12 Healthy New Year’s Eve Snack Ideas

12 Healthy New Year’s Eve Snack Ideas
| gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, & nut free options |
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | Dec. 30, 2024
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I’m not much of one to stay up late, but I do enjoy doing it once a year on New Year’s Eve. Probably the major contributing factor to keeping me up late are the delicious snacks that are always in abundance. While I’m certainly not going to say that New Year’s Eve snacks have to be healthy, I am going to provide you with snack ideas that will help you ditch the grains, skip the gluten, reduce the sugars, improve the nutrition, and substitute the dairy to make your New Year’s Eve a ‘healthier’ one! Plus, many of these snack ideas are homemade or use simple, wholesome ingredients… perfect for modern pioneers!

#1. Gluten-free ‘Chex Mix’

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

My mom used to make traditional chex mix before we went on a gluten-free and grain-free diet, and it was one of my favorite snacks to have on special occasions. Now that we try to eat a cleaner diet, 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:

Ingredient Guide:

• Fit Joy pretzel twists (grain-free)
• Fit Joy pretzel sticks (grain-free)
• Quinn pretzel twists
• Quinn pretzel sticks
• Feridies peanuts

#2. Gluten-free Cinnamon Popcorn Snack Mix

(gluten-free, nut free option)

Popcorn is a classic snack food… so why not make it into a delicious holiday snack mix? This cinnamon popcorn snack is perfect for munching on throughout the night. It combines sweet and salty with the warm flavors of cinnamon sugar spices.

I absolutely love popcorn and have fond memories of making popcorn balls with my mom and grandma when I was younger (before we realized we couldn’t have corn). Now I like to make popcorn snack mixes on special occasions instead! Make sure you choose gluten-free, non-GMO popcorn to ensure the corn is of the healthiest variety.

Here’s how to make this gluten-free cinnamon popcorn snack mix:

• Pop 1/4 cup of organic, gluten-free popcorn kernels and sort out the unpopped kernels. Put the popcorn in a large mixing bowl (about 9 cups).
• Preheat the oven to 250°F.
• Melt 4 T. of butter. In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of coconut sugar, 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp. of salt.
• Drizzle the butter over the popcorn and sprinkle on the cinnamon sugar mixture. Stir and thoroughly mix the popcorn until it is all coated. Spread the popcorn out on a 9×13″ baking pan lined with parchment paper.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool and then mix in additional snack mix yummies!
  • 1 box of Partake gingersnap cookies
  • 1 c. cinnamon sugar pretzels (FitJoy twists tossed in butter and cinnamon sugar)
  • 1 c. cinnamon sugar walnuts (walnuts tossed in butter and cinnamon sugar)
  • 1 box Simple Mills honey cinnamon sweet thins

To make this mix nut free, omit the cinnamon sugar walnuts and use Partake snacking grahams instead of the Simple Mills sweet thins.

#3. Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

(gluten-free, refined sugar free, dairy-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, but the ones that work the best for dipping in chocolate are the Quinn pretzel 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 pretzel twists 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 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 pretzels in gluten-free white chocolate to make white chocolate dipped pretzels! They taste great and are a special treat! My favorite brands of white chocolate chip to use are Lily’s Sweets white chocolate chips or Enjoy Life mini white chocolate chips.

#4. Individual Giant Cookies

(gluten-free, nut free)

Everybody loves a giant cookie, right? And if the giant cookie is customized to your favorite flavor, baked fresh in just minutes, and you don’t have to share it… well that’s worth staying up for! My individual toaster-oven cookie recipe is all that and more!

If you’ve got a convection toaster-oven and a few simple gluten-free cookie ingredients, then you can create a ‘make your own cookie bar’ for your New Year’s Eve party! You can find my gluten-free toaster oven cookie recipe in The Pioneer Chicks Cookie Cookbook (pg 38). The recipe makes 2 giant cookies and each cookie can be customized to a variety of different flavors. The cookies only take 10 minutes to bake, so you can enjoy them fresh and warm!

For flavors, include these delicious cookie options in your DIY cookie board:

• EnjoyLife chocolate chips
• Lily’s Sweets white chocolate chips
• organic dried cranberries
• organic dried cherries
• Unreal chocolate gems
• Quinn pretzel twists, crushed
• organic raisins
• flakey sea salt

#5. Meat & Cheese & Crackers

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

Charcuterie boards are all the rage right now… whether it’s dessert boards, snack boards, or even breakfast boards! Making a meat and cheese board is a classic way to serve multiple snacks on New Year’s Eve. And putting together a charcuterie board that features grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free snacks is actually easier than you might think. It is so much fun to put together and it creates a variety of different ‘healthier’ snacks to choose from!

To start a charcuterie board you will need a large serving platter. I like to use 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.

