‘Tis the season for holiday treats and countless sweets. Unfortunately, that mentality is why people tend to gain weight this time of year. The sweets and treats have a little something to do with that weight gain as well. They are not nutritious and tend to contain a lot of empty calories, so you keep coming back for more because they are usually made of refined sugars and carbs. We still want you (and our cleansers!) to enjoy some holiday goodies, which is why we are giving you this recipe for chocolate gingerbread energy bites. Think of them like healthier cookies!

If you were looking for a cookie swap, these gingerbread energy bites are your bet bet. They contain raw almonds, Medjool dates, raw cacao, and a handful of spices that make them taste like holiday cookies. If the mixture gets a little dry, you can add a tablespoon of raw almond butter or water to. help it along. Additionally, you can soak the almonds and dates in water a little while before you blend the ingredients together in the food processor. Soaking will soften the nuts and dates, which eases the blending process.

Now, some people prefer chunky cookies, while others enjoy soft cookies that are easy to eat. The same applies to nut butters. Do you prefer chunky or smooth? Whichever you version you enjoy is the right one! You can blend the ingredients until you achieve a texture that you are happy with. Once you achieve your desired texture, wet your hands and roll the mixture into bite-size balls. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and then place them in the freezer to harden. We hope you love them! Let us know in the comments below!

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If we know one thing about winter, it is that the weather is colder and skin can dry out easily. The constant changing of environments does not do the skin any favors. Being bundled up outside in the cold and then going inside to the warm, dry heat is a recipe for dry skin. Fortunately, you can pamper your skin and bring it back to life with the homemade body butter in this article. It is filled with natural ingredients that help to leave the skin feeling soft, radiant, and supple. 

What’s The Difference Between Body Butter And Lotion?

Both body lotions and body butters work to moisturize the skin below the neck. Each of these skin care products can help soften skin and minimize dryness, but they work differently. The primary difference between lotion and body butter is the texture. While lotion has a higher water content and more liquid consistency, body butter is thicker and creamier. Body butter also tends to have a higher concentration of heavy moisturizers, such as shea butter. Body lotion tends to be formulated with glycerin, or other lightweight hydrators. 

Generally speaking, body butter is ideal for dry or rough skin. The ingredients work to replenish the skin’s natural oils and protect them from stressors that increase irritation or dryness. Below, we’ll detail two ingredients that make this body butter highly nourishing for the skin.

Shea Butter

Shea butter comes from the kernels of shea trees, which are native to sub-Saharan Africa. To this day, most shea butter still comes from this region. Shea butter helps promote hydration because it contains several types of fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. These work to improve the skin barrier and protect the skin from damaging environmental pollutants. Shea butter also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, making it great for nourishing inflamed or upset skin. Additionally, shea butter is thought to offer mild protection from the sun, although it is not a replacement for standard sunscreen. 

Coconut Oil

Promoted for its ability to moisturize dry skin, coconut oil offers many compounds that help improve overall skin health. It exhibits antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties when applied topically. Studies have shown that it may help relieve symptoms of atopic dermatitis or eczema, which can cause itchy rash. The anti-inflammatory properties work to improve skin barrier function and prevent moisture loss. And while coconut oil may not be able to remove stretch marks, it is possible that topical application may help reduce their appearance. More research is necessary on that topic, though. 

Whipped Gingerbread Body Butter

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup raw shea butter
• 1/2 cup coconut oil 
• 1/4 tsp  gingerbread spice
• 4 drops ginger essential oil
• 4 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 2 drops clove essential oil
• 2 drops vanilla essential oil

Instructions:

• Add the shea butter and coconut oil to a heat-safe bowl or measuring cup. Melt the two ingredients in the microwave for one minute. 
• Remove and stir well. If the shea butter and coconut oil are not fully melted, heat in the microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Remove and stir well again to combine.
• Transfer the melted mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. 
• Remove from the refrigerator and use the stand mixer to whip the mixture on high for five minutes. Stop to scrape down the sides every minute and continue blending until you have a light, fluffy cream. 
• Add the gingerbread spice and essential oils and mix on low to incorporate. Spoon the mixture into a jar, cover, and store in the fridge. Use as needed.

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Depending on where you live, snowfall is well underway. Perhaps you are living your best life in the sunshine with beautiful holiday decorations that replicate a wintery vibe. No matter where you live or how much you decorate, you can take your holidays to the next level with some diffuser blends. Diffusing essential oils that are specific to the holiday season can enhance the spirit of holiday gatherings and activities. Have the room smell like a fresh Christmas tree lot while wrapping presents, for example!

