40 Decadent And Diet-Friendly Healthy Desserts For Guilt-Free Feasting
Meredith Holser is B+C's resident affiliate writer. Meredith enjoys writing about a range of topics, but she's adopted e-commerce writing in all its many facets. Outside of work, you can catch Meredith hiking, trying new recipes, and dreaming about having a yummy little treat.
You've been putting in extra hours at the gym, guzzling plenty of water and eating healthy all week, but then nighttime rolls around and your craving for something sweet hits hard. The thing is, you don't have to tell your sweet tooth to "just chill" and deprive yourself completely. After all, sweet treats are what make the world go 'round. It's possible to still indulge in dessert without eating something *totally* unhealthy that'll also leave you feeling groggy.
Here are 40 healthy desserts that you'll go absolutely crazy over!
Brit + Co
Lebanese Rice Pudding
This rice pudding recipe features rosewater, orange blossom water, and pistachios for a light, well-rounded flavor that we can't get enough of. You won't be able to either! If you've never made rice pudding before, then this easy recipe is the perfect way to practice.
Brit + Co
Easy Brownie Cake Pops With Sprinkles
Healthy desserts don't have to be boring or tasteless. Swap your go-to milk chocolate for dark chocolate with this recipe, which is full of antioxidants and can even lower your blood pressure. To make it even healthier, swap the coconut sugar for honey, or add a drizzle of the golden stuff right on top.
Skinny Taste
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
This super easy no-bake dessert combines peanut butter, fat-free whipped cream, and reduced fat cream cheese in a sweet graham cracker crust. After you pour in all the ingredients, drizzle a little chocolate syrup on top and prep yourself a slice.
Julia's Album
Peach and Blueberry Greek Yogurt Cake
Made with fresh blueberries, peaches, and lightened up with creamy Greek yogurt, this cake is perfect for breakfast, brunch or dessert. Just make sure you finish it within the first two days (it’s a little too moist on day three), which shouldn’t be a problem because it’s *so* good.
Half Baked Harvest
No-Fuss Healthy Coconut Tart
This easy dessert sits atop a crunchy crust crafted from cashews, coconut flakes, dates, and cinnamon. The filling compliments the outer in the most perfect way!
Diethood
Creamy Ricotta Cannoli
If you thought you had to give up cannolis just because you’re trying to watch your calories, think again. The shells in this recipe are completely baked (instead of partially fried like in classic versions). We told you'll love reaching for healthy desserts!
Two Spoons
Healthy Vegan Matcha Cheesecake
Gluten-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, and no-cake, this cheesecake does it all – including providing a caffeine boost from matcha powder.
Cooking Classy
Chocolate Fruit Dip
If you’re going to eat a big plate of fruit, you might as well have something chocolatey and delicious to dip it in! This cream cheese and cocoa powder-based treat will have you craving fresh fruit like never before.
The Endless Meal
Healthy Cranberry Coffee Cake
Greet your mornings (or late nights) with this oat-filled coffee cake. While being healthy, it still fulfills all the best textures and tastes.
Running With Spoons
Dark Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Now you can have dessert and seconds. These decadent dark chocolate bars come together entirely in the food processor and are ready to eat in an hour. Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, if they somehow manage to last that long. 😗
Chocolate and Carrots
Skinny Cookie Dough Popsicles
Not even ice cream is off limits – if you choose the right recipe. In this one, sweet chocolate chip cookie dough is sandwiched between layers of non-fat honey Greek yogurt to bring you a healthy dessert that is both light and satisfying.
Rachel Mansfield
Fruit and Veggie Freezie Pops
This recipe takes one of your fave nostalgic snacks and health-ifies them, packing each popsicle tube with fruits and veggies that won't make you crash like sugar will.
Easy as Apple Pie
Low Fat Apple Cake Healthy Dessert Idea
With only 116 calories per slice, and absolutely *no* butter or oil in the batter, this cake is a healthy dessert dream come true. Sprinkle with powdered sugar right before serving for a touch of extra sweetness to complement the tart green apples.
The Edgy Veg
Frozen Vegan Yogurt Bark
Yogurt bark is painfully easy to make, and the best part about it is you can customize the sweetness level, using honey or maple syrup, then pile on your favorite fruits for one of the most delicious healthy desserts you'll ever eat. 🍓
Live Eat Learn
Healthy Date Shake
Dates make this shake a whole lot healthier than ice cream additions would, but still make this sip taste totally like dessert.
Sally's Baking Addiction
Skinny Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
While these may look and taste like a diet deal-breaker, there are actually only 128 calories in each cheesecake bar. Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cream cheese are key in keeping these dessert bites on the lighter side... without sacrificing on the creamy, tasty flavor.
Give Recipe
Cinnamon Baked Pears
All you need is half an hour to bake these sweetened pears to perfection, and a generous dollop of clotted cream to top everything off, in the best way.
Munching with Mariyah
The Best Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
It's like Reese's, but healthier! These healthy, mini-sized desserts are made in a muffin tin or mold to form the classic cup shape.
