34 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Desserts

First-Place Coconut Macaroons

These coconut macaroon cookies earned me a first-place ribbon at the county fair. They remain my husband’s favorites—whenever I make them to give away, he always asks me where his batch is! I especially like the fact that this recipe makes a small enough batch for the two of us to nibble on. —Penny Ann Habeck, Shawano, Wisconsin

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Holiday Meringue Miniatures

My kids love these light melt-in-your-mouth cookies, and we have fun making them. These were always on our Christmas cookie plate when I was a kid, and now the tradition continues. —Susan Marshall, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Pear Tart

This lovely pear tart features warm fall spices and delicious fruit, plus a lightly sweetened cream cheese filling and a nutty, buttery crust.

Pumpkin Pecan Custard

My family loves pumpkin pie flavor, but this is a delicious, creamy, healthier alternative—and we don’t miss the crust at all. It firms up as it cools. —Abby Booth, Coweta, Oklahoma

Gingerbread Meringue Bars

For the best of both worlds, I combined my grandmother's gingerbread recipe with my aunt's special brown sugar meringue. The result? These lovable holiday-perfect bars that have become a new family tradition. —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles, California

Citrus Gingerbread Cookies

Orange and lemon zest give gingerbread cutouts a refreshing twist. Brushing a honey glaze over the top adds a subtle shine and an extra touch of sweetness. —Monique Hooker, DeSoto, Wisconsin

Jellied Champagne Dessert

This refreshing dessert looks just like a glass of bubbling champagne. —Vickie McLaughlin, Kingsport, Tennessee

Layered Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Enjoy this holiday dessert without worrying about calories. Plus it is so luscious that no one will guess that it is light! —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin

Chai-Spiced Bread Pudding

Nothing says the holidays to me more than the warming spices of chai. This bread pudding incorporates those flavors to make a dessert that everyone raves about. —Jessie Apfe, Berkeley, California

Carrot Cookie Bites

This recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the aroma while baking is absolutely irresistible! I'm always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky

Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies

I'm a chocolate lover, and these cream cheese brownies have satisfied my cravings many times. No one guesses the brownies are light because their chewy texture and rich chocolate taste can't be beat. My family requests them often, and I'm happy to oblige. —Heidi Johnson, Worland, Wyoming

Eggnog Mousse

Guests will always find room for this light, fluffy, mouthwatering mousse. It makes an elegant, refreshing finish for heavier meals—and it’s also a great way to use up any extra eggnog in the fridge. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake Cookies

I can’t consume gluten, so I’ve transformed my favorite recipes to fit my diet. I came up with these cakelike cookies, and no one ever guesses they’re gluten free. —Becki DiMercurio, Martinez, California

Chocolate Swirled Cheesecake

This cheesecake looks and tastes indulgent, but it's a lightened up version you can feel good about serving your family. —Kathy Shan, Toledo, Ohio

Apple Frangipane Phyllo Tart

An almond-flavored frangipane creates a nutty bottom layer for my apple tart. Golden phyllo dough creates a delicate and crispy melt-in-your-mouth crust. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana

Chipotle Crackle Cookies

I usually bake these special cookies for the holidays, but my family loves them so I bake them for their birthdays. The addition of ground chipotle chile pepper gives these cookies a little zing. The dough may be sticky, so I dip my hands in confectioners' sugar for easier handling. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois

Meringue Cookies

These sweet little swirls are light as can be. They're all you need after a big, special dinner. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies

I converted these blondies to be gluten free so that my family could enjoy a comforting dessert. We were craving brownies one night, and these cakelike treats hit the spot. They are a fantastic spin on gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. —Becky Klope, Loudonville, New York

Orange Ricotta Cake Roll

I come from a big Italian family. When I was growing up, my mom cooked and baked many delicious meals and desserts from scratch. Now I do the same for my family. This cake is my finale to our special-occasion dinners. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California

Gluten-Free Fig Cookies

These special cookies definitely don’t taste gluten-free. For added appeal, I soak the figs overnight in a mixture of port and pomegranate juice. —Twinkle30, Tasteofhome.com community

Chewy Cranberry Pecan Bars

I've been making these for several years as I really enjoy the combination of flavors and the relative ease of preparations. They're not only great for the holidays, but year round if you have cranberries in your freezer. —Virginia Anthony, Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Cinnamon Nut Bars

Classic bar meets good-for-you ingredients in this updated recipe. If you have the patience, after the bars are cool, store them in a tin for a day to allow the flavors to meld…I think they taste even better the next day. —Heidi Lindsey, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin

Angel Food Cake

This top-rated angel food cake recipe is a light and airy dessert everyone loves. It's heavenly served with berries or other fresh fruit and a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

Dutch Apple Pie Tartlets

These adorable mini apple pie pastries make a delightful addition to a dessert buffet or snack tray. The recipe calls for convenient frozen phyllo shells, so they're surprisingly easy to prepare. The lemon curd filling adds a unique flavor twist. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Gluten-Free Almond Crispies

Here’s a wonderful treat everyone in the family can enjoy. Ideal with milk or tea, these cookies have cinnamon and maple in every crunchy bite. —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses

Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea. —Amy Tong, Anaheim, California

Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake

You’ll fall in love with this sweet treat. Each silky slice is topped with juicy raspberries. Yes, you can have cheesecake without breaking the calorie budget. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Almond Espresso Bars

If you like coffee, you'll love these mocha morsels dressed up with toasted almonds. Save a few bars for afternoon snacktime or even breakfast, too. —Taire Van Scoy, Brunswick, Maryland

Grossmutter's Peppernuts

Before Christmas, my grandmother would bake peppernuts and store them until the big day. When we came home from school, the whole house would smell like anise and we knew the holiday season was about to begin. —Marilyn Kutzli, Clinton, Iowa

Sparkly Meringue Snowmen

For my son’s first Christmas home from Iraq, I wanted everything to feel magical. He loves meringue cookies, so I made a big batch of minty snowmen and snowflakes. —Patricia Lindsay, Independence, Kansas