It's 2025 already, and we all are more conscious about healthy eating habits than ever before. In this wholesome journey, maintaining our body weight and eating what our heart craves (especially dessert) is actually the biggest struggle. However, the best part is desserts don't have to go away just because you're eating healthy. There are plenty of healthy dessert alternatives that can satisfy your sweet cravings without compromising on nutrition.
Can't believe what you just read? Well, it's true.
With our fantastic assortment of healthier desserts, you can now have your cake, pudding, and many more sweet dishes. This article offers 20 healthy dessert options, including ice creams, cakes, and both fresh and frozen desserts, catering to those seeking healthy dessert alternatives. They are not only tasty but also nutritious and light. So, let's dig into our nutritive yet delicious dessert journey.
The whole family will love these tasty, sweet, high-protein black bean brownies. People won't even realise they're healthy because they're chocolatey, rich, and full of fibre. So instead of regular flour to make the dough, oat flour and black bean paste is used. You can make it healthier by replacing the regular ingredients with olive oil, brown sugar and dark chocolates.
Who doesn't love a scoop full of ice cream? But it gets better when the goodness of fruits gets combined. So, all you need to do is take frozen mangoes, raspberry, reduced-fat vanilla ice cream and frozen Greek yoghurt. In a food processor, create a smoothie-like past by blending all the ingredients together. Process until it's smooth. Spoon into cups or bowls, freeze it for 2 hours or overnight and serve it with additional frozen raspberries as topping.
Festive means the celebration of good food and more delicious sweet treats. For Christmas, traditional Christmas puddings are everyone's favourite option, but can they also be transformed into healthy dessert alternatives? Yes, it can be. Use all the spices, raisins, sultanas, and eggs, but for flour, use a mixture of gluten-free flour like rice and soy flour. A more hassle-free way to indulge in a healthier version of traditional Christmas puddings is by ordering it from PUD for all seasons. We will make you remember the pudding your grandma used to make, and just ours will be a little healthier.
These muffins are the ideal mid-morning snack because they are delicately spiced and have the perfect amount of sweetness. Replace the high-fat milk with a low-fat version if you are on a weight-loss journey. After combining all the ingredients like flour, eggs, milk, grated apple, baking powder, your preferred sweetener and cinnamon, place them in muffin trays. Bake for 15–17 minutes at 180°C, and it will be ready.
These bliss balls are incredibly tasty and look like white balls made with snow. When you're craving something sweet, they're a great portion-controlled treat that you can store in the refrigerator or freezer. Made with light cream cheese, desiccated coconut, almond meal, lemon, and honey, it's the perfect sweet treat that also provides nutrients and energy.
A gluten-free dessert that is also low in sugar? Certainly! The three-ingredient recipe only calls for sugar, peanut butter, and an egg to make freshly baked cookies that taste exactly like the beloved classic. It is high in protein and provides energy while also fulfilling the craving for cookies with your cup of tea or coffee.
As the name suggests, it just looks like half-moons filled with rich cherries. Cherry preserves in the filling give these cute treats just the right amount of sweetness. The butter and cream cheese combine to create a flaky cookie exterior that you will never forget. These light half-moons are also great as a dessert serving at any house party or get-together.
Sounds mouth-watering, right? But how to make it? Put that banana ice cream on top of a crust made of cocoa cereal. Add your preferred fruits on top for a gorgeous low-sugar dessert pizza. Without a doubt, it will vanish before melting. Its not only tasty but also can be very colourful if you use fruits in multiple colours like strawberries, kiwi, blueberry, mangoes etc. Your kids will love it too.
All you need to sweeten this low-sugar treat is a few tablespoons of brown sugar, unsweetened applesauce, and mini chocolate chips. Adding shredded zucchini to the batter increases the amount of fibre you consume while keeping the muffins moist. It will be the ideal dessert for breakfast or after dinner.
This low-sugar dessert is bursting with citrusy flavour thanks to a full tablespoon of grapefruit zest in the dough. The bitterness of the fruit is counterbalanced by the addition of ground ginger. Before serving, dip each cookie into a sweet grapefruit glaze and dust with pink sanding sugar. This red and pink dessert can be an ideal dessert option in your kid's pink themed birthday party.
Craving some healthy pies with a fruity feeling? On your next visit to grocery shop, pick up a refrigerated pie crust and some peaches to make this low-sugar dessert. Its best feature is you can use your air fryer to cook these portable pies to perfection and minimise the need to turn on the oven. It will come out with a flaky and crusty shell that you won't even believe its homemade.
