There’s no reason festive treats can’t be delightful and ho-ho-wholesome, too. What’s more, once the heady sugar rush subsides, we realize that our palates prefer pure, natural flavors that much more. Here a few of my favorite simple baking strategies for happy, healthy holiday fun.

This easy, protein-packed, delectable chia pudding is brimming with festive and cozy gingerbread spice!

This warmly spiced, creamy, dairy-free indulgence has a surprise ingredient—white sweet potato!

This chai-spiced, delectable, vegan custard tart is proof you can have your favorite cozy beverage and eat it, too.

Rich tomatoes, roasted red peppers, pillowy gnocchi, and a swirl of vegan pesto combine with all the comfort of a cozy pasta dinner, but souped up for a little lightness and extra soothing, belly-warming satisfaction!

Pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice lend the perfect warm, bright coziness to these irresistible, naturally-sweetened rolls!

With warm, fragrant spices and just the right level of sweetness, these vegan, gluten-free treats deliver all the comfort from a cozy cup of chai in cookie form!

Wonton wrappers save time and effort in these flavor-packed sweet potato and kimchi dumplings deemed AMAZING in our house!

Bursting with nutritious flavor, this easy, veggie-packed lentil bolognese celebrates the bright bounties of both summer and fall.

When it is cold outside, nothing satisfies, warming belly and soul, quite like soup. It’s the warm blanket of comfort food. You can hardly ever veer wrong. But we still have our favorites, and here are a few of ours, this year.

Baked sweet potato lends structure and enhances flavor in this simple, wholesome, delectable vegan frosting!