Decadent and Delicious Collagen-rich Holiday Desserts

Introduction

The holiday season is notorious for sugary, rich, and tempting desserts. If you have a plan, it’s OK to cheat your diet a little bit for seasonal parties and get-togethers—but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make desserts void of any nutritional value. When the holidays arrive, and you let a few dietary rules slide, try focusing on a goal that’s easy to keep: getting plenty of collagen, a protein with a wide range of health benefits.

Naturally Collagen-rich Ingredients

If you want to incorporate organic sources of collagen (or the nutrients that help the body produce collagen naturally) into your holiday desserts, look for recipes that use the following ingredients:

• Egg whites
• Raspberries
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Cashews
• Almonds

Cooking and Baking with Collagen and Gelatin

If you want to go the extra mile and pack in even more collagen, you can use collagen powder supplements or gelatin in your desserts.

Collagen powder producers extract, dry, and purify collagen peptides from animal tissue. This process makes the powder water-soluble and easily dissolvable in any recipe with liquid components. There are a few different types of collagen peptides, but any dissolvable powder works well for baking and won’t affect the taste or texture of the final product.

Gelatin, which typically comes in powdered form, is a degraded form of collagen with the same amino acid composition. Collagen and gelatin have virtually the same nutritional benefits but different applications because gelatin congeals when cooked and cooled. This property makes gelatin the integral ingredient to any dessert with a gelatinous texture.

Holiday Desserts That Pack In Collagen

You can make countless holiday-inspired desserts and after-dinner drinks using natural collagen sources, powdered collagen, or gelatin. If you make any of the following recipes for your next get-together with family and friends, they’ll enjoy a protein-packed treat without even knowing it.

• Eggnog Panna cotta– If you’re in the mood for a delicious and creamy dessert that gets you ready for the holidays, try out this eggnog panna cotta. Whisk egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and pour in hot milk while whisking. Add cold milk and cream to hot milk, and cool it over ice water after adding some rum and grated nutmeg. After sprinkling the gelatin in, stir until dissolved in a pan and refrigerate until set.

• Chocolate Pudding Pie– For a decadent chocolate pudding pie, mix graham cracker crumbs with butter in a pan and bake until crisp. For the chocolate filling, combine gelatin and cold water in a saucepan. Once it thickens, heat the saucepan and whisk in flour, sugar, and milk. Drizzle in whisked egg yolks and chopped chocolate until it bubbles. Then, pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate until set. To finish the dish, top it off with collagen production-boosting raspberries.

• The Clover Cocktail by Macheesmo– You can make this unique cocktail with egg whites, which contain essential amino acids to promote collagen production. Mix a few ounces of gin, lemon juice, cherry syrup, and egg whites to a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Then, shake it before pouring into a chilled glass.

• Almond Flour Chocolate Cookies– For a cookie recipe rich in collagen, mix melted butter, vanilla extract, and eggs in a bowl. Add in your favorite almond flour, a pinch of salt, some baking soda, and collagen peptide powder. Once the dough is ready, divide it up and flatten on a baking sheet and cook until golden brown.

• Collagen Chocolate Mousse with Berries on Top– For a creamy and collagen-rich chocolate mousse, melt chocolate on a stovetop or microwave and let it cool before whisking in egg yolks one at a time. Add collagen powder and gently stir it in. Serve in bowls or glasses and garnish with chocolate dollops and berries before refrigerating for about two hours. The berries in this recipe are rich in vitamin C, which helps your body produce or create collagen naturally.

• Tiramisu– If you’re looking to make a quick and delicious tiramisu, all you need to do is beat sugar, whipping cream, and vanilla extract to get soft peaks. Add a dash of amaretto brandy and mascarpone, and continue to beat for stiff peaks. Once your cream is ready, dip ladyfingers in coffee and then in brandy. Line them up on a tray and slather the cream on them to get several layers. Finally, dust the final layer with cocoa powder and refrigerate for two to three hours.

Experiment and Research

There are plenty of options and recipes to choose from if you’re trying to increase your collagen intake or production this holiday season. If you want more options, continue searching online for even more recipes rich in collagen or collagen-producing ingredients. You can also simply add collagen powder or collagen-rich ingredients to your favorite desserts to get your daily dose.