New Year’s Eve is often a time for staying up late and snacking on various goodies. Sounds like a healthy activity, right? I’m not much of one to stay up late, but I do enjoy doing it once a year on New Year’s Eve. As for the snacking part, I’ve come up with so many ways to have delicious and healthy snacks that will last till midnight! Check out this list of 12 healthy New Year’s Eve snack ideas!

Ditch the grains, skip the gluten, reduce the sugars, improve the nutrition, and substitute the dairy to make your New Year’s Eve a healthy one! In this list, there are both gluten-free snack ideas and grain-free snack ideas. These healthy snacks may even help you get a jump start on a New Year’s resolution. I love that these snack options are healthier for our bodies, easy to make, and fun to snack on!

This post may contain affiliate links. See our Disclosure for more information.

• Save

#1. ‘Chex Mix’

(gluten-free, tree nut free, corn free)

I used to have chex mix before I went on a gluten-free and grain-free diet and it was one of my favorite snacks to have on special occasions. Now that I am gluten and grain-free, I have come up with a different, delicious ‘chex’ mix. Even though it may not have chex cereal in it, this ‘chex’ mix is still the bomb! Here is my recipe:

This gluten-free ‘chex’ mix makes a perfect New Year’s Eve snack and is a family favorite in my house!

Ingredient Guide:

• Fit Joy pretzel twists
• Fit Joy pretzel sticks
• Quinn pretzel twists
• Quinn pretzel sticks
• Feridies peanuts

• Save

#2. Popcorn Balls

(gluten-free, nut free)

Popcorn balls are a very special treat in my house. Both Anna and I can’t have corn on a regular basis because it is an inflammation trigger for us, but on special occassions we like to splurge! We usually splurge with popcorn during the winter or corn on the cob during the summer, but ever so often we decide to switch things up and make popcorn balls instead of having popcorn.

I absolutely love popcorn balls and have fond memories of making them with my mom and grandma when I was younger (before we realized we couldn’t have corn). Popcorn balls are actually pretty easy to make in a healthier form. Make sure you choose gluten-free, non-GMO popcorn to ensure the corn is of the healthiest variety.

Here’s how I make classic popcorn balls with wholesome ingredients:

• Pop 1/2 cup of organic, gluten-free popcorn kernels and sort out the unpopped kernels.
• In a large saucepan, bring 1 c. coconut sugar, 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup molasses, 4 T. butter, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. of baking soda to a boil.
• Boil until the mixture thickens and reaches 240°F.
• Quickly pour the mixture over the popcorn and stir it in.
• Working quickly, lightly butter your hands and start rolling popcorn balls.
• Let the popcorn balls harden, then enjoy!

These sticky, sweet and salty snacks are fun to munch on and will be a family favorite on New Year’s Eve!

• Save

#3. Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

(gluten-free, refined sugar free, grain-free options)

I love to make chocolate dipped pretzels! They are fun and easy to make and are a perfect little sweet and salty snack. There are several different brands of gluten-free and grain-free pretzels that I like to use to make chocolate dipped pretzels.

Quinn is my favorite gluten-free brand of pretzel. I like Quinn because they are gluten-free, corn free, and low in sugar. They make a variety of different styles of pretzels and my favorites to use include the rye pretzel rods and the classic twists.

Fit Joy is my favorite gluten-free and grain-free brand of pretzel. I like Fit Joy pretzels because they are made with cassava flour, making them both gluten-free and grain-free. Fit Joy also makes a variety of styles of pretzels, but I like using the sea salt twists for dipping in chocolate.

Here is how I make easy chocolate dipped pretzels!

1. Choose your pretzel. I like to use Quinn rye sticks or Fit Joy classic twists.
2. Melt Lily’s dark chocolate chips in a small sauce pan over low heat. You can also use Enjoy Life mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
3. Dip or spread the chocolate over the pretzels. You can cover them as much as you would like with chocolate.
4. Lay them on some parchment paper on a baking sheet. I like to sprinkle crushed Yum Earth candy canes over my chocolate dipped pretzels to make them look festive.
5. Let the chocolate harden and then enjoy!

