20 Best Healthy Dessert Recipes

A lot of us go through periods where we want to improve our diet or clean up our eating, and sometimes it feels like we must sacrifice the things we love to do that. But I’m here to tell you, that’s not the case! You can have delicious desserts that fit into a healthier lifestyle with a few simple ingredient swaps.

These recipes are the perfect example of that! There are plenty of easy healthy desserts listed here to show you how to make a delicious dessert fit whatever diet choices you make. There are fruity desserts, chocolatey options, cakes, bites, and cookie dough.

Whatever dessert you like, there is probably a healthier version. The best part about these recipes?

A lot of them are healthy enough to make for afternoon snacks, not just dessert! I hope this recipe round-up serves as both inspirations and gives you recipes to include in your weekly plans.

1. Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Breakfast Bars

This recipe utilizes the classic pairing that is so nostalgic for many of us: chocolate and peanut butter! I love chocolate and peanut butter.

The bitterness and sweetness from the chocolate are perfect with the rich saltiness of peanut butter.

I can’t turn down a dessert with the two ingredients! Putting them inside an oatmeal breakfast bar amps up the nutrients to be healthier than eating a cookie.

If you want to make this gluten-free, substitute the flour for almond or coconut flour.

2. Healthy Chocolate Pudding

Chocolate pudding is an underrated dessert, in my opinion. It’s creamy, chocolatey, rich: what more could you want?

This recipe calls for milk, but you can use coconut milk or almond milk to make this pudding vegan.

I love to top this with some granola, coconut flakes, or puffed rice for an added crunch. To ramp up the chocolate flavor, top with chopped salted dark chocolate and whipped cream.

This recipe is super simple to make, and you can throw it together quicker than running to the store for ice cream.

3. Flourless Paleo Vegan Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Summertime for gardeners means a lot of zucchinis! Whether you have a garden yourself or have a neighbor with gardening skills, you likely have an abundance of zucchini around.

The best part about this recipe? It’s delectable and sneaks in a healthy serving of vegetables. It’s chocolatey and fudgy with fluffy icing.

You can use whichever sweetener you prefer. Coconut sugar or maple syrup works well if you avoid refined sugars.

Next time you’re looking for a way to use up that zucchini and you want a delicious dessert, this recipe is your solution!

4. Stovetop Cinnamon Apples

This recipe is perfect for anyone avoiding gluten or grains. It’s warm and comforting, making you feel like you’re eating an apple pie without the gluten-filled crust.

Top these with chopped nuts, whipped cream, or coconut ice cream for an added creaminess.

Did I mention this recipe only requires six ingredients, and most of them are spices? So easy! I like to add some additional spices like nutmeg and allspice if I have them in the spice cabinet.

5. Chocolate Banana Bites

This recipe is great for kids! The bananas are a great source of fiber. Cover them in chocolate, and they’ll never know they’re getting a serving of healthy fruit!

Pro tip: I like to add a dollop of peanut butter on each banana, let it harden slightly in the freezer, and then dip it in the chocolate for added flavor.

Suppose you want to just melt chocolate chips for the chocolate that works just as well. Whichever way you make them, these little bites are a perfect dessert to satisfy that sweet tooth.

6. Healthier Peanut Butter Balls

These healthy peanut butter balls are about as easy as it gets! They only have five ingredients and take a quick fifteen minutes to throw together.

If you have a peanut allergy, swap out the peanut butter for another nut or seed butter like almond butter.

The oats add a nice texture, and the dates add a natural, whole-food-based sweetness.

These are perfect for making for an afternoon snack when you need a little sweet pick-me-up. This treat is sure to satisfy that peanut butter chocolate craving!

7. Zucchini Brownies

Zucchini is one of the best vegetables to sneak into desserts as they provide the moisture you need for baked goods and are neutral in flavor. You never know it’s there.

These brownies are soft and scrumptious with chocolate icing and mini chocolate chips for some added texture.

The magic of this recipe is the calories! Each brownie has less than 100 calories, thanks to the applesauce and oat flour.

Don’t let the thought of zucchini in brownies mislead you. These are ooey gooey deliciousness.

8. Healthy Cookie Dough

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was licked the spoon when my mom made chocolate chip cookies.

To this day, when I’m making cookies, I always eat a few cookies worth of just dough. This cookie dough recipe is egg-less and is meant to be eaten raw!

It can be rolled into balls for individual servings. Want more chocolate? Dip them in melted chocolate for chocolate-covered cookie dough bites.

This recipe uses white beans for added protein and fiber, and you will never be able to tell! This is healthy cookie dough. Who knew?

9. Super Fudgy Healthy Brownies

I think everyone can agree one of the most delicious desserts out there is a fudgy, gooey brownie.

These brownies don’t skip any of that wonderful flavor or texture, and they’re one of my favorite healthy dessert recipes.

Using almond flour and coconut sugar makes them a bit healthier than the traditional brownie.

These can easily be made vegan by utilizing aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas, instead of eggs. Make these brownies and eat them warm out of the oven with your favorite dairy-free ice cream, yum!

10. Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

Banana and chocolate are an obvious choice, add that to an oatmeal muffin, and you have a sweet treat for an afternoon snack! Want to add some extra nutrition? Try walnuts for healthy fats or flaxseed for added fiber.

Even without additions, these muffins are nutrient-dense with oats, bananas, and antioxidant-rich honey.

These can be made vegetarian with a flax egg and plant-based milk. Make these to have in your fridge for those moments when you need a sweet treat.

11. Keto Cheesecake Fluff

The keto diet has become the current trend for a lot of people. If you’ve decided to give this diet a try and you’re looking for healthy dessert recipes for weight loss, this cheesecake fluff is for you.

This recipe uses erythritol and cream cheese to accomplish that classic cheesecake flavor.

Top this fluff with your favorite berries, dark chocolate, or any other traditional cheesecake topping for a fabulous dessert that fits within your diet choices.

Just because you’re dieting doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a dessert!

12. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

No-bake cookies were these magical cookies my grandma used to take with me, and they always mystified me.

I never understood how they become solid cookies without any baking! This recipe nails it, and they taste just like my grandma but healthier.

They’re incredibly simple, which makes them perfect for making with kids. They set quickly, and this version doesn’t have any refined sugar. You must add these to your dessert lineup for a peanut butter goody!

13. Healthy Honey Greek Yogurt Cheesecake

Greek yogurt is a great source of low-fat protein, pair that with ricotta cheese, and you have the tangy flavor you need to make the perfect cheesecake!

This recipe is sweetened with honey and has the perfect graham cracker crust, all with fewer calories than the original.

I love to top this with fresh strawberries or melted dark chocolate. You can make this for any gathering you have; nobody will be able to tell this is a healthy version of a cheesecake!

14. Baked Blueberry Banana Oatmeal Cups

The brilliant part about this recipe? It takes a sweet, satisfying breakfast and turns it into a cup you can make ahead to make mornings even easier!

Have you heard better ideas? I love this recipe because kids and adults alike love it, and it makes breakfast a breeze. It can easily be the perfect dessert to finish the day off, but it doesn’t have all that added sugar.

Bananas add the perfect sweetness while the blueberries are tart. You can substitute any of your favorite berries or fruits with the blueberries to switch up week to week.

15. Coconut Chocolate Chia Pudding

Chia seeds are a nutritional superfood, and I love any recipe that features them. Chia pudding has a specific texture that you’ll enjoy if you like rice pudding or tapioca pudding.

This version is rich and chocolatey, sweetened with maple syrup, and made creamy with coconut milk.

You can substitute honey instead of maple syrup. I love to top this with peanut butter or some chopped nuts for extra crunch. With no cooking necessary, this is a great option for a healthy summer dessert!

16. Baked Apple Cider Donuts

Healthy donuts? Yep! You heard that right. These donuts are baked, not fried, and they capture the best parts of fall: apples and cider. Greek yogurt and apple cider vinegar lend to the perfect flavor and texture.

These donuts are rolled in cinnamon sugar for the perfect finishing touch. While the recipe calls for whole-wheat pastry flour, you can easily substitute all-purpose flour. Make these when the fall season starts setting in. They taste like autumn in a donut!

17. Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal

Another baked oatmeal option with this one! Looking for low-calorie desserts? This is a great option.

This recipe is delightful with a scoop of low-fat whipped cream. It doesn’t have the added calories from a pie crust or refined sugars, and it has the nutrients from oats and almond milk.

Adding chopped apples and the traditional apple pie spices like cinnamon and nutmeg truly make this recipe taste like you’re eating a slice of apple pie.

18. Perfect Vegan Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe round-up wouldn’t be complete without a traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe.

How can you possibly make chocolate chip cookies healthy? This recipe uses gluten-free oat flour, coconut sugar, and coconut oil to give traditional cookies a healthier twist.

Sometimes I like to include peanut butter chips to give these more flavor. If you’re craving a homey chocolate chip cookie that reminds you of being a kid, give these cookies a try, you won’t be disappointed.

19. Healthy Mini Apple Pies

Anything made bite-size is more fun to eat, and these mini apple pies are no exception to that.

The crust is made with almond flour and honey, but you can sub for any gluten-free flour.

The secret ingredient here is the pumpkin pie spice. Even though these aren’t pumpkin pies, the spices are identical to what makes apple pie taste good.

These little pies are perfect for any holiday gathering. They’re easy to grab and eat, and everyone will be asking for the recipe.

20. Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

These strawberry oatmeal bars are a great option if you’re looking for low-fat desserts.

They have a summery, fresh taste with strawberries and lemon. Instead of just using oats, this recipe also calls for some flour that gives these a cakier texture.

To truly make these feel like dessert, you can add the optional vanilla glaze drizzled over the top, but it’s not necessary, and these are just as tasty without it.

You can substitute the light brown sugar for coconut sugar and the cornstarch for arrowroot starch.

This recipe tastes like strawberry oatmeal made into a cake, a breakfast dessert!