![gluten-free vegan christmas cookies](https://i0.wp.com/laurenvacula.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_5309.jpg?resize=512%2C512&ssl=1)
Are the holidays not some of the best times of the year?! There’s something so magical about turning off everything- work, your phone, distractions and just spending time relaxing with the people you love.
I always get way too into planning, making, and obsessing over my family’s holiday dinners. I’m not sure why. Thanksgiving and Christmas are like the Super Bowl of cooking for me. I spend weeks researching recipes and deciding on the perfect plant-based spread that I want to make for the dinner.
I have a list of recipes that I usually go to every single year. This is that list. 🙂
All the recipes here are plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free. I also try to make them so that they are low in oil and added sugar. (If you have any questions about how- leave a comment below so I can fill you in!)
Drinks:
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Is it ok to still want pumpkin in December? I’m on the yes train with that and this latte is the perfect way to kick off Christmas morning.
Appetizers
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I usually pair this vegan cheese ball with some Mary’s Gone Crackers and veggie sticks. I like also have some Trader Joe’s gluten-free crispbread crackers with the hummus and Food Should Taste Good Multi-Grain Tortilla Chips.
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I love having this hummus along side the vegan cheese ball. This might just be the most addicting hummus I’ve ever had. If you want it spicier- just add more hot sauce.
Salad
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Vegan Caesar Salad (best salad ever!)
This really is my favorite salad of all time. I make it every single year without fail. It’s just so good. Be sure to get both kale and romaine for this mix. I like curly leaf kale instead of lacinto- it’s not as bitter and goes so well with the romaine.
Sides
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This was a new edition to the lineup this past Thanksgiving. Miso sounds like it might be strange with roasted carrots, but I promise you this recipe is a keeper! Swap the honey for maple syrup to keep this recipe fully vegan.
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Best Damn Vegan Mashed Potatoes
My go-to for vegan mashed potatoes. I make these every single year, with extra chives. I use Earth Balance for the butter.
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This casserole is the perfect touch of sweet without being overly sickeningly sweet. The nut oat topping adds some awesome texture.
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Roasted Brussel Sprouts on the stalk
This past Thanksgiving has also been the first year that I roasted an entire stalk of brussel sprouts. It really is a conversation piece and you can dress them up any way you’d like. I added some toasted coconut bacon to mine.
Main Dish
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Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaf
I absolutely love this lentil loaf for the center stage main dish at holiday meals. It’s hearty, packed with good-for-you ingredients, and it’s delicious! I usually make 2x the amount of barbecue glaze because I like to have a little side bowl of that handy for guests during dinner.
Desserts
![gluten-free vegan sugar cookies](https://i0.wp.com/laurenvacula.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_5311.jpg?resize=512%2C512&ssl=1)
Last year I decided to make 5 million different kinds of gluten-free vegan Christmas cookies. (Ok, maybe 10.) My fave were the Chocolate Chip. You just can’t beat a good Chocolate Chip, you know?
I made this bark for my mom- she is obsessed with peppermint bark. She was always picking up bark from different stores and at some point I looked at the ingredients. It was filled with sugar and weird chemicals. So I remade the bark and make it vegan with a coconut butter topping to replace the white chocolate.
Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Roll
Another recipe that was inspired by my mom. She made Pumpkin Rolls at every holiday dinner when I was growing up and I was always obsessed with watching her make them. So the Pumpkin Roll is back in all it’s gluten-free vegan glory!
Date-Sweetened Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
This chocolate chip cookie recipe was inspired by Oh She Glows Jumbo Chocolate Chunk Cookies. But instead of using sugar, I sweetened them with dates. They’ve become a go-to for me, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year whenever I am craving something sweet!
So there you have it- all of my absolute favorite plant-based recipes to make for holiday dinners! Do you have any holiday dinner favorites? I’d love to know! Leave a comment below and we can swap recipes. 🙂
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