10 Tasty Food Dehydrator Recipes to Make for the Holidays

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The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are full of excitement with lots of family, friends and delicious foods to enjoy.  If you're looking to enhance that experience even more this holiday season with some healthier options, then it's time to put your food dehydrator to work.

There's no better time to layout the red carpet and produce some amazing food dehydrator recipes, than during the holiday season.  By offering some dehydrated food options in your holiday meals, you and all those around you, will get to enjoy a host of exciting dehydrated foods that are healthy and rich in nutrients.

Here are a few scrumptious creations to consider including in your holiday menu for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just about anytime you decide to whip up some goodies for dinner. I doubt that there will be any guilty feelings after diving into these options:

1 - 4. Vegan Turkey, Stuffing, Cranberry Dressing, Un-Chicken Kiev

Now here's a healthy way to start your Thanksgiving plate this year. Thanks to authors Cara Brotman and Markus Rothkranz, for unveiling this yummy Thanksgiving recipe combination in their amazing cookbook, or shall we say "uncookbook", Love on a Plate "uncookbook". If you were ever looking for a more healthier, nutritious and guilt-free holiday meal, then 'This is It"! Here's what you'll need to put this combination of 4 different together.


Vegan Turkey Ingredients:

  • 1 cup lightly packed of your favorite mushroom (Chanterelles, oyster, porcine or maitake work real well)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Namya Shoyu soy sauce or other soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons water

Un-Chicken Kiev Ingredients:

  • 1 young Thai coconut
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon nama shoyu or soy sauce
  • 1 minced garlic clove

Stuffing Ingredients:

  • 1 cup frozen organic corn
  • 1 tablespoons minced onion
  • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced celery
  • 1/2 teaspoon sage
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3/4 cup sunflower seeds, (soak for at least an hour)
  • 1 tablespoon minced parsley

Cranberry Dressing Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of cranberries
  • i2 tablespoons maple syrup

Get the full instructions from here

For more amazing recipes like this, get the Love on a Plate UnCookbook.

5. Save-the Turkey Portobello Mushroom

For those who want more meatless holiday meal options, but still want the meaty texture and flavor, this Save-the Turkey Portobello Mushroom recipe is certainly a tasty and healthy option to explore.  Mimi Kirk, who shares all the details about this recipe over at Young on Raw Food, credits a plant-based diet to her youthful look. Read more about her incredible story here. Now, take a look at some of the ingredients for this awesome recipe:

Save-the Turkey Portobello Mushroom Ingredients:

  • 3-4 Large Portobello mushroom caps
  • 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Namya Shoyu or gluten free Tamari, or Braggs Aminos
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasonings
  • A few grinds of fresh black pepper
  • Dash or two of water

Get the full instructions from here

For more amazing recipes like this, get Mimi Kirk’s Live Raw cookbook.

6. Jalapeño Onion Cornbread

Here's an amazing Jalapeño Onion Cornbread recipe to add a little flare to your holiday menu. Raw Food Chef, Cherie Soria,  who is also the founder and director of the Living Light Culinary Institute, takes you through all the steps for creating this delicious cornbread in the following video:

Jalapeño Onion Cornbread Ingredients:

  • 4 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
  • 2 cups freeze dried corn (Just Corn), ground using a spice grinder or blender
  • 2 cups white almond flour
  • 1/2 cup coconut butter, warm to soften
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1 tablespoon Himalayan crystal salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup onion, minced, rinsed, and towel blotted
  • 1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced


Check out Cherie's The Raw Food Revolution Diet book for this recipe and many other tasty healthy recipes.


7. Raw Pumpkin Pie

Susan from rawmazing.com shares this delicious and healthy Pumpkin pie masterpiece that will leave your guests begging for more. One comment mentioned by someone was "...my dinner guests absolutely LOVED this pie and couldn’t believe it was “raw.”  Give your guests a taste test, and let's see if they can tell the difference between a traditional pumpkin pie and this raw pumpkin pie.  Here are some of items you'll need for this recipe:

Raw Pumpkin Pie Ingredients:

Crust:

  • 2 cups pecans (previously soaked and dried)
  • 4 dates (soaked until soft) 

Filling:

  • 1 medium sugar pumpkin (not the one you carve for Halloween) about 5 cups chopped
  • 3 cups water (divided)
  • 1/2 cup agave (or a liquid sweetener of your choice)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup 
  • 1/2 cup coconut butter
  • 1/2 cup cashews (soaked for at least 4 hours)
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves

Get the full instructions from here

8. Salt and Vinegar Squash Chips

These squash chips are so crunchy and full of flavor!  Willow from Create Mindfully shares this amazing and simple recipe that the whole family will enjoy! They're a perfect as a healthy snack alternative over regular potato chips. And why not just include them in your holiday menu, as a little something to keep those taste buds happy between festivities! 🙂 Here are some of the ingredients you'll need to start making these delish chips: 

Salt and Vinegar Squash Chips Ingredients:

  • 1 yellow squash or zucchini (about 2 cups)
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
  • salt

Dehydrator setting:  110º

Get the full instructions from here

9. Raw Carrot Crackers

These Raw Carrort Crackers are not only crunchy and tasty, they're also packed with some nutritional goodness.  Included in these crackers you'll get vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants, fiber and so much more to keep you both healthy and happy. Jenné, from sweetpotatosoul.com, says that she lost cravings for her favorite tortilla chips after diving into these carrot crackers. Here's what you'll need to start making these crackers:

Raw Carrot Crackers Ingredients:

  • 10 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 zucchini, diced1
  • 1/2 cup buckwheat groats, sprouted and rinsed
  • 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 2 Tbsp flax seed, ground
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp water (If necessary)

Dehydrator setting: 145º for 1 hour, then reduce heat to 112º

Get the full instructions from here

10. Cranberry Orange Relish

Why not steer away from the traditional canned cranberry jelly this holiday season, and make your own with this delicious Cranberry Orange Relish recipe from the Living Light Culinary institute. Just keep in mind that this isn't your ordinary cranberry relish. In fact, it just might be much better.  With a touch of orange and walnuts, it just may surpass your expectations.  Here are some of the items you'll need:

Cranberry Orange Relish Ingredients:

  • 2 cups frozen cranberries, defrosted* and allowed to drain
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • ¼ cup chopped sweet onions
  • 2 tablespoons grated ginger root
  • ¾ cup coconut palm sugar
  • 1 tablespoon psyllium powder
  • 2 cups chopped orange segments
  • 1 cup chopped sweet and salty walnuts (optional, see recipe)

Dehydrator setting: 115º - 125º 

Get the full instructions from here

If you're not a big fan of turkey or just want to go the meatless route this holiday season, give these food dehydrator recipes a try, and experience a whole new way of eating healthier. Your taste buds and body will thank you. Happy eating.

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