Healthier Winter Desserts

With New Year’s Day quickly approaching, chances are you may be regretting that extra slice of pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving dinner and all of those Christmas cookies. Don’t worry, though, because VALLEY  has got your back. With these healthier winter desserts, you can enjoy a delicious treat completely guilt-free. “These recipes are great because they use almond flour as an alternative to all-purpose flour,” says nursing major Morgan Roock. “Almond flour is much lower in carbohydrates and higher in nutrients.”

Try these healthier winter desserts to ring in the new year feeling happy and healthy.

HEALTHY BROWNIES

What You’ll Need:

• 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips, separated
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
• 1 cup vanilla greek yogurt
• 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¾ cup almond flour

What You’ll Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Place 1 cup chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl, pour coconut oil over chocolate chips and stir until chocolate chips are completely melted
3. Mix in greek yogurt, vanilla, salt, baking soda and brown sugar
4. Add almond flour and additional ½ cup dark chocolate chips
5. Spread the mixture into a greased 8″ x 8″ pan and bake 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted
6. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days

CHOCOLATE AVOCADO BROWNIES

What You’ll Need:

• 1 ripe avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup almond flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips

What You’ll Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. With a hand mixer, combine avocado, egg, vanilla and sugar until smooth
3. Stir in salt, baking soda, flour and cocoa
4. Fold in chocolate chips
5. Place rounded tablespoons of dough onto a greased cookie sheet
6. Bake 8-10 minutes
7. Let cool completely before removing from pan

CHOCOALTE CUPCAKES

What You’ll Need:

• ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup almond flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup coconut oil, melted
• 2/3 cup honey
• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

What You’ll Do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners
2. In a medium bowl, combine cocoa powder, almond flour, baking powder and salt, set aside
3. In a separate bowl, combine coconut oil, honey, applesauce, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla
4. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until combined
5. Pour the batter into the cupcake liners, about ¾ full
6. Bake 24-28 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean
7. Let cool two hours before frosting with your favorite frosting

Tweet us @ValleyMag with your favorite healthier dessert!

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