20 Healthy Desserts for People Who Don’t Want “Health Food”
Desserts You’re Always In The Mood For
You should want dessert to feel indulgent, not like a nutritionist lecturing you about fiber or antioxidants. These recipes allow you to keep the fun, the comfort, and the chocolate-y feelings while being sneakily healthy. Consider this your list of naughty, not nice desserts.
1. Dark Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This dessert feels fancy, but isn’t trying too hard. Chocolate lends richness, fruit adds freshness so it doesn’t feel heavy. You’ll forget this could ever be considered healthy food.
2. Baked Apples with Cinnamon
Apples soften and become cozy, almost pie-like when baked. Top with cinnamon for sweetness without much else required. It smells amazing, and tastes like fall couldn’t be bragging harder if it tried.
3. Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Cups
Get the creaminess you’re craving without going all in on cheesecake. Vanilla and a graham-like crumble go a long way. It satisfies without leaving you feeling sluggish.
4. Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Banana slices dipped in peanut butter and frozen sound decidedly underwhelming. However, the combination is creamy, sweet, and surprisingly satiating. Think of it as dessert that gets you.
Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash
5. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
These actually taste like cookies because they are cookies. The oats just add heartiness and give you more staying power. No one will miss the bakery version.
6. Ricotta with Honey and Berries
Creamy enough to pass as dessert without any coaxing, ricotta is your friend. Drizzle honey and top with berries for something effortlessly elegant. It’s easy and delicious!
7. Frozen Yogurt Bark
Snacky desserts don’t get much better than this. Top with chocolate chips, nuts, coconut, fruit, or whatever you like! Break it apart like candy and enjoy.
8. Avocado Chocolate Mousse
If there was ever a vehicle for avocados to be desserts it’s this. The texture is creamy and rich, with no hint of avocado party-criming the dish. You’ll feel fancy licking the bowl.
9. Warm Berry Crumble
Soft fruit bubbling away under a lightly crisp topping? Yup, it checks all the boxes. Even with moderate sugar this tastes indulgent. Just warm it up and no one will judge.
10. Banana “Ice Cream”
Blended frozen bananas are miraculously transformed into something that tastes like ice cream. Smooth, sweet, and you can add any toppings you want. Seriously, give it a try, you’ll be surprised.
11. Almond Butter Brownie Squares
Fudgy, dense, chocolate-y, these brownies hit the mark. Almond butter adds richness and keeps them from feeling too heavy. One square is really satisfying.
12. Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn
Yes, popcorn can totally be dessert if you do it right. Lightly coated in cinnamon and sugar, it’s the perfect sweet snack. It’s perfect for when you want something crunchy, not gooey.
13. Chia Pudding That Actually Tastes Good
When made correctly, this tastes more like pudding than fancy hipster health food. Start with vanilla, cocoa, or coconut milk for major differences. Top it how you wish.
14. Grilled Peaches with Honey
Grilling helps to bring out the natural sugars big time. The edges get slightly caramelized making it feel indulgent. Drizzle with honey and call it a day.
15. Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters
Pop these and they’ll taste like something you’d find by the checkout at Whole Foods. The crunch of the almonds with the dark chocolate is simply perfect. You don’t need many.
16. Baked Pears with Vanilla
Pears get soft and almost silky when baked. Add a splash of vanilla and you’ve got yourself that bakery aroma we all love. It’s easy, comforting, and somewhat impressive.
17. Cottage Cheese Dessert Bowls
Really the magic of this dish is what you put on it. Mix in cocoa powder, top with fruit, nut butter…anything! It’s your mood. Suddenly it doesn’t feel so industrial.
18. Maple-Sweetened Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is comfort food to begin with. Using maple to sweeten keeps the flavor cozy and not too aggressive. It’s a dessert that’s much more tasty than you’d ever imagine.
19. Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Pops
These remind me of those ice cream truck sweets with the chocolate shell. The contrast of chocolate against frozen banana is heaven. You’ll feel naughty eating these, but you deserve it.
20. Apple Nachos
Layered apple slices with nut butter and chocolate drizzle are fun and indulgent. Feel free to top with your favorite things! It's a dessert that doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious.
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