Winter flavors play up these sweet nothings for your holiday dinner, open house, or cookie swap. Ginger, orange, pomegranate, and pumpkin lend their flavor and their nutritional value to these seasonal desserts.

A rich, filling meal calls for a simple, fresh finish. Broiling this winter fruit salad caramelizes the dusting of sugar, and gives the dish a sophisticated feel.

Use whole-wheat flour, brown sugar, and a judicious amount of vegetable oil to reduce the fat and calories of the holiday staple of date nut bread.

This simple sheet of chocolate studded with toppings is a delicious, easy, versatile, last-minute desert. Mix up a batch in five minutes -- try different combos such as nuts, dried fruit, citrus zest, candied ginger -- then chill in the fridge.

More thin German pancake than dense cake, this treat is heavy on apples and light on batter. Try it with a dollop of low-fat Greek yogurt for dessert or brunch.

This tart is a more nutritious departure from traditional pumpkin pie. The flaky, tender crust --shape into a round if you prefer -- uses wheat germ and a quarter of the butter of the standard variety.

The rich, sweet flavor of rice pudding is molded into a bite-size treat for your holiday cookie plate. A coating of toasted almonds and coconut around the pudding balls keeps them from sticking to guest's fingers.

Cold winter nights call for warm chocolate desserts like rich Mocha Pot de Creme. Despite its incredibly decadent taste and appearance, it's low in fat.

This rosy winter crisp is bursting with pears and cranberries.

These individual puddings topped with a dollop of creamy Greek yogurt and hazelnuts are perfect for a holiday dinner party.

This dessert makes holiday guests happy in many ways. It's loaded with vitamins B12 (from the yogurt) and C (orange juice), folate (OJ, again), and omega-3 fatty acids (walnuts) -- all nutrients shown to boost your mood.

The ruby color of this winter fruit makes a striking dessert when served in clear glass bowls.

Serve these cookies with a glass of milk spiked with pear nectar. The combination of pear and ginger is wonderful. 

Your guests will love getting their very own crustless pumpkin pies.

These small, elegant pockets make a striking addition to any array of holiday desserts.

The sweet spiciness of the crystallized ginger in these cookies complements the richness of the dark chocolate.

This delicious dessert can be prepared a day in advance -- perfect for hectic holiday planning.