When looking for a healthy dessert, it’s important to note that what one person considers “healthy,” another wouldn’t. For instance, someone who avoids gluten may not be too concerned about sugar content, and someone watching their carbs might still be pro-dairy.
Each dessert should be weighed against your own health goals. Still, there’s something on this list for everyone!
Frozen fruit treats like these pops from SkinnyTaste are a great way to beat the summer heat. They have a little bit of sugar added, but you could just as easily leave it out if you like things a bit more tart.
Not only are these pops refreshing, but the mango, kiwi, and raspberries each contribute a good amount of vitamin C.
Cookie and Kate’s homemade version of a childhood favorite uses maple syrup or honey as the sweetener. Cinnamon adds extra flavor as well as antioxidants.
Eat it on its own or use it as a topping for other foods. It’s best when made with local, in-season apples.
Fruit salad is a classic healthy dessert, but this berry-based recipe from Rachel Schultz has a secret. Hint: It’s in the dressing.
They may look like peanut butter cups, but inside is a banana surprise! These banana cups from My Whole Food Life are both easy to make and a great way to beat a chocolate craving.
These frozen treats from Whole Food Bellies are dairy-free and made with unsweetened cocoa powder. Similar to the banana cups, the recipe requires very little work for a very sweet reward.
Yes, you can eat a crumble dessert and stay paleo. This one from Stephie Cooks uses nutrient-rich almond flour to create a crunchy topping.
You want dessert, but you also want to stay committed to wellness. This recipe from Gimme Some Oven allows you to do just that without even turning on the oven.
These bites are loaded with tasty ingredients such as shredded coconut, peanut butter, and semisweet chocolate chips.
Is Nutella really healthy? Well, you certainly could do worse than these muffins from Chocolate Covered Katie, which can be made with a store-bought or homemade version of the hazelnut cocoa spread.
Enjoy them morning, noon, or night.
An added bonus: They contain black beans, providing more fiber and modest amounts of protein and iron.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, can actually fit into a healthy diet plan! These truffles from May I Have That Recipe? make use of a darker chocolate, almond butter, Greek yogurt, and cocoa powder.
These ingredients are rolled into mouth-sized bites that can satisfy your craving without hitting your waistline.
Of course, vitamin A-rich carrots are the main ingredient here. But these chewy cookies from Amy’s Healthy Baking also get texture and flavor from ingredients like instant oats, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
If you love this recipe, you can also find other twists on the oatmeal-cookie concept on the same site.
Try apple pie oatmeal cookies or chocolate chip zucchini bread oatmeal cookies.
Can you make cookies with just two ingredients? The answer is yes.
Check out this base recipe from Cafe Delites and then get ready for some creative cookie-ing.
Add dried fruit, chocolate chips, or nuts if you have them — feel free to make this batch your own!
We’ve all done it — risked a stomachache by eating raw cookie dough.
With this recipe from The Skinny Fork, you don’t have to worry about getting sick, as there are no raw eggs.
It also uses stevia in place of much of the sugar.
If you’re tempted to hit your favorite ice cream spot, freeze! Try this healthy hack from Nutrition in the Kitch instead.
Using frozen bananas for the dairy-free “ice cream” base, this option will do far less harm to your healthy efforts than the fast-food version.
This recipe from Cookie and Kate has a short ingredient list, which makes it quick and easy.
Using fresh produce, including the winning combo of strawberries and rhubarb, this dessert includes Greek yogurt to boost your protein intake.
Before you turn your nose up at using avocado in a pudding, think of the texture (not the color). Avocado is a great way to get a smooth pudding while contributing healthy fats.
This recipe from Minimalist Baker is vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free, making it a perfect choice for people with a variety of allergies or dietary restrictions.
Sweetened with honey, this dessert from The Skinny Fork is a great way to make use of farm-fresh peaches in the spring. Served over Greek yogurt, it’s a creamy, guilt-free indulgence.
Two ingredients? Yes. Sweetened only by ripe bananas, this indulgent treat from Two Peas & Their Pod is as simple as it gets.
This is a vegan version of ice cream, using coconut milk sweetened with maple syrup. You don’t have to be a vegan to enjoy it, though. Get the recipe from My Whole Food Life.
The tropical flavor of mangoes makes this sweet frozen treat a great summertime dessert. The recipe from Nisa Homey does include sugar, but you can keep it diet-friendly by watching your portion sizes.
When health is a top concern — whether it’s because you’re dieting or simply trying to make more nutritious choices — desserts can seem off-limits. They don’t have to be!
There are several ways to satisfy a sweet tooth without jeopardizing your health goals.
