8 Healthy Winter Holiday Entertaining Recipes

Dec 18 2015
We're grown-ups (for the most part), so holiday parties generally entail a pretty special snack and beverage spread. These eight recipes are the perfect combo of easy and guilt-free. Dig in...



Quiche Me Bacon Tarts

1/6th of recipe (2 quiches): 162 calories, 7.5g total fat (2g sat. fat), 501mg sodium, 17g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 3.5g sugars, 6.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4* -- SmartPoints® value 5*

Those fatty frozen mini quiches have nothin' on our slimmed-down swap... These are way more satisfying! They're also a snap to whip up. You're just six simple ingredients away from cheesy, bacon-y, handheld deliciousness...

Candy Cane Cannoli Cones

1/4th of recipe (1 cone): 143 calories, 4g total fat (2.5g sat. fat), 117mg sodium, 19g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 11g sugars, 6.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4* -- SmartPoints® value 6*

Ice cream cones filled with sweetened ricotta cheese and studded with chocolate chips? Heck, yes. But we couldn't stop there... We added crushed candy canes! These treats are terrific for parties, since they don't require plates or utensils. (How is a person supposed to juggle a plate, a fork, and a champagne flute?)

Hot BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

1/4th of recipe (4 shrimp): 196 calories, 6g total fat (2g sat. fat), 809mg sodium, 7g carbs, <0.5g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 26.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 5* -- SmartPoints® value 4*

Other bacon-wrapped shrimp are wrapped in too-fatty bacon strips. Not ours. And the jalapeño gives the perfect kick to these bites. They're so flavorful, they don't even need a dipping sauce... which is convenient for a crowd!

Fruity & Tangy Cocktail Meatballs

1/8th of recipe (3 meatballs with about 2 tbsp. sauce): 135 calories, 2.5g total fat (1g sat. fat), 191mg sodium, 15g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 14g sugars, 12g protein -- PointsPlus® value 3* -- SmartPoints® value 3*

Meatballs are great for parties, but don't serve those same slow-cooker meatballs that everyone's aunt has been making since the 70s. This recipe is so insanely flavorful -- mango, peach, sriracha, apricot preserves.... Yum!

Spiced Pear Sparkling Sangria

1/10th of recipe (about 6 oz. sangria with about 3/4 cup fruit): 149 calories, <0.5g total fat (0g sat. fat), 11mg sodium, 16g carbs, 2g fiber, 6g sugars, 2g protein -- PointsPlus® value 5* -- SmartPoints® value 4*

Sangria is the ultimate party drink: You can whip it up well in advance, and you won't get stuck mixing drinks to-order. Plus, it's a fun alternative to the usual wine-or-beer offerings. This white-wine cocktail is made with seasonal fruit with just the right hint of spice -- so good!

Mashie-Topped Meatloaf Cupcakes

1/6th of recipe (2 meatloaf cupcakes): 280 calories, 6.5g total fat (2.5g sat. fat), 485mg sodium, 29.5g carbs, 3g fiber, 6g sugars, 25.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 7* -- SmartPoints® value 7*

This standout recipe is great for substantial snacking. Because let's face it, a person can only graze on baked chips for so long. Plus, that mashed potato "frosting" will make the cuteness of the cupcakes an instant conversation starter...

De-Pudged Pigs in a Blanket

1/8th of recipe (4 pigs in a blanket): 134 calories, 5g total fat (1g sat. fat), 652mg sodium, 16g carbs, 0g fiber, 3g sugars, 8g protein -- PointsPlus® value 4* -- SmartPoints® value 4*

They're classics for a reason. There's no denying the deliciousness of savory franks wrapped up in buttery dough -- we've just figured out how to get that tasty combo for a lot fewer calories and fat grams. Our pups rock! If you're looking to make a meatless option, go ahead and swap in your vegetarian franks of choice; just factor in any extra calories. Our no-meat faves are the frozen MorningStar Farms Veggie Dogs.

Merry Cranberry Pear Tarts

1/12th of recipe (1 tart): 70 calories, 1g total fat (<0.5g sat. fat), 99mg sodium, 15.5g carbs, 2g fiber, 8g sugars, 0.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 2* -- SmartPoints® value 2*

Slicing into a large dessert at a party is an unnecessary hassle. Skip the fuss, and make some adorable little tarts with -- yes, really -- wonton wrappers! Bake 'til crispy in a muffin pan, and fill those babies with simmered 'n spiced fruit. Then your guests can simply grab one and continue to mingle!
SmartPoints® FYI: We follow the same method as Weight Watchers when calculating the SmartPoints® value for a recipe: We don’t factor in the calories, sugar, etc., from most fruits and veggies, since those ingredients have a SmartPoints® value of 0. (The exception? Blended beverages.) Recipes with alcohol are also specially calculated. So if you see a recipe here with a SmartPoints® value that's different than what the calculator tells you, now you know why!



Chew on this:

Sunday, December 20th, is National Fried Shrimp Day. Now, fried shrimp is a popular party food, but we can do it better... and coated in coconut goodness!

Save the day -- click "Send to a Friend" so your pals can stop their frantic searches for party-food recipes.

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