You can still indulge in sweet holiday treats while keeping to your diabetic diet. These light, healthy desserts are all nutritionist-approved!
30 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Desserts
First-Place Coconut Macaroons
These coconut macaroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband’s favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin
1/30
2/30
Holiday Meringue Miniatures
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My kids love these light melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and we have fun making them. These were always on our Christmas cookie plate when I was a kid, and now the tradition continues. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado
3/30
Pear Tart
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My sister-in-law brought this pretty pastry to dinner one night, and we all went back for seconds. It is truly scrumptious. —Kathryn Rogers, Suisun City, California
4/30
Pumpkin Pecan Custard
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves pumpkin pie flavor, but this is a delicious, creamy, healthier alternative—and we don’t miss the crust at all. It firms up as it cools. —Abby Booth, Coweta, Oklahoma
5/30
Gingerbread Meringue Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
For the best of both worlds, I combined my grandmother's gingerbread recipe with my aunt's special brown sugar meringue. The result? These lovable holiday-perfect bars that have become a new family tradition. —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles, California
6/30
Citrus Gingerbread Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Orange and lemon zest give gingerbread cutouts a refreshing twist. Brushing a honey glaze over the top adds a subtle shine and an extra touch of sweetness. —Monique Hooker, DeSoto, Wisconsin
7/30
Jellied Champagne Dessert
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This refreshing dessert looks just like a glass of bubbling champagne. —Vickie McLaughlin, Kingsport, Tennessee
8/30
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe caught my eye and was extremely popular at the annual Christmas party sponsored by our Extension Homemakers. It's a great dessert for fall.
9/30
Chai-Spiced Bread Pudding
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Nothing says the holidays to me more than the warming spices of chai. This bread pudding incorporates those flavors to make a dessert that everyone raves about. —Jessie Apfe, Berkeley, California
10/30
Carrot Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are both flavorful and colorful. The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color.
11/30
Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a chocolate lover, and this treat has satisfied my cravings many times. No one guesses the brownies are light because their chewy texture and rich chocolate taste can't be beat. —Heidi Johnson, Worland, Wyoming
12/30
Eggnog Mousse
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will always find room for this light, fluffy, mouthwatering mousse. It makes an elegant, refreshing finish for heavier meals—and it’s also a great way to use up any extra eggnog in the fridge. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
13/30
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I can’t consume gluten, so I’ve transformed my favorite recipes to fit my diet. I came up with these cakelike cookies, and no one ever guesses they’re gluten free. —Becki DiMercurio, Martinez, California
14/30
Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Searching for a dessert superstar? This chocolate swirl cheesecake is the one that people ask for again and again. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
15/30
Apple Frangipane Phyllo Tart
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
An almond-flavored frangipane creates a nutty bottom layer for my apple tart. Golden phyllo dough creates a delicate and crispy melt-in-your-mouth crust. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
16/30
Chipotle Crackle Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I usually bake these special cookies for the holidays, but my family loves them so I bake them for their birthdays. The addition of ground chipotle chile pepper gives these cookies a little zing. The dough may be sticky, so I dip my hands in confectioners' sugar for easier handling. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
17/30
Meringue Cookies
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet little swirls are light as can be. They're all you need after a big, special dinner. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
18/30
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I converted these blondies to be gluten free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were craving brownies one night, and these cakelike treats hit the spot. They are a fantastic spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York
19/30
Orange Ricotta Cake Roll
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I come from a big Italian family. When I was growing up, my mom cooked and baked many delicious meals and desserts from scratch. Now I do the same for my family. This cake is my finale to our special-occasion dinners. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California
20/30
Gluten-Free Fig Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These special cookies definitely don’t taste gluten-free. For added appeal, I soak the figs overnight in a mixture of port and pomegranate juice. —Twinkle30, Tasteofhome.com community
21/30
Chewy Cranberry Pecan Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been making these for several years as I really enjoy the combination of flavors and the relative ease of preparations. They're not only great for the holidays, but year round if you have cranberries in your freezer. —Virginia Anthony, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
22/30
Cinnamon Nut Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Classic bar meets good-for-you ingredients in this updated recipe. If you have the patience, after the bars are cool, store them in a tin for a day to allow the flavors to meld…I think they taste even better the next day. —Heidi Lindsey, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
23/30
Angel Food Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For our daughter's wedding, a friend made this lovely, airy angel food cake from a recipe she's used for decades. It really is one of the best angel food cake recipes I've found. Serve slices plain or dress them up with fresh fruit. —Marilyn Niemeyer, Doon, Iowa
24/30
Caramel Apple Tartlets
Total Time
35 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Good-for-you things come in small packages when you make a batch of these tiny apple tartlets. Sweet and cinnamony, these mouthwatering tarts are a delightful addition to a dessert table or snack tray. —Mary Kelley, Minneapolis, Minnesota
25/30
Gluten-Free Almond Crispies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a wonderful treat everyone in the family can enjoy. Ideal with milk or tea, these cookies have cinnamon and maple in every crunchy bite. —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin
26/30
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea. —Amy Tong, Anaheim, California
27/30
Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll fall in love with this sweet treat. Each silky slice is topped with juicy raspberries. Yes, you can have cheesecake without breaking the calorie budget. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
28/30
Almond Espresso Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
If you like coffee, you'll love these mocha morsels dressed up with toasted almonds. Save a few bars for afternoon snacktime or even breakfast, too. —Taire Van Scoy, Brunswick, Maryland
29/30
Grossmutter's Peppernuts
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 30 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Before Christmas, my grandmother would bake peppernuts and store them until the big day. When we came home from school, the whole house would smell like anise and we knew the holiday season was about to begin. —Marilyn Kutzli, Clinton, Iowa
30/30
Sparkly Meringue Snowmen
Total Time
1 hour 50 min
Servings
About 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
For my son’s first Christmas home from Iraq, I wanted everything to feel magical. He loves meringue cookies, so I made a big batch of minty snowmen and snowflakes. —Patricia Lindsay, Independence, Kansas