Essential oils that remind you of the holidays typically have woody, citrusy, spicy, and refreshing aromas. Using oils that give off these scents can blend synergistically to your environment, enriching your holiday experience. Additionally, you may find that they brighten your space, elevate your mood, and comfort your soul. Continue reading to learn about some amazing essential oil blends for the holidays. 

Safety First

Using essential oils for parties and entertaining is great, but there are a few safety rules to take note of prior to using them. Keep the following in mind, particularly when it comes to diffusing essential oils in public gatherings:

• Inhaling essential oils can be harmful for certain groups and animals. Some of these groups include babies (especially six months or younger), children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, pets, and people with allergies or hypertension. 
• If your guest list includes anyone from the previously mentioned groups, it’s better not to diffuse essential oils at your event. 
• If you are diffusing essential oils, make sure that they are 100% pure varieties. You don’t want to skimp on essential oils because they may contain artificial fragrances, which can harm your health. 
• If you use an electric diffuser, only run the diffuser for little increments of time. Consider diffusing an hour before people arrive and then plug it in again after a couple hours. That will keep the aroma subtle and not overpowering. 
• Don’t diffuse in the kitchen or around food, snacks, and drinks. 

Choosing The Right Essential Oils For The Holidays

Pairing essential oils to put in a diffuser is not specific to the holiday season. This is a year-round practice that you can do, but certain essential oils evoke a festive, merry atmosphere. Pine, cedarwood, spruce, fir, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg essential oils have different aromas reminiscent of different parts of the holiday season. Spruce and fir essential oils give off woody aromas, while clove and nutmeg essential oils give off aromas that smell like snickerdoodle or gingerbread cookies.

Citrus essential oils are also very popular to use during the holidays because citrus fruits are in season. Sweet orange and lemon essential oils offer a festive, bright balance to diffuser blends. You can also incorporate the cool, frosty scents of peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils. Last, but most certainly not least, you have the two holiday classics: frankincense and myrrh essential oils. Learn how to use all of these in the following diffuser blends. 

Candy Cane Celebration

A scrumptious blend of winter wonderland is exactly what this blend is! Think of powdery snow and the smell of the classic holiday candy. 

Ingredients:

• 2 drops wintergreen essential oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops cinnamon essential oil

Winter Spice Blend

Do the scents of these essential oils embody the holiday season? That’s up to you to decide! This blend enriches your space whether you put up decorations or not. It truly is the perfect blend for sipping cocoa with loved ones, decorating the tree with kids, or doing any holiday activity at home.

Ingredients:

• 1 drop ginger essential oil
• 1 drop silver fir essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 1 drop cassia essential oil

Cleansing Holiday Blend

Highlighted by the sweetness of patchouli essential oil, this blend exhibits floral and woody notes. It has a light, pleasant, and cleansing aroma that refreshes your space during the holidays. 

Ingredients:

• 4 drops patchouli essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 1 drop cinnamon bark essential oil

Wiseman’s Blend

Get into the classic Christmas spirit with this warming blending of frankincense and myrrh essential oils. Consider adding two drops of sweet orange essential oil to this blend in order to add a bright citrusy note. 

Ingredients:

• 3 drops frankincense essential oil
• 3 drops myrrh essential oil

Spiced Cider Blend

A warm, apple-infused drink with the perfect amount of sugar and spice is perfect for the holiday season. If you love the aroma of spiced cider but don’t enjoy the flavor, this is the blend for you. It has the quintessential cider notes because it calls for ginger, sweet orange, and cinnamon essential oils.

Ingredients:

• 3 drops ginger essential oil
• 3 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 1 drop cinnamon essential oil

Gingerbread House Blend

Would the holidays be complete without a trademark gingerbread house? Instead of making a mess with gingerbread, icing, and candy, diffuse this blend of earthy aromas to indulge your senses.

Ingredients:

• 2 drops ginger essential oil
• 1 drop clove essential oil
• 1 drop cardamom essential oil
• 2 drops cinnamon essential oil

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People seem to have this idea that gingerbread is solely reserved for the holiday season. You don’t need to think that way! In fact, you can enjoy the same flavors year round, especially when you incorporate them into recipes like this one. These raw vegan gingerbread energy bars are not only rich in healthy fats and protein, but they also exhibit tons of flavor. It’s like a Larabar, but you make it yourself!

