10+ Healthy Dessert Recipes You’ll Love to Try Today
Desserts can be a delicious way to end a meal, but they often have a lot of sugar and unhealthy ingredients. You might think it’s hard to enjoy sweets without feeling guilty.
There are many ways to make treats that are both tasty and better for your body.
Healthy dessert recipes let you enjoy something sweet while using wholesome ingredients that support your well-being. These recipes show you that you don’t have to give up desserts to eat better or stay on track with your goals.
Ingredients
- Basic ingredients will vary depending on the recipe but usually include fresh fruit, nuts, oats, natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, and whole grains.
Cooking Instructions
- Follow the specific recipe steps for each dessert.
- Pay attention to baking temperatures, which often range around 350°F (175°C).
- Mix ingredients carefully, bake or chill as directed.
- Enjoy your healthier sweet treat.
1) Fudgy Almond Butter Brownies
You can make delicious brownies without flour or oil. These fudgy almond butter brownies are rich and moist.
They are great if you want a gluten-free treat. The recipe uses simple ingredients like almond butter, eggs, and natural sweeteners.
It only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. These brownies are easy to mix in one bowl and bake.
The almond butter adds a nutty flavor that pairs well with chocolate.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond butter (preferably roasted)
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
- Pour batter into a greased 8×8 inch pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
- Let cool before slicing and serving.
2) Vegan Marbled Banana Bread
You can make a tasty vegan marbled banana bread that combines the sweetness of bananas with rich chocolate swirls. This bread is dairy-free and egg-free.
The marbled effect comes from mixing a cocoa-infused batter with banana batter. It looks nice and adds a depth of flavor.
This recipe uses ripe bananas and simple ingredients like non-dairy milk and oil. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
- 3-4 ripe bananas (about 1½ cups mashed)
- 1/3 cup neutral oil
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup sugar (or preferred sweetener)
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mash bananas in a bowl. Add oil, non-dairy milk, vanilla, and sugar. Mix well.
- In another bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until smooth.
- Separate about one-third of the batter and mix cocoa powder into it.
- Pour the plain batter into a loaf pan, then spoon the chocolate batter on top.
- Swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool before slicing.
You can find more tips on making this bread at VeganRicha’s site.
3) Chocolate Chunk Tahini Oatmeal Bars
These bars are a tasty way to enjoy a healthier treat. The tahini adds a nutty flavor and healthy fats.
Oats give you fiber. They are chewy and just sweet enough, making them a great snack or dessert.
They are naturally gluten-free if you use the right oats and flour. You don’t need many ingredients, which makes them easy to prepare.
Once baked, they have a soft texture with gooey chocolate chunks throughout.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups almond flour
- 1 ½ cups oats
- ⅓ cup tahini
- ⅝ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup chocolate chunks
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix almond flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, tahini, and maple syrup.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chunks.
- Press mixture into a greased pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden.
- Let cool before cutting into bars.
4) Frozen Berry and Whipped Cream Parfait
You’ll love this simple frozen berry and whipped cream parfait. It’s a cool, light dessert that feels like soft-serve ice cream mixed with whipped cream.
You only need a few ingredients, and it takes about 15 minutes to prepare. This parfait is great for warm days or when you want a sweet treat without too much fuss.
You can use fresh or frozen berries depending on what you have on hand. It’s also easy to customize by adding nuts or a drizzle of honey.
You can layer the berries and whipped cream in clear glasses for a pretty presentation.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed frozen berries
- 1 cup whipped cream (no added sugar)
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
- Let the frozen berries thaw slightly for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt, honey, and vanilla extract.
- In serving glasses, layer berries, yogurt mix, and whipped cream.
- Repeat layers until the glass is full.
- Freeze for 30 minutes at 32°F (0°C) if you want it colder.
- Serve chilled and enjoy.
For a healthy twist, check out this Frozen Berry Fool Recipe.
5) No-Bake Cereal Milk Truffles
No-bake cereal milk truffles are a simple and tasty dessert you can make quickly. They use cereal milk, which is milk soaked with your favorite cereal to add flavor.
You don’t need an oven, so these truffles are perfect if you want a sweet treat without heating up your kitchen. They are creamy, slightly sweet, and rolled in crushed cereal for a fun crunch.
You can customize them with different cereals to match your taste. It’s a great way to use leftover cereal and reduce food waste.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cereal (such as Frosted Flakes or Cinnamon Toast Crunch)
- 1 cup milk
- 8 oz white chocolate, chopped
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Cooking Instructions
- Soak the cereal in milk overnight in the fridge.
- Strain the cereal, saving the milk.
- Melt the white chocolate slowly in a bowl over hot water or in the microwave.
