3 Holiday Treats Packed With Superfoods (Including No-Bake Cookies!)

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When you think about holiday treats, you probably don't think nutrients—but Christmas cookies, bites, and chocolate balls can be a great opportunity to squeeze in seasonal superfoods! Check out three of my recipes for enjoying a little sweetness bundled with antioxidant-rich, disease-protecting goodness. Each one is plant-based, bite-sized (for built-in portion control), and perfect for sharing. These are all splurges you can feel really good about.

Ginger-Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Balls

holiday-treat-chocolate-balls holiday-treat-chocolate-balls and cinnamon are also immune supporters and anti-inflammatory metabolic boosters. Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, provides copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, and thiamin. A two tablespoon portion also packs 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

2 Tbsp. tahini

1 Tbsp. honey

2 Tbsp. raw or non-Dutched cocoa powder

2 Tbsp. almond flour

¼ tsp. fresh grated ginger

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp. chia seeds

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl, mixing until evenly distributed. Pinch off small spoonfuls, and then using your palms, roll into round, even balls; coat half of them in chia seeds.

RELATED: 3 Holiday Cocktails Starring Seasonal Produce and Superfoods

Crustless Pumpkin Pie Bites

Holiday-treat-pumpkin-bites Holiday-treat-pumpkin-bites ; and 8% of the DV for calcium; plus 8 grams of filling fiber.

1 can pumpkin puree

¼ cup unsweetened coconut milk

¼ cup pure maple syrup

2 Tbsp. almond flour

1 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil

1.5 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

½ tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth. Spoon mixture into 24 mini paper liners. Bake at 350 F for 40 minutes.

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Sweet Potato Turmeric No-Bake Cookies

holiday-treat-sweet-potato-turmeric-no-bake-cookies holiday-treat-sweet-potato-turmeric-no-bake-cookies , a root plant in the same family as ginger, has long been used as an anti-inflammatory compound in both Chinese and Indian medicine. Its active ingredient, called curcurmin, has been shown to lower levels of enzymes that fuel inflammation in the body. Curcumin also shows promise as a protector against cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and obesity.

½ cup old fashioned rolled oats

½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

¼ cup almond flour

1 Tbsp. chia seeds

¼ cup sweet potato puree

¼ cup pure maple syrup

½ tsp. pure vanilla extract

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground turmeric

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, and mix thoroughly and evenly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Using a melon baller or small spoon, place one scoop of batter at a time into the palm of your hand, and flatten with the other hand to shape into flat, round cookies. Place cookies on parchment paper, and store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

Cynthia Sass is Health’s contributing nutrition editor, a New York Times best-selling author, and a consultant for the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets.