On the Third Day of Christmas my True Love Made for Me….Monster Cookies, Rice Krispie Treats, Homemade Hot Chocolate & more! The holidays are upon us and that means the kids are home from school. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite holiday treats that are super simple, fun for the kids and healthy, too!
Recipe & Photo Courtesy of www.dashingdish.com
1. Dashing Dish's Clean Eating Monster Cookies
Love Monster Cookies but not all of the fat and calories that typically come with them? This healthy alternative will leave your kid's sweet tooth satisfied and you happy knowing they are not full of sugar!
INGREDIENTS
| Peanut Butter Version: | |
| 1/2 cup | Oat flour (or 3/4 cup old fashioned oats) |
| 1 cup | Old fashioned oats |
| 1/2 tsp | Cinnamon |
| 1/4 tsp | Salt |
| 1 tsp | Baking soda |
| 1/2 cup | Baking stevia or 1 cup sweetener that measures like sugar |
| 1 large | Egg |
| 1/2 cup | Plain low fat Greek yogurt (or mashed banana) |
| 1/2 cup | Peanut butter (room temp) |
| Optional: | |
| 1/4 cup | Chocolate chips 1 |
| 1/4 cup | M&M's 1 |
| Peanut flour Version: | |
| 1/2 cup + 2 tbs | Oat flour (or 3/4 cup old fashioned oats) |
| 1 cup | Old fashioned oats |
| 1/2 tsp | Cinnamon |
| 1/4 tsp | Salt |
| 1 tsp | Baking soda |
| 1 cup | Baking stevia or 1 cup sweetener that measures like sugar |
| 1 large | Egg |
| 1/2 cup | Plain low fat Greek yogurt (or mashed banana) |
| 3/4 | Peanut flour + 1/4 cup water |
| Optional: | |
| 1/4 cup | Chocolate chips 1 |
| 1/4 cup | M&M's 1 |
DIRECTIONS
1. (Pictured above!) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a baking pan with parchment paper, or foil sprayed with cooking spray.
3. In a medium bowl, combine everything except for the m&m’s. Mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Roll dough into even size balls, and flatten into cookie shaped disks (they will not spread).
Add 40 calories to each cookie if you want to add the chocolate chips and M&M's. Or add 20 calories to each cookie if you want to add just one of these.
NUTRITION
| Peanut Butter Version: | |
| 12 | Servings (1 cookie per serving) |
| 120 | Calories per Serving |
| 9 g | Fat |
| 12 g | Carbohydrate |
| 2 g | Fiber |
| 2 g | Sugar |
| 6 g | Protein |
| Peanut Flour Version: | |
| 9 | Servings (1 cookie per serving) |
| 120 | Calories per Serving |
| 3 g | Fat |
| 16 g | Carbohydrate |
| 3 g | Fiber |
| 2 g | Sugar |
| 9 g | Protein |
2. Tree Trimmer Rice Krispie Treats
Recipe & Photo Courtesy of www.ricekrispies.com
These festive ornament treats are a great activity for a child's holiday party. You can even make the ornament shapes ahead of time and let the kids enjoy being creative with their decorations!
INGREDIENTS
| 12 (6-inch length) | Red or black string licorice |
| 12 | JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows |
| 3 Tbs | Butter or margarine |
| 1 Package | (10 oz., about 40) JET-PUFFED Marshmallows or 4 cups JET-PUFFED Miniature Marshmallows |
| 6 Cups | Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal |
| Frosting | Red and green or colors of choice |
| 1 Bag | M&M'S® brand chocolate candies |
DIRECTIONS
2. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add 10 ounces marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using 1/2-cup measuring cup coated with cooking spray divide warm cereal mixture into 12 portions. Using buttered hands shape each portion into ornament shape around licorice ends. Cool. Decorate with frosting and M&M'S® chocolate candies or your favorite holiday candy. Best if served the same day.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 through 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.
NUTRITION
| 12 | Servings |
| 250 | Calories per Serving |
| 5.1 g | Fat |
| 3 g | Saturated Fat |
| 8 mg | Cholesterol |
| 145 mg | Sodium |
| 48 g | Carbohydrate |
| .5 g | Fiber |
| 29 g | Sugar |
| 2 g | Protein |
3. Homemade Hot Chocolate
Recipe & Photo Courtesy of www.marthastewart.com
Hot Chocolate is an easy holiday staple for any household! This simple recipe is not only all natural, but also economical compared to store-bought mixes. Skim milk will make this recipe healthier but feel free to use your favorite kind!
INGREDIENTS
| 5 3/4 Cups Dry Mix OR 92, 8-ounce |
Servings |
| 3 1/2 Cups | Sugar |
| 2 1/4 Cups | Cocoa |
| Skim Milk | For serving |
DIRECTIONS
NUTRITION
Don't forget to add in calories from the milk you choose to mix with! Skim milk will add about 80 calories, 12 carbs, and 8 grams of protein!
| 92 | 2 Tbl Serving |
| 34 | Calories per Coca Mix Serving |
| .3 g | Fat |
| .2 g | Saturated Fat |
| 0 mg | Cholesterol |
| 0 mg | Sodium |
| 8.8 g | Carbohydrate |
| .1 g | Fiber |
| 7.7 g | Sugar |
| .5 g | Protein |
4. Grinch Kabobs
Photo & Recipe & Photo Courtesy of www.nourishingminimalism.com
These Grinch fruit kabobs are super simple to throw together for your next holiday gathering. Kids can easily help create the treats and they are fun to eat too!
INGREDIENTS
| Green Grapes |
| Strawberries |
| Bananas |
| Mini Marshmallows |
| Toothpicks |
DIRECTIONS
5. White Chocolate and Peppermint Covered Popcorn
Photo & Recipe & Photo Courtesy of www.simplyscratch.com
White Chocolate and peppermint make a fabulous and festive holiday duo. Kids will love the hands-on (and slightly messy!) recipe crushing peppermints and drizzling chocolate. The only hard part is waiting on the chocolate to set!
INGREDIENTS
| 16 | 1 cup servings |
| 16 oz | White Chocolate Baking Morsels |
| 1 Cup | Finely crushed peppermints (10 candy canes or about 30-35 mints) |
| 4 Quarts | Air popped popcorn (lightly salted popcorn will work too. If popping your own, add sea salt to it) |
DIRECTIONS
NUTRITION
| 16 | 1 Cup Servings |
| 133 | Calories per Serving |
| 6 g | Fat |
| 3.2 g | Saturated Fat |
| 0 mg | Cholesterol |
| 13 mg | Sodium |
| 18 g | Carbohydrate |
| .1 g | Fiber |
| 12 g | Sugar |
| 2.2 g | Protein |
