Finding healthy dessert options can be…well, complicated. “Healthy” is a relative term, so healthy could mean “not good for me at all, but fits inside my macros”, “not great for me, but better than a stereotypical dessert alternative” and even “just straight up good for my body”. However, traditionally, eating dessert involves making less than great choices for your body.
Here at FitnessHQ, we’re big advocates for moderation, meaning that although eating a sugary or savory item to conclude your meal is probably not a great ritual every night, it’s fine every once in a while. We are human after all.
So, when you decide the time is right, how can you make your cheat or indulgence worthwhile? We’ve got a few ideas to help you out and we decided to rank them to help you decide how healthy (or unhealthy) you want to go.
We based our scale on a few different things — we don’t consider sugar, natural or processed, to be healthy in anything more than limited amounts so all of these recipes would be off the table for everyday use. Some of these recipes are healthier versions of an unhealthy food whereas others are almost completely clean and would fall inside the guidelines of a Paleo or clean eating diet.
We ranked these recipes on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the healthiest and one being the least healthy. Eat accordingly!
10 Healthy Dessert Options
1. Paleo Almond Joy | Ranking: 5
This recipe from the Beaming Baker presents a healthier alternative to the Almond Joy candy bar. This recipe is pretty simple — it only has five ingredients — and is both Paleo and vegan friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut, shreds or flakes
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon + 1/4 cup + 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil
- 32 unsalted almonds
2. Chocolate Dipped Apple Slices | Ranking: 6
Looking for a yummy way to combine sour and sweet elements? Look no further than these easy-to-make chocolate dipped apples from BeginWithin Nutrition. You can get as creative (and sweet!) with the toppings as you’d like. Although we consider these a pretty healthy snack or dessert item, watch your portion sizes and eat intentionally.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 3 green apples, thinly sliced
- 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
- lemon juice (optional)
- crushed graham crackers
- sunflower seeds
- shredded coconut
- raisins
- pistachios
- mini-marshmallows
- peanuts
3. Greek Yogurt Fruit Tart | Ranking: 3
This recipe is delicious and beautiful to boot. This Greek yogurt fruit tart from Sally’s Baking Addiction is super kid-friendly and makes a great party dish as well. We ranked this recipe pretty low on the healthy scale. Despite the fact that it contains all relatively healthy ingredients, it contains a LOT of sugar, so save it as a special treat.
Ingredients
- 5 Medjool dates, soaked in warm water for 10 minutes
- 1 1/2 cups raw unsalted cashews
- 1 cup of Greek yogurt
- Assorted sliced fresh fruit
4. Raspberry Chocolate Mousse | Ranking: 8
This recipe combines a little bit of sweet and sour elements. It’s also 100 percent Paleo-friendly.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of raspberries
- 4 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons of cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons of honey
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
5. Cinnamon Apple Chips | Ranking: 8
Need an easy dessert solution? It doesn’t get much better than these cinnamon apple chips from Carrie’s Experimental Kitchen. They only have four ingredients and are super easy to put together — just make sure you plan ahead because they take several hours to cook before they achieve crispy, apple-y perfection. This is another dessert that is healthy enough to eat on a regular basis AS LONG AS you don’t eat ten apples’ worth in one sitting.
Limit your portions and eat thoughtfully and intentionally.
Ingredients
- 4 apples, cored and sliced ⅛” thick
- 1-2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1-2 teaspoon of granulated sugar, if needed
- Cooking spray
6. Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites | Ranking: 6
Need a grab and go option to satisfy your sweet tooth? Check out these frozen blueberry yogurt bites from Skinny Mom — yum! These are a great dessert, but limit yourself to a handful or less to keep from throwing your body off track.
Ingredients
- 1 pint container blueberries (about 125 blueberries)
- 1 cup vanilla, nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon stevia (or your favorite sugar substitute)
7. Clean Blueberry Almond Crumble | Ranking: 3
Source: This warm, gooey recipe from Amy’s Healthy Baking is reminiscent of blueberry pie and makes a yummy and hearty dessert. Although this dessert option is delicious, it’s packed full of gluten and cornstarch, so keep it on reserve for a holiday or special occasion.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup old-fashioned oats (gluten-free if necessary)
- ¼ cup whole wheat or millet flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 ½ tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 6 cups frozen blueberries
- 3 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons of almond extract
8. Super Simple and Healthy Apple Nachos| Ranking: 4
I don’t know about you, but I love the concept of creating nachos with food other than chips and cheese. This recipe from One Good Thing By Jillee combines sweet and salty flavors to create a yummy dessert, perfect for a movie or game night. Although it contains mostly natural ingredients, this recipe is definitely sugar-laden, so proceed with caution. But it beats candy or chips any day!
Ingredients
- 2 medium Gala apples (Fuji or Granny Smith would be delicious as well)
- 1/4 cup strawberries
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- 2-3 tablespoons shredded coconut
- 2-3 tablespoons granola
- 2-3 tablespoons sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
9. Grilled Peaches With Ice Cream | Ranking: 2
It doesn’t get much simpler than fruit and ice cream on a hot, summer day. Throw in a grill and you’ve got a real party. This recipe receives a low rating for health simply because it stretches the limits of what’s considered “healthy”. But a little indulgence every once in a while never hurt anyone!
Ingredients
- 2 peaches
- 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
10. Peach Yogurt Cake | Ranking: 2
Do you have a real flare for baking? Then check out this recipe from Julia’s Album for a peach cake with a Greek yogurt base.
Ingredients
- 1 cup and 2 tablespoons gluten-free multi-purpose gum-free flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon chia seeds
- 3 teaspoons hot boiling water
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened (4 tablespoons)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
- 4 medium peaches, sliced