A Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe For a Dessert That Guests Will Love

It’s that time of year again. As the weather gets cool and the leaves begin to fall, we all start planning our holiday get-togethers. Thanksgiving is for gatherings of family and friends, filled with laughter, food, and fun. However, maybe this year you’re looking for something with lots of flavor but without the holiday weight gain? This healthy Thanksgiving recipe will give you exactly what you want.

• Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Parfait With Coconut Whipped Cream
• Ideas For Other Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
• Start Some New Traditions
• It’s Time to Celebrate

Healthy Thanksgiving Dessert Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Parfait With Coconut Whipped Cream

Yes, it’s time for pumpkin everything, and these delicious parfaits give you the iconic flavors of fall without the guilt. There’s no need to shop Black Friday fitness equipment deals to work off the weight! It’s also one of the simplest Thanksgiving dishes you’ll make this year, although the twenty-four-hour wait time to dig in might make that seem untrue.

Ingredients

For the parfaits, you’ll need:

• 1 can pure pumpkin puree (15 oz.)
• 5 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• A pinch of cloves
• A pinch of salt
• 2 tsp. ground chia seeds
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 3 ginger molasses cookies, granola, or other sweet crunchy treat

For the coconut whipped cream, you’ll need:

• 2 cans coconut milk (13.4 oz.) refrigerated at least overnight
• 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 to 3 tbsp. maple syrup

Bringing it All Together

1. Using a medium-sized bowl, combine your puree, cinnamon, syrup, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Whisk the mixture until it is smooth.
2. Add the chia seeds and orange zest. Whisk briskly for up to two minutes. The chia seeds should be evenly mixed throughout.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight.
4. The next day, put a freezer-safe bowl and beaters in the freezer at least twenty minutes before you prepare the parfaits.
5. Once chilled, remove the beaters/bowl, open the coconut milk, and remove the solids from the can.
6. Add the solids to the chilled mixing bowl. Set aside the liquid for future use.
7. Beat the solids on medium-high for up to two minutes. They should become fluffy.
8. Add the vanilla extract and maple syrup to taste, then beat for another thirty seconds.
9. Remove the parfait mix from the fridge and whisk it to make it fluffy (about a minute).
10. Add 1/4 of the whipped cream mix to the parfait and fold it in.
11. To assemble, alternate layers of parfait, granola/cookie, and whipped cream in your favorite glassware. Serve immediately.

Ideas For Other Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

The parfait recipe above is not just healthy, but vegan as well. If you’ve given up animal products and are itching to show your friends and family how delicious it can be to go meat-free, consider some other simple Thanksgiving recipe ideas:

• Skip the canned cream of mushroom soup, and make your own vegan green bean casserole.

• Use vegan butter and nut milk to make creamy, delicious, vegan mashed potatoes.

• Not serving a turkey? No big deal. Roast an entire head of cabbage—it can be incredibly delish. You can riff on that with a head of cauliflower if cabbage isn’t your thing.

• Oven-roast Brussels sprouts. Just halve the sprouts, toss with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper (or the seasonings of your choice), and then bake at 425 for twenty minutes or so. Want to change things up? Toss them in the air fryer for fifteen minutes instead of the oven. They come out crispy and delicious.

• Combine oven-roasted Brussels sprouts and carrots with pecans, cranberries, thyme, rosemary, and balsamic vinegar into a delicious sheet-pan dish.

These are just a few ideas that you can try out. There are tons of other options, from Thanksgiving side dishes to keto Thanksgiving recipes. Don’t be afraid to break out of the norm and explore all that’s possible.

Start Some New Traditions

Thanksgiving is a time of coming together and being thankful for all that we have. It’s a great time to start some new traditions that family and friends will love to share with you.

It’s Time to Celebrate

Whether you choose to make the vegan pumpkin parfait recipe we covered or one of the many side dish options, now is the time to celebrate. Be thankful for family and friends, the opportunity to come together, and focus on the good in your life and the world. This could be the best Thanksgiving yet!