There are a lot of unhealthy energy bars in supplement and grocery stores. These bars use whey protein, excess sugar, preservatives, dyes, and artificial sweeteners. While healthy bars are more common nowadays, especially with the growing demand for high-quality products, they can have a high price tag. A single bar that only contains whole food ingredients can cost between two and four dollars, depending on the brand. If you enjoy eating these types of bars, it may be more affordable to buy a food processor and the ingredients needed for the bars. You’ll save in the long run!

The secret to getting an even consistency in your bars is to blend the nuts in the food processor before adding the other ingredients. Once you pulse them into a coarse mixture, add the remaining ingredients and process until you achieve a dough-like ball. You’ll probably have to stop blending, scrape down the sides, and continue blending to fully incorporate the ingredients. You can make the bars as thick as you want, but it’s best to have them in the quarter-inch to half-inch thickness. That helps them harden quickly in the freezer.

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Raw gingerbread cookies are absolutely delicious and the perfect healthy treat during the holidays. There is no wrong way to enjoy them, whether you gobble them up by yourself, share them with the family, or enjoy them with friends. If you are a fan of gingerbread, or anything ginger for that matter, you will love these gluten-free, dairy-free, raw vegan cookies.

Unlike traditional gingerbread cookies, these are not full of refined sugars and carbs. All those sugars only leave you craving more, so you eat the whole box without even realizing it. It’s only at that point when you feel sick to your stomach. This recipe doesn’t have refined sugars; rather, the dates make these gingerbread cookies perfectly sweet. And you’ll only need to eat one or two cookies before you are full. That is because the walnuts and ground almonds provide you with healthy fats, protein, and fiber.

One thing to note about the ground almonds is that you can grind raw almonds if you can’t find that product in stores. All you have to do is add almonds to a food processor and pulse until you achieve a fine powder. Just make sure you don’t process them into almond butter. Finally, if you feel like getting a little experimental, top your raw gingerbread cookies with some flaky sea salt. You might like the sweet and salty contrast in every bite.

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Get ready to enjoy the best of two holiday flavors: gingerbread and hot chocolate. From warming winter spices to delectable, rich chocolate, this beverage is exactly what you need for the holidays. Although it’s made with natural vegan ingredients, it tastes like you should feel guilty about enjoying it.

The first thing that you’ll notice about this drink is the assertive chocolaty flavor. You comfort the soul with each sip, feeling like a little kid with a cup of cocoa. Make no mistake: this recipe calls for cacao, no cocoa. Sorry, we just had to make that known. Finally, we often tell people that toppings are optional, but we encourage all of the toppings in this recipe. If you can find vegan marshmallows and candy canes,

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What makes a cookie delicious? Aside from the flavors, a cookie has to be moist in the center and crispy around the edges. You don’t want the sweetness to overwhelm you; rather, you want just enough to know you’re eating a dessert. These vegan gingerbread cookies fit that description and go beyond your flavor expectations.

Now, when it comes to decorating gingerbread men, we are going to leave this entirely up to you. They taste wonderful without any toppings, but feel free to give them buttons, faces, or clothing. Please understand that the vegan gingerbread itself is divine. Just make sure that you have a gingerbread man cookie cutter before you make the recipe.

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The holidays are difficult to navigate if your goal is to remain healthy. Different sweets, treats, and other tasty temptations try to lure you in with their enchanting smells and flavors. How can you resist these classic flavors? You don’t have to resist them; rather, you can create healthy renditions of holiday treats. As long as you have the flavors, you’ll enjoy the recipe.

Such is the case for this raw vegan gingerbread smoothie, which tastes like a platter of holiday cookies. The best part about this recipe is that you can enjoy it guilt-free. You don’t have to judge yourself for taking another sip because you’re supposed to finish the entire glass! Please enjoy it and some of our other healthy holiday creations this holiday season.

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Should the holidays be referred to as “the over-indulgent days?” There’s something about the holidays that makes people want to eat. Whether it’s an elaborate charcuterie, a plate of meat and carbs, or fudgy squares and rum balls, food gets put away during the holidays. People like to justify all of this holiday eating with dietary or weight loss resolutions in the New Year, but it’s rare that people fulfill those resolutions.

