No one should give up sweets. Whether you’re trying to lose a few pounds, or just focusing on a healthier lifestyle, there’s always room for dessert. Here are 21 Healthy Dessert Recipes you won’t feel bad about eating!
Check out some of our other dessert recipe posts:
22 Festive Vegan Xmas Cookies
17 Homemade Apple Dessert Recipes
12 Amazing Vegan Zucchini Muffin Recipes
23 Tasty No-Bake Dessert Recipes
1. No-Bake Oatmeal Chocolate Coconut Bars
These 10-minute cookie bars are easy, gluten-free, dairy-free, and can easily be made vegan. If you need a chocolate and peanut butter fix, look no further. This is one of the perfect healthy dessert recipes to get rid of that craving.
Here is the recipe for these No-Bake Oatmeal Bars.
2. Baked Pears with Cinnamon Honey
Pears are definitely an underutilized fruit. They are simply scrumptious when baked, and the extra flavorings of the cinnamon, vanilla, and honey will blow your taste buds away. Don’t sleep on this very simple and healthy dessert recipe, you’ll regret it.
Here is the recipe for these Baked Pears.
3. Chocolate Chia Pudding
Mix it and forget it… until you’re craving something naturally sweet. This dessert pudding has no refined sugar, and is a great choice from this list of healthy dessert recipes. Let chill after mixing for at least 4 hours, and then enjoy with fruit – yum.
Here is the recipe for this Chocolate Chia Pudding.
4. Chocolate Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Bark
With only 4 ingredients, this frozen yogurt bark is incredibly easy, and can last for months in the freezer. Make a big batch, and you’ll be set for the summer (or spring, fall, winter). The greek yogurt packs a nice punch of extra protein, too. This is one of my favorite healthy dessert recipes on this list!
Here is the recipe for this Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark.
5. Mini Key Lime Pies
This recipe certainly requires some more work than others on this list, but it’s all worth it in the end. Mini key lime pies are the perfect healthy dessert treat for a party or a picnic. Graham crackers and tartness are great to relieve that summer heat. (Also, they’re vegan!)
Here is the recipe for these Mini Key Lime Pies.
6. Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars
Show off your baking skills with this involved (but deliciously healthy!) recipe for pumpkin pie bars. This dessert is perfect for fall and/or the holidays. It’s also a gluten-free and paleo recipe.
Here is the recipe for these Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars.
7. Blueberry Muffin Oatmeal Cookies
Dessert for breakfast? That’s pretty much what these blueberry muffin oatmeal cookies amount to, yum. Make this easy and healthy dessert on Sunday for a grab-and-go breakfast to have throughout the week.
Here is the recipe for these Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies.
8. Healthy Cake Batter Balls
These healthy cake batter balls are a delicious snack for on-the-go. The recipe does require some special ingredients that not every household will have on hand, which is what I suspect makes it a healthy recipe. But, if you do have the ingredients, don’t pass this recipe up! Who doesn’t love cake batter?
Here is the recipe for these Healthy Cake Batter Balls.
9. Pineapple Dole Whip
Cool down in the summer months with this easy and healthy pineapple dole whip recipe. I didn’t try pineapple until my junior year of highschool when I was in Hawaii. While touring the Dole pineapple farm, I got to try some of it fresh, and I’ve never looked back. This recipe is definitely on my list for when pineapple is back in season this summer.
Here is the recipe for this Pineapple Dole Whip.
10. Banana Cream Coconut Butter Cups
These are keto, vegan, and paleo, and are sure to crush those cravings. “For those of you looking for a low carb, sugar free snack between meals to keep you satisfied, these homemade banana cream coconut butter cups are your answer. They need just 4 ingredients and are deceptively satisfying, you won’t be tempted for more!”
Here is the recipe for these Banana Cream Coconut Butter Cups.
11. Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites
There’s easy, and then there’s dip blueberries in yogurt, freeze them, and that’s all easy. This, as you’ve guessed, falls under the second category. Trust me when I say you will thank yourself for making these little bites of deliciousness. Of course the yogurt adds some sweetness, but if you prefer the easiest version of this recipe, ditch the yogurt and just pop your blueberries in the freezer. They’re incredibly yummy frozen.
Here is the recipe for this Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites.
12. Coconut Strawberry Banana Ice Cream
I couldn’t let this list go without some “ice cream.” It’s dairy, gluten, and sugar free, so not quite the ice cream we all know and love, but pretty close. This is a super healthy dessert made with only three ingredients! If you don’t have coconut milk powder, you can try with coconut milk (just may need to re-freeze before eating) or protein powder would probably be pretty yummy.
Here is the recipe for this Strawberry Banana Ice Cream.
