Ho Ho Ho! Did you know that Santa Claus is a Green Monster? Yup, it seems Santa wasn’t so jolly about his health lately and made some serious changes in his life. Children may love that Santa’s belly shakes like a bowlful of jelly, but the truth is that Santa’s energy was low and he needs a lot of stamina to deliver presents all over the world in just one night. So he’s decided to opt for plant-based cookies and milk this year! Plus, less belly would mean more room for presents in the sleigh!
All these changes are having a positive effect – Santa’s suit is fitting better, the elves say Santa is a nicer boss, and Mrs. Claus is sitting on Santa’s lap more often.
So what does all that mean for the houses that leave Santa milk and cookies on Christmas Eve? Should they now leave Santa granola bars and green juices? No, don’t worry, there are lots of healthy, plant-based cookies and non-dairy milk recipes that Santa can indulge in and still have the energy to travel all night without having a sugar crash.
At One Green Planet, we take care of our Green Monsters. We have cookie recipes of all kinds including cookies that are vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, oil-free and raw. Check out these 25 Epic Christmas-Themed Cookies. We also have lots of recipes if you want to make your own dairy-free milk, hot chocolate or egg-free nog. Here are 25 recipes that will make Santa Ho-Ho-Happy!
1. Molasses Crinkles
These Molasses Crinkles are delicious and make great Christmas and holiday gifts. With all the warm spices of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice, these are a great cookie to leave out for Santa with some nut milk.
2. Raw Gingersnap Cookies
These Raw Gingersnap Cookies will have you in holiday cookie’s heaven! All you need is cinnamon, ginger and dates, shape the mix into cookies and sprinkle a bit o’ raw sugar on top. These are just as good as the baked, processed version but you can feel completely proud of yourself for giving these to loved ones and Santa over Christmas, because not only are they delicious – they are healthful.
3. Spiced Pumpkin Eggnog
This is one thick and creamy, non-dairy Spiced Pumpkin Eggnog. It has lots of warm spices, coconut milk and cashews. It’s sweetened only with dates so Santa won’t have a sugar crash later in the night when he’s got lots of gifts to deliver.
4. Raw Vegan Christmas Cookies
Christmas is almost here and it’s the perfect time to make delicious Christmas-inspired cookies to surprise family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. These Raw Vegan Christmas Cookies are not only great tasting but easy. It only takes four ingredients to make these healthy, colorful cookies.
5. Frosted Apple Almond Butter Vegan Cookies to Warm Your Soul
These Frosted Apple Butter Vegan Cookies are warming, wonderful, and delightful in their simplicity. Whatever the weather, whatever disappointments and setbacks the day may have brought along, at the end of the day, these vegan cookies will welcome you home and whisper to your heart: This too shall pass. It’s like cookie therapy for your soul.
6. Eggnog Milkshake
Nothing says the holidays are here then getting to sip a yummy eggnog concoction minus the egg. This Eggnog Milkshake has some surprising ingredients like zucchini and it’s thick and delicious. Just because Santa is being healthy, that doesn’t mean he has to miss out on some holiday traditions!
7. Peppermint Mocha Cookies
Love peppermint? Love mocha? Then you’ll doubly love these Peppermint Mocha Cookies. They blend these two flavors into one delicious, irresistible bite-size snack and dessert. With some colorful decorations, these are perfect holiday cookies.
8. Apple Butter Cookies
Apple butter is rich and delicious and perfect when turned into Apple Butter Cookies. They also have banana, maple sugar, lots of nuts, and all the warm spices that belong in Christmas cookies.
9. Vegan Ginger Cookies
Make your own Ginger Cookies to surprise family, friends, and neighbors. These are spiced ginger cookies with a hint of cinnamon in every bite. Of course, leave a plate for Santa as well.
10. Raw Vegan Eggnog
Who says you can’t enjoy egg nog during the holidays? This Raw Vegan Eggnog with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves is a cruelty-free and gluten-free combo that will sure to impress you and your guests during this holiday season.
11. Vegan Snickerdoodles
The flavor of these Vegan Snickerdoodles will remind you of the home-baked cookies of your childhood. Thick and soft, these cookies go beautifully with tea, coffee or eggless not. These will definitely put you on Santa’s “nice” list.
