60 Healthy Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
They taste as good as they'll make you feel.
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Ree Drummond is the first to emphasize the importance of balance when maintaining a healthy diet. When she embarked on her weight loss journey a few years back, she committed to not restricting herself from any foods, including dessert. "A small piece o' cake is the secret to happiness," Ree asserts. In everyday life, that can look like portion control, eating everything in moderation, and having access to several healthy dessert recipes.
Looking for something quick you can whip up when that sugar craving strikes? Try the ten-minute mug cake that's perfectly portioned or one of the no-bake desserts that are easy to make. There are also slice-and-bake cookie doughs that you can stash in your freezer and just bake off one or two. After all, you should never have to say no to your favorite foods—including chocolate desserts! Luckily, there are plenty of options ahead like lightened-up brownies and healthy cookie recipes.
Ahead, you’ll find delicious healthy desserts that are made with nutritious ingredients, such as oats and alternative types of flour, fruit-centric desserts, and natural sweeteners. There are even some dairy-free and gluten-free options ahead, too, like coconut macaroons. And if you're looking for more ways to be be healthy, try adding more salads, green juices and smoothies, and healthy dinner recipes to your weekday repertoire. And then don't be afraid to treat yourself every once in a while. Remember, it's all about balance!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
Protein-packed peanut butter and hearty oats make for a healthy duo. They're delicious together, especially when you don't even have to use the oven.
Get the No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies recipe.
Carrot Cake Cookies
Making cookie versions of cake gives you automatic portion control. Plus, carrots are very healthy for you, full of beta-carotene and fiber. Good thing there are 2 1/2 cups of them in this recipe!
Get the Carrot Cake Cookies recipe.
Affogato
All you need is a scoop of ice cream and shot of espresso to make this classic Italian dessert. And no matter the meal plan you follow (low fat, keto, etc.), there's a type of ice cream that works for you.
Get the Affogato recipe.
Mock Apple Pie
If you're looking for a healthier pie filling, it doesn't get much better than this: It's actually made out of almost three pounds of zucchini. With added spices, you'll never know that you're eating veggies.
Get the Mock Apple Pie recipe.
Air Fryer Doughnuts
Skip the oil and still have fresh doughnuts. It's all thanks to your air fryer and a can of store-bought biscuits. The recipe includes three easy glaze options, too!
Get Ree's Air Fryer Doughnuts recipe.
Fig Bars
Did you love Fig Newtons as a kid? Well, making them from scratch makes them more nutritious. Hearty whole wheat and nutrient-dense figs will bring out the (healthy) kid in you with every bite.
Get the Fig Bars recipe.
Peach-Raspberry Crisp
Good news: Ripe fruit doesn't need a lot of added sugar because it's sweet enough. Sprinkling peaches and raspberries with a crunchy oat and pecan topping makes them even more irresistible!
Get the Peach-Raspberry Crisp recipe.
Macaroons
Being gluten free doesn't have to mean sacrificing! This macaroon recipe requires no flour to bind the cookies. Rather, it uses protein-rich egg whites instead.
Get the Macaroons recipe.
Oatmeal-Cherry Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Instead of baking an entire batch of cookies, make this dough and freeze it. Then, just take out a few slices when you crave cookies and bake them off. The oats will fill you up and keep you satisfied!
Get Ree's Oatmeal-Cherry Slice-and-Bake Cookies recipe.
Mango Sorbet
Whether you're looking for relief on a hot day or simply want a taste of the tropics, a refreshing scoop of mango sorbet is the answer! This no-churn ice cream comes together with just three ingredients and a food processor for the ultimate frozen dessert.
Get the Mango Sorbet recipe.
Gingerbread Slice-and-Bake Cookies
Molasses actually has a lot of the antioxidants and vitamins that granulated sugar does not. And slices of ginger can help aid in digestion! Thankfully, they also make a tasty combo.
Sweet Strawberries
Strawberries are delicious on their own, but try this if you want to make them more of a dessert: Soak the sliced berries in sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla. In just 30 minutes, the sugar will draw out the juices, and you'll be left with a delicious syrup.
Get Ree's Sweet Strawberries recipe.
Yogurt Parfait
Parfait isn't just for breakfast! Sweet, creamy yogurt layered with crunchy granola and fresh berries makes for the perfect healthy dessert, too.
Get the Yogurt Parfait recipe.
Fruit Pizza
Take pizza night to the next level by serving up this healthy fruit-filled pizza for dessert! It features a sugar cookie crust, marshmallow frosting, and lots of sliced fruit for a nutritious touch.
Get Ree's Fruit Pizza recipe.
Pumpkin Smoothie
This creamy smoothie is the perfect alternative for when that milkshake craving hits! It's made with pumpkin pie filling and vanilla yogurt and topped with graham cracker crumbs for a welcome element of crunch.
Get Ree's Pumpkin Smoothie recipe.
Grilled Watermelon
Make an already sweet treat even more flavorful by adding some smokey grill marks and adding a squeeze of lime. You could add a little vanilla ice cream if you so choose.
Get the Grilled Watermelon recipe.
Peach Galette
Less fussy than a pie with a healthier fruit-to-crust ratio, this peach galette is big on fruit flavor and even bigger in size to feed a crowd.
Get the Peach Galette recipe.
Fruit Tart
While you should pay attention to portions because of the crust and filling, don't be shy about piling on the fresh fruit. Another suggestion? Substitute the cream cheese with its lower fat cousin Neufchâtel.
Get the Fruit Tart recipe.
Spiced Apple Mug Cake
Don't make a whole cake if you just want a quick fix. Try a perfectly portioned mug cake instead. You get a full serving of apples, which provides vitamins and a lot of natural sweetness.
Get the Spiced Apple Mug Cake recipe.
Rainbow Fruit Breakfast Skewers
While they have "breakfast" in the name, you can have these flavorful skewers any time of day. Fresh fruit gets a sweet surprise at the end with store-bought doughnut holes.
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