Should I make goodies for my friends and family this Christmas? I’ve been going back and forth about this. On the one hand, I love giving people homemade sweets. It’s even more fun now that I’m vegan because it’s a way to let my omnivore loved ones see that eating vegan can be delicious.
On the other hand, I’m busy. Not only am I dealing with the holiday hustle, but I’m also helping my sis get ready for her December 27th wedding and planning my upcoming vacation. What’s more, my Plant Strong diet doesn’t allow sugar, but I can’t resist goodies when they’re right in front of me.
What’s a chica to do?
My answer is quick, easy and healthy candy. Here are some recipes I found that meet most of these requirements. Some are easier than others and there are a couple that are not super healthy. On the whole, however; this is an easy, wholesome list.
1. Coconut Berry Chocolate Cups by Superfoodista
These cups look so pretty! Not only this, but they’re full of Superfood Cacao and are moderately good for you.
2. Zesty Christmas Snowballs by The Jolly Beetroot
This is another pleasing, but healthful recipe. I love that these snow balls are sweetened only with dates.
3. Rocky Road by Made of Stars
I’ve had my eye on Ally’s Rocky Road ever since she posted the recipe in mid November. Yum!
4. Chocolate Covered Peanut Brittle with Habanero by Olives for Dinner
This peanut brittle is not the healthiest recipe on this round-up, but it’s still a fab gift for spicy food lovers. And if you’re a non-spicy food lover (like me) you won’t devour most of it yourself before you give it away.
5. Healthy Eat More Fudge Chocolate Bars by Nutritionist in the Kitch (from a guest post on Chocolate Covered Katie)
Believe it or not, these melt-in-your-mouth chocolate bars are good for you! There is no refined sugar in this recipe, just dates, bananas and a touch of agave.
6. “Good Girl” Vegan Fudge by Chocolate-Covered Katie
This is a recipe that Rip, the hunky healthy fireman who wrote “My Beef with Meat” would love. If you know someone who’s following a plant based diet, this banana sweetened fudge is a great gift for him or her!
7. Raw Vegan Cheesecake on a Stick by Damy Programs
If the “Good Girl” fudge is too healthy for your tastes, then Cheesecake on a Stick might be more to your liking. These festive treats have coconut oil and agave nectar which makes them a bit naughty.
8. No Cook Fudge by Cookie + Kate
Kate says that this is “the easiest, healthiest fudge you’ll ever make! No thermometer, no marshmallow fluff or corn syrup required. It’s vegan and raw, too.” After looking at the recipe, I’d have to say that she’s right – this is a simple, healthful recipe!
9. Vegan Chocolate Truffles by Cloud Thyme
This super easy and moderately healthy truffle recipe is from one of my newest blogger buddies, Theresa. In addition to writing her awesome blog she’s getting her PhD in developmental psychology. I don’t know how she manages it all!
10. Decadent Vegan Truffles by Vegangela
If you want to splurge this Christmas, then these Decadent Vegan Truffles are the way to go. They’re not super healthy, but they’re so tasty that they just might convince an omnivore to go vegan.
Honk If You're Vegan 
Wow, fantastic collection Celeste!! They all look so yummy and pretty! 😉 Some great ideas I need to try! And thanks so much for featuring the one from Superfoodista too – so cool to be featured along all these great recipes! hugs, Sylvia
I was delighted to feature your chocolate cups chica – they look amazing!! Happy holidays!
Thank you so much Celeste! 😉 Happy Holidays to you too!
This is a killer Celeste! I am going back and forth as well as to do a home made or buy from outside..
Gorgeous treats:).
It’s such a tough decision!! 🙂
How tasty! This is fantastic!
Thanks!! Let me know if you make any of these. 🙂
Celeste, my mouth is watering just looking at these pictures- these look as good, if not better than any non-vegan chocolate out there.. I am definitely going to be trying some.
Who says candy has to be full of sugar, dairy and other unhealthy stuff!! I hope you give one of these a try. Happy holidays! 🙂
That spicy peanut brittle looks amazing!
