Five sugar-free recipes for a tooth-friendly Christmas
The festive season is almost upon us, and it’s time to start thinking about all the delicious treats that are central to the celebrations at this time of year.
While Christmas is undoubtedly a time for indulgence, there’s no getting away from the fact it’s often far from the most tooth-friendly holiday season. In fact, Britons regularly consume 5x their recommended daily sugar allowance on the 25th of December - a worrying statistic if you’re conscious of managing your sugar intake throughout the year.
While we wouldn’t dream of suggesting cutting out sweet treats entirely from your festive celebrations, it’s worth remembering that delicious holiday treats and desserts don’t need to be packed with sugar to be indulgent.
We’ve selected five sugar free Christmas recipes - some of them tried-and-tested festive favourites - for you to share with your loved ones this year. Have a go at making them yourself, and give your teeth a Christmas present they’ll be thankful for.
Sugar-free Christmas pudding
Serves: 8
- 450g mixed dried fruit with no added sugar
- 80g fresh breadcrumbs
- 80g ground almonds
- 40g chopped mixed nuts
- 80g butter
- 1 chopped Bramley apple
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 tbsp brandy
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp each of grated nutmeg, mixed spice and cinnamon
FIRST
Mix together the nuts, fruit and breadcrumbs and rub into the butter to combine. Add the brandy, lemon juice and chopped apple, then stir in the eggs and spices.
SECOND
Place the mixture in a buttered pudding basin and make a cover from three layers of greaseproof paper. Steam for four hours, then steam again for a further hour when you wish to serve it. Enjoy with cream or natural yoghurt - delicious!
Sugar-free berry cheesecake
Serves: 8
- 750g cream cheese
- 2 tbsp yoghurt
- 60ml coconut cream
- 175g sugar syrup alternative, e.g rice malt syrup
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla powder
- Large handful of frozen raspberries
- Berries and mint leaves, to decorate
For the Base
- 150g hazelnuts
- 90g desiccated coconut
- 100g ground almonds
- 120g softened butter
FIRST
Preheat the oven to 160C and line a 23cm springform cake tin with baking paper. Make the cheesecake base by whizzing the nuts in a food processor until semi-fine, then adding the almonds, coconut and butter. Rub with your fingertips to form a dough, then press into the pan to create a 5mm base and sides. Blind bake for 8 mins, then remove from the oven and leave to cool completely.
SECOND
Meanwhile, add the frozen raspberries and a splash of water to a blender and whizz to make a puree. Add to a small saucepan and stir over a steady heat to thicken to a syrup consistency. Leave to cool completely.
THIRD
Mix the yoghurt, cream cheese, coconut cream, egg, syrup and vanilla powder in a bowl. Spoon half of the mixture into the cooled base, smooth the surface, then swirl the raspberry sauce over the top. Pour in the other half of the cream cheese mixture, smooth the surface and bake in the oven for 20-30 mins, or until the cheesecake is set to a firm custard consistency. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours, then decorate with berries and mint leaves to serve.
Sugar-free cookies
Makes 12
- 115g butter
- 100g honey
- 100g ground almonds
- 125g plain flour
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
FIRST
Preheat the oven to 200C. Melt the honey and butter together, then beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
SECOND
Stir in the flour, almonds, salt, ginger and baking powder. Spread spoonfuls of the mixture onto a non-stick baking tray - you want them to be about 0.5cm thick, as they’ll rise a little in the oven. Bake for 15 mins, then allow them to cool on a wire rack. Serve with tea - wonderful!
Sugar-free date and chocolate pudding
Serves: 8
- 400g pitted medjool dates
- 150g buckwheat flour
- 300g almond flour
- 35g raw cacao powder
- 1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 225g solid coconut oil
- 150g sugar-free dark chocolate, chopped
- 6 beaten eggs
- 300ml buttermilk
FIRST
Preheat the oven to 180C and butter a 2.5 litre baking dish. Place the dates in a bowl with 750ml just-boiled water and leave to stand for 10 mins. Drain the dates and finely chop, then add to a bowl with all the remaining ingredients and mix well.
SECOND
Spread the date batter into the buttered baking dish, smoothing the surface with a knife. Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean, then serve warm with a dollop of yoghurt or some cream.
Sugar-free Christmas cake
Serves: 8
- 250g butter
- 300g each of currants, sultanas and raisins
- 100ml spiced rum or brandy
- 250g sugar free apricot jam
- 250g plain flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 lemons
- 500g cream cheese, for the topping
FIRST
Soak all of the dried fruit in the rum or brandy for several hours or overnight. When ready, preheat the oven to 150C and grease a 20cm cake tin, then line the bottom and sides with baking paper.
SECOND
Mix the jam and butter together thoroughly, then stir in the soaked fruit and flour. Stir well to make a batter, then spoon into the cake tin and bake for about 3 hours, or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool on a wire rack, then spread the top with cream cheese for a snowy finish. Perfect!
Maintaining your oral health throughout the year
Good dental health isn’t just for Christmas, keeping your teeth and gums in check should be a part of your daily self-care routine. Let’s take a closer look at some oral health essentials.
Maintain good brushing habits
If you want a beautiful, healthy and confidently clean and fresh smile all year long, it all begins with brushing. Be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day (most crucially before bed) for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.
Flossing or using interdental brushes will help reach the spots your toothbrush can’t get to, and be sure not to rinse your mouth as this flushes away the fluoride that helps prevent tooth decay.
Watch what you eat
It’s no secret that sugar is bad for your dental health, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut it out completely. Healthcare professionals recommend keeping sugar consumption below 5% of your daily energy intake - that means around a maximum of 30g of sugar per day for adults.1
Snacking is also best avoided, as it will increase the amount of contact your teeth have with food between brushing. When food particles get stuck between your teeth or coat the surface of your teeth, they feed the bacteria that can lead to cavities, tooth decay and gum disease. Stick to three main meals a day, and if you feel the need to snack between mealtimes, opt for teeth-healthy treats like crunchy raw fruit and vegetables.
Take care of your oral health with regular dentist check-ups
Looking after your teeth at home is a great foundation for good oral health, but it’s also really important to regularly see a dentist and dental hygienist. They’ll check your mouth is healthy, spot any early warning signs of tooth decay or more serious issues like oral cancer, and provide tailored treatments and oral health advice.
Want to commit to regular and affordable dentist and dental hygienist appointments? Bupa Smile Plan allows you to spread the cost of scheduled appointments with manageable monthly bite-sized payments. Your Bupa Smile Plan will include a set number of dentist and hygienist appointments, as well as X-rays (if clinically necessary) and discounts on other treatments and procedures.
Find out more about Bupa Smile Plan online or visit your nearest participating practice today.
1. www.ages.at
Bupa Dental Care is a trading name of Oasis Dental Care Limited. Registered in England and Wales No: 00478127. Registered office: Bupa Dental Care, Vantage Office Park, Old Gloucester Road, Hambrook, Bristol, United Kingdom BS16 1GW.
Oasis Dental Care Limited has a number of trading names including Bupa Dental Care. For a list of all our different trading names please follow this link.
