healthy desserts

Sometimes, only a decadent chocolate fix will do; that's where these brownies come into play. While they're not exactly guilt-free, nutritionist Cynthia Sass created these vegan spinach brownies to help you add a few nutrients to your dessert. Mixing in almond flour increases the protein and healthy fat content of these vegan brownies, and the secret ingredient, spinach, adds antioxidants (also found in the dark chocolate chips), iron, vitamin A, calcium, and other nutrients, as well. And since these vegan brownies taste just as delicious as a traditional brownie, they'll be a hit with anyone and everyone.

Get ready to bake!

When Cadbury eggs arrive on supermarket shelves, you know Easter is on its way. But even you're on a vegan diet, there's no reason to feel deprived when it comes to this iconic treat. The dairy-free divas of Spork Foods created a decadent truffle to satisfy nostalgic cravings. Reminiscent of the Cadbury classic, these cute little "eggs" are full of smooth vegan cream cheese.

Even if you're not following a vegan diet, these chocolates are a healthy alternative to the original. At less than 30 calories per truffle, you can have five in place of one 150-calorie Cadbury egg. A little prep work is needed to create this Easter treat, so keep reading for the recipe.

Ever since I started using whipped coconut cream as a pie topping, I've been obsessed. The nondairy dessert alternative, popular with vegans and Paleo dieters, is as delicious as traditional whipped cream, and its slight coconut flavor doesn't overpower the overall taste. Since it's so easy to make, I've been thinking of ways to use whipped coconut cream for more than just a topping. The result is this coconut cream strawberry parfait with almond biscotti, which would be an indulgent but light ending to any Valentine's Day dinner.

Read on for the recipe.

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a day of overindulging on chocolate. This 96-calorie chocolate cake is an elegant dessert that contains no flour and includes healthy ingredients like sweet potato to help hold all the chocolatey goodness in.

Make the entire recipe as a single cake, or cut the recipe in half to make just enough for yourself and a date. As a sweet finish, the extra orange zest can be used to write a love note on top of the dessert.

See the recipe when you read more.

I'm a West Coaster through and through, but when Thanksgiving rolls around I'm excited to try some of my dad's Southern family traditions. Sweet potato pie is one such Southern dish that appears on my parents' table every few years. It's very similar to pumpkin pie, but with a sweeter, slightly earthier taste that makes it a prime alternative if you've got pumpkin pie fatigue. And since sweet potatoes are chock-full of nutrients — especially vitamin A, which promotes immunity and eye health, and hunger-controlling fiber — reaching for a slice of sweet potato pie on Thanksgiving is never a bad idea.

Regular sweet potato pie can include high amounts of butter and eggs, so I made some common vegan substitutes (coconut oil for butter and cornstarch for the eggs) to lighten up the pie without compromising taste. One of the best parts about the pie, to me, is the dollop of whipped cream that's accompanied with it, so I may have gone a bit overboard with the coconut whipped cream frosting — feel free to reduce the amount of coconut cream and serve alongside instead!

Read on for the vegan sweet potato pie recipe.

Chocolate cake cravings are no joke. But neither is committing to your healthy diet. For a cooler afternoon when you want to bake something sweet, try out this low-fat recipe that will satisfy your sweet tooth — without any of the guilt!

This cake calls in some unexpected friends: applesauce and prunes. Combining these two fruit purees helps keep the cake feeling light, rich, and moist. And if you're anything like me, the best part of the cake is always the icing. Instead of reaching for the store-bought stuff with tons of preservatives and unnecessary amounts of sugar, I created an easy icing recipe using just two ingredients. Keep reading for the full recipe.