Here are some festive, healthy vegan desserts to enjoy for the holidays. When it’s time for a get-together you want something delicious no matter what. But finding vegan desserts good enough for a special celebration can be tricky. If you try to veganize family favorite recipes sometimes the lack of butter, eggs, or milk could make them dry or otherwise not the best. So, I have collected some favorites here for you to make and enjoy, worry-free.
Whether it’s for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas, here are some great dessert ideas to enjoy. These recipes taste rich and enjoyable and are also lower in added sugar and saturated fat compared to traditional recipes.
Brownies and Cakes
These pumpkin brownies by Brandi at The Vegan 8 are tasty and moist: I used light olive oil in place of coconut butter to decrease the saturated fat and reduced the sugar to a half cup total.
I adapted these Rich and Fudgy Tahini Brownies from Deanna Seagrave-Daly and Serena Ball RD to a vegan recipe: also moist and delicious!
This “Crazy Cake”, also known as Depression Cake, is another delicious option if you don’t have pumpkin in the house (or if you have a chocolate fix but are snowed in and don’t have a lot of ingredients on hand!). This recipe is from allrecipes.com.
Applesauce or mashed banana can be substituted for at least half of the oil. I have used whole wheat flour for half of the all-purpose flour and cut the sugar to about half as well.
You could make these tasty recipes by Megan Byrd RD look more festive by cutting them into portions and then drizzling them with melted white chocolate and topping them with berries, sprinkles, or crushed candy canes!
Beans add important nutrients like protein, fiber, potassium, and phosphorus to brownies. Try this recipe from Elizabeth Weiss MS, RD.
Easy Vegan Holiday Treats
Chocolate lovers, this one’s for you. Bark is a super-easy treat. Try this one from Toby Amidor MS, RD.
Cookie dough bites from Kaitlin Williams Eckstein MPH, RD, LD are a tasty dessert:
Vegan Christmas Cookie Ideas
Light Dessert Options
Stuffed dates are a fun and nutritious option. You can stuff them with pecan, walnuts, dark chocolate, peanut butter, cashew butter, almond butter, etc., and even dip them in some melted dark chocolate.
Try this deconsructed easy grape salad with red and green grapes for a festive look:
Of course, fruit is a healthy way to end the meal. Try it with chocolate hummus for a delicious twist. You can make chocolate hummus at home, or buy it.
I hope you now have some new ideas for enticing and healthy vegan desserts to add enjoy over the holidays!
More Holiday Meal Ideas
- Winter Fruit Recipes
- 18 Delicious Vegan Passover Recipe Ideas
- How to Plan the Best Plant-based Thanksgiving Dinner: with 16 Recipes
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Have you tried any of these healthy vegan desserts? Please share your favorite in the comments below:
Originally published: 11/19/19. Updated 12/17/2023
Stunning! These plant-based holiday desserts are a dream for any festive celebration! A delicious way to enjoy sweet treats with wholesome ingredients!
great round up of baking ideas! Now i know what to make for Christmas Day!
What a great round up of desserts for the holiday season! I can’t wait to make Pomegranate-Pistachio Bark!
Wow! these are awesome recipes. Great 15 Healthy Vegan Desserts for the Holidays indeed! I can’t wait to try each recipe this Holiday season. Thanks and Happy Holidays!:)
Love this! I am always looking for more plant based dishes to have in my back pocket to use when I have vegan guests over. Thanks for sharing!
These look absolutely stunning Melissa! Will definitely be trying!!