Looking for something sweet, citrusy, yet unique dessert item? Lime mason jar cheesecakes are the answer. Want to know the low-sugar, tangy dessert filling's secret? Key lime juice (plus zest!), reduced-fat cream cheese, and frozen whipped topping. Cover the simple graham cracker crust with the incredibly smooth fluff, and for a lip-puckering effect, top it with slices of key lime. You can prepare it as mini desserts in jars or set it in a cake mould.
Lady locks are airy, light pastries stuffed with rich pastry cream. They resemble cannoli in shape, but their insides are fluffier, and their outsides are softer. Making these delicate treats will take half as long, if not less if you use store-bought, frozen puff pastry sheets. Fruits, low-fat cream cheese, and buttercream all make delightful fillings for lady locks.
Can't get rid of the deliciousness of fried ice cream? Instead of frying it in oil, this version of traditional fried ice cream uses toasted panko bread crumbs. Form the filling out of your preferred ice cream and then coat it with cinnamon. You can use the mango-raspberry ice cream or homemade banana ice cream for a healthier version. If you ever need a sweet treat, keep this low-sugar dessert in the freezer.
In the hot weather of summer, fruit pops are always a classic favourite of both elders and children. Store-bought ones are pretty high in sugar, so you can make them on your own. For the pineapple and coconut water pops, use fresh pineapple and make the juice because canned ones contain sugar. Use coconut water while making the juice, and add some fresh mint leaves. Pour them into popsicle mould and freeze until it's hard.
A classic favourite, cheesecake is nearly always a big "no-no" when it comes to watching your nutritional intake. Thanks to this healthier version. Use Ricotta cheese that has reduced-fat, olive oil, oat or almond flour and the best twist is using sweet berries on the top layer for adding sweetness without any sugar. Your colourful and healthy berry cheesecake is ready—a delightful choice for those looking for healthy dessert options.
Inspired by the blintz, a pancake dessert, filo pastry is a great way to make this low-carb version. It's much easier to work with fresh filo, so look for it in the chilled section of your supermarket. Prepare a filling with ricotta, cottage cheese, sultanas, beaten egg, honey, nutmeg, vanilla, and lemon zest. Now on the filo sheet spread the filling and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until its golden and crisp.
With brown rice flour, these gluten-free cream puffs have the flavour of a traditional cream puff recipe. We will give it a tropical touch by adding pineapple and coconut cream as a filling. Make sure to grill the pineapple before adding to caramelise its natural sugar. Also, the coconut cream is made with gluten-free corn starch, sugar-free coconut milk, egg yolk and your choice of sugar.
When you're in the mood for something sweet, these stuffed dates make a simple dessert or snack. So, it's simple, remove the date seed, fill it with almond butter, and then coat the date with liquid chocolate. We adore the subtle taste of almond butter, but natural peanut butter would also make a good alternative. Before the chocolate has set, make sure to sprinkle flaky sea salt over the dates to enhance the flavour.
This is one of the most nutritious desserts that you can also have in your breakfast. Chia seed is full of Omega-3s, fibre, calcium, and many more. The best part is that it gels up on its own when you pour water or milk and has a pudding-like consistency. So, soak the seeds in low-fat milk, and add your fruits of choice like strawberries, mangoes, or blueberries to create a perfect example of healthy desserts. Mix it and top it with some maple syrup for extra sweetness, and keep it in freeze for 3-4 hours, and your pudding is ready to serve.
In conclusion, making it healthier is your choice, no matter which dessert you prefer. Try replacing the unhealthy ingredients with nutritious ingredients that are more natural and beneficial. In this way, you will stay healthy while enjoying healthy dessert options that won't leave you feeling deprived.
All the 20 desserts that we discussed so far can be eaten even when you are on diet. Still if you want something wholesome and fulfilling dessert during weight-loss journey, chia seed pudding, or the healthier version of traditional Christmas pudding from the list in our blog would be an ideal option.
No, not really. It's always been a myth that desserts are not a good option during dieting. However, having healthy desserts in a moderate amount will not hamper your diet and keep you calm and relaxed.
A sugar craving may be satisfied by eating sweet, high-fibre food. Dates, chia seeds, berries, prunes, and sweet potatoes or gluten-free puddings or cakes are examples of good desserts.
Yes, homemade desserts are always a good option as you know what you are putting it and at what amount. However, if professional companies like PUD for all seasons, mentions every ingredient used in a dessert and make healthier version than it can definitely be an easy alternative.
Naturally, fresh fruits are the best sweet option as they contain only natural sugar. Additionally, now there are multiple dessert options available that are quite nutritious and wholesome (check out our article).
