Active Aging Presented by Public Health Seattle-King County

Engaging in hobbies during retirement is a critical component of healthy emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Hobbies can help your mind stay sharp and give you a sense of purpose. Baking is one of the best activities to fill your time during the colder months, and it’s easy to enjoy this hobby alone or with a group of friends and family. By swapping traditionally sugary treats for healthier recipes, you can prioritize your well-being all season long.

Healthier Treats to Bake for the Holiday Season

Baking Solo

Baking on your own can serve as a calming activity that allows your mental acuity to stay sharp without adding barriers like expensive equipment or physical demands. This holiday season, try these healthier sweet treats that are perfect for making solo. You won’t need too many hands for the process, and the end result is easy to portion out for just one or two guests at a time.

Sugarplums

This sugarplum recipe is perfect for storing some seasonal goodies in the fridge for anytime you need a bite of something sweet. The prunes, dates, and apricots bring sweetness and a nice consistency to these treats, while nuts and spices add the perfect holiday flavor.

Pecan Pie Bars

If you want the nostalgic taste without as much hassle (or sugar), opt for these healthier pecan pie bars rather than a whole pie. The bars are a perfect serving size for one. You can even double the batch and freeze half for next month when the cravings inevitably return.

Chocolate-Pistachio Orange Slices

These delicious chocolate-dipped oranges sprinkled with pistachio pieces are the perfect dessert to make on a slow day at home. You can purchase pre-made dried orange slices at the store or make your own by slowly dehydrating slices in the oven on low heat over a few hours.

Carrot Muffins

Instead of making a batch of sugary cupcakes, try these carrot muffins that are full of ingredients to keep you satiated instead of just headed for a sugar crash. The whole wheat flour and wheat germ complement the nutty flavors of seasonal spices, and crushed pineapple is one of the key ingredients for adding healthier sweetness to the muffins.

Baking with Loved Ones

While cooking and baking alone can be calming, enjoying the activity with a group of friends and family is a wonderful way to socialize. Keeping up strong relationships and connections in later years can have a profoundly positive impact on your well-being. These healthier holiday treats are great to make with others and can easily feed a crowd.

Peppermint Ice Cream

The whole family will love the holiday flavors in an unexpected seasonal treat: peppermint chocolate ice cream! The trick is that this vegan recipe uses frozen bananas to form the “ice cream” base. Kids will love to help blend the ingredients in a food processor and scoop their fancy dessert into cones or bowls.

Dark Chocolate Christmas Trees

Even the youngest family members can help make these dark chocolate Christmas trees, so the dessert is both the activity and the destination. Each treat is small enough that you can easily have several without overdoing it on unhealthy sugar or fats.

Gingerbread Cookies

This healthier spin on gingerbread cookies is a great recipe to make with the family since everyone can decorate together after dinner. If you’re baking with loved ones, let the kids get their hands messy in the whole wheat dough! For an older crowd, ask everyone to bring cookie cutters from home with their favorite holiday shapes.

Apple Cranberry Crisp

Sometimes, the best part about cooking with others is the time spent between all the mixing, rolling, and scooping. This apple cranberry crisp recipe gives you just enough time for a quick game of cards or a walk around the neighborhood with your loved ones while the ingredients are cooking. The fresh fruits, nuts, and berries add a healthy spin, and maple syrup replaces refined sugar.

Whether you’re spending time in the kitchen solo or with a large group, these healthier holiday treats will bring joy to your home this season!

Active Aging is presented by Public Health- Seattle & King County. Public Health- Seattle & King County recognizes the important and untold stories of innovation, service, and sacrifice by the Black community and supports efforts to improve equity and achieve social justice. We want everyone to get health insurance and access health care. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/health for health insurance, flu and COVID-19 testing locations.