19 Healthier Dessert Recipes So Good You'll Think They're Bad | Yuri Elkaim

19 Healthier Dessert Recipes So Good You’ll Think They’re Bad

19 Healthier Desserts So Good You'll Think They're Bad

Can’t get dessert off your mind?

You can still have your cake and eat it too, without spoiling a day of healthy eating.

Whip up one of these 19 healthy desert recipes and you’ll be surprised at how good they taste – and you’ll love how you feel without the refined sugar, butter or eggs that can leave you feeling groggy and bloated after eating more conventional treats.

In fact, you might want to save this list to give them all a try.

Many of the recipes below use coconut oil, nuts, and natural sources of sugar to replace the traditional ingredients in classic dessert recipes, giving you a nutritional one-up.

You’ll also reap the benefits from the heart-healthy fatty acids and antioxidant-rich vitamins in the whole foods used to make these good-for-you treats.

19 Guilt-Free Healthier Desserts Too Good to Ignore

1. Blueberry-Lime Cheesecake

Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake with Lime - Vegan Family Recipes

Perfect for a party or for sharing with family, this lovely blueberry-lime cheesecake has surprising health benefits.

Cashews and coconut cream replace the usual cream cheese and eggs, and the macadamia nut crust subs in for the butter-laden version.  Fresh blueberries and lime deliver key antioxidants, and the nuts and coconut cream have major anti-inflammatory properties and heart-healthy fats.

Find the recipe here: Vegan Family Recipes

2. Chocolate Coconut Tart

Chocolate Coconut Tart - Gourmande in the Kitchen

Chocolate lovers rejoice: This dense, silky chocolate coconut tart is simple to make, and a small serving is satisfying.

Be sure to use good-quality dark chocolate for an antioxidant boost, and serve with a cup of tea for a special gluten-free, vegan treat.

Find the recipe here: Gourmande in the Kitchen

3. Pumpkin Pie Squares

Pumpkin Pie Squares - Oh She Glows

This vegan spin on traditional pumpkin pie is definitely a win, and you’ll get a cozy taste of fall in each bite of these pumpkin pie squares.

Beta-carotene-rich pumpkin supports healthy vision and skin, and is perfectly balanced by anti-inflammatory fall spices.  Freeze individual squares for a handy treat when cravings arise.

Find the recipe here: Oh She Glows

4. Carrot Cake

Raw Carrot Cake Vegan - The Colorful Kitchen

You’ll be blown away by this yummy raw, vegan carrot cake. It’s full of health-boosting carrots and sweetened only with dates.  Soak the cashews ahead of time and this recipe is a breeze to make.

Find the recipe here: The Colorful Kitchen

5. Cookie Dough Freezer Fudge

Cookie Dough Freezer Fudge - Coconut Almond Recipes

When it comes to healthier dessert recipes, this one has it all covered: cookie dough, fudge, and ice cream (but without the guilt). These frozen cookie dough fudge bites are made with chickpeas and nut butter, so you’ll get fiber and protein as you munch.

It gets even better – these tasty treats are sweetened with dates, so you won’t be on a refined-sugar roller coaster after you’ve indulged.

Find the recipe here: Coconut Almond Recipes

6. Orange Creamsicles

Orange Creamsicles - Oven Love

Orange creamsicle is a classic flavor, and these frozen treats give you a burst of fresh citrus in every lick. Use coconut milk in these pops for a creamy consistency, tropical flavor, and heart-healthy fat.

Find the recipe here: Oven Love

7. Strawberry Cream Truffles

Strawberry Cream Truffles - My Whole Food Life

Fresh strawberries infuse these strawberry cream truffles with amazing flavor and incredible health benefits.  Strawberries stabilize blood sugar and offer loads of antioxidants for glowing skin and an immune boost. Add a dark chocolate coating for an irresistible healthier dessert.

Find the recipe here: My Whole Food Life

8. Blueberry Tarts

Blueberry Tarts - This Rawesome Vegan Life

For a not-too-sweet treat showcasing fresh blueberries, you need to try these blueberry tarts.

Perfect summer fruit tucked into an almond flour crust is such a simple, elegant, and healthy dessert. Keep your mind sharp while enjoying the essence of a splendid summer day.

Find the recipe here: This Rawesome Vegan Life

9. Avocado Chocolate Mousse

Avocado Chocolate Mousse - As Easy As Apple Pie

Avocado in a dessert?  You may be weary now, but try this recipe and you’ll have a whole new outlook on avocados.

