1. Deliciously Ella Mince Pies
Nobody quite does wholesome sweet treats like Ella Mills, and that’s why these mince pies had to make the list.
Gluten-free, grain-free and sugar-free, these pies pack the natural sweetness of cranberries, raisins and sultanas within a firm yet moist almond pastry. Whether you have a dietary preference or are looking for a mince pie that won’t weigh you down, these are definitely worth giving a go.
2. Lentil Nut Roast
I personally love nut roasts, even if they are a bit of a veggie/vegan cliche! This one from The Vegetarian Society brings together the heartiness of lentils, the sweetness of apricots and the zinginess of sun-dried tomatoes for a festive centrepiece with a lift.
I also love that this recipe doesn’t call for oil and also uses tamari instead of salt to bring out the flavours. After Christmas dinner, nut roasts are particularly awesome on sandwiches with festive leftovers!
3. Maple Roasted Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are often the most hated vegetable at Christmas dinner. However, I firmly believe it’s all about the way you cook them.
These maple-roasted sprouts are a really tasty addition to any dinner or buffet. The maple glaze goes so well with the crunch of the pumpkin seeds, it really helps tame the natural flavour of the sprouts.
This recipe was from the December 2016 issue of Vegan Life magazine, but it has since become a blog favourite!
4. Oh She Glows Vegan Baileys
Baileys has always been my favourite Christmas tipple, even when I was a kid and my parents would allow me to have a TEENY taste of alcohol. I just loved its creamy, fudge-like taste, and alcoholic or not, its always reminded me of Christmas.
Now that almond milk Baileys is a thing (can I get a hell yeah?!), it’s easy to enjoy this popular drink in a more compassionate form.
However, if you’d like to make your own healthier version, this recipe from Angela Liddon of Oh She Glows is perfect. Made with creamy coconut milk, its super easy and you can add your own whiskey of choice.
5. Oil-Free Sticky Toffee Puddings
I made these little sticky toffee puddings last year as a dessert to have on Christmas Day, and they were pretty amazing! If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional Christmas pudding, then these are definitely it.
These puddings use apple puree instead of oil to stay moist, and the use of the chai date paste adds a festive twist. The recipe calls for brown cane sugar but you could indeed sub for coconut sugar or sucanat. I also believe you could totally use oat flour instead of regular wheat flour.
6. Buckwheat & Brussels Sprout Salad
This festive salad is an awesome dish to bring to a dinner or buffet. Soft buckwheat makes the base, while sweet cranberries, crunchy walnuts, sprouts and parsley add body and flavour.
The whole thing is brought together by a delicious maple-balsamic dressing, boasting all the flavours of winter while nourishing you inside out.
7. Jamie Oliver’s Vegan Gravy
Jamie Oliver is one famous chef to embrace plant-based diets lately, and his vegan offerings are surprisingly good.
His recipe for vegan gravy is a delicious take on the regular stuff, packed with veggies like celery, carrots and mushrooms and sweetened with port and blackcurrant jam. Poured over your veggies, I can only imagine this brings any Christmas dinner to life!
Rather than sieve the gravy at the end, I honestly reckon you could puree this gravy with a hand blender to retain all of the goodness.
8. Simple Vegan Stuffing
Onions, celery, bread and herbs..stuffing does not get more simple than that! Alberto and Iosune over at Simple Vegan Blog do it right, with this beautifully simple recipe involving just nine basic ingredients.
Enjoy this yummy stuffing with potatoes, veggies, a nut roast or on sandwiches.
9. Naturally Sweetened Cranberry Sauce
You can’t have Christmas without cranberry sauce, it’s like the law. This naturally sweetened cranberry sauce by Cookie & Kate uses just four ingredients and is sweetened with maple syrup, making it free of refined sugar.
Throw in any of the optional add-ins such as port or cinnamon to make this simple condiment your own.
10. Minimalist Baker Peppermint Hot Chocolate
What I love about Dana’s of Minimalist Baker’s recipes is that they’re always made from ten ingredients or fewer.
This utterly dreamy peppermint hot chocolate is a must-drink this Christmas. Make it super creamy with luscious coconut milk, or reduce the fat with almond, oat or soy milk. Either way, this is a hot beverage certain to make your Christmas that bit merrier…especially when topped with whipped coconut cream (drool).
11. The Roasted Root Eggnog
And speaking of drinks, who can resist a frothy cup of eggnog this time of year? Especially when it doesn’t support the cruel egg industry, of course.
This eggnog recipe from The Roasted Root is really easy to make. It uses raw cashews and coconut milk for super creaminess, but you could sub the coconut milk with soy or oat milk if you wished. It’s also date-sweetened too, meaning no refined sugar. Just blend up the five ingredients, and go!
12. Chai Oatmeal Cookies with Caramel Glaze
Even if you’re grown up, you still need some cookies to leave out for Santa. Preferably these chai oatmeal cookies with easy peasy caramel glaze. YES.
These cookies from The Vegan 8 are bursting with Christmassy chai spices and mouthwatering caramelly-ness, making them perfect for munching on Christmas Eve. The cookies themselves are oil-free and gluten free, and the glaze requires just four ingredients. What more could you want?!
13. Beaming Baker Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
I felt this list needed more than just the one cookie recipe…because, well, cookies.
And what better way to turn your regular choc-chip cookies festive than throwing some cranberries all up in dere?
These cranberry chocolate chip cookies by Beaming Baker really hit the spot. Made from oat flour and rolled oats, they’re right up my street, and the tanginess of the cranberries is complimented by those sweet chunks of chocolate.
Though this recipe does use coconut oil, I believe you could totally sub it for apple puree instead. Or, simply embrace the healthy fats because, you know…it’s Christmas.
What delicious vegan recipes will you guys be making this Christmas? Let me know in the comments below and if you try any of these recipes please be sure to share them with friends, so they can see how delicious vegan food really is!
Oh my God! I’m just in love with every dish of yours, especially the mince pies and that peppermint hot chocolate. Just need everything in front of me to eat it all 😛
Ahhh, thanks Claire! I’d love to take credit for all of the recipes listed here, but they are indeed creations of some of my favourite bloggers 😉
Even though Christmas is over, I’d still feast on any of these haha!