3 Healthy Fertility-Friendly Holiday Dessert & Drink Recipes You Won’t Feel Guilty About
One thing guaranteed around the holiday season (besides the same Christmas jingles playing on the radio around the clock) is food. Everywhere you turn there’s sure to be sugar, booze, and carb-loaded delights begging for your attention. While it's more than ok to indulge a little and enjoy the festivities, too much of a good thing can lead to a crash, digestive upset, and feelings of guilt. That’s why I love giving classic indulgences a nutrient-dense twist so you can still enjoy delicious holiday treats — without the regret afterwards.
Here are three of my favorite easy healthy dessert recipes you can enjoy (guilt-free!) this holiday season that also supports fertility, with recipes straight from my cookbook so you can whip them up at home:
When your chocolate cravings creep up, try this fudgy, decadent (yet nutrient-dense) treat instead of the sugary store-bought version…
Chocolate Almond Butter Black Bean Brownies
Ingredients:
15 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed
⅓ cup + 2 Tbsp unsweetened almond butter
½ cup cocoa powder
½ cup almond flour
¾ cup agave
2 Tbsp brewed coffee or espresso (regular or decaf)
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ cup dark chocolate chips
Nonstick spray
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8x8 inch metal pan with parchment paper and grease the parchment with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Add everything but the chocolate chips to a food processor fitted with a steel blade: the blackbeans, 1/3 cup of almond butter, cocoa powder, almond flour, agave, coffee/espresso, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Blend on high until you have a smooth batter, then fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Drizzle the remaining 2 Tbsp of almond butter all over the batter and swirl in with a knife. Bake for 27-30 minutes until the top is set and the batter doesn’t jiggle in the middle. Let cool before cutting.
Fertility-boosting foods:
Black beans and almonds provide magnesium, zinc, and healthy fats — all important for hormone balance and ovulation. Cocoa and almonds also support antioxidant intake, which protects eggs and overall reproductive health.
The fiber, protein, and healthy fats stabilize blood sugar, and the fudgy chocolate still satisfies cravings — without compromising key fertility nutrients like folate, choline, vitamin E, and selenium.
This is one of my go-to easy healthy dessert recipes for an indulgent chocolatey treat full of foods to increase fertility.
When that mid-afternoon sweet tooth shows up, grab a piece of this snappy sweet treat…
Peanut Butter Banana Yogurt Bark
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt (2% or full-fat)
¼ cup powdered peanut butter
1 ½ Tbsp agave
1 tsp vanilla extract
⅛ tsp cinnamon
1 large banana, sliced thin
⅓ cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped (or whatever nut you prefer)
¼ cup dark chocolate chips
¼ cup full-fat coconut milk
1 tsp flake sea salt
1 Tbsp honey
Directions:
In a 2 cup glass measuring cup, whisk together the Greek yogurt, peanut butter powder, agave, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth. Spread the yogurt mixture onto a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper into an 8x10 inch rectangle, then top with sliced banana and chopped pistachios.
Put the chocolate chips and coconut milk together in a small bowl and microwave for 15 seconds. Give it a stir and microwave for another 15 seconds, stirring vigorously until smooth and shiny. Drizzle the chocolate with a fork over the bark along with the honey, and then sprinkle with flake sea salt.
Freeze the bark until it’s completely firm (at least 2 hours or overnight) and then break into large pieces. Store in a tightly sealed container in the freezer.
Fertility-boosting foods:
Sugar cravings can come on when you haven’t eaten enough protein and healthy fat, and Greek yogurt is an excellent source of both. It’s also full of probiotics and key vitamins for fertility including calcium, vitamin D, and B12.
Peanut butter and pistachios bring healthy fats, zinc, and vitamin E — nutrients linked to better egg quality and fertility — while bananas contribute potassium and fiber, helping balance blood sugar. Omega-3 fats from nuts support hormone production, while the touch of agave keeps it low-glycemic, so you stay energized without a crash.
Stash it in the freezer for when life gets busy so you have a quick, fertility-boosting snack that’s ready when you are.
When you need a break from the eggnog, spiked cider, and holiday cocktails, try this refreshing mocktail…
Pink Paloma Cloud
Ingredients:
4 oz fresh grapefruit juice
1.5 oz fresh lime juice
1 tsp agave
1 oz aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas)
Top with fizzy water
Garnish with a salt rim + grapefruit wedge (optional)
Directions:
Prep the glass by rubbing a lime wedge along the rim and dipping it into the salt. Add ice to the glass and set aside while you make the drink.
Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave, and 1 oz of liquid strained from a can of chickpeas (aka aquafaba) to a cocktail shaker. Dry shake vigorously (without any ice in the shaker) for 20 seconds. The harder you shake, the more foamy the aquafaba will be (make sure to do this over the sink!).
Add ice to the cocktail shaker and shake again for 30 seconds, then strain into the salt-rimmed glass. Top with a bit of fizzy water and garnish with a wedge of grapefruit if you like.
Fertility-boosting foods:
Treat yourself to this bubbly, festive booze-free beverage and skip the sugar crash and headache. Sneak in vitamin C, folate, and antioxidants from the grapefruit and lime juice, which support hormone production and egg quality. You’ll feel like you’re participating in the celebration — without the need for yet another boring club soda.
The holidays can be overwhelming, but food shouldn’t add stress — especially when you’re trying to conceive. With a few smart swaps, you can enjoy easy healthy desserts that satisfy cravings, nourish your body with fertility-boosting nutrients, and keep your energy up when you need it most.
Now go and whip up a batch of almond butter brownies, get your holiday PJ’s on, and cozy up to a cheesy, feel-good holiday movie. You deserve a little break!
Want more fertility-boosting food ideas? Discover even more of the best foods to increase fertility with the TTC Fertility Meal Planner — your go-to guide for nourishing meals that support conception and a healthy pregnancy.