Carlsbad Cravings
Frozen Fruit Skewers
Munching on frozen fruit is a *great* way to cater to your sweet tooth. Drizzle on a bit of semi-sweet chocolate and freeze for a grab-and-go dessert, anytime the craving calls!
Bran Appetit
Whole Wheat Chocolate Cake Donuts
Yes, even donuts can be lightened up. This recipe calls for whole wheat flower, almond milk, ground flax seed and a scrumptious powdered sugar vanilla glaze – all forming your new favorite after-dinner snack. So grab a glass of that almond milk, and start dunking.
Chelsea's Messy Apron
Greek Yogurt Banana and Oat Bread
This healthy banana bread won’t leave you feeling bloated and heavy afterward. Greek yogurt acts as a lighter, healthier replacement for butter and oil in the batter, and the chocolate chunks make the bread taste indulgent instead of a total sacrifice.
Munching with Mariyah
Healthy Vegan Twix Bars
So you're telling us we can chow down on our favorite candy bars without totally feeling yuck?! 😵💫 These vegan-ified Twix bars are the perfect end-of-the-night dessert snack.
Sweet and Savory
Classic Pavlova
This meringue-based dessert is light and airy, and looks so good your friends will be lining up for a slice (and seconds!) Top with fresh fruit and powdered sugar and you’re ready to eat.
The Girl on Bloor
Healthy Edible Cookie Dough
Coconut oil, oat flour, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and of course, chocolate chips combine in a single bowl to form a heavenly edible cookie dough our child selves have *always* dreamed of. This is one of those healthy desserts that we have to have every month!
Chocolate Covered Katie
Chocolate Pudding
There’s a time and place for avocados (guac, anyone?) but this chocolate pudding is not one of them. Instead, this pudding is lightened up with coconut milk and your favorite no-calorie sweetener.
Salt & Lavender
Pumpkin Pie Popsicles
Get *all* the health benefits from pumpkin without having to eat it in boring form. These frozen treats make Greek yogurt and pumpkin partner up for a totally yummy (and cooling) bite.
Mel's Kitchen Cafe
Heavenly Blueberry and Cream Dessert
Heavenly is the *absolute* right word to describe this dessert. Use a store-bought angel food cake to save yourself some time, then layer it with homemade whipped cream and fresh blueberries. Stick the completed trifle in the fridge for the next two hours while it chills.
Pink Owl Kitchen
Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Because who could ever say no to PB and chocolate? Certainly not us!
Lovely Little Kitchen
Cream Cheese Lemon Coffee Cake
Skip the calorie-laden slice of coffee cake and go with this lighter lemon version instead. The crumbly topping and tangy flavor will leave you wanting more, and that’s one craving you *can* give in to.
A Spicy Perspective
Gluten-Free Healthy Vegan Fruit Pizza
Fruit meets a creamy, sweet cream cheese filling in this vegan dessert. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to eat the whole rainbow – while still feeling healthy as ever. (via A Spicy Perspective)
Most Hungry
BAKED PLANTAINS
Sweet, caramelized, and oh-so-easy to make, they're the guilt-free treat that proves healthy can be downright delicious.
Salt and Lavender
PUMPKIN CHIA PUDDING
Pumpkin Chia Pudding is the fall-flavored upgrade your dessert game needs. It's a creamy, dreamy dance of pumpkin spice and everything nice.
Two Peas & Their Pod
Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Moist, decadent, and sneakily packed with veggies, they're the ultimate guilt-free indulgence. Get ready to redefine your relationship with chocolate – it's one of the healthy desserts you'll love savoring.
Gastroplant
Roasted Peaches With Vegan Ice Cream and Granola
It's like a peach cobbler, but without the guilt trip. Your sweet tooth will thank you.
A Virtual Vegan
No Bake Chocolate Cake
Perfect for those moments when you crave a slice of heaven but don't want to turn up the heat. Go ahead, treat yourself!
Averie Cooks
Key Lime Meringue Pie
Talk about light and fluffy! This key lime pie is the one thing that won't give guests cavities during Thanksgiving because it's "not too tart, not too sweet" according to Averie.
No Eggs or Ham
Plant-Based Strawberry Marshmallow Cookies
What's soft and absolutely decadent? These plant-based cookies, that's what! They take 45 minutes to bake and require everything from Melt Organic vegan butter to freeze dried strawberries to create the chewiest sweets you'll taste during the holidays.
Feel Good Foodie
Chocolate Peppermint Bark
The holidays aren't complete without peppermint bark being on the menu. Everyone of all ages can enjoy this sweet and minty treat without spoiling their appetites.
Culinary Hill
Fruitcake Cookies
We've found the recipe that will make fruitcake lovers go wild! Ingredients like candied cherries, figs, walnut, and light brown sugar all add up to make 40 cookies with this recipe.
The Endless Meal
Cookie Dough Cake Pops
Keep it really light and simple with these cookie dough cake pops. They're 100% eggless and count as no-bake treats!
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This post has been updated.
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