If It Has Fruit, Is It Still a Sweet Treat?

I am a sucker for the sweets.  There are times when I tell myself that if there is fruit involved, it just can't be all that bad for you.  Right?  So here's just a couple of my 'it can't be all that bad for you' holiday treats.

Strawberries are the best to me, and favorite of some of my grand kids.  Take a look at these fun holiday strawberry treats.

Tree topped brownie bites would be cute enough, but the fact that there is a strawberry involved makes it all that much better.
A little fancy frosting and a few candies make it adorable.  Add a star of cookie dough or marzipan to finish it off.  Little hint here  anchor your strawberry with a toothpick or a clump of frosting.

This is one of those times when there just isn't much that can be said about this.  Simply cut the stem end of the strawberry off and decorate to look like a Santa hat.  You can use a firm frosting with a bit of crystal sugar or top the hat with a tiny candy, using frosting as a glue.  Either is going to be cute.

If you want to take the easiest way out on making some great holiday treats, or if you just have to come up with something spur of the moment, then i would advise that you keep a package of frozen, ready to bake, pizza dough in the freezer.  You may also consider the pie crust that you just need to unfold to be ready to use.  Both of these items to have around.  Make a choice depending on what you would like to top them with.  The pizza dough if you want to really load up with heavy stuff.  The pie crust if you are keeping it lighter.

Use your favorite cookie cutter to cut the designs.  Cook you crust. Now you are ready to top with anything from pizza toppings to fancied up cream cheese to fruits of your choice.  Or - a little bit of all.   Pretty and tasty all at the same time.

 This next one may not be a partridge in a pear tree but the pear base is a really great start.  You can tell from the pic that all you need to do is add layers of fresh fruit in the shape of a tree.  This is a great piece for any time of the year.  If you want to keep the holiday theme, maybe add a star of pineapple as a topper.

As a really impressive ( here is where you insert the drum roll ) treat, complete with fruit so I can convenience myself that it is still on the healthy side, these individual cups are so much fun.  Don't let the photo sway you.   What you see if layers, starting at the bottom of the jar with crushed graham cracker, then a layer of vanilla pudding and topped with cherry pie filling.  Don't be ashamed to use the canned filling.  Convenience is the name of the game, especially during the holidays.

If you are in a creative mood, change it all up.  I would start with the graham cracker and then think color.  You could add food color to the vanilla or tapioca pudding.  Or you could use pistachio pudding for the green and top with strawberries or the cherries as seen in the photo.  If you are a lover of good whipped cream, you could top the whole thing with that creamy goody and add some festive colored sugar crystals.  See what I mean.  The possibilities are endless.

Bottom line is that this is one of those treats that a wondering guest can easily carry and eat.  Kids and adults alike will enjoy picking their choice of flavors, even sitting at the table.  Wheather sitting around a fire, at the dining room table or a picnic for the 4th of July ( oh darn - can you picture the red, white and blue possibilities ), keep this in mind. And gather small jars or canning jars now so you are ready to rock on a moments notice.

So there you have a few of my favs.  As always, I hope you share your fun treats. 

Quick tip - make your own colored sugar crystals.  Here's how. This is a fun video complete with munchkin in the background.