Healthy Holiday Take and Bake Casseroles and Desserts

Health is the greatest gift we can give the people we love. As we continue to socially distance in the name of health, many of us won’t be able to gather over the holidays. We’ll miss our family, friends, and the traditions we look forward to all year, too. Our collection of Healthy Holiday Take and Bake Casseroles and Desserts is one small way to can help you share holiday cheer at a distance.

Channeling the era of dropping off a pie to welcome a new neighbour or delivering a comforting casserole to a friend with a new baby, we’ve curated a list of easy to make dishes that are even easier to transport! Delivering these meals at a distance is a beautiful way to say you care—it’s as much a gift of healthy food as it is of your time. A holiday take and bake casserole made with love can offer relief to vulnerable family members who aren’t shopping as often due to COVID. It can bring comfort to a friend who lives alone. Or it can be a small sanity-saving gesture for parents overwhelmed by months of trying to work-from-home and school-from-home at the same time.

These holiday-worthy sprouted whole grain take and bake casseroles are healthy, delicious. We admit our definition of ‘casserole’ is a bit loose (our collection does include a stunning stuffed squash!). But every one of these dishes are simple to make-ahead, drop-off, reheat, and enjoy together virtually. And they freeze well to help make getting through this strange season a little easier for everyone.

We might be apart this year, but we can still make the season bright. Here are five healthy holiday take and bake dishes—two true casseroles, a stuffed squash, a lentil loaf, and one dessert!—to drop-off or contribute to a virtual potluck.

squash casserole with toasty sprouted breadcrumbs

The weather outside might be frightful, but our Squash Casserole with Toasty Sprouted Breadcrumbs is so delightful! Butternut squash steals the show in this creamy and textural dish. Roasted and blended with silky plant-based ingredients, this squash casserole is topped with crunchy DIY sprouted breadcrumbs and shredded vegan cheese. This dish freezes perfectly and can be stored in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

lentil shepherd’s pie

It may be cold outside, but this Lentil Shepherd’s Pie can warm up even the chilliest evenings. What’s in this dish? Instead of meat, this casserole calls for a rich lentil and vegetable filling. Topped with mashed potatoes and sprouted whole grain Steady Eddie™ breadcrumbs, there’s bound to be virtual talk tomorrow about this delicious and healthy spin on the classic casserole.

stuffed kabocha squash with sprouted bread stuffing

‘Tis the season to cook with squash! Make socially distanced potlucks jolly with this plant-based main. While not technically a casserole, our Stuffed Kabocha Squash with Sprouted Bread Stuffing is filling, fa-la-la-la-flavourful, and fit for a virtual feast. With slow roast or time-saving cooking options, the kabocha squash is roasted and stuffed with cubes of sprouted heritage grain Big Red’s Bread™, seasoned with beautiful spices, seeds, and dried fruit.

sprouted lentil loaf

Outside the snow is falling and friends are calling “yoo hoo!” from (at least!) six feet away. It’s lovely weather to drop off a Sprouted Lentil Loaf to your neighbour. This dish is made from sprouted lentils and with three easy sauce options using ingredients you’ll find in your fridge or pantry. Send a loaf fit for slicing as a seasonal main. Baked in muffin tins, this recipe freezes particularly well as its smaller portions defrost and reheat faster—very fitting for an individual who lives alone or families with kids who have smaller appetites.

maple walnut bread pudding with blueberries

Now bring them some Maple Walnut Bread Pudding with Blueberries! Good tidings you’ll bring when you drop off this dish. It’s sweet enough to serve as a holiday dessert, yet healthy enough to bust out for breakfast. This dish soaks sprouted whole grain bread in a sweet plant-based batter, then adds in whole blueberries for a warm pop of flavour. Keep refrigerated until ready to bake-and-serve—just cover tightly, leave baking instructions, and let your recipients decide if it’s time for breakfast or dessert!

Take and Bake Holiday Food Safety Tips:

Help keep the holidays healthy and remember food safety. As you prepare to share the take and bake dishes on this list, plan your delivery strategy. Even if you don’t have to worry about your dish defrosting on the way, consider other food safety factors:

Dropping your dish at the door? Call from the curb so your delivery doesn’t sit out at non-food-safe temperatures.
Loved one won’t be home? Pack your dish in a cooler to keep it frozen. Or use ice packs to keep a take and bake or reheat-and-eat dish safely cool until they get home.
Dropping it off hot out of the oven? A cooler can help your dish stay hot and keep it from cooling down to unsafe temperatures.

Whether you deliver your dish hot, ready-to-bake, or frozen, include easy reheating or baking instructions. Delivering dinner or dessert for a friend or loved one who lives alone? Make the food love last. Portion your dish into single serving containers they can easily freeze and reheat all season long.

Wishing you and yours a safe, healthy, and happy holidays from Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery!