Christmas is just around the corner, and with it comes the craving for our favorite festive sweets and the season when we finally have them within reach. Melomakarona, kourabiedes, diples, and vasilopita are staples on every holiday table. Still, it’s a good idea to have a sense of the calorie content of our beloved treats so we can enjoy them responsibly - and avoid turning them into guilty pleasures.
Translation | Amaryllis Tsegou
Melomakarona
For many, the ultimate Christmas sweet. Melomakarona are syrup-soaked, Lenten-style cookies made with olive oil, walnuts, honey, and orange. A medium melomakarono (30-40 g) contains roughly 150-200 calories. It can absolutely fit into a balanced diet and even serve as a snack - for example, an afternoon treat alongside your favorite beverage.
Kourabiedes
Another festive favorite: the kourabie - a buttery, crumbly cookie generously dusted with powdered sugar. Its recipe is based on butter, powdered sugar, and almonds, making it richer in saturated fats and slightly more calorie-dense. A kourabie of similar size to a melomakarono (30–40 g) provides about 180–250 calories. Like melomakarona, kourabiedes can be part of a balanced diet as long as they’re enjoyed in moderation and at a reasonable frequency.
Diples
Diples are a beloved sweet in many regions of Greece and are often served on other festive occasions beyond Christmas. They consist of a thin sheet of dough, fried in hot oil, then drizzled with honey and sprinkled with walnuts. Although fried, their delicate dough and relatively small amount of fat make them slightly “lighter” than other sweets. Each piece contains roughly 120-150 calories. However, as with all desserts, moderation is key - especially if they are topped with plenty of honey or walnuts, which increase the overall calories.
Vasilopita
Vasilopita is the most iconic New Year’s sweet. There are many variations - from cake-style versions to the traditional tsoureki-like brioche. Common ingredients include butter, eggs, flour, and sugar, while optional additions may include dried fruit, nuts, glaze, powdered sugar, and more. A slice of vasilopita (around 80-100 g) can contain 250-400 calories, depending on the recipe.
Guilt-free pleasure
Holiday sweets are an integral part of tradition, filling the season with flavors, aromas, and memories. Instead of seeing calories as an “obstacle,” we can recognize that nutritional awareness allows us to enjoy these treats without excess - and without guilt. By incorporating our favorite Christmas sweets into our festive diet mindfully, we can savor them in moderation and fully embrace the spirit of the season without feeling deprived. Balance lies in conscious enjoyment: savoring each moment of the holidays with presence and fullness, avoiding overindulgence - but more importantly, avoiding remorse.