12. Orange Zest Madeleines
Orange zest gives these beautiful Orange Zest Madeleines a wonderful hint of citrus flavor. Made with the magic of aquafaba, these cookies are an excellent complement to a cup of strong, black coffee.
13. Chocolate Cookies with Apricot, Pistachio and Chocolate Chunks
Cookies can be “nice” while tasting like they’re “naughty.” These Chocolate Cookies with Apricot, Pistachio and Chocoalte Chunks are a great example. They have healthy fruit and nuts and enough chocolate to feel like an indulgence. Make a double batch because these fruity, nutty, chocolatey cookies will disappear in the blink of an eye!
14. Maple Pecan Milk
Break out your blender and make Santa a tall glass of this Maple Pecan Milk. With vanilla, maple syrup and a bit of cinnamon, this is one festive glass of non-dairy milk. Santa will appreciate how creative you were to make this special drink for him.
15. Gingerbread Folk Cookies
Remember when you were a child and you could smell the gingery spice cookies that Grandma was baking in the oven? These Gingerbread Folk Cookies are those. And if that wasn’t your childhood, you can definitely make new memories with these goodies.
16. Perfect Vegan ‘Tollhouse’ Cookies
These Vegan ‘Tollhouse’ Cookies are the perfect vegan chocolate chip cookies. They’re chewy, soft, not too sweet, and with a hint of crunch along the edges. Everyone will love these cookies and won’t even guess that they are so much healthier than the originals.
17. Vegan Spiced Shortcrust/Speculaas Cookies
The story goes that Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, traveled to Spain and returned to the Low Countries on a steamship laden with mandarins, which he offered to all the children. His ship was also laden with spices — ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and the key ingredient in these Shortcrust/Speculaas Cookies, cinnamon — and that that is how these cookies were born.
18. Soft, Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
These delightful Gingerbread Cookies will spread joy to anyone who gets to eat one. Not only are they soft, chewy, and delectable, they are vegan and gluten-free. The spices give the cookies warmth and luscious flavor and taste just like Christmas.
19. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies prove that you can have a delicious, warm plate of fresh cookies in less than 30 minutes. Yep, it’s true. Plus, they’re chocolate crinkle cookies, which are full of cocoa goodness and dusted in a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. They look like chocolate snowballs!
20. Hazelnut Fig Milk
Since Santa is avoiding dairy, this homemade Hazelnut Fig Milk is the perfect drink to leave for him. You can create this fresh nut milk in just five minutes. With the addition of dried figs, vanilla, and just a pinch of salt, you’ve got yourself a delicious and nutritious beverage that Santa will love you for!
21. Almond and Pear Thumbprint Cookies
These sweet, cinnamon-y Almond and Pear Thumbprint Cookies are a snap to make, and healthy too. They’re filled with all the goodness of almonds and have a sweetened pear jam dolloped on top. They make a lovely on-the-go breakfast treat, are perfect with a cup of tea in the afternoon, and would make a great snack to leave for Santa.
22. Funfetti Sprinkle Cookies
Revisit your childhood with these fun soft Funfetti Sprinkle Cookies. Made with non-dairy butter and yogurt, they’re healthy and delicious. The sprinkles make them festive for the holidays and for Santa.
23. Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Gingersnaps
Pumpkins abound so why not use them to make these Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Gingersnaps? They’re studded with dark chocolate chunks and bold, warm spices. It’s like autumn and winter got together to make one special holiday cookie.
24. Spiced Sugar Cookies with Maple Icing
Sugar cookies are a classic dessert, but these Spiced Sugar Cookies with Maple Icing turn a classic into something new and delicious. They have warm spices and a decadent maple icing. These may be your new favorite sugar cookies.
25. Creamy Chai Latte
This Creamy Chai Latte will warm Santa up from the inside. Masala Chai literally means “mixed-spice tea” in Hindi. It refers to an aromatic Indian flavor mix of warming spices including cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon and vanilla. It’s just what Santa needs on a cold winter night.
Santa works so hard all year to make us happy. Let’s give Santa the gift of healthier cookies and milk so he can have a happy holiday too!
Lead image source: Raw Christmas Cookies