It looks delish, but spicy food is not my thing. I know several people who would love it as a gift, however!! Happy holidays! 🙂
Yum! I love how you compile these recipes- it’s a great way to try out new ones and find other blogs to follow. And I feel so honored to be a part of this one, thank you!! Even though my PhD program keeps me busy, like you, healthy eating is my other passion so it doesn’t feel like extra work 🙂
I was delighted to include your truffles Theresa – they look amazing!! Happy holidays chica! 🙂
perfect post! thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and happy holidays!!! 🙂
WOW, great roundup! You’re making me crave sweets over here! I’ve bookmarked this page so I can try a few of these if I have some time over the holidays. Thanks so much for including my naughty truffles in this list. They’re definitely not healthy… but man, are they good! Happy holidays 🙂
Yea, I snuck in a couple of not-so-healthy treats into this round-up. I just had to include your naughty truffles because they looked amazing!! Plus your photos knocked my socks off!! Happy holidays chica! 🙂
Hi Celeste, thanks so much for featuring my Christmas snowballs 🙂 What a fantastic idea to do a compilation of holiday treats! All these recipes look divine. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season, Niki x
I was delighted to include your Zesty Christmas Snowballs in this round-up Niki! I love how festive and healthy they are, and the way you packaged them was SO cute!!! Happy holidays! Celeste 🙂
They all look fab! 😍
Thanks for stopping by chica! 🙂
☺️ x
Yum, these all look so good!
Don’t I know it! Happy holidays!! 🙂
Great recipes! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Celeste 😀 What a fantastic post to come home to !! I love the candy, not forgetting my favourite eye-candy 😉 Big hug chica. Ralph xox 😀
Welcome home Ralph!! A big hug back at ya, and one for that pony you ride too!! I can’t call you chica, so maybe I should start calling you dude. Yea, I like that! 🙂
Thanks Celeste for your welcome home. Appreciated 😀 Yes. Dude is good !! Got to go. Me and My Little Pony are about to ride off into the sunset …… oops …… it’s the middle of the night here so I’ll just comb his pink mane 😉 Buenas noches mi amiga. xox
Another great list – I’m in baking mode, and I’ll add these to the list!
Oh great Laura! Some of these are such a cinch to make, which makes it nice. Happy holidays chica! 🙂
Oh man!! What a beautiful group of goodies!! I’m kinda “stuck” on those berry chocolate cups. The color is amazing!
Those do look good – I SO agree with you!! Happy holidays chica! 🙂
Well, the desserts look great and the photos certainly make them appealing. I wish, though, you wouldn’t call them “healthy” because candy and sugar (whether refined or not) isn’t health food.
When we pretend candy is “healthy,” it’s not quite honest. It might be better to say decadent treats, or natural sugar based candies.
I have no issue with folks wanting sugar, whether or refined or not, in the form of candy. But… I don’t compare this to eating a bowl of salad, or a nutritious vegetable dish, or even eating a whole piece of fruit – all of which I’d consider healthy.
Speaking of which, I wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season – whatever you decide to consume – whether it’s banana fudge, chocolate bars with quinoa, or perhaps an apple! 🙂
Hi Carol! You are right on the money with your thoughts. I should be more careful with my post titles. I guess my meaning is that these are “healthier” than traditional candy. What’s more, some of these are sweetened with fruit. The “Good Girl” Vegan Fudge, for example is only sweetened with banana. Some of these, however; are not much healthier than traditional candy.
I appreciate your thoughts on this! I certainly don’t want to ‘water down’ healthy food and give people the impression that it’s healthy to eat candy on a regular basis. One of the things my ex-husband said I did that annoyed him was that I “sensationalized” things. I think I’ve curtailed this behavior to some degree, but perhaps I still need to be conscious of my tendency to do this.
Happy holidays to you too chica!! 🙂
Hey Carol! Just wanted to know that I thought about it and decided to take “healthy” out of my title. You’re right – some of these certainly aren’t healthy! 🙂
Hey there Celeste,
Thanks for your replies to my comments. I think it’s a natural tendancy that many people have to compare foods and say X is healthier than Y. Some people say that eating vegan meat is healthier than eating regular beef. (I’d argue that vegan meat is a processed food and while it may not contain the same ingredients as regular beef, you’d have a hard time convincing me it’s “health food.” The very same goes for “vegan mayo” – totally disgusting to me – vs. regular mayo.)
BUT… and this is important… knowing that you like sweets and want them ISN’T BAD. Providing recipes for them is great too! (Obviously from the overwhelming response, people love them!)