Here are some snack ideas to include in your New Year’s Eve charcuterie board:

• healthy, non-GMO snacking meats
• dairy-free cheeses (for dairy-free pioneers)
• homemade cheese
• winter fruit (papaya, pomagranate, tangerines, etc..)
• FitJoy grain-free pretzel twists
• Simple Mills crackers
• Simple Mills pita crackers
• Mary’s Gone Crackers thins
• Simple Mills PopMmms
• organic, non-GMO deli black forest ham

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, or just wing it yourself!

#6. Dairy-free Nachos

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

Nachos are a traditional New Year’s Eve snack (or dinner) 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!

From the Ground Up also makes cauliflower tortilla chips that work great for nachos as well. They are a little hardier of a chip and won’t brown as quickly in the oven as the thin Siete tortilla chips. Also, if you are not dairy-free, use homemade cheese to make your nachos in a modern pioneer-style!

#7. Dairy-free Chocolate 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 was an epic failure, but Anna and I thought 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 Sweets chocolate chips
• Enjoy Life chocolate chips
• Nature’s Charm sweetened condensed coconut milk
• Yum Earth candy canes

#8. Indoor S’mores

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

Indoor s’mores are fun and easy to make, you don’t even need a fireplace to make them! You can use Pamela’s gluten-free honey grahams or homemade grain-free graham crackers, Lily’s salted caramel chocolate bar, and either 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. Other gluten-free, allergy-friendly brands of graham crackers you could use include Kinnikinnick gluten-free graham crackers or Partake gluten-free graham crackers. But instead of buying graham crackers, try making homemade graham crackers! I love making my own graham crackers for indoor (and outdoor!) s’mores.

For the chocolate, I use Lily’s Sweets brand chocolate, which comes in several different flavors. Lily’s Sweets is gluten-free and sugar free. You can also use HU 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 (150-200°F). Keep an eye on the s’more and when the chocolate is melted and the marshmallow is roasted, take it out and enjoy!

#9. Homemade Refried Beans

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

I love a good bean dip. Whether it be homemade hummus or these homemade refried beans! Refried beans make a great New Year’s Eve dipping snack and can be paired with a variety of your favorite dipping foods. It’s also one snack that does not contribute to your sugar intake and is actually high in plant-based protein!

Here’s my simple recipe for homemade refried beans:

Refried Beans Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups cooked pinto beans, drained of any moisture
• 3 T. minced onion, sauteed until soft
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. parsley
• 1/2 tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• black pepper & cayenne pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup dairy-free milk, for thinning

Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth dip forms. If the dip seems too thin at first, allow it to chill in the fridge where it will become thick. Add more milk as necessary to thin the dip to your liking.

#10. Chips and Salsa

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

Chips and salsa is one of my favorite ways to have ‘veggies’ (technically tomatoes are a fruit, but it’s the peppers and onions that count!). Salsa makes a great snack since it is healthy for you and delicious! I love my home-canned salsa, but you could also serve 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 Barnana plantain chips (dairy-free), Inka plantain chips, Terra plantain chips (dairy-free), and Trader Joe’s brand plantain chips.

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

#11. Apple Snacks

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

They say having apples before bed gives you bad dreams… but, since you will only be getting a few hours of sleep anyways, these apple snacks may be a delicious contribution to your New Year’s Eve party! They add a splash of healthy fruit to your snack menu and are still delicious enough to rival your other sugary snacks.

Here are some ideas for making apple snacks:

• apple nachos– Cut an apple into skinny ‘fries’ and top them with creamy peanut butter, chopped nuts, and mini chocolate chips.
• chocolate apples– Cut an apple into discs and remove the core from the center. Spread a nut butter on one side of each disc. Dip the discs into melted chocolate. Top with chopped nuts and flakey sea salt and allow the chocolate to harden.
• cinnamon apples– Cut an apple into thin slices or cubes. Toss in a cinnamon sugar mixture.
• peanut butter apples– Cut an apple into wedges and serve it alongside some peanut butter dip and a variety of toppings, like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or caramel.

Make your apple snacks into a grazing board by supplying whole apples and a variety of toppings. That way you can make whatever flavor of apple snacks you want thoroughout the night!

#12. Gluten-free Sandwich Bites

(grain-free options, 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 dairy-free or homemade cheese slices. Don’t forget to add in some leafy greens or some nut free pesto to add some greenery!
• 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 instant-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 the perfect BLT bites.
• Meat Lover’s– Use shredded chicken, turkey, pulled pork, venison, or beef to make delicious meaty sandwich bites. Add some dairy-free or homemade cheese and some lettuce or micro-greens too!

Gluten-free 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 varieties 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
• Homemade gluten-free sandwich bread
• Chebe all-purpose bread mix
• Grain-free bread rolls

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 (well, maybe just tired). There are grain-free, gluten-free, refined sugar free, corn free, dairy-free, and nut free options to try! I love planning some of these delicious snacks whether I’m celebrating with just a few folks or partying with a group. 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!