Vegan, Paleo, and More: The Healthiest Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
If you've got a serious sweet tooth but are determined not to let it ruin your healthy lifestyle, look no further. All of these sweet treats are healthier than their traditional counterparts, and many are nutritionally boosted with superfoods like chia seeds, flax, and blueberries. And don't you worry, lactose-intolerant, Paleo, vegan, and gluten-free friends — there are lots of treats for you, too. Take a look at all the cakes, cookies, ice cream, and bars that you'll want to try ASAP!
Sweet Potato Banana Protein Bread
An on-the-go breakfast that's sweet enough for dessert, this sweet potato banana bread is packed with protein and fiber.
Vegan Almond Butter Cups
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups get a redo in our vegan version of the classic! Made with almond butter and maple syrup, it's lower in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sugar and tastes more rich and decadent than the original.
Vegan Thin Mints
If you can't get enough of vegan Girl Scout cookies, you'll flip for this version of the most classic of them all — vegan Thin Mints.
Vegan Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Classic cookies have nothing on perfectly chewy peanut butter kiss cookies. This nutty favorite used to be off-limits to vegans — until now!
Frozen Banana Pops
Made with three ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, these frozen banana pops are great to keep in your freezer for when your sweet tooth strikes.
Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters
Tired of dates yet? Well, this Paleo treat is free of them! Our dark chocolate nut clusters contain under five ingredients and take virtually no time at all to make.
No-Bake Almond Cookies
These no-bake almond cookies may be small, but they make up for their size in the flavor department. They're all natural, have only five ingredients, and have no added sugar.
Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts
These cinnamon-spiced baked pumpkin doughnuts are perfect for any time of year.
Vegan Peanut Butter Patties
Not Girl Scout cookie season yet? Satisfy your Tagalongs cravings with these vegan peanut butter patties.
Pumpkin Pie
A pumpkin pie that's raw, vegan, and gluten free, and tastes good? You better believe it does.
Oatmeal Pumpkin Bread
Adding rolled oats to this oatmeal pumpkin bread recipe ups the fiber content and imparts a satisfyingly chewy texture.
Dairy-Free Pumpkin Bread Pudding
This bread pudding recipe is a cinch to make and low in calories. While the ingredients aren't explicitly animal-product free, you can easily make this recipe vegan by choosing bread, maple syrup, and sugar that's not processed using animal products.
Molten Lava Cake
This decadent lava cake has over 20 grams of protein — recovery has never tasted so good!
No-Bake Vegan Brownies
The only thing better than vegan brownies are no-bake vegan brownies.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse Cups
These mini chocolate mousse cups are an adorable treat, and each weighs in at just 100 calories.
Zucchini Brownies
If you're tired of making yet another loaf of zucchini bread, here's a decadent dessert you can whip up using the garden favorite. These fudgy brownies taste so sinful, you'll be amazed that they're vegan and just over 150 calories.
Vegan Iced Lemon Pound Cake
Starbucks-lovers, rejoice! Your favorite lemon pound cake gets a vegan makeover with this healthy version that's just as delicious but free of butter (and guilt).
Vegan Chocolate Frosted Doughnuts
You will never guess the secret healthy ingredient in these completely vegan, 100-percent delicious chocolate frosted doughnuts.
Vegan Strawberry Fudgsicles
If you remember creamy Fudgsicles when you were a kid, here's a healthier version made without high-fructose corn syrup and added sugar. Plus, you won't find a drop of dairy in this strawberry fudgsicle recipe.
Vegan Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
These low-calorie, dairy-free sugar cookies taste as good as the original, and one cookie (before decorating) is only 52 calories.
Vegan Chocolate Fruit Dip
Don't knock chocolate hummus until you try it. This vegan chocolate hummus is a creamy, satisfying dip that's perfect for apples and strawberries.
Pumpkin Apple Muffins
These pumpkin apple muffins have avocado instead of butter, and at just 144 calories each, you can enjoy more than one without regretting it later.
