21 Healthy Desserts That Will Make Your Forget You’re Eating Healthy

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No matter how healthy you try to eat, you probably still find yourself craving something sweet from time to time. That’s why you need some quick, healthy, and delicious dessert recipes that you can pull out when those cravings strike. Here are 20 healthy desserts that are made with common ingredients, and minimal preparation and clean-up time so that you can tame your sweet tooth anytime. 

1. Grimace Shake

Two tall glasses filled with Grimace Shake and topped with whipped cream.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Don’t head to McDonald’s for a Grimace shake, not when you can make a delicious and healthier version at home. This healthier version doesn’t include any ice cream, but it does contain plenty of frozen berries and flavor. Top with some fresh whipped cream and serve. 

2. Lemon Cream Pie

An overhead view looking down on a lemon cream pie with one slice removed.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Lemon cream pie is a delicious choice for a warmer-weather dessert. It’s cold, refreshing, and topped with delicious whipped cream. It’s simple to make and pairs really well with a cup of coffee or a glass of lemonade.

3. Instant Pot Chocolate Cake

A slice of Instant Pot Chocolate Cake sits on a white plate with a fork resting at it's side.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Instant Pot chocolate cake is easy to make, and you won’t have a ton of leftovers staring at you from the fridge. It’s great portion control. Made in a cake pan small enough to fit in your Instant Pot, you’ll add a layer of fruit spread, which adds moistness and extra flavor to this cake.

4. Black Bean Brownies

A stack of black bean brownies on a white surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Delicious, decadent brownies with a secret ingredient nobody will ever know about. A good dose of fiber, thanks to black beans. These black bean brownies may be some of the most chocolatey brownies ever.

5. Healthy Twix-Like Bars

A side view of Healthy Twix Bars on a white plate.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Love Twix? This popular candy bar is found everywhere, from grocery stores to gas stations. But if you are trying to eat a bit healthier, try making them at home with this healthy Twix bar-like recipe.

6. Strawberry Crumb Bars

A hand reaches for a strawberry crumble bar from a wood surface where several bars are spread out.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

These delicious strawberry crumb bars are sure to brighten your spring and summer (or at least your day). The crumb topping with strawberries makes a sweet treat you won’t soon forget. They’re great on their own or served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

7. Chocolate-Dipped Stuffed Dates

An overhead view of stuffed dates lined up on a piece of parchment paper.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Chocolate-dipped stuffed dates are a naturally sweet treat that combines the sweetness of dates with the richness of chocolate. These delectable snacks begin with plump, tender dates, which are carefully pitted and filled with anything you like. Popular stuffing options include almonds, walnuts, pecans, or even creamy fillings like peanut butter or caramel.

8. Homemade Crunch Bars

Four Homemade Crunch Bars laying on a white surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Homemade crunch bars are insanely good treats that combine the satisfying crunch of crispy cereal with the smoothness of melted chocolate. These delicious bars are made by mixing together your favorite cereal, such as rice puffs or cornflakes, with melted chocolate. They are perfect for gatherings, lunchbox treats, or simply for enjoying a moment to yourself.

9. Healthy Strawberry Ice Cream

Strawberry ice cream piled high in a glass ice cream bowl and topped with a fresh strawberry.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Skip the expensive store-bought version and make your own strawberry ice cream. All you need is frozen strawberries, bananas, and cottage cheese for a creamy, fruity, and guilt-free treat that is perfect for hotter days.

10. Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bark

Pieces of Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bark laying on a sheet pan.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Strawberry frozen yogurt bark is a deliciously healthy treat that combines the natural sweetness of strawberries with the creaminess of yogurt. This tasty dessert is made by spreading a mixture of strawberries and yogurt onto a baking sheet and then freezing it until solid. Once frozen, the bark can be broken into bite-sized pieces, giving you a sweet and guilt-free snack any time you need one.

11. Carrot Cake

A hand uses a spatula to lift up a piece of carrot cake from a row of square pieces.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you live a gluten-free lifestyle, then this carrot cake is a deliciously wholesome dessert perfect for gluten sensitivities or dietary restrictions. Warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg infuse the cake with an earthy, satisfying aroma and flavor. The result is a moist and tender cake that is rich in flavor and packed with good-for-you ingredients. But shhh… nobody will ever know.

12. Chocolate Pizza

A hand reaches for a slice from a box of chocolate pizza.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This chocolate pizza combines your love of dessert with your love of takeout. The toppings can be adjusted to your preference, making each chocolate pizza you make a delicious creation of its own. This chocolate pizza is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

13. Blueberry Pie

An overhead view of a whole blueberry pie, sliced with one slice missing.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Blueberry pie combines sweet, juicy blueberries with a buttery pie crust. The filling is made with a few simple ingredients that are all-natural, and the resulting flavor will blow your mind. Serve a slice of blueberry pie warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.

14. Peanut Butter Cups

Three stacked peanut butter cups with a forth resting on the side, all sit on a wood surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Homemade peanut butter cups are possibly the tastiest portable treat you can make at home. These tantalizing treats are a delicious and nostalgic confection that will satisfy any craving for peanut butter and chocolate.

15. Chocolate Bark

Chocolate Bark stacked up on a piece of parchment paper with a red ribbon on top.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Chocolate bark is a simple yet tasty treat that combines decadent chocolate with pretty much anything you care to mix into it. Once cooled, you end up with an amazing slab of customized chocolate that you can break into pieces and enjoy anywhere.

16. Peanut Brittle

A stack of peanut brittle pieces on a white surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Love peanut brittle but don’t like what all that processed sugar does to your teeth? Here’s how to make peanut brittle without corn syrup. Store it in your freezer and enjoy it straight from there—no thawing required. It’s a delicious treat that you can break into any size serving you like.

17. Pumpkin Blondies

A single pumpkin blondie with a bite remove, laying on a white piece of parchment paper.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Everyone loves sweet, gooey pumpkin blondies. These homemade pumpkin blondies are loaded with healthy pumpkin puree and stuffed with plenty of chocolate chips to satisfy your sweet tooth.

18. Easy Brownie Batter Dip

A close up view of a white bowl filled with brownie batter dip and surrounded by fresh strawberries.

This easy brownie batter dip is a great way to eat more fruit. You can serve almost any type of fruit with this, or you can indulge and dip anything from marshmallows to chips in it. It’s a fast and easy snack that everyone will enjoy.

19. Easy Chocolate Mousse

A spoon scoops up some chocolate mousse from a glass bowl full of mousse.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Chocolate lovers will adore this easy chocolate mousse made with just two ingredients. Water and chocolate chips. It has to sit in the fridge overnight, so plan accordingly. But when morning comes around, you’ll have a delicious bowl of perfectly silky chocolate mousse.

20. Chocolate Popcorn

A side view of a gray bowl filled with Chocolate Popcorn.

Chocolate popcorn is a great snack for those with a sweet tooth who want to eat healthier. Use dark chocolate and air-popped popcorn for a healthier snack that will satisfy anyone who tries it.

21. Chocolate Ice Cream

Scoop of tasty chocolate ice cream with creamy texture in square shaped bowl on table on a dark background.
Photo Credit: stockcreations/Shutterstock.

Chocolate ice cream is a classic dessert idea that goes great after almost any meal. You can serve it over brownies with chocolate sauce for absolutely rich decadence, or you can serve it as is for a quick and simple dessert.

More From The Gracious Pantry

A small white bowl sits filled with strawberry n'ice cream. A used wooden spoon sits in front of the bowl.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Need more dessert ideas? The Gracious Pantry has you covered. These recipes allow you to enjoy your dessert without guilt because they are made with healthy, whole-food ingredients. These are healthy comfort foods at their best.

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: Food and Travel Journalist

Expertise: Food, cooking, travel

Bio:

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated writer and an award-winning cookbook author and food blogger. She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. Her food specialty is healthy comfort food recipes.

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