Christmas is just around the corner, the Rockefeller tree is finally up and all the window displays have been revealed. I know the shops have been in the Christmas spirit since early May but I have been holding off on any festive cheer until lately, some may say “Grinch!” but I have no desire to hear Mariah wailing on about what she wants for Christmas every time I go in the supermarket, ya know?
Christmas literally means food overload, everything revolves around eating: work parties, nibbles everywhere, enough food to feed a small army, and there’s always that big bowl of chocolates that appears in the house for “guests”.
In an attempt to embrace Christmas in as healthy a way possible, why not make our Christmas Carrot Cake & Cranberry Bites? These are full of healthy all natural ingredients plus they are quick and easy to make because come on…who has any spare time in December? And we can pretend they are festive because they taste like Christmas (trust us – you’ll see when you try one) and the coconut looks like snow! Did someone say Xmas in a ball?
What you’ll need:
– 2 carrots finely grated
– large handful of pitted dates
– large handful of cranberries
– 2 cups of mixed nuts
– dollop of honey
– 1 cup of coconut flakes (+ more to roll the balls in at the end)
– teaspoon of nutmeg
What you’ll need to do:
– Add all your ingredients to your food processor and blitz until the mixture is sticking together
– Add in more honey or cranberries depending on your taste
– Empty the sticky mixture out and roll into little balls in your hands
– Empty some coconut onto a plate and roll your balls around until generously covered just like snow
– Store in your fridge and enjoy
And there you have it, our little Christmas Bites! With the naturally sweet combination of the carrots and dates you’re still getting your ‘sugar’ fix, plus carrots and cranberries are full of nutrients and antioxidants, a pretty essential win/win during this feasting period. If ever you needed a healthy alternative it’s now. Enjoy.
What’s your go-to holiday treat to make? Share below!
By: Charlotte Revill
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