Vegan Samoas
If Samoas are your favorite Girl Scout cookie, you'll want to try this vegan version immediately.
Vegan Thumbprint Cookies
These vegan thumbprint cookies are fun to make and fun to eat — and they clock in at only 125 calories per dense cookie.
Vegan Cookie Dough
Friends won't even guess that this cookie dough recipe is completely vegan and brimming with protein, thanks to the addition of chickpeas.
Brown Rice Crispy Treats
With no artificial ingredients or added sugar, these brown rice crispy treats are a healthy dessert for grown-ups and kids alike.
Vegan Spinach Brownies
This vegan spinach brownie recipe sneaks greens into the batter, but you won't taste anything but chocolaty goodness.
Vegan Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream
If cold and creamy ice cream calls to you after dinner, here's a sweet alternative that's lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol. Added bonus: a scoop of this vegan banana peanut butter ice cream contains over three grams each of fiber and protein.
Creamy Banana Coconut Ice Cream
Craving something creamy, cold, and sweet minus all the dairy? Whip up a batch of this creamy banana coconut ice cream!
Strawberry Banana Creams
You only need four ingredients to make these low-cal, creamy strawberry poppers. One serving of eight stuffed strawberries contains only 150 calories.
Coconut Banana Bread
What could possibly make banana bread even more addictive than it already is? When it's coconut banana bread.
Gooey Apple Pecan Bars
A hybrid of apple pie and pecan bars, this Paleo apple dessert is a healthy and dairy-free crowd-pleaser.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Raisin (and Bean!) Cookies
These peanut butter oatmeal cookies are made with pureed cannellini beans, which add to their moist and chewy texture. Enjoy two cookies for 220 calories, and also get 3.6 grams of fiber and 5.8 grams of protein.
Almond and Coconut Macaroons
We enjoyed these almond and coconut macaroons for Passover, but they'd make a lovely, low-sugar treat for any occasion!
Cranberry Almond Minimuffins
Here's a healthy cranberry muffin recipe, made partially with whole wheat, to help satiate your sweet tooth. Making them smaller cuts down on calories and fat — plus muffins are way cuter in miniform.
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Can't get enough of chocolate cake but unable to eat gluten? This gluten-free chocolate cake recipe satisfies your sweet tooth without upsetting your stomach.
Vegan Sweet Potato Pie
Making this vegan sweet potato pie was one of the highlights of our Thanksgiving celebrations — and watch out: the vegan coconut-milk whipped-cream topping is to die for.
No-Bake Apricot Balls
You'll love the fruity factor of these no-bake apricot balls. Besides being an in-season cookie for the Summer, they're also full of fiber.
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Full of sweet peanut-buttery goodness, these peanut butter cookies are made without a pinch of flour, and you can't even tell!
Pecan Pie Bars
Perfect for a bake sale or a big gathering, these pecan pie bars are even OK for your Paleo guests.
Hidden Gem "Butter" Cookies
These hidden gem "butter" cookies may look like your average butter cookie from the outside, but don't let that fool you. One bite and you'll be welcomed to a soft and sweet date center.
Vegan Apple Cranberry Crisp
With flavors of baked apple, cranberries, and pumpkin pie spice, we loved celebrating Fall with this vegan apple cranberry crisp.
Vegan Chocolate-Mousse-Filled Strawberries
You won't be able to stop at just one chocolate-mousse-filled strawberry, but that's OK, because each serving is five strawberries.
Warm, Flourless Chocolate Cake
Bake this flourless chocolate cake in an individual ramekin for a decadent, low-calorie end to a meal.
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes With Avocado "Buttercream" Frosting
These vegan chocolate cupcakes with avocado "buttercream" frosting are about to become your new favorite cupcake.
Vegan Snickers
If Snickers is a favorite of yours but you could do without the hydrogenated oils and refined sugar, whip up this version that's made with a handful of ingredients and vegan, too.
