Easy steps to holiday treats: 7 unique, vegan-friendly Christmas recipes for the whole family

This simple recipe from @nikesvegankitchen is great for making with your friends or younger siblings. All you have to do is shape pre-made dough, spread your favourite vegetables and sauces, and bake for 15 minutes.

Total cooking time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• pre-made pizza dough
• 1 small jar of pizza sauce
• vegan pesto
• vegan cheese, grated
• toppings (use whatever veggies you have in the fridge – here are our suggestions: vegan pepperoni, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms)
• large holiday-themed cookie cutters (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Roll out the pizza dough and cut it into gingerbread shapes using a knife or cookie cutter. You can make them into tree shapes, too.
3. Pop the dough in the freezer for 15 minutes to make it easier to remove the excess dough after cutting the shapes.
4. Add sauce, cheese and other toppings of your choice. Don’t pile on too many toppings, or your pizza might fall apart.
5. Bake at 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit) for eight to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Want better digestion but getting tired of eating boiled veggies? This recipe highlights the natural sweetness of roasted vegetables, making it a perfect side dish for your holiday feast.

Total cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 400 grams of carrots
• 400 grams of parsnips
• 3 tablespoons of rapeseed oil
• 3 tablespoons of honey (substitute agave or maple syrup for vegan option)
• 80 grams of pomegranate seeds (optional)
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Peel the carrots and parsnips before cutting them into batons.
3. Boil them in salted water for two minutes and then drain well.
4. Place them into a large roasting tray, and mix with oil, honey, salt and pepper.
5. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once halfway during cooking. If you’d like, you can serve the batons with pomegranate seeds for a tangy bite.

Got a sweet tooth? Try this simple dessert from @tiffy.cooks and inspired by a popular Chinese street snack. You can whip it up in 20 minutes with just strawberries, bananas and sugar.

Total cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 12 strawberries
• 2 bananas
• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 12 wooden skewers

Directions:

1. Slice the bananas into pieces that are about the width of your finger. Cut off the strawberries’ pointy ends, which will be Santa’s hat.
2. Assemble the fruit on the skewers. Add the strawberry base first with the leaf side down, then slide on a slice of banana, and top it off with the strawberry’s pointy end.
3. Add water and sugar to a small pot. Turn the heat to medium, and gently mix until the sugar dissolves.
4. Once it starts simmering, stop stirring. Let it continue simmering for 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat once the mixture becomes golden brown.
5. Coat the fruit in the sugar mixture, and let it cool on a plate for a few minutes.

Light and fresh, these French toast cups from Simply Quinoa make the perfect party snack to wow your family and friends.

Total cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients (serves 12):

• 1 loaf of whole-grain bread
• 1 cup of almond milk
• 2 flax eggs (mix 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal with 5 tablespoons of water)
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
• ¼ cup of jam
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries and raspberries

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit).
2. Slice the bread into cubes and place it in a large mixing bowl.
3. Beat together the almond milk, syrup, flax eggs, jam and cinnamon in a separate bowl.
4. Pour the wet ingredients over the bread cubes, add the berries and mix gently.
5. Fill your muffin tins with the mixture. Bake for 35 minutes.

Get cosy this winter with a healthy gingerbread latte tiramisu! This recipe from @purely_healthy_living only needs bread, yogurt, spices, instant coffee and chocolate syrup.

Total cooking time: 20 minutes (plus time in the fridge)

Ingredients (serves 2):

• 3 slices of whole wheat bread
• 1 cup of dairy-free yogurt, such as coconut or soy yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of ground ginger
• ½ tablespoon of cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon of decaf instant coffee
• 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
• vegan chocolate syrup

Directions:

1. Mix the yogurt with the ginger, cinnamon, decaf instant coffee and sugar.
2. Add a slice of bread into a square container, and top it with one-third of the yogurt mixture.
3. Repeat the previous step until you use up your bread and yogurt.
4. Add chocolate syrup on top.
5. Let the dessert sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

If you are a popcorn lover, don’t miss out on these festive popcorn balls coated with marshmallows and chocolate candy.

Total cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients (serves 8):

• 1 bag of microwave popcorn (plain, popped according to bag instructions)
• ½ cup of unsalted butter
• 5 cups of mini marshmallows or 3 cups of regular marshmallows (find gelatin-free ones for a vegan substitute)
• 1 cup of red and green M&M’s

Directions:

1. Melt the butter over medium-low heat in a large pot. When the butter is completely melted, add the marshmallows.
2. Heat the marshmallows, stirring often, until melted and smooth.
3. Add the popcorn to the melted marshmallows, and gently stir to coat them evenly.
4. Once all of the popcorn is well-coated and the mixture has cooled, use a rubber spatula to fold in the M&M’s.
5. Then, with greased hands, form popcorn balls with the mixture.

No Christmas is complete without Santa Claus and his reindeer. These marshmallow pops are perfect as treats for guests to take home or as a gift for friends.

Total cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients (serves 12):

• 15 jumbo marshmallows (find gelatin-free ones for a vegan substitute)
• pretzels
• dark chocolate
• M&M’s
• 12 wooden skewers
• edible eye decorations (optional)

Directions:

1. Prepare the decorations by breaking the pretzels into antler shapes and cutting three marshmallows in half diagonally to create six triangles for Santa’s hats.
2. Place one whole marshmallow on each wooden skewer.
3. Carefully melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a bowl over a large pot of boiling water. Start with a low setting so you don’t burn the chocolate.
4. For the reindeer, cover the marshmallow in melted chocolate before quickly poking two pretzel antlers into it. Stick a red M&M on the chocolate-coated marshmallow to make the reindeer nose. Add edible eyes if you have them.
5. For Santa, after covering a skewered marshmallow in melted chocolate, stick the triangle-shaped marshmallow on the top. Use the melted chocolate to stick a red M&M at the top of Santa’s hat. Add edible eyes if you have them.