What could be more decadent than melt-in-your-mouth, light and fluffy angel food cake? How about a grain-free version that uses lower glycemic coconut sugar! This recipe for angel food cake takes all the time and care you normally put into an angel food cake, but with modified ingredients that won’t wreck your health. A blend of coconut and arrowroot flours and well sifted coconut sugar are the keys to this lower glycemic and grain-free indulgence. Garnish with fresh fruit slices and melted chocolate for a beautiful and delicious dessert.

The rich smooth filling along with the delicious pecan flavor make pecan pie a holiday favorite. But pecan pie can be so sweet it makes your teeth hurt! This modified version tones down the sweet by using dates, applesauce, maple syrup and molasses, but it retains the velvety mouthfeel and rich flavor with butter or coconut oil and, of course, pecans! Consider making two, because everyone will ask for seconds!

Thank you Paleo Spirit for this recipe!

The combination of tender, rich crust, creamy cheesecake-style filling, and tart cranberry topping make this a dessert to remember. Although this dessert tastes decadent, the grain-free tart crust, alternative sweeteners, and healthy fats help to make this indulgence less of a hindrance on your health goals.

The secret ingredient in these tarts is lard in the crust. Lard has large fat crystals, which help to make pastries and pie crusts flakey and tender. Lard is also higher in monounsaturated fats (like those in olive oil) than many animal fats, and can thereby support cardiovascular health. But be careful to choose the highest quality lard available. The block or tub of lard available at many grocers may have been bleached, deodorized, and hydrogenated, and is likely to have come from pigs raised in confinement with antibiotic- and growth stimulant–laced feed. So look for products like Fatworks 100% pure lard from pasture-raised pork for this recipe.

Each of these decadent desserts can give you the enjoyment of a sweet treat with the reassurance that you can keep on track with your health goals. Let us know in the comments if you find a favorite among these recipes, or share your favorite not-so-bad-for-you holiday treats. We can’t wait to hear what gets your taste buds humming for the holidays!

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