I also like to dip preztels in gluten-free white chocolate to make white chocolate dipped pretzels! They taste great and are a special treat! My favorite brand of white chocolate chip to use is Lily’s white chocolate chips.

• Save

#4. Holiday Blondie Bars

(grain-free, nut free)

Holiday blondie bars are a special treat that are really delicious! I make holiday blondie bars using Chebe all-purpose mix and UnReal chocolate gems. That means that these blondie bars are gluten-free, grain-free, and nut free! Here is how I make them:

• Melt 12 tablespoons of organic, grass-fed butter in a large mixing bowl. Stir in 1 cup of organic coconut sugar, 2 free-range eggs, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
• Add 1 box of Chebe all-purpose bread mix and and stir until incorporated.
• Fold in 3/4 cup of UnReal chocolate gems and 3/4 cup of Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips.
• Pour the batter into a buttered 9×13 glass baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350° F.
• Cool before slicing and serving!

These holiday blondie bars taste delicious served with dairy-free ice cream or just served by themselves! I like to have mine with NadaMoo salted caramel ice cream which is dairy-free. They are light, fluffy, and perfectly sweet!

This recipe is thanks to my mom, Michelle Lehr from Intentionally Healthy Living!

• Save

#5. Meat & Cheese Board

(grain-free options, gluten-free, nut free)

More recently called a charcuterie board, making a meat and cheese board is a classic way to serve multiple snacks on New Year’s Eve! This year I wanted to try my hand at putting together a charcuterie board that featured grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free snacks. It was so much fun to put together and I had so many different healthier snacks to choose from!

To start a charcuterie board you will need a large serving platter. I used a large stoneware pizza stone, but a large cutting board, cheese board, or serving tray will work just as well! And of course, they make special charcuterie boards you can buy too! After you’ve got your charcuterie board, it’s time to choose what to put on it.

For a meat and cheese board, I went with some healthy snacking meats, dairy-free cheeses, a few pieces of winter-themed fruit, and a variety of gluten-free and grain-free chips, crackers, and pretzels. Here are some of the brands that my charcuterie board features:

• Aldi grain-free pretzel twists
• Plant Snacks cheddar chips and beet chips
• Mary’s Gone Crackers thins
• Late July grain-free crackers
• venison sausage
• organic, non-GMO deli black forest ham
• Daiya cheddar cheese slices and provalone slices
• Daiya smoked gouda cheese block

After choosing what allergy-friendly snacks to display, then comes the fun part of styling your board! You can find lots of inspiration on Pinterest as well as plenty of tips for styling a charcuterie board. Feel free to copy my board too!

• Save

#6. Nachos

(grain-free, dairy-free)

Nachos are a traditional New Year’s Eve snack food and making them healthier is simple! Siete tortilla chips are made without grains and Daiya cheese is made without dairy, so you can make grain-free and dairy-free nachos! Both the chips and the cheese come in different flavors, so you can customize your nachos to however you like them. I like to use the sea salt Siete tortilla chips and the Daiya shredded cheddar cheese to make my nachos with.

Here is how I do it:

1. Lay out the Siete tortilla chips on a baking sheet or pizza stone, make sure the chips overlap.
2. Sprinkle the Daiya cheese over the chips.
3. Add other toppings if you would like, such as taco meat, herbs, bacon, or anything else you can think of!
4. Place in an oven that has been preheated to 395° F. Bake until the cheese has melted (about 7-8 minutes).
5. Enjoy!

Late July makes a grain-free tortilla chip using tigernut flour. They also make good nacho chips!

• Save

#7. Dairy-free Fudge

(grain-free, nut free, refined sugar free)

I have fond memories of the time my mom made goat’s milk chocolate fudge for New Year’s Eve. She thought the recipe failed epically, but Anna and I though it was the best fudge ever! It was sweet and chocolatey. But the real kicker came from the texture. This fudge was hard, chewy, and borderline candy status. Keep in mind that we have never had ‘real’ fudge before. We thought this homemade chewy fudge was the best thing ever!

