Satisfy your sweet tooth without breaking your diet plan.
Sugar addiction is real, folks. Too often, I find myself itching for something sweet, usually to fill some emotional hole or desire for instant gratification. Luckily, these healthy desserts will do just the trick without breaking my diet plan. In recent years, we have been fed the myth that all sugar is “unhealthy.” This has lead to the release of sugar-free versions of brand-name products, but they’re often filled with dubious substitutions, more potentially harmful than the sugar itself.
Some sugars do have nutritional value, and some have more flavor than others. I like swapping out refined white sugar for natural alternatives, like molasses, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or fruit sugars. Although these alternatives are still sucrose, they offer unique flavor profiles while sweetening up your favorite desserts.
For those time when you want a treat that you don’t need to think about, look to these healthy desserts. They will satisfy your sweet tooth whilst giving you that peace of mind. Spoiler alert: you’re going to need some coconut oil.
1. Bananas Brulee with Vanilla Cream
Hot, bubbling, sugar-encrusted bananas turning a beautiful caramelized gold color… have I got your attention? This classic flambé dessert is so much fun! I love any excuse to use a kitchen torch. Unleash your inner pastry chef by lighting your sugar-topped bananas until you can see them burn. Alternately, place the bananas under broiler until the sugar is caramelized. Top with our dairy-free vanilla bean cream.
2.
Yam balls? You might not think that sounds as decadent as our aforementioned bananas, but they’re actually incredible. These yam balls have a light, crispy exterior and a soft, sweet center. Rolled in a sweet pecan and flaked coconut mixture, these delights use maple syrup, ground ginger, orange zest, and cinnamon to make them rich and utterly warming. Be forewarned: popping one in your mouth may lead to further unrestrained consumption. Healthy, on-the-go desserts don’t get better than these!
3.Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Coconut Butter Cups
Start with unsweetened shredded coconut, sliced strawberries, and honey. Sounds refreshing and delicious already, doesn’t it? This tasty treat is a vegan, no-bake dessert with fewer than 200 calories. With a delicious strawberry coconut filling between two layers of semi-sweet chocolate, this one is great for picnics or as an after-dinner treat.
4. Vegan Caramel Apple Parfait
Remember getting caramel apples at fall time as a kid? Oh, I get warm, fuzzy feelings just thinking about the bobbing for apples, the pumpkin maze, and inevitably getting in a sticky caramel apple. But, it’s not exactlythe healthiest dessert option. This parfait takes the original formula of caramel and apple and rounds it out into a complete package. The end result? You get a thick, creamy, coconut and chia seed pudding as the base. Add in nutty, crunchy granola as the middle and sweet, caramel apples as the topping. Yum!
5. Panko Crusted Brownie Pie Recipe
Gale at Skinny Ms.’s favorite brownie pieces are the ones around the edges that get a little crunchy. Which got her to thinking: Is it possible to bake brownies so every bite has that crust? Turns out, anything is possible! This clever recipe uses panko breadcumbs to create an irresistibly satisfying outer crunch while the center stays moist, gooey, and sinfully good. Talk about perfect!
6. Classic Lemon Bars
Summer is one of my favorite times to bake. Probably because I’m reminded of long idle summers with nothing else to do. These super-fast lemon bars are essentially a simpler version of lemon meringue pie. They have all the sweet lemony flavor and elegant, summery presentation of the classic pie, but they take much less time and effort. Light, sunny, and sweet: These classic lemon bars are a great healthy dessert choice for any season.
7. Slow Cooker Fudge
I get occasionally frantic chocolate cravings…and I really mean it when I say frantic! My fantasies often include biting down on something fudgy and gooey. I had never really thought of cooking a healthy dessert in my slow cooker. But, as you’ve probably learnt from Skinny Ms., you can doanythingwith a slow cooker. This clean-eating recipe is made with dark chocolate and coconut milk, creating a dessert that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. It’s just a matter of tossing the ingredients into the bowl and letting the slow cooker do the work. You could whip up a batch before you go to bed and it’ll be ready to have for breakfast. (Just kidding…kinda.)
8. Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
It all started with a simple, two-ingredient graham cracker crust. That is the start of any great love story. Fall in love with these cheesecake bars, whichuse coconut oil in place of butter, as well as coconut sugar and honey for natural sweetness. Lemon juice, lemon zest, and blueberries give this dessert a fresh, summery flavor. Unlike traditional cheesecake recipes, which are notoriously difficult to make, these Blueberry Cheesecake Bars are super easy.
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