syrup and mint leaves.

The recipe is written by Nimrata Kaur. Check out her Instagram account dr.nimrata

5. Wholewheat gingerbread spice cake with cream cheese frosting!

It’s that time of the year when the air is filled with Christmas cheer. Any festival is incomplete without scrumptious desserts. But what if we make these desserts a bit healthy so that we could enjoy the treats guiltfree. Gingerbread is the most popular flavor used during Christmas. Make this healthier version of cake for your Christmas party.

Ingredients

• 2 cups wholewheat flour
• 1.5 tsp of dry ginger powder
• 1.5 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/4th tsp ground cloves powder 
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 3/4th cup molasses 
• 3/4th cup warm water
• 1/2 cup of coconut oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla essence 

For the frosting

• 1 pack of cream cheese
• 1/3rd cup molasses 
• 1/4th cup almond butter 
• 1/4th cup brown sugar

Method

1. Add all dry ingredients wholewheat flour, baking powder, all spices ( clove, cinnamon, ginger powder) mix well and keep aside.
2. In warm water add the molasses and mix well. Keep aside.
3. Take another bowl and add coconut oil, brown sugar and whisk with the help of a hand blender till the mixture gets creamy. Add egg and whisk again. Add vanilla essence and give it a nice mix.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet one in batches. Add the molasses in batches too into the mix. Mix with the cut and fold method till all ingredients combine together properly. 
5. Grease a spring foam cake pan ... line it with a parchment paper and pour the cake batter into it.
6. Place the cake tin in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for around 25-30 minutes or till the toothpick comes out clean when you pierce to check the cake is done or not.
7. Once done, allow the cake to cool down completely before you apply the frosting.
8. For the frosting in a bowl take room temperature cream cheese, sugar, molasses, and almond butter and whip it well.
9. Spread the frosting over the cake evenly and garnish with some colorful sprinkles.

The recipe is written by Vaishali Singh. Check out her Instagram account yummcrumbz

6. A traditional Irish Christmas plum pudding!

Health is your concern but can't stop to savor desserts. This one's for the fitness freak as well as a foodie in you!

Ingredients

• 1/3rd cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/3rd cup of ragi flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4th cup raisins
• 1/4th cup walnuts 
• 1/2 cup cranberry dried
• 1 cup of mixed dry candied fruits ( strawberry, orange, mango, cherries)
• 2 tbsp orange peel
• 1 tbsp lemon peel
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 100 gms dates
• 1 grated carrot
• 3/4th cup ghee
• 1/4th cup molasses 
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla essence 
• 1/2 tsp of cinnamon powder 
• 1/2 tsp ginger powder 
• 1/2 tsp clove powder 

Method

1. Add all the dried candied fruits, cranberries, walnuts, raisins, grated carrots, deseeded chopped dates, orange, and lemon peel, orange juice, and molasses and mix well. Keep it aside covered for half an hour.
2. Take flour, add dry spices like cloves powder, cinnamon powder, and dry ginger powder, baking soda into it and mix well. Keep it aside.
3. In a bowl, whisk the ghee with brown sugar, eggs and vanilla essence till all ingredients mix together. 
4. Empty the flour into it and mix well.
5. Put the soaked dry candied fruits into the mix and mix well till all ingredients combine together.
6. Grease the muffin tray and pour the mix evenly in each mold. Tap the tray before you place it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes or till it’s cooked completely, check by inserting a toothpick.
7. Serve these individual treats with caramel sauce and some roasted walnuts.

The recipe is written by Vaishali Singh. Check out her Instagram account yummcrumbz

7. Baked pumpkin spiced donuts!

Donut Worry! These are healthy donuts that you can hog on one after the other to celebrate the most-awaited and joyous festival!

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ginger powder 
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 tsp clove powder
• 3/4th cup brown sugar
• 1 cup pumpkin purée 
• 2 eggs
• 1/4th cup olive oil
• 1 tsp vanilla essence 
• 3-4 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp of melted butter
• 1/2 cup of cinnamon and brown sugar mix

Method

• Cut the pumpkin into cubes, boil and make a purée.
• In a bowl add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and the spices and mix well. Keep it aside.
• In another bowl take the pumpkin purée, eggs, olive oil, vanilla essence, and milk and whisk well.
• Add the dry ingredients into the wet one gradually and mix till all ingredients get combined. Put this mix in a  piping bag.
• Grease the donut pan and pour the mix into each mold through the piping bag only till 3/4th level.
• Tap the pan and place it into a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
• Melt some butter and in a separate bowl add some cinnamon powder and brown sugar and mix well.
• Dunk the top of the donut into the warm melted butter and then into the cinnamon-sugar mix and allow it to cool on a cooling rack. 

The recipe is written by Vaishali Singh. Check out her Instagram account yummcrumbz

Love treats? We have a list of healthy and delicious Christmas recipes! If you have something to share, comment in the comment section below.

Also Read: Ho Ho Ho! Christmas Cocktails recipe for a boozy Christmas from these Famous Restaurant Chefs!