70+ Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes That Taste Incredible
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Browse my healthy Thanksgiving recipes that will delight the entire family! Hearty mains, side dishes and cozy desserts in a variety of options including allergy-friendly, vegan, gluten-free, and grain-free side dishes. Something to please every guest at your celebration.
The Thanksgiving menu at my house has remained pretty consistent for the last 30+ years. My mom has her tried and true favorites and every member of the family insists on at least one of her recipes. Swapping new recipes in for some of the old favorites is a challenge, but every year I try to gently introduce one new dish.
Whether your family is rooted in tradition or always open to trying something new I love to gently encourage the addition of one dish that may be just a little bit healthier. It’s the holidays, enjoy your traditions, stay mindful and eat with intention, but it doesn’t hurt to also shake things up with a new recipe that can help to balance out the heavier foods of the season.
Appetizers
I love having a little something for my guests as they arrive. My family has been known to have an epic appetizer/cocktail hour which, as delicious as it is, tends to get everyone a bit too full before the meal. I think serving a little something takes the pressure off the host, your guests fill their bellies with a few bites of something yummy so you (the hostess with the most-ess) have time to finish the main meal.
Here are some of my favorite ideas.
Ultimate Fall Mezze Platter
Roasted acorn squash, beets with mint yogurt sauce, spiced pumpkin seeds, goat cheese and thyme crostini with honey drizzle, and more and more and more! This ultimate fall mezze platter literally has it all, including dips inside baby pumpkins. Yes, this must be on your holiday party table!
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This is my favorite Thanksgiving appetizer, I can switch it up a little bit every year and everyone loves it! Use a variety of raw and roasted veggies, several yummy dips (like this beet sumac hummus), cheese, and nuts. It’s the ultimate grazing platter and light enough that you save room for the main event.
Spiced Winter Squash Seeds
Perfectly roasted and spiced winter squash seeds from butternut, acorn, or spaghetti squash. Salty, spicy, and addictive.
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Nourishing Maple Curry Butternut Squash Soup
Creamy, rich and comforting, this nourishing maple curry butternut squash soup will be your new favorite go-to fall and winter soup recipe! It requires only six simple wholesome ingredients, perfect for the holidays or just a simple healthy weekday dinner.
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Creamy Potato Soup with Bacon
Hearty creamy potato soup with bacon and green chilis. The perfect bowl of soup to serve for a holiday open house. Comforting, and supremely delicious with a hint of earthy spice from the green chilis. This potato soup will quickly become a family favorite for holidays, parties, and just cozy Friday nights next to a fire.
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Healthy Kabocha Squash Soup
Silky-smooth and full or warming goodness, this Instant Pot Kabocha Squash Soup is the perfect meal for the crisp days ahead. Apple, onion, rosemary and squash come together in a soup that is done in under thirty minutes and BONUS, full of plant-powered nutrition!
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Pumpkin Peanut Butter Soup
Rich and creamy pumpkin soup with a winning secret ingredient, peanut butter! This pumpkin peanut butter soup is made completely from scratch and will be the star on any holiday table or cozy fall supper.
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Main Dishes
Roasted Turkey Breast with Rosemary & Orange
Succulent juicy, tender meat beneath golden brown crispy skin, this orange and rosemary oven-roasted turkey breast is the perfect alternative to a whole turkey when preparing a meal for a smaller group.
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French Onion Meatloaf
This French onion meatloaf takes everything you love about classic French onion soup—the caramelized onions, the toasty cheese, the deep savory flavor—and tucks it into the coziest meatloaf you’ve ever made.
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Spaghetti Squash Stir Fry Boats with Ground Turkey and Bok Choy
These ground turkey spaghetti squash stir fry boats combine tender squash “noodles” with a spicy sesame ginger sauce, shiitake mushrooms, and bok choy.
