This can be a hard time of year. The cold has set in, darkness dominates the day, and it seems like the world wants to blast the stereo, keep the lights on all night long, go shopping, and eat sugar.

What is most nourishing and supportive to you this time of year? What helps keep you balanced?

For me, it’s baking wholesome treats with my kids that I feel good about eating and having a tea ritual.

I drink lots of chamomile, tulsi, ashwagandha, lemon balm and skullcap tea. These help me stay healthy and calm.

Here are some of my favorite treat recipes that are wholesome and blood sugar balancing, too. Enjoy!

PECAN COOKIES

You will need:

• 2 cups pecan flour

• 1/4 cup flaxseed meal

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• a pinch of salt

• 10 drops monk fruit extract (or sub 1/4 cup maple syrup)

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Oil a baking sheet with coconut oil.

Mix all the ingredients together and start to roll out small balls with your hands. If the cookies are too crumbly, add a bit of plant-based mylk.

Place cookie balls on the baking sheet and then flatten them gently with the back of a spoon.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cool for 15 minutes and enjoy with tea.

BLACKBERRY BUCKLE

You will need:

• 2 cups blackberries (or mix blackberries and raspberries)

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon cardamom

• a pinch of salt

• 2 cups almond flour

• 1/4 cup flaxseed meal

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 10 drops monk fruit extract (or sub 1/4 cup maple syrup)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Oil an 8x8 glass baking dish with coconut oil.

Mix all the ingredients together in the order listed.

Spoon mixture into baking dish.

Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.

Cool for 15 minutes before diving in. This is delicious topped with a spoonful of coconut cream (the solid part of the can of coconut oil).

NO BAKE CHOCOLATE COOKIES

You will need:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1/3 cup almond butter

• 1/4 unsweetened cacao powder

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 10 drops monk fruit extract (or sub 1/4 cup maple syrup)

• 1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut

• 1/4 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)

Mix all the ingredients together and shape into balls with your hands.

Place in a glass container and freeze for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 2 hours.

Enjoy!