So I went on a mission to make a dairy-free fudge using simple, wholesome ingredients. This fudge isn’t nearly as hard and chewy, it mimics more traditional homemade fudge. And I still find it insanely delicious!

Whip up a quick batch of this dairy-free fudge to snack on throughout the evening!

Ingredient Guide:

• Lily’s chocolate chips
• Enjoy Life chocolate chips
• Nature’s Charm sweetened condensed coconut milk
• Yum Earth candy canes

• Save

• Save

#8. Indoor S’mores

(gluten-free, nut free)

Indoor s’mores are fun and easy to make, you don’t even need a fireplace to make them! I use Pamela’s gluten-free honey grahams, Lily’s salted caramel chocolate bar, and either my own homemade marshmallows or Dandies marshmallows to make indoor s’mores.

Pamela’s gluten-free graham crackers come in several different varieties including honey, chocolate, and cinnamon. I like these graham crackers because they are gluten-free, nut free, corn free, and low in sugar. Another brand of gluten-free graham cracker that I like to use is Kinnikinnick gluten-free graham crackers.

For the chocolate, I use Lily’s brand chocolate, which comes in several different flavors. Lily’s is gluten-free and sugar free. You can also use Enjoy Life chocolate bars too. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and low in sugar.

I like to use my own homemade marshmallow recipe to make indoor s’mores with since the homemade marshmallows don’t need to be roasted over a fire. You can find my marshmallow recipe in either my S’more Pie recipe or my Mississippi Mud Pie recipe. If you don’t feel like making your own marshmallows, Dandies sells gluten-free and corn free marshmallows that I like to use on occasion. Dandies marshmallows come in both regular and mini sizes and are perfect for making a s’more with!

Assemble an indoor s’more just like you would if you had roasted marshmallows over an open fire! If you want, you can place a pre-made s’more in an oven or toaster oven that has been heated to a low temperature. Keep an eye on the s’more and when the chocolate is melted and the marshmallow is roasted, take it out and enjoy!

• Save

#9. Granola and Ice Cream

(dairy-free, gluten-free)

One of my favorite ways to have granola is on top of ice cream! It’s just like frozen milk, right? Granola and ice cream would make a great late night snack, especially if it is dairy-free, gluten-free, and low in sugar!

First start with a base of dairy-free ice cream. Several dairy-free coconut ice cream brands that I like include NadaMoo, SoDelicious, and Coconut Bliss. For my review of each brand be sure to head over to my Ice Cream Pie recipe! Vanilla dairy-free ice cream is probably my favorite to have with granola and my favorite brand of ice cream to use is NadaMoo. I can find NadaMoo at my local Whole Foods Market and at my local co-op. You can also use any other dairy-free ice cream such as an almond milk ice cream or an oat milk ice cream!

After you get the base layer of ice cream in a bowl, add the granola! You can use homemade granola, like my peanut butter granola, or you can use a gluten-free store-bought kind. Two of my favorite brands of gluten-free granola are KIND and Purely Elizabeth. Purely Elizabeth blueberry and hemp granola is my favorite. It is made with coconut sugar and coconut oil, so it is dairy-free!

You can also use dairy-free SoDelicious coconut yogurt or homemade yogurt if your prefer not to have ice cream with your granola!

• Save

• Save

#10. Chips and Salsa

(grain-free, corn free)

Chips and salsa is one of my favorite ways to have veggies! Salsa makes a great snack since it is healthy for you and delicious! I like both homemade, canned salsa and organic store-bought salsa. A few store-bought salsa brands that I like include Field Day salsa and Whole Foods Market fresh salsa. Salsa comes in many different flavors and varieties, so you can customize your salsa choice according to your tastes. I usually like ones that include garlic and are medium on the spicy scale.

As a modern pioneer, I love having my own homemade salsa that I can every fall! Anna and I make the best homemade canned salsa that is thick, chunky, and has just the right amount of spice!

Some of my favorite healthier chips to serve with salsa are plantain chips, Beanfields nacho chips, or Boulder potato chips. I love having plantain chips with salsa, and they are healthier because they are naturally grain-free and gluten-free. Several plantain chips brands that I buy include Thrive Market brand, Inka chips brand, Terra chips brand (dairy-free), and Trader Joe’s brand.

