It’s that time of year again, when chocolates and decadent desserts abound, and you can hide underneath bulky layers of sweaters and coats. But here’s the great thing: If you’re trying to lose weight or at least eat reasonably healthy, the winter holidays don’t have to involve you climbing through a mound of rich, creamy, heavy food.

You don’t have to pass out from the exhaustion of eating then wake up with a stomachache this year, and you don’t have to throw your diet out the window. Cut out the majority of sugar, preservatives, and trans fats in store-bought desserts (and the high levels of saturated fats found in whole milk, cream, or butter) and you’ll have yourself a merry little group of treats.

Click on the slideshow to view the list of healthy holiday desserts that contain mainly nutritious ingredients, but still create an end product that’s delicious.

holiday treats
These holiday dessert recipes are an excellent way to stay healthy during an otherwise indulgent month. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0