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Salmon Wellington
Salmon filet is wrapped in buttery, golden brown, flaky, puff pastry, stuffed with creamy spinach, mixture. As beautiful as it is delicious and will become a go-to recipe any time you have a special occasion to celebrate.
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Spiced Ground Lamb Stew with Butternut Squash
Curl up with a bowl of ground lamb and butternut squash stew, a hearty one-pot dish packed with warming shawarma spices, protein-rich lamb, and an abundance of nourishing veggies
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Pumpkin Turkey Chili
This pumpkin turkey chili recipe is sweet and spicy, the perfect combination of pumpkin, ground turkey, warming spices, and lots of black beans. Yum!
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Instant Pot Pumpkin Risotto
Creamy pumpkin risotto with crispy bacon and nutty parmesan cheese, made in the instant pot for a quick, easy, and delicious dinner!
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Creamy Pumpkin Parmesan Chicken with Wild Mushrooms
Crispy seasoned chicken nestled in a silky creamy pumpkin parmesan sauce with rosemary sautéed wild mushrooms. All cooked in one skillet. An easy weeknight supper or the perfect festive holiday meal for two!
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Thanksgiving for two? Forget the turkey, make this chicken and you will love me forever.
Best Ever Air Fryer Turkey Meatballs
These juicy air fryer turkey meatballs are a family favorite, healthy, quick and easy, and super versatile. Made with lean ground turkey and a touch of parmesan and fresh herbs, they’re packed with flavor yet simple to prepare, making them perfect for busy weeknights or easy meal prep.
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Turkey Dumpling Stew
A creamy comforting turkey stew loaded with veggies and fluffy pillow-like Hungarian soup dumplings. Perfect for turkey leftovers!
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Healthy Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables with Creamy Dijon Sauce
Sausage, peppers, potatoes, and zucchini all roasted together on one sheet pan and drizzled with a creamy dijon sauce. Quick prep, easy cleanup, 30 minutes from start to finish!
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Spicy Sausage and Broccoli Pasta
A hearty weeknight pasta dish that is the ultimate healthy-ish comfort food. Roasted broccoli, sweet Italian sausage, Aleppo pepper, and parmesan cheese. Your new favorite pasta recipe will be ready in 30 minutes!
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Veggie Main Dishes
Whole Roasted Cauliflower (with Sage Salsa Verde)
Whole roasted cauliflower on a bed of creamy goat cheese labneh and drizzled with sage salsa verde that gets into every nook and cranny and infuses the cauliflower with so much flavor! You are going to love this recipe!
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Creamy Kale and Mushroom Stuffed Delicata Squash
Delicata squash perfectly roasted and stuffed with coconut creamed kale and hearty mushrooms. A delicious side dish or main entree, a healthy easy way to eat your veggies!
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Cauliflower Steaks with Mushroom Marsala Sauce
Roasted Cauliflower steaks take center stage in this plant-powered main course. A luxurious mushroom and marsala cream sauce finishes this dish that is as nourishing as it is deeply satisfying. This healthy meatless dinner is ready in a snap and worthy of a spot on your vegetarian recipe rotation.
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Butternut Squash and Quinoa Chili
Insanely delicious 1-pot chili with quinoa, butternut squash, and beans. Perfect comfort food for busy cooks, excellent for meal prep!
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Side Dishes
My favorite part of the meal BY FAR! Try some of these healthier side dish recipes this Thanksgiving!
Herb Sourdough Stuffing with Wild Mushrooms
Look no further friends, I have THE BEST sourdough stuffing recipe for you. Filled with fresh herbs, wild mushrooms, and fennel. Delicious, easy, vegetarian, and can be made in advance.
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Butternut Squash Stuffing
My mom's treasured stuffing recipe is finally here! A savory stuffing packed with butternut squash, fresh herbs, and so much flavor it is downright delicious? This Butternut Squash Stuffing checks every box and just might be your new favorite holiday side dish.