There’s nothing wrong with a little holiday indulgence, especially if you use healthy ingredients and make the food yourself. Problems arise when you purchase sugary store bought treats, which are typically full of excess sugar, fat, and refined carbohydrates. Some argue that those are the things that make holiday desserts delicious. We aren’t here to argue, though; rather we want to provide healthier dessert alternatives for you this holiday season.

The Dherbs staff dug through the recipe archives and selected the top five holiday desserts. Some of them are raw vegan and some of them are vegan. We’ll be honest and say that we’ve tried all of these and they are scrumptious. Get your baking apron on, even though these don’t require baking, and get ready to make tasty holiday creations. Let us know how you like them in the comments. 

Best Vegan Gingerbread Man Cookies

These vegan gingerbread cookies go above and beyond your flavor expectations. They are perfectly moist in the center and crispy around the edges. Decorate them as you wish!

Click here to make the recipe. 

Raw Vegan Coconut Snowball Energy Bites

Let’s roll right into raw vegan holiday desserts! They are fluffy, coconutty, and incredibly tasty. They are like little truffles that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating.

Click here to make the recipe. 

Vegan White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

Unlike traditional peppermint-inspired desserts, this vegan peppermint fudge is made with natural ingredients. Please heed this warning: you probably should not eat the entire recipe by yourself, but it’s that tasty so be careful.

Click here to make the recipe. 

Raw Vegan Gingerbread Smoothie

You don’t have to resist holiday flavors; rather, you can create healthy renditions of holiday treats. Such is the case for this raw vegan gingerbread smoothie, which tastes like a platter of holiday cookies.

Click here to make the recipe. 

Killer Vegan Eggnog

Whoever said that you can’t enjoy eggnog as a vegan was lying to you. This is a tasty recipe that is just in time for the holidays. 

Click here to make the recipe. 

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The holidays mean different things to each person, but it’s safe to say that many people look forward to holiday scents. Whether you like classic baked goods (gingerbread cookies and pumpkin bread) or scented candles/lotions and cinnamon-spiced pine cones, the holidays fill the air with hints of ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. If you want to lather your body in these delicious scents, you are not alone. 

To prepare you for the holidays and help you keep your skin moisturized, we came across a one-of-a-kind gingerbread body lotion recipe. This lotion is the perfect way to enjoy the enchanting smells of the holiday season. That means that you don’t have to buy an assortment of unhealthy drinks and baked goods! No more excess calories! And your skin will be super soft and unfazed by the drying effects of winter.

This homemade gingerbread lotion contains numerous ingredients that encourage healthier skin. We’ve covered the skin-nourishing benefits of coconut oil and shea butter in previous DIY beauty articles, but we haven’t discussed the moisturizing benefits of ginger and cinnamon essential oils. 

Ginger Essential Oil For The Skin

Ginger has a science-backed and historical reputation as a healing agent. Many aromatherapists use ginger essential oil to help calm the stomach, improve breathing, relieve anxiety, and calm the mind. Ginger essential oil contains over 40 antioxidant properties, which work to protect the skin from premature aging, improve elasticity, and enhance complexion. It also has antiseptic properties and it helps the skin breathe by promoting detoxification. This can reduce the risk of acne or the development of blemishes. 

Cinnamon Essential Oil For The Skin

Many researchers consider cinnamon to be one of the oldest and most valuable spices in the world. It’s a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, and it’s now used to help improve numerous health ailments. Cinnamon essential oil contains four primary chemical compounds: cinnamyl acetate, eugenol acetate, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde. Eugenol acetate exhibits antioxidant properties that help to increase moisture, while eugenol acetate has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help relieve inflammatory skin conditions. Cinnamon essential oil helps to hydrate the skin and increase circulation to the skin’s surface, reviving tone and youthful appearance.

Homemade Gingerbread Body Lotion

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 cup shea butter
• 1 tablespoon ginger powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 5 drops ginger essential oil
• 5 drops cinnamon essential oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

• In a double boiler, melt the shea butter and coconut oil over medium heat. Stir occasionally to ensure that they combine evenly.
• Pour this melted mixture into a metal or heat-safe glass bowl and place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. 
• Remove the bowl from the fridge and add the ginger, cinnamon, essential oils, and vanilla extract. 
• Using an electric hand mixer, whip the mixture until it is fluffy and smooth. The consistency should be similar to that of a body butter. 
• Spoon the mixture into an eight-ounce glass jar and store in a cool, dry place. If your house tends to be warm, the lotion will be soft and loose, but it will be firmer in a colder home. Either way is fine and safe to use. 

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