Dairy-Free Mango Ice Cream
Satisfy the need to spoon up something frozen and sweet by making this recipe for dairy-free mango ice cream. Don't worry — no ice cream maker is required, just your freezer and a good blender.
Chocolate Raspberry Protein Balls
These beauties are disguised as truffles, but they're really chocolate raspberry protein balls. You can indulge in more than one, too; each protein ball has just 70 calories, three grams of protein, and one gram of fiber.
Avocado Green Tea Popsicle
Skip the afternoon cup of coffee, and refresh with a green tea popsicle. Greek yogurt and avocado combine for the creamy base, while antioxidant-rich matcha green tea powder provides a caffeinated kick.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse
This healthy pumpkin pie alternative has us drooling! Make this recipe for a lightened-up pumpkin cheesecake mousse for your next holiday get-together.
Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream
If you have bananas, unsweetened cocoa powder, and dairy-free chocolate chips, you're on your way to enjoying killer vegan chocolate ice cream.
Vegan Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Carrot cake and cream cheese frosting is a classic combo that gets a bit of a twist in this vegan makeover.
Vegan Chocolate Coconut Mousse
Step up your dessert game with this sophisticated chocolate coconut mousse.
Vegan Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Four simple ingredients come together to form this irresistible vegan cherry chocolate chip ice cream.
Frozen Nutty Banana Nibbler
Try this healthy — and mini — version of an ice cream sandwich. Banana nibblers, filled with a mixture of Greek yogurt and peanut butter, will satisfy your sweet tooth while cooling you off.
Ginger Molasses Cookies With Quinoa Flour
For someone who craves spice or sweetness, whip up a batch of these dairy-free ginger cookies. No one will even know that there's quinoa hidden in the recipe!
Coconut Cream Strawberry Parfait With Almond Biscotti
It's two treats in one! That special someone will love you even more for whipping up this coconut cream strawberry parfait with almond biscotti. (Bonus: it's vegan!)
Vegan Persian Ice Cream
Have you ever savored creamy, custardy Persian ice cream before? Now vegans and dairy-free dieters can enjoy the dreamy signature blend of saffron, pistachios, and rosewater in this coconut-milk-based vegan Persian ice cream.
Low-Cal Brownies
Looking this good, it's hard to believe that these slimmed-down brownies only contain 125 calories each.
Vegan Banana Apple Chunk Bread
Don't let almost-brown bananas go to waste by making a batch of this vegan banana apple chunk bread. A healthy breakfast option that's so sweet and moist, you'll want to devour it for an after-dinner treat, too.
Banana-Carob Protein Bars
These banana-carob protein bars are so good they work as a post-workout snack or as a dessert later on that evening!
Low-Fat Chocolate Cake
This decadent-looking chocolate cake is hiding a few healthy secrets: applesauce and prunes to keep the batter moist and Greek yogurt to make lower-calorie frosting. Get the low-fat chocolate cake recipe here.
Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookie
If you're craving a chewy peanut-buttery treat, our peanut butter sandwich cookies will become your new favorite cookie. The chewy oatmeal cookie coupled with the creamy peanut butter and mashed banana mixture makes a perfect flavor combination.
Vegan Carrot Cake
This vegan carrot cake has all of the sweetness you're craving and none of the dairy.
Gluten-Free Key Lime Pie
Love key lime pie? Try out thegluten-free version of this dessert classic with a matcha twist.
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Enjoy your favorite dessert guilt-free with this healthy chocolate chip cookies recipe.
Keto Cream Cheese Cookies
Whether you are on a keto diet or just trying to eat a bit healthier, you will love these cream cheese cookies.
Peanut Butter Banana Muffin
Turn your favorite flavor combination into a healthy dessert with these peanut butter banana muffins.
Apple Cake
This light and spongy apple cake is both vegan and made with whole wheat flour.
Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
These almond flour peanut butter cookies are rich, delicious, and made with only clean baking ingredients.
Dairy Free Chocolate Cake
You will never believe this chocolate cake is dairy free!