Chips and salsa make a great healthier New Year’s Eve snack!

• Save

#11. Humus & Dip Platter

(dairy-free, corn free, gluten-free, grain-free options)

Much like a meat and cheese board, a humus and dip platter is another healthy way to display a variety of delicious (and healthy) snack foods! To be honest, I think this snack idea is probably the healthiest on the list, but nobody needs to know that.

Before you pass this snack idea off as ‘too healthy’, you’ve got to check out my ideas for how to make a delicious and pretty veggie and dip board! Personally, I love pairing carrots with dill dip and crackers with humus. I find that they make a very satisfactory snack, especially if I know I can snack on a few chocolate covered pretzels later on in the evening!

To make a humus and dip platter, start by choosing your serving board, tray, or platter. Then choose what dips you want to feature. I love homemade dairy-free dill dip and garlic humus. I could also see a bowl of peanut butter being a good addition to a veggie tray for those people who absolutely need peanut butter with their celery (like myself and my grandpa). Did you know that carrots are actually amazing dipped in peanut butter too!?

After the dips, choose what you’re going to serve with the dips! I like to provide a variety of both vegetables and snacky foods, like chips and crackers. Here’s a quick list of what I used:

• organic carrots
• organic celery
• Mary’s Gone Crackers thins
• organic radishes
• Plant Snacks beet chips
• From the Ground Up cauliflower crackers
• organic baby carrots
• Trader Joe’s veggie chips

• Save

#12. Sandwich Bites

(grain-free, gluten-free, corn free, nut free)

Sandwich bites are the perfect little appetizer for New Year’s Eve. Making healthy sandwich bites is easy, plus they are cute and fun to eat! You can make any variety you want, or even several varieties so that you have many options! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Deli Meat and Cheese– Use organic, non-GMO black forest ham (or organic deli meat of your choice) and Daiya dairy-free cheese slices. Don’t forget to add in some butter lettuce or some nut free pesto to add some green!
• PB&J- You can’t go wrong with some good old pb&j! Use organic peanut butter that only contains peanuts and salt. Make your own jelly using fresh or frozen blueberries, a little bit of tapioca flour, and a little bit of coconut sugar.
• BLT– Use organic, non-GMO bacon, organic lettuce, and an organic tomato to make perfect BLT bites.
• Meat Lover’s– Use shredded chicken, turkey, pulled pork, venison, or beef to make delicious meaty sandwich bites. Add some Daiya dairy-free cheese and some lettuce or micro-greens too!

Bread Options:

To make your mini sandwiches even healthier, use gluten-free and/or grain-free bread, rolls, or buns. There are many gluten-free breads to choose from, my favorites are made by Sammi’s Bakery and Canyon Bakehouse. Sammi’s Bakery makes a delicious gluten-free millet bread and an awesome gluten-free sourdough bread that make perfect sandwiches!

Canyon Bakehouse makes so many varities of gluten-free breads, but my favorites include the mountain white style and the heritage honey white style. You can also make your own grain-free or gluten-free bread product. Here are just a few to choose from:

• Grain-free cheese rolls
• Grain-free bread
• Chebe bread (grain-free) or make Chebe rolls using the Chebe all-purpose bread mix
• Grain-free bread rolls

Enjoy making your healthy mini sandwiches!

• Save

• Save

With these 12 healthy New Year’s Eve snack ideas, you should be able to stay up to ring in the New Year and still feel good in the morning! There are grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar free, corn free, dairy-free, and nut free options to try! I know that both my family and I love making and eating healthy snacks that are simple and delicious. Some of my favorites from this list include the chips and salsa option as well as the chocolate dipped pretzels! I’d love to hear what your favorite healthy New Year’s Eve snacks are!

Looking for some good modern pioneer New Year’s resolutions to make? Check out the modern pioneer checklist challange in our starter bundle!

Have a happy New Year!

by Alexa

• Save

• Save

• Save

• Save