Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes

Healthy Holiday Cookie Recipes to make and enjoy throughout the holiday season! All of these Christmas cookies are gluten-free, and we have included plenty of grain-free, vegan, and keto options. Let us know which ones you try!

If you’re looking for healthier holiday treat recipes, you’re in the right spot!

Natalie (from Perry’s Plate) and I have rounded up our most popular healthy-ish holiday cookies, cookie bars, and treats from our site to give you plenty of options in you holiday baking endeavors.

From classic Christmas cookies made grain-free or keto to delicious gooey bars, we’ve got you covered!

This post includes paleo, keto, vegan, grain-free and gluten-free options galore!

Just about any cookie recipe you find on the internet can be made gluten-free and refined sugar-free by swapping the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend and a refined sugar-free granulated sugar like coconut sugar or maple sugar.

In many cases, coconut oil can be used in place of butter; however, coconut oil is slightly greasier than butter so you may need to use slightly less, depending on the recipe.

That said, we have a plethora of recipes right here that already use clean ingredients to keep your holidays delicious but also health-conscious.

So let’s hop to it! Here are our favorite Christmas dessert recipes for sharing with friends and family.

Healthy Holiday Bars:

Paleo Apple Pie Bars – Amazing Apple Pie Bars made with only 6 ingredients! A warmly-spiced, inviting grain-free treat that is much easier to make than a whole apple pie! Dairy-free, vegan and refined sugar-free, these super simple yet incredibly flavorful apple pie bars are an absolute delight!

Special Diet: Paleo, vegan, grain-free, refined sugar-free.

Note: If you love fruit-based crumb bars, also try my Healthy Pear Oatmeal Crumb Bars or my Keto Lemon Bars.

Paleo Samoa Cookie Bars – These chewy, caramel-topped cookie bars are a paleo version of the famous Girl Scout Samoa cookies! They are also nut-free.

Special Diet: Paleo friendly & nut-free

7-Layer Paleo Magic Bars – A grain-free vegan version of classic Magic Bars, these easy to assemble chocolate coconut bars are great for entertaining guests any time of year. Make them for your holiday cookie exchanges and for sharing with family!

Special Diet: A paleo and vegan version of Magic Bars.

Paleo Pecan Pie Bars – Paleo Pecan Pie Bars that are vegan, grain-free, dairy-free, sweet, gooey, and buttery for the most amazing nutty treat. This caramel-covered dessert recipe is fun to make and perfect for sharing with friends and family during the holiday season.

Special Diet: These pecan bars are paleo, vegan, grain-free and refined sugar-free.

Note: Make Paleo Vegan Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars if you’re a chocolate lover!

Grain-Free Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars – These PB&J bars only have FIVE ingredients! I love how the coconut sugar gives them a little caramel flavor. You can use any jam or jelly you like, too. Prep time is quick, so you can have these ready to go in under an hour.

Special Diet: Grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free with homemade jelly

Note: Use my Strawberry Chia Jam recipe for a refined sugar-free option!

Paleo Chocolate Chip Fudge Bars – You’d never know these gooey chocolate chip cookie bars were grain-free and dairy-free! You can easily make them low-carb or keto, too, by swapping out the sweetener for a low-carb alternative.

Special Diet: Paleo friendly with a low-carb option.

Paleo Orange Cranberry Bars – Make these luscious bars using leftover cranberry sauce!

Special Diet: Paleo friendly with naturally sweetened cranberry sauce, like my Healthy Cranberry Sauce with Cider & Vanilla. If you don’t have cranberry sauce, use any kind of jam here.

Healthy Christmas Cookies:

Keto Cowboy Cookies – Low-Carb Keto Cowboy Cookies are an all-the-textures, all but the kitchen sink sort of cookie, loaded with goodies to make you swoon!  Easy to make, grain-free, and sugar-free, these lumps of gooey deliciousness are magnificently addicting.

Special Diet: Keto, low-carb, grain-free.

Note: For a gluten-free version that isn’t sugar-free, make Gluten-Free Cowboy Cookies

Gluten Free Apple Cookies with Maple Glaze – These soft, Gluten Free Apple Cookies are topped with a maple glaze and are perfect for fall! They remind me of little apple cakes with bits of tart green apple. They’re also naturally sweetened!

