7 easy low-calorie dessert recipes to try at home

Looking for an effective way to consume less calories while enjoying a bite of desserts or snacks? Worry not! Because you can satisfy your sweet tooth cravings and indulge in desserts without giving up on a healthy diet thanks to these low-calorie, healthy dessert recipes and snack recipes that are easy to make in your condo.

Healthy Snacks for the Sweet Tooth

Even if you're committed to your healthy eating resolution or working toward a weight loss journey, cravings can still strike at any time—But what if we tell you that you don’t have to make the sacrifice of ignoring your cravings in order to stay healthy?

Living a healthy lifestyle does not require you to ignore your sweet tooth. You just have modify your sweet snacks to fit your health goals. We can't completely give up sugary foods, but we can replace them with a few healthful snacks that satisfy both our sweet crave and our hunger. Get your fill of healthful sweets from nutritious options like fruits, nuts, and dark chocolate instead of processed candies, rich chocolate, bakery cakes or baked goods, and packaged cookies. It’s also important to not only look at the sugar content and calories—look at fiber and protein to ensure that you have a nutrient-packed snack.

If you have a sweet tooth, you can eat something sweet—and healthy! Don't feel guilty, because you can pair up these low calorie healthy desserts with your personal fitness routine and balanced diet for a vigorous and productive day ahead.

Healthy Dessert Recipes: 7 Low-Calorie Healthy Sweet Snacks that are Easy to Make

1. No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

These no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are the nutritious treats you need to sate your sweet crave. Sweet, soft, healthy, and you can easily make it with just a few steps! The flavors of cocoa powder, honey, and creamy milk combine to make an oat-based cookie that is wonderfully balanced. These recipe is loaded with nutrients such as fiber and tons of vitamins and minerals, so feel free to eat this healthy and delicious treat now!

Ingredients:

½ cup milk (any type)

• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ cup honey or maple syrup
• 3 cups quick oats (gluten-free if needed)
• ½ cup nut butter

Instructions:

1. Warm the milk for a few minutes in a saucepan at medium-low heat.
2. Whisk in the coconut oil, vanilla, cocoa powder, and honey until there are no visible lumps. For 4-6 minutes, let it simmer.
3. Next, combine the peanut butter and quick oats thoroughly. Let it cool for a few minutes.
4. Shape your cookies into 2.5-inch discs by taking a spoonful of the ingredients and forming it with clean palms. There should be roughly 16 cookies total.
5. Place the cookies on a parchment paper-lined board or sheet pan to cool before serving.

(Credits: No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies - Healthy Fitness Meals)

2. Dark Chocolate Covered Fruits

Chocolate-covered fruits deserve a medal for being the simplest and most versatile snack ever. Just two ingredients are required: chocolate and your preferred fruit! You may ask: Can fruit covered in chocolate be considered a healthy snack? Yes, because fruit has a naturally low calorie, fat, and salt content. The beneficial stuff, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, are also abundant in it. Not only that, but dark chocolate has also at least a 70% cacao content since it has the most flavanols, which lower blood pressure.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fruit of your choice (common ones are strawberries and banana)
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• Preferred toppings (Sprinkles, chopped pistachios, toasted coconut, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Make sure that the fruit is clean and pat dry thoroughly for the chocolate to stick. Set aside.
2. Put the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until mostly melted. Stir until smooth.
3. Dip the fruits one by one into the chocolate, swirling to coat. Transfer to a lined sheet tray and add toppings.
4. Refrigerate and let the chocolate set. Serve.

3. Healthy Pumpkin Bread

This low-calorie version of pumpkin bread uses whole wheat flour in place of regular flour and all-natural sweeteners like maple syrup. It tastes great right out of the oven, but the next day, once all the flavors have had time to blend, it tastes even better. It’s delicious, moist, fluffy, and you can easily make this recipe vegan or gluten free!

Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
• ½ cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup pumpkin purée
• ¼ cup milk of choice or water
• 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin spice blend (or ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon allspice or cloves)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour or regular whole wheat flour
• Pinch of ground cinnamon, for sprinkling on top
• Optional: ½ cup mix-ins like chopped walnuts or pecans, chocolate chips, raisins, chopped dried fruit.