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Instant Pot Creamy Herb Mashed Parsnips and Potatoes
Creamy herbed mashed parsnips and potatoes made quick and easy in the instant pot. The perfect decadent side dish for your holiday table or an easy side dish any night of the week.
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Roasted Green Beans and Mushrooms with a Vegan Creamy Onion Sauce
Tender roasted green beans, and earthy mushrooms topped with a vegan creamy onion sauce. A healthier, vegan, take on a traditional green bean casserole.
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Healthier Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
A healthier mac and cheese recipe using antioxidant-rich butternut squash, super creamy and delicious! The ultimate comfort food, upgraded with good for you ingredients. Ready in 30 minutes!
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Paleo Sweet Potato Casserole
Creamy sweet potatoes with a hint of spice baked to perfection and topped with a crunchy pecan streusel. Perfect for your holiday table or for a special weeknight side dish.
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Roasted Parsnips
Parsnips roasted to golden brown perfection and then topped with a sweet, spicy, herby chive honey gremolata.
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Crispy Truffle Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
Yukon gold CRISPY potatoes smashed thin and oven roasted, dusted with parmesan and drizzled with truffle oil for the most crave-able side dish or party appetizer.
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Simple Roasted Butternut Squash
This easy recipe for simple roasted butternut squash will quickly become a staple recipe in your healthy cooking repertoire. Plus ideas for different seasonings and ways to use butternut squash in a variety of ways.
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Creamy Miso Butter Mashed Cauliflower
Creamy, buttery mashed cauliflower bursting with flavor. Mashed cauliflower is typically billed as a low carbohydrate side dish, keto-friendly dish, or “mock” mashed potatoes, while these titles may be accurate mashed cauliflower is a delicious side dish worthy of just being known for that – delicious. The addition of miso and scallions makes this a side dish worthy of a five-star restaurant – facts.
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Fall Harvest Salad with Pumpkin Garlic Vinaigrette
A delicious simple salad with your favorite fall flavors dressed with a super yummy garlic pumpkin vinaigrette!
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Herb Roasted Honeynut Squash with Miso Tahini Sauce
Mouthwatering herb roasted honeynut squash with a miso tahini sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, or a festive holiday side dish. Gluten-free, vegan, paleo.
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Garlic Butter Air Fryer Green Beans
Crispy and delicious air fryer green beans in a garlic butter sauce, yeah… you should make this!
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Roasted Butternut Squash and Kale Farro Salad with Dried Cherries and Pecans
The perfect hearty warm salad, creamy and sweet butternut squash, paired with tender kale, nutty farro, sweet dried cherries, and rich pecans, tossed with the BEST sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
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Delicata Squash Salad with Warm Wild Mushrooms
Winter salad hero! Warm wild mushrooms, perfectly roasted delicata squash on top of tender kale with a sesame ginger dressing that you will flip for!
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Escarole Citrus Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
This winter escarole citrus salad is officially the star salad of the season! Featuring a variety of bright citrus like grapefruit, tangerine, and blood orange, fennel, radish, and creamy avocado. Lightly dressed with a robust and rich extra virgin olive oil Meyer lemon vinaigrette.
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I am always looking for something bright, citrusy, and crunchy on Thanksgiving. All the other side dishes, as delicious as they are, tend to be a bit heavier. A light citrus salad is the perfect compliment.
Pecan Brown Butter Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a Spiced Tahini Glaze
Gorgeous roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with crunchy pecans in a brown butter sauce and drizzled with a spiced maple tahini glaze.
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Garlic Parmesan Roasted Baby Cauliflower (Caulilini)
With a natural almost smoky flavor, sweet baby cauliflower makes the perfect gorgeous side dish or amazing vegetarian main course.
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Slow Cooker Maple Cranberry Applesauce
Perfectly sweet and tart, and supremely easy slow cooker maple cranberry applesauce. Refined sugar-free, paleo friendly, and the ideal seasonal treat!