13. Healthy Pecan Pie Bars
Mmhmm, pecan pie – need I say more? And it’s healthier than normal! I mean seriously, the picture says it all – you need this recipe in your life.
Here is the recipe for these Healthy Peacn Pie Bars.
14. Gingerbread Loaf Made with Sweet Potatoes
Swap out flour for sweet potatoes and you’re ready to go with this unconventional gingerbread loaf recipe. This could be a wonderful weekday breakfast bread, and it is gluten, grain, and dairy free.
Here is the recipe for this Sweet Potato Gingerbread Loaf.
15. Pomegranate and Dark Chocolate Bites
If you enjoy those irresistible Brookside dark chocolate covered pomegranate bites, then this healthy dessert recipe is for you. One of it’s amazing pros – that it uses real, fresh pomegranate seeds – is also one of it’s cons. For me, extracting pomegranate seeds is one of life’s great mysteries that I will never figure out. For those of you that have it figured out, bravo, I need some lessons!
Here is the recipe for these Pomegranate Dark Chocolate Bites.
16. 3-Ingredient Lemon Cookies
I’m personally not the biggest fan of lemon, but my boyfriend is, so this recipe is for him. With only 3 ingredients, this is one of the ultimate healthy dessert recipes. With no artificial sugar, dairy, or grain, if you like lemon, this easy, yummy cookie is perfect for you.
Get the full recipe here. Here is the recipe for these Lemon Cookies.
17. Chocolate Quinoa Crunch Bites
Have you ever heard of quinoa pops? Me either, until I came across this recipe. It turns out if you heat dry quinoa up in a pan, it pops just like popcorn and turns into a nice crunchy topping. (Here are some directions if you want to pop your own quinoa instead of buying quinoa pops at the store). This is a homemade version of Buncha Crunch, like what you get at the movie theater… it definitely takes me back!
Here is the recipe for these Chocolate Quinoa Bites.
18. Coconut Mango Bars
Mango is, in my opinion, totally underrated and underused when it comes to desserts. This healthy dessert recipe really shows off the fresh, juicy flavor of mango, all the reasons we love it. There are some obscure ingredients, but if you can find other uses for them, it will be worth buying them for how yummy these bars are.
Here is the recipe for these Coconut Mango Bars.
19. No-Bake Strawberry Almond Energy Balls
Let’s hear what Cassidy, a registered dietician nutritionist and the author of this recipe, has to say: “These strawberry almond energy balls are jam packed with healthy ingredients, and they only take 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make. Soon enough these will be a regular in your meal prep rotation.” Sounds like a winner to me!
Here is the recipe for this No-Bake Strawberry Almond Energy Balls.
20. Paleo Sweet Potato Carrot Cake
Here we have another sweet potato substitute recipe from Paleo Gluten Free Eats. This carrot cake even has a frosting that’s made from sweet potatoes… what?! This healthy dessert recipe takes the sweet potato superfood craze to a whole new level.
Here is the recipe for this Sweet Potato Carrot Cake.
21. Healthy Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips
Now, healthy chips and salsa is something I can stand behind! This recipe sounds absolutely amazing, and I’m excited to try it when summer comes around and these fruits are back in season. In the meantime, I might try the cinnamon sugar pita chips just on their own, yum.
Here is the recipe for this Healthy Fruit Salsa.
Emma
Monday 24th of February 2020
There are so many yummy recipes here! I'm so excited to try them out and I love the options to make them gluten free or dairy free etc.
Daina Grazulis
Monday 24th of February 2020
Thanks! Yes, I always like to keep dietary restrictions in mind when I make my recipe lists :)
Ellie
Tuesday 18th of February 2020
These look and sound so yummy! I love the sound of the gingerbread loaf and the lemon cookies too!
Daina Grazulis
Tuesday 18th of February 2020
Mmmm yes, gingerbread is one of my favorites - it’s delicious!
theGlobeTrevor
Monday 17th of February 2020
Bookmarked for further reading.
Pecan pie bars , banana cream cups, and key lime are the ones that peak my interest the most. Though they all look delicious!
Yumyumyum
Daina Grazulis
Monday 17th of February 2020
Thanks! I’m not a big key lime fan (although my boyfriend is), but I could do banana and pecans allllllll day mmhmm
Daina Grazulis
Monday 17th of February 2020
Yes, me too! I can’t seem to stay away from the sugar, so it’s good to have natural and healthy recipes on hand.
Sydney
Monday 17th of February 2020
All of these look/sound delicious! I’ve had a massive sweet tooth lately so these healthy desserts will keep me on track and satisfy my cravings. Bookmarking for later!