By Susan Voisin 14 Comments
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Privacy Policy.
It’s been one of those months. December flew by, and the chaos of getting ready for Christmas sped it along. And then there were the “fun” end of year challenges–medical checkups and minor procedures, a wrecked car (E’s but she wasn’t hurt), and last minute plane tickets to get her home for the holidays. Oy.
So my dreams of having a new recipe for you in time for Christmas evaporated. Instead, I decided to remind you of some of my family’s favorite holiday desserts.
For me, what separates Thanksgiving from the December holidays is the desserts. Thanksgiving is all about the savory flavors of thyme and sage, but Christmas requires cookies and eggnog, cakes and non-pumpkin pies. It’s the last big splurge before the new year and its healthy resolutions arrive.
But holiday desserts don’t have to be a total fat and sugar-fest. I love to surprise people with a dessert that seems decadent but is healthy (or at least healthier.) The vegan Christmas dessert recipes that follow still contain more sugar that I recommend eating regularly because they’redesserts. Enjoy responsibly and share with your loved ones. 😉
1. Applesauce Ginger Cake with Maple Glaze
2.Pear Spice Upside-Down Cake
3.Cranberry-Carrot Cake
4. Chocolate-Orange Cake
5.Vegan Pumpkin Bread Pudding
6. Skinny Figgy Bars
7.Lower-Fat Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
8. Vegan Lemon Pie with Oatmeal Cookie Crust
9. Vegan Eggnog Cheesecake*
10. Double-Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake*
11. BONUS! Vegan Irish Cream Cheesecake
12. BONUS! Vegan Snickerdoodles
*Cheesecakes contain processed vegan cream cheese, which contains oil. These desserts are not fat-free.
For more desserts, check out my Desserts File. And for more holiday recipes (including New Year’s Day) click on my Holiday Recipes.
I hope to be back with a little something for New Year’s (let me know in the comments what you’d like to see and I’ll try to oblige.)
Wishing you the happiest of holidays,
Sign up for our newsletter for updates on recipes and more!
Previous Post: « Cranberry-Carrot Cake from Vegan Holiday Kitchen
Next Post: Vegan Irish Cream Cheesecake »
Reader Interactions
Comments
Sherri
December 21, 2017 at 6:13 pmThere are so many yummy desserts in this list, thank you! I’m going to make the Vegan Pumpkin Bread Pudding for my Christmas dinner dessert this year, can’t wait. Thank you so much for these recipes, you are helping to make my vegan cooking life much better.
Reply
December 21, 2017 at 6:16 pm I hope you enjoy the bread pudding! Have a great Christmas!
Reply
Karle
December 21, 2017 at 6:48 pmDefinitely making the Cranberry Carrot Cake. Waiting for a silicone 9″ pie pan to arrive. I’m sprinkling powdered sugar to finish it. This will be for Christmas Day Dinner with my daughters, son, sons-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughter and me.My grandson who lives in San Antonio won’t arrive until after Christmas. Saving all these desserts to try during the New Year. Happy Holidays to all.
Reply
Cynthia M.
December 21, 2017 at 11:18 pmI made the cranberry-carrot cake over Thanksgiving. It was delicious but really, really moist. My husband thought it might be good baked twice, like biscotti. I might try this next time.
Reply
Maggie
December 21, 2017 at 6:49 pmBut, but, but…how could your classic “banana-maple-oatmeal cookies” not have made the top-10 list? 🙂
That’s one of my all-time fave recipes from your site. I just made those for the hundredth or so time…with craisins, vegan chocolate chunks, and walnuts for the holidays. I love, love, love that one! Leftovers reheat the next day in the toaster oven back to fresh-from the oven perfection.
And I’m totally making that carrot cake tomorrow. Thanks for this fun list!
Reply
December 23, 2017 at 9:32 pm I knew I was going to leave out someone’s favorite! I probably should have picked more than 10. But I love your craisin/chocolate/walnut combo. I’ll have to try that!
Reply
Cheryl
December 21, 2017 at 7:00 pmThey all look wonderful and I may have to try the eggnog cheesecake!
I just made your 911 gravy tonight to go with our Solstice dinner. It’s a great recipe as is, but I added sautéed onion and mushroom to it ….yummy, thanks.
Anything that you come up with will be great, I’m sure. But, when I think of New Years Day, I think that most of us will be tired from the festivities, but ready to start 2018 on a healthy note. How about a Ridiculously Easy soup featuring Black Eye Peas for good luck?
All the best to you and your family.Reply
Claudia Martindale
December 21, 2017 at 9:01 pmI agree with your #1 spot –my favorite! I fix it every Thanksgiving and Christmas and am not even tempted by other desserts. I really like the bread pudding too. Thanks so much for ALL your yummy recipes! As for New Year ideas, I’d like a great vegan no-fat biscotti recipe to dip in coffee. Merry Christmas.
Reply
Agnes
December 22, 2017 at 6:04 amSusan
Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes. In my house it’s what’s for dinner? I go right to my list of bookmarked favorites from your site. With your help I have lost 40+ pounds!
I am making the chocolate orange cake, pumpkin bread and impossible pumpkin pie for dessert (it is Christmas – have to have lots of desserts). Dinner is that delicious mushroom seitan loaf again!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Reply
Lynn
December 22, 2017 at 8:57 amYou asked for suggestions. I miss spinach dip. We ate it with pita chips. It also included cheese.
Reply
December 23, 2017 at 9:36 pm I saw this one recently and thought it looked good: http://plantpoweredkitchen.com/creamy-artichoke-spinach-dip-without-the-junk/
Reply
nira teller
December 23, 2017 at 10:39 amthe cakes look gorgious and I will definitely make at least two of them. Thank you and happy holidays
Reply
Lori
December 26, 2017 at 4:24 pmI’ve made the Vegan Eggnog Cheesecake and topped it with sauteed cinnamon apples. It is delicious! My son didn’t know and couldn’t tell that it was vegan. YUM!!!
Reply
Laura Olson
December 14, 2020 at 3:58 pmHave made both the bread pudding (iconic holiday treat for breakfast now) and the pear cake. BOTH were amazing and no one could tell they were healthy!!
Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