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Move over boring Brussels sprouts, there is a new kid in town! Create a nutty brown butter sauce and then add pecans, top with a maple tahini glaze. Stop the delicious madness!!
Rosemary Parmesan Butternut Squash Gratin
Roasted butternut squash coated with a shallot garlic butter and then topped with crunchy parmesan rosemary breadcrumbs.
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Maple Butter Roasted Butterkin Squash
Move over bland and boring side dish recipes, this maple butter roasted Butterkin squash is about to blow your mind!
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Five Spice Roasted Acorn Squash
Five spice roasted acorn squash is the perfect fall side dish.
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Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with Feta, Buckwheat and Pomegranate Seeds
This festive (gluten-free) Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with warm Buckwheat, Five-Spice Roasted Acorn Squash, Feta Cheese, and Pomegranate Seeds is full of healthy seasonal ingredients and a sweet tangy maple dijon dressing. |Abraskitchen.com
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Creamed Kale and Spinach
Supremely creamy kale and spinach is the ultimate comfort food side dish, with a healthy twist. This recipe is inspired by chef Daniel Boulud's super green "creamed" spinach.
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Korean Seasoned Kale and Spinach
Korean seasoned kale and spinach is a simple healthy side dish bursting with flavor! Tender kale and spinach tossed with the ubiquitous flavors of Korean cuisine, my favorite way to eat greens!
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Healthier Creamed Cauliflower
Stovetop healthier creamed cauliflower. A few wholesome ingredients with simple gluten-free and/or vegan modifications.
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Smashed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan
These oven-roasted bacon parmesan brussels sprouts are smashed prior to roasting to optimize the crisp potential while maintaining a super tender creamy center. The perfect holiday Brussels sprout recipe that you will make over and over again!
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Instant Pot Kabocha Squash
Here’s a step-by-step guide to make the perfect kabocha squash, sometimes referred to as a Japanese pumpkin, in the instant pot. This speedy method makes a tender, delicious squash that is cooked and ready to use in all your favorite fall recipes.
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Slow Cooker Apple Pear Sauce
Homemade applesauce is a breeze to make in the slow cooker. This recipe adds seasonal pears, lots of cinnamon, and is refined sugar free!
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Apple Chutney
This spiced apple chutney has been adapted from an old family recipe. This is a smaller batch and makes about 2 cups or 8 servings, you can easily double or triple the batch.
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Pumpkin Garlic Vinaigrette
The salad dressing you will exclusively use for the entire fall season
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Desserts
Crustless Pumpkin Pie
Looking for a delicious pumpkin pie without the hassle of making a crust? This is it! Crustless pumpkin pie is a revelation, easy enough for non-bakers, perfect for gluten-free guests, and so insanely delicious no one will miss the crust.
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Apple Pear Crisp
Ooey gooey sweet goodness, this apple pear crisp is insanely delicious, so easy to make, and the perfect introduction to fall. Gluten Free. Healthy. Yummy.
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A simple gluten-free dessert, fresh seasonal apples topped with a crispy oat and nut crumble. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Almond Flour Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chewy, cake-like, and addictively delicious, these almond flour pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are gluten-free, low in sugar, and full of wholesome ingredients.
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Almond Flour Sweet Potato Cake (with Maple Brown Butter)
An Almond Flour Sweet Potato Cake that is richly flavored with maple syrup and nutty brown butter with hints of ginger and bright orange layered between thick maple cream cheese frosting. Gluten-free and refined sugar-free
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Oat Flour Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread (GF)
Hands down the best oat flour pumpkin bread recipe you will ever taste! Gluten free, perfectly spiced, moist and delicious pumpkin bread filled with a maple cream cheese center. Loaded with good-for-you ingredients and low in sugar. Yeah, you need to make this stat!
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Apple Muffins with Oat Flour (Gluten-Free)
These healthy and gluten-free Apple Muffins with Oat Flour are bursting with fall flavors! Apples, apple butter, cinnamon, and other warming spices paired with nutrient-dense buckwheat and oat flour. The perfect healthy fall snack or breakfast!