Avocado lends a delicious rich texture – along with its amazing anti-inflammatory properties – to this delectable chocolate mousse.  You’ve got to make this incredible mousse to see just what all the fuss is about.

Find the recipe here: As Easy As Apple Pie

10. Almond Butter Cookies

Almond Butter Cookies - Blissful Basil

Got cookie cravings? This raw almond butter cookie recipe has you covered.

Despite its name, buckwheat is a seed that contains no gluten, so is perfect for those with gluten or wheat sensitivity. This will really satisfy your need for a baked treat without refined grains and sugar, making it a much healthier dessert recipe.

Find the recipe here: Blissful Basil

11. Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut Butter Cups - The Healthy Family and Home

If you’re tempted to reach for a candy bar, make these healthy peanut butter cups instead.

This good-for-you version is loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory compounds from the nut butter, coconut oil, cacao powder, and maple syrup. And, it’s delish.

Find the recipe here: The Healthy Family and Home

12. Berry Cream Cups

Berry Cream Cups - She Knows

These berries and cream cups are a great way to do dessert the healthy way. Gluten-free and vegan, anyone can enjoy this yummy treat.

You’ll get a bonus antioxidant boost from the berries and an added heart-health benefit from the chia seeds.

Find the recipe here: She Knows

13. Raspberry Chocolate Cups

Raspberry Chocolate Cups via Becomingness

Raw cashews, fresh raspberries, coconut oil, and maple syrup are coated in a cacao-coconut shell in this gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sugar treat.

You’ll love the health benefits of this recipe – but you’ll absolutely adore the taste.

Find the recipe here: Becomingness

14. Banana Chocolate Milkshake

Banana Chocolate Milkshake - This Rawesome Vegan Life

Milkshake lovers will slurp up every last drop of this avocado, banana, chocolate milkshake recipe.

Topped with fluffy coconut cream and cacao nibs, this shake is loaded with secret health benefits from bananas, avocado, and dates.

Find the recipe here: This Rawesome Life

15. Raw Chocolate Mint Tarts

Chocolate Mint Tarts - Gluten Free Vegan Pantry

Why reach for a Peppermint Patty when you can have this healthy treat? Whip up these little raw chocolate mint tarts made with fresh mint, avocado, coconut oil, and cacoa powder.

You’ll get three layers of vegan, gluten-free goodness that you can store in the freezer for a convenient treat.

Find the recipe here: Gluten Free Vegan Pantry

16. Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes - Unconventional Baker

Some days call for cupcakes, and we just have to oblige.

Give your refined flour recipe the heave-ho and bake up these dense, moist, and totally yummy zucchini chocolate cupcakes. They’re gluten-free, vegan, and sweetened with maple syrup and dates. Best of all? They satisfy cupcake cravings the natural and healthy way.

Find the recipe here: Unconventional Baker

17. Crunchy Toasted Coconut Butter Quinoa Bites

Crunchy Toasted Coconut Butter Quinoa Bites via Simply Quinoa

Looking for the perfect late-night snack? This might be it! With only 5 easy ingredients, this treat is slightly sweet but has a satisfying crunch. Plus, it contains healthy fats that will help you feel full.

Find the recipe here: Simply Quinoa

18. Coconut Cashew Cake

Coconut Cashew Cake - Flip Flops and Avocados

Cake or pie – it’s a long-standing debate but with this recipe, either way you’re the winner. This gluten-free, vegan, raw banana coconut cashew cake is simply sublime.

Make sure to soak the cashews overnight, and this fluffy, creamy dessert will come together quite easily.

Find the recipe here: Flip Flops and Avocados

19. Apple Tart

Apple Tart - Simply Quinoa

This apple tart recipe calls for spiralized apples, but you can just as easily grate or thinly slice them if you don’t have a spiralizer.

Apples are high in fiber and other nutrients, giving this dessert a healthy edge. The gluten-free crust perfectly compliments the sweet, tart apples on top, making this recipe the perfect fall treat.

Find the recipe here: Simply Quinoa

Healthier Dessert Recipes For the Whole Family

These recipes make great “extras” in your diet, serving as occasional treats to help you celebrate holidays, special occasions or just because. By making smart swaps of more conventional ingredients for healthier (and still tasty!) alternatives, you’ll get plenty of fiber and healthful nutrients while satisfying your sweet tooth.

And, bonus: they can be a great way to introduce finicky eaters to healthier choices.

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