You can eat ANYthing you want, in moderation, and it isn’t bad. That includes regular beef, or processed sugar, or whatever the food or ingredient might be.
When I made the choice to go vegetarian, it was with health in mind… and the same goes for now being “plant based plus egg whites” (whatever that’s called.) 🙂
Keep on doing what you’re doing… you do a GREAT job here on your blog. You don’t have to feel obligated to label something as “healthy” … a recipe is a recipe. If people eat it and enjoy it, and they’ve decided not to eat something else because of it, that’s up to them. If they eat it because they happen to really like bananas, that’s up to them too. 😉
You’re a doll, happy happy holidays to you!
Carol
Thanks for your follow up comment Carol! Happy, happy holidays chica!! 🙂
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
OMG Celeste! This is heaven! The chocolate fudges are my weakness….Thanks a lot for this collection!
That “Good Girl” Vegan Fudge is a pretty healthy indulgence!! Happy holidays chica! 🙂
Happy Holidays to you to Celeste! :*
Reblogged this on "OUR WORLD".
You rock Nancy!!! 🙂
Yummm…thank you for your wonderful blog, I’ve enjoyed reading your posts so much, since subscribing.
Wishing you a magical Christmas season and all the good things in 2014! 🙂
Awww Geraldine, I’m touched! Sometimes I wonder if all the time I spend writing my blog is worth it, but when I get a comment like this I remember why I started this blog. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and a magical Christmas season to you too!! Celeste 🙂
What a round up Celeste! I just made Oh She Glow’s peanut butter balls and I would say they make my top 10 list. If you get some time, you have to make them: http://ohsheglows.com/2013/12/16/peanut-better-balls/
I just checked out those peanut butter balls and omg they sound amazing!!!! Thanks for telling me about them! Happy holidays chica! 🙂
Happy Holidays to you girl 🙂
I’m looking for a variety of treats to make for the friends having us to Christmas dinner. Many of these fit the bill! I know you are trying to cut down on sugar, and I know you will. But I’m really glad you shared these.
I know I’ll cut down on sugar eventually too, but not until after Christmas!! 🙂
I adore your blog as well Celeste and have never thought I could eat vegan and actually enjoy it. I mean looks at these candies truly amazing. I am sure they taste as great as they look. YUMMY. I wish you and your family a blessed and happy holiday. ~Glenn
Aww, thanks! 🙂
I want all of these as soon as possible.
Hehe – me too! So who’s gonna make them for us? Any takers??? 🙂
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Aww, thanks! 🙂
Oh thank you dear Celeste 🙂 🙂
And I thought I was in heaven when I (finally) perfected the vegan Reese’s peanut butter cup! A couple of those pics look really good up there.
I love the holiday season for spreading the compassionate joy. When I share my concoctions, the response is always, “But I thought you were vegan!” to which I reply, “I am, and now you’re eating with kindness as well. Feels good and tastes pretty good too, huh?”
I love the interaction I have with people when they taste my vegan goodies. Do people assume that vegans eat just carrots and rice cakes or something. I mean, come on people! I love how you say, “..and now you’re eating with kindness as well. Feels good and tastes pretty good too, huh?” That’s a great response Shannon – I love it! Have a lovely week chica and I’ll check in with you after my sister’s wedding. I’m SO busy at the moment. 🙂
Yum, what an amazing collection of divine treats 🙂
Thanks chica! Too many awesome vegan recipes, too little time!! 🙂
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You always come up with a great list, the treats look so inviting.
Aww thanks!! 🙂
Reblogged this on Sex, Shape and Spirituality and commented:
I have gotten much joy from these vegan recipes, and the kids love them, too! Gorgeous pictures for the holidays delights, too…Enjoy!
Aww, thanks so much! A very merry Christmas to you!! 🙂
GASP! Thanks for this list, I’m droooooooooooooling!
Hehehe – if you drool all over the goodies then no one else will want to eat them and you can have them all for yourself. Fantastic plan! 🙂
Reblogged this on Lynn Gilmartin and commented:
Oh wow, my mouth is watering…!!
Amaaaaazing selection!! Thank you!! xxxx
Thanks so much Lynn!! Happy holidays chica! 🙂
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