Chocolate Christmas trees that make delicious christmasy treats without the sugar rush! Make these with your kids and enjoy guilt-free!
That time of the year is coming when everything becomes all about Christmas. Whether it's Christmas decorations, shopping, presents or food, the end of the year is a festive and beautiful time.
Even during a pandemic.
And for me the best thing about Christmas is all the cookies and treats I get to make and enjoy. But sometimes they can be a bit too much. Too much sugar and unhealthy fat that is.
So low-sugar options are always welcome! Especially for kids that eventually need to be able to get to sleep!
That's why we've prepared these Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees that are just the right combination of traditional and healthy ingredients. And the best part is that your toddler can help make and decorate these tiny little treats.
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Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees Ingredients
Oats. The Creative Nourish #1 ingredient. Our featured Christmas recipe could not go without them. You need to make them into a flour.
Flour. All purpose flour is the best option here tastewise. You can always go with wholegrain flour but the taste won't be as "fluffy" and rich.
Whole milk. If you're preparing for smaller kids and toddlers, I'd recommend whole milk. We tried this recipe a few times with cow's milk and full fat goat's milk and it worked great.
Eggs. Responsible for binding all the ingredients together and getting that wonderful ready-for-baking batter.
Agave syrup. Our sweetener of choice because it's much healthier than table sugar. You could also use honey instead if you prefer (if your children are older than 12 months).
Coconut oil. Our first choice of fats/oils in baking.
Dark chocolate. Somewhere around 70% dark chocolate is ideal. Anything that has a higher percentage might be a little too bitter.
Coconut sugar. Blends perfectly with the dark chocolate and milk to give a smooth and sweet frosting.
Olive oil. Adds to the shiny look of the frosting.
Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees Nutritional Benefits
Oats. Great source of complex carbs and fiber but also the minerals manganese and potassium.
Whole milk. Provides protein, fat and calcium.
Eggs. A great protein source as well as certain B vitamins and choline.
Agave syrup. Adds sweetness without causing a spike in blood sugar.
Coconut oil. Adds calories and fats (which we want when feeding children, but the good ones).
Dark chocolate. A wonderful source of antioxidant compounds that may protect the heart and body from diseases.
Coconut sugar. Contains more nutrients than normal sugar and 25% less sugar.
Olive oil. Great source of healthy fats (and calories).
How To Make Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees
The Sponge
Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°. Make sure you preheat your oven in time so that once your sponge is ready you can simply put it in the oven.
Melt the chocolate. The easiest way to do this is in a microwave or in a bowl over a pot of boiling water on the stove. To melt on the stove, place water in a pot and keep on a medium heat to melt slowly.
If your coconut oil is not already melted, then add it to the chocolate so they melt together.
Place the oats in a food processor and blend into a flour. Then add the other ingredients one by one and blend until you get a smooth mixture.
Mix. The easy way again would be to mix all the ingredients including the in a blender or food processor.
Add the chocolate and coconut oil mixture to the mixture once melted and blend until everything is incorporated evenly.
Bake. Grease a baking tray with some coconut oil or line it with parchment paper and spread the sponge mixture evenly onto it. Bake for about 10 minutes and check with a knife to see it it comes out clean.
If required bake for another few minutes. The sponge is done if/when the knife comes out clean.
If you don't want to make the frosting, you actually don't have to. These trees taste great without it.
The Frosting
Chop up the chocolate. Finely chop the chocolate into really small pieces and place in a bowl.
Heat the milk. Put the milk in a pot to heat it but don't let it come to a boil. Once it is hot pour over the chocolate and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
Finish. Add the rest of the ingredients for the frosting and mix with a spoon into a smooth and shiny frosting. If you will not be using the frosting right away, let the bowl with the frosting sit over hot water so that it doesn't thicken.
Making the Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees
Cut the sponge. Once the sponge has cooled, cut Christmas Trees with a cookie cutter.
Add the frosting. Place the Christmas Trees on a cooling rack (again, a clean one from your oven is fine). Pour the frosting over the Christmas Trees (do one at a time).
Decorate. Decorate as you wish and put in the fridge to thicken.
Recipe Variations
Make them wholegrain. Instead of all-purpose (or white) flour, you can use wholegrain flour and make your Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees wholegrain. The taste might be a bit grainy, not like you're used to in your regular Christmas treats, but they will be healthier and full of essential nutrients.
Make them vegan. You can also make Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees in a vegan version. You'd want to use plant milk instead of whole milk, vegan dark chocolate and flax egg alternative instead of regular eggs.
What's a flax egg? To substitute 4 regular eggs, just mix 4 tablespoons of flaxseed with 8 tablespoons of water and let sit for about 10 - 15 minutes. Add to the ingredients just as you would the eggs.
Looking for more healthy Christmas recipes?
Healthy Chocolate Christmas Trees
Ingredients
Sponge
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 7 oz whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup agave syrup
- ½ cup coconut oil melted
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 5 oz dark chocolate
Frosting
- 7.5 oz dark chocolate
- 8 oz whole milk
- 3 tablespoon coconut sugar finely ground
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tsp olive oil
Instructions
Sponge
- Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°.
- Melt the chocolate (and coconut oil if not melted) in a microwave or over boiling water on the stove.
- Place the oats in a food processor and blend into a flour. Then add the other ingredients one by one and blend until you get a smooth mixture.Add the chocolate and coconut oil mixture to the mixture once melted and blend until everything is mixed evenly.
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper or grease the baking tray with coconut oil and spread the sponge evenly.
- Bake for about 10 minutes and check with a knife. If required bake for another few minutes.
- The sponge is done if/when the knife comes out clean.
Frosting
- Finely chop the chocolate into really small pieces and place in a bowl.
- Heat the milk (but don't let it come to a boil) and pour over the chocolate.
- Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the rest of the ingredients for the frosting and mix with a spoon into a smooth and shiny frosting.
- If you will not be using the frosting right away, let the bowl with the frosting sit over hot water so that it doesn't thicken.
Making the Chocolate Christmas Trees
- Once the sponge has cooled, cut Christmas Trees with a cookie cutter.
- Place the Christmas Trees on a cooling rack.
- Pour the frosting over the Christmas Trees.
- Decorate as you wish.
- Put in the refrigerator to thicken.
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