Keto Pecan Snowball Cookies – Keto Pecan Snowball Cookies made with almond flour, sugar-free sweetener and butter. This easy sugar-free cookie recipe is a healthier holiday treat!

Special Diets: Keto, grain-free

Note: For a paleo version that is refined sugar-free but not keto, make my Paleo Russian Tea Cakes.

Healthy 6-Ingredient Apple Oatmeal Cookies – 6-Ingredient Healthy Apple Oatmeal Cookies made with wholesome ingredients for a health-conscious treat. These apple cinnamon cookies are so easy to make and are flourless, dairy-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free. They are the most popular cookie recipe on my site!

Special Diet: Gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free

Note: Make 3-Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies for a chocolate chip version.

Chewy Gluten Free Ginger Cookies – These delicious chewy ginger molasses cookies are gluten free AND sweetened with coconut sugar! They’re bold in flavor, too, having loads of fresh ginger. Want them extra spicy? Add a touch of cayenne! The chocolate drizzle is optional, but makes them more festive.

Special Diet: Gluten-free, refined sugar free, option for dairy free

Oat Flour Shortbread Cookies with Walnuts – Gluten-free oat flour shortbread cookies infused with roasted walnuts and dipped in chocolate. The perfect healthy cookie to share with friends and family!

Special Diet: Gluten-free, refined sugar-free

Note: Make 3-Ingredient Paleo Shortbread for a paleo version or Keto Shortbread Cookies for a sugar-free low-carb version.

Keto Snickerdoodles – Keto Snickerdoodles made with almond flour, coconut oil, and sugar-free sweetener make for a lighter version of the holiday classic. Bake up a batch to enjoy with friends and family at all your holiday cookie exchanges and feasts!

Special Diets: Keto, low-carb, grain-free.

Note: Make Vegan Snickerdoodles for a grain-free snickerdoodle recipe that doesn’t use a sugar-free sweetener.

Chewy Gluten Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies – These cookies combine two classic favorites: peanut butter & oatmeal chocolate cookies into one, deliciously chewy cookie! They’re also gluten-free, naturally-sweetened, and can easily be made vegan.

Special Diet: Gluten-free, refined sugar free (option for vegan in recipe)

Note: Use a different nut butter here if you like.

Keto Sugar Cookies with Almond Flour – Keto Sugar Cookies made with almond flour for a rich, buttery, soft and chewy delicious treat! The recipe for these sugar-free sugar cookies includes a dairy-free option as well.

Special Diet: Grain-free and keto. Post includes other sweetener options if you don’t follow a sugar-free low-carb diet.

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt – These are the best grain free or paleo chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had! You can easily make them low-carb by following the adaptation in the notes in the recipe.

Special Diet: Paleo friendly.

Balls & Bites:

Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Snowballs – Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Snowballs made with just 7 basic ingredients. Whip them up in a food processor and enjoy them as a healthy snack or a fun treat.

Special Diet: Gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free.

Note: Swap the peanut butter for your favorite nut butter

Paleo Raw Cookie Dough Bites – Kids and adults of all ages love these paleo cookie dough bites! They’re a fun, little protein-filled snack and you can make them low-carb or keto if you like by swapping out the sweetener.

Special Diets: Paleo friendly & egg free.

Keto Peanut Butter Buckeyes – Peanut butter and chocolate come together in one peanut butter ball of heaven for a rich, fudgy, decadent dessert. These buckeyes are perfect for gift giving or sharing throughout the holiday season (and beyond!)

Special Diet: Keto. Make them with regular powdered sugar if you don’t need them to be low-carb.

Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Pecan Turtles – Peanut Butter Chocolate Pecan Turtles are a fun and easy treat for people of all ages to enjoy!  Made dairy-free, vegan and keto, these low-carb pecan turtles are a fun candy for sharing with friends and family or giving away as gifts.

Special Diet: Keto. Make them with using regular sugar and regular chocolate chips if you don’t need them to be sugar-free.

Also try my Keto Peanut Butter Fudge or my Easy Keto Chocolate Fudge!

Enjoy!

xo