Instructions:

1. Grease a 9-inch loaf pan and preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius).
2. Combine the oil and honey in a large bowl. Add the eggs and stir everything together. (If your coconut oil hardens when it comes in contact with cold ingredients, just lay the bowl on top of your stove for a few minutes to warm it up, or warm it in the microwave for approximately 10 seconds.)
3. Add the pumpkin puree then whisk in the milk, pumpkin spice, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. Mix in the flour until just incorporated. Gently fold in any more mix-ins now if you're adding any.
4. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and lightly sprinkle with cinnamon.
5. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the loaf pan before carefully transferring it to a cooling rack to cool for 20 more minutes before slicing.

(Credits: Healthy Pumpkin Bread Recipe - Cookie and Kate)

4. Healthy Mini Cheese Cake

These mini sized cake sweets have a Greek yogurt filling that is high in protein and flavored with honey and vanilla. This cake is the perfect dessert for a crowd, and these are also great when you just want to eat a snack that is both sweet and savory.

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 10 graham crackers
• 6 tbsp melted butter

Cheesecake Filling:

• 1 block less fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Grease or line a muffin tin and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine butter and graham crackers in a food processor. Alternately, use a heavy object to crush into extremely small crumbs.
3. Using your fingers, distribute the crumbs evenly among the muffin cups and push them down to flatten. Bake for 6 minutes.
4. Divide evenly amongst muffin tin and bake for 17-20 minutes or until they look set and do not jiggle.
5. Let cool 15 minutes before refrigerating for at least 2 hours.
6. Top with warmed blueberry if desired.

(Credits: Healthy Mini Cheesecake Recipe - Erin Lives Whole)

5. Frozen Yogurt Bark

This frozen yogurt bark is a rich, healthful, summer delicious sweet treat and it only has natural ingredients and takes a few minutes to prepare! It is the ideal hot weather healthy snack to eat when it is topped with fresh berries and crunchy granola. To satisfy your sugar need, you can entirely customize this no bake delicacy by replacing the toppings to any or your choice!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk vanilla yogurt
• ½ cup diced strawberries
• ¼ cup blueberries
• ¼ cup granola

Instructions:

1. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.
2. Pour the yogurt into the baking dish, then distribute it evenly across the lined baking sheet to fill the mold.
3. Top with strawberries, blueberries, and granola.
4. Place in the freezer for about 3 hours, or until the yogurt is hard.
5. Cut into pieces, then serve chilled. (Place leftovers in the freezer)

(Credits: Frozen Yogurt Bark {Easy Summer Dessert} - FeelGoodFoodie)

6. Fruit Nice Cream

With just a blender and some frozen fruits, you can cool off with this simple, healthier and low-carb alternative ice cream! Nice cream is a healthier alternative for ice cream and it is all-fruit, dairy-free, and has no added sugar. This naturally sweet frozen ice cream may be made in a food processor or blender in a matter of minutes and can be enjoyed it by itself or with toasted coconut and fresh fruit on top.

Ingredients:

• Frozen Fruit (Frozen banana, frozen mango, frozen berries, etc.)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice or lime juice

Instructions:

Blend the frozen fruit and lemon or lime juice until smooth and creamy. You may add water for a creamier texture.

7. Raw Caramel Apple Nachos

Replace caramel apples with something healthier and guilt-free to consume with this easy sweet recipe! You can experiment with all the available apple varieties to find your preferred caramel-and-apple combination. What's better is that you can store the leftover raw caramel in the fridge and use it as drizzle or dip to your other snack.

Ingredients:

• Apples (depends on how many you’re serving)
• Preferred toppings (fresh blueberries, fresh blackberries, dried mulberries, unsweetened coconut shreds, shaved dark chocolate, toasted pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, etc.)

Raw Caramel:

• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons of raw almond butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 2 dates, pitted
• 1 tablespoon of local honey
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Blend the raw caramel ingredients until thick and smooth.
2. Slice the apples long or thinly. Spread them out evenly on a big tray, drizzle the raw caramel sauce over top, and then add any other toppings you choose.

(Credits: Raw Caramel Apple Nachos - Nutrition Stripped®)

Eating Healthy Despite the Sugar Cravings

It's essential to pay attention to your body and eat what you are in the mood for right away rather than putting up with stuff you don't enjoy. We can establish a healthier relationship with food in general by being more thoughtful and intuitive with all of our food selections, meals, and snacks.

It’s never bad to enjoy a sweet treat. Whether it's morning, noon, or night, these easy, healthy desserts and healthy snacks will surely satisfy your sweet tooth and provide you with all the flavor and energy you need. If you have a busy day ahead, don’t forget to pack some of these healthy sweet snacks along with your healthy on-the-go breakfast for additional energy boost.

So feel free to give in to your sugar cravings and make your taste buds happy and guilt-free!