This guide shares sweet recipes from various countries, typically served during the Christmas season.
These recipes have some healthier tweaks, allowing you to enjoy them for variety or as a healthier alternative to the usual sugar-heavy desserts this festive season.
Some of these recipes still contain sugar or sugar alternatives, so remember to reduce the amount of sugar where possible.
Instead, use fresh fruit, cinnamon, coconut, vanilla, dark chocolate, nut butter, rose water, crushed nuts, or unsweetened cocoa powder as alternative sweet ingredients.
Another idea is to portion your desserts, share them, or eat them slowly to maximise their flavour and therefore feel more satisfied.
Most cultures and Christian religions celebrate Christmas on either December 24th or 25th in different parts of the world. Either way, enjoy celebrating these cultural desserts this year!
UK
From traditional trifle to Christmas pudding, the UK offers a variety of festive desserts that we can tweak to make healthier, such as those included in these recipes.
If you're looking for a mince pie recipe, you could try this one with lower sugar content or one that uses filo pastry.
USA
The USA enjoys baking and decorating Gingerbread men as a family-festive tradition, and then gifting them to one another. Here is a recipe using less sugar and more spice!
Canada
This protein-packed dessert bite uses maple syrup, one of Canada’s staple ingredients - Maple nut brittle.
Australia
Australia is home to the Pavlova, a cool dessert for a Summer Christmas in this part of the world.
Trinidad and Tobago
Ponché de creme is a Trinidadian version of eggnog, but this recipe creates a pudding out of the traditional drink.
Russia
Using wheat, fruit, and nuts, Kutia is quite a nutritionally balanced dessert option.
Sweden
Like the American gingerbread men, Sweden has their own version of ginger biscuits, usually eaten at Christmas time, called Pepparkakor. As they’re quite thin, they make a great dessert option that can be portioned reasonably.
Norway
For Norway, we’ve taken a step away from the typical types of desserts, in case you’re looking for something healthier to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Norway serves sweet root vegetables and Rødkål, a sweetened cabbage dish, for Christmas lunch and dinner, and often as a sweet dessert too.
Denmark
This cherry rice pudding, called Risalamande, uses little sugar and almond milk for a vegan-friendly option.
Goa
In Goa, Christmas dessert is typically Bebinca,a layered coconut cake. Try using more cinnamon and nutmeg, and less sugar, for a healthier and less sweet pudding.
Egypt
These festive stuffed dates are a perfect Egyptian-style dessert full of fibre and vitamins.
Germany
Apples and marzipan are baked together in Bratäpfel, a traditional German dessert typically served hot out of the oven on a cold winter’s day.
France
France is quite well known for their winter poached pear recipes, but how about trying the Second Nature pear and chocolate crumble instead? This recipe includes oats for complex carbohydrates, mascarpone and nuts for protein and fats, and pears and dark chocolate for antioxidants.
Mexico
Instead of fruit punches and mulled wine, often high in sugar, this Mexican hot chocolate is a warming drink with a kick.
Italy
Apparently, this dessert was created by a man named Toni in Milan in the 15th century to impress his employer’s daughter. Since then, Panettone has become a Christmas tradition in Italy’s recipe book.
South Africa
This Malva Pudding recipe offers alternative sugar options, and you can enjoy it with a side of fruit for added vitamins and fibre, especially if you reduce the sweetness from sugar.
Spain
Turrónis a favourite festive recipe in Spain, and this one uses just three ingredients: dark chocolate, olive oil, and almonds.
Philippines
This cake made from rice is traditionally eaten for celebrations in the Philippines, including at Christmas time. However, this lower-carbohydrate version of Bibingka doesn’t include rice, but still packs in the traditional flavours of this Christmas dessert.