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Almond Flour Pumpkin Spice Scones
Almond Flour Pumpkin Spice Scones are soft and tender and drizzled with white chocolate. Gluten-free.
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Earl Grey Roasted Pears with Warm Chocolate Sauce
Earl Grey Roasted Pears with Warm Chocolate Sauce and a coconut cream drizzle is an insanely delicious, quick and easy, healthy dessert. Perfect for the holidays. Paleo, gluten-free, and vegan.
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A more refined dessert, not your traditional pie, but oh man no one will complain! Roast pears in earl grey tea and then drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Gluten Free Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread
Gluten Free Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread is a wholesome quick bread recipe using sweet potato, almond butter, and oats.
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Spiced Buckwheat Sweet Potato Pancakes with Warm Cardamom Pears
Perfectly spiced buckwheat sweet potato pancakes with warm cardamom pears will set your morning on fire. Gluten-free and vegan! This is possibly the most decadent, and yet uber healthy, way to start your day.
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Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
A perfectly fall, perfectly delicious, and surprisingly healthy pumpkin chocolate chip bread. Only using whole grain flour, unprocessed sweetener (maple syrup) and lots of yummy chocolate.
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Almond Flour Cardamom Coffee Gluten Free Biscotti
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cardamom Coffee Biscotti marries the bold flavors of chocolate and coffee with warm and slightly spicy notes of cardamom. This simple biscotti recipe uses almond flour for a grain-free, gluten-free version of the traditional biscotti recipe. Crunchy, sweet, and perfect for dunking into a hot cup of coffee.
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Pumpkin Date Bark
Try this Pumpkin Date Bark with Dark Chocolate for a sweet treat made with real food ingredients and a seasonal twist. A fun take on the viral "date bark" sensation, giving you all the cozy fall vibes in every bite!
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Vegan Pumpkin Caramel Sauce
A silky smooth delicious vegan pumpkin caramel sauce, the perfect fall treat!
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Do you have a lot of kids that come to your Thanksgiving celebration? Create a DIY caramel apple and pear station and make this heavenly vegan pumpkin caramel sauce.
Drinks and Cocktails
Warm Mulled Cranberry Apple Cider
Curl up with a warm mug of this perfectly sweet and spicy mulled cranberry apple cider. One sip and you will see why this should be the official beverage of the season.
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I keep this warm all day in my Instant Pot and let my guests serve themselves. A small bottle of good quality bourbon is near by for those that want a little extra “warmth”.
Apple Cider Immunity Sparkler
A refreshing mocktail or cocktail, perfect for the holiday, with only 3 simple ingredients! Added bonus, one special ingredient is a supportie immune tonic!
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The Best Kombucha Cocktail
Ring in the holidays with a refreshing and delicious low alcohol cocktail. A twist on a traditional Americana Cocktail using kombucha for a little extra gut health love. The perfect light, tasty, fresh cocktail for a holiday party!
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I have been on a serious kombucha cocktail kick, they are low in alcohol and have the added benefit of a little bit of gut support. Woop! Woop! This festive kombucha cocktail is absolutely delicious!
Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte
A creamy delicious fall treat, homemade pumpkin spice latte! Using maple syrup, real pumpkin, oat milk, and spices. Homemade is a million times better than store bought, and takes about 2 minutes to whip up!
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Make a batch of vegan pumpkin spice creamer and leave it at your coffee bar to gain some serious hostess points!
Wishing you the most glorious holiday celebration ever!!!!
xxxxx
Abra
Meet Abra Pappa, MS, CNS, LDN
Abra is a licensed nutritionist, seasoned home cook, and forever flavor-chaser. She’s spent more than two decades exploring the connection between food and health—and just as long obsessing over what makes something truly delicious. Abra’s Kitchen is where those two loves meet, with recipes that celebrate vegetables, follow the seasons, and make you excited to cook.