- Mix the cereal milk, brown sugar, and melted white chocolate until smooth.
- Chill the mixture until firm, about 1 hour.
- Roll into balls and coat with crushed cereal.
- Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
Try this easy dessert for a quick, no-bake treat.
For more about cereal milk truffles, visit this no-bake cereal milk truffles recipe.
6) Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
You can make delicious cookies using olive oil instead of butter. These cookies have a crispy edge and a chewy middle.
Using olive oil adds a subtle, fruity flavor that makes these cookies unique. These cookies are simple to prepare since you only need one bowl.
You don’t have to worry about melting butter or chilling the dough. They are perfect if you want a quick and tasty dessert.
You can use dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, depending on how rich you want your cookies to be. A little orange zest can also boost the flavor, making the cookies extra special.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a bowl, mix olive oil with sugars until smooth.
- Add the egg, vanilla, and orange zest. Stir well.
- In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are golden.
- Let cookies cool on a rack before serving.
For a detailed recipe, visit Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies.
7) Blood Orange Curd Tart with Pomegranate Meringue
You’ll love this tart if you want a dessert that feels fresh and light. The blood orange curd adds a tangy taste that balances well with the sweet pomegranate meringue on top.
This dessert looks fancy but is easy to make. The tart crust holds the creamy curd perfectly.
The pomegranate meringue gives it a fun, colorful finish. It’s a great choice for a healthy dessert because it uses natural fruit juices and less sugar than many other sweets.
You get a nice mix of flavors and textures in every bite.
Ingredients
- Blood orange zest (1 teaspoon)
- Blood orange juice (2 cups, from 10-12 blood oranges)
- Granulated sugar (1 1/2 cups)
- Cornstarch (6 tablespoons)
- Cold water (1 1/2 cups)
- Egg whites (for meringue)
- Pomegranate seeds (for garnish)
- Tart crust (your choice)
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare the tart crust and bake until golden.
- Mix blood orange juice, zest, sugar, cornstarch, and water in a pot. Cook over medium heat until thick.
- Pour the curd into the tart shell and let it cool.
- Whip egg whites into stiff peaks for the meringue.
- Spread meringue over the tart and toast lightly in the oven until golden.
- Garnish with pomegranate seeds before serving.
For more details, check the Blood Orange Curd Tart with Pomegranate Meringue recipe.
8) Avocado Chocolate Truffles
Avocado chocolate truffles are a simple and healthier dessert. They use creamy avocado instead of heavy cream, so they are dairy-free and full of healthy fats.
These truffles are smooth and rich. You can make them easily at home.
You only need a few ingredients like dark chocolate, avocado, and a sweetener. They are low in sugar but taste indulgent.
Enjoy them as a snack or share them with friends.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado
- 6 oz (170 g) dark chocolate
- 1-2 tablespoons sweetener (like maple syrup or honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
- Gently melt the dark chocolate until smooth.
- Mash the avocado until creamy, then mix in the sweetener and vanilla.
- Stir the melted chocolate into the avocado mixture.
- Chill the mixture in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Roll the mixture into small balls.
- Optional: Roll the balls in cocoa powder or chopped nuts.
- Refrigerate the truffles for at least 1 hour before serving.
For more details, visit this Chocolate Avocado Truffles recipe.
9) Mini Lemon Cheesecake Cups
These mini lemon cheesecake cups are light and tasty. They are no-bake, so you do not need to use the oven.
Simple, healthy ingredients like Greek yogurt and cream cheese make them creamy and fresh. The crust uses crushed vanilla wafer cookies or a mix of sweet and salty ingredients.
Lemon zest gives each bite a bright, refreshing flavor. You can add fresh berries on top for extra color and taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup crushed vanilla wafers
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup honey or natural sweetener
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Fresh berries (optional)
Cooking Instructions:
- Press the crushed wafers into the bottom of small cups to make the crust.
- Mix cream cheese, Greek yogurt, honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth.
- Spoon the mixture over the crust in each cup.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.
- Top with fresh berries if you like.
10) Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Berries
You can make a simple dessert with oatmeal, brown sugar, and fresh berries. This mix is sweet and healthy.
Oats provide fiber, and berries add natural sweetness and vitamins. Cook steel-cut or rolled oats with water or milk until soft.
Add a bit of brown sugar for extra sweetness. Top your oatmeal with fresh or frozen berries like blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries.
Ingredients
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup mixed fresh berries
Cooking Instructions
-
Bring water to a boil in a pot.
-
Stir in oats.
Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until soft. -
Remove from heat.
Stir in brown sugar. -
Spoon oatmeal into bowls.
Top with fresh berries. -
Serve warm and enjoy.
For more ideas on oatmeal with berries, see this blueberry brown sugar oatmeal recipe.