10 Easy Dessert Recipes (That Are Good for You, Too)

These simple desserts satisfy your cravings without overloading you on sugar. Plus they offer vitamins, minerals, and heart-healthy fats.

If you have a sweet tooth, it’s easier than you may realize to overdo it on sugar. The healthy dessert recipes that follow not only help keep sugar in check, they provide a nutrition boost.

“Anytime you can add in some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to your desserts by adding fruit, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, you’re improving your diet,” says Christy Brissette, RDN, the Chicago-based president of 80 Twenty Nutrition.

These 10 desserts are nutritious and simple to make, so you can whip them up the next time you’re craving something sweet.

Who doesn’t love to sneak a little cookie dough from the bowl? If that sounds like you, here’s some good news: You can eat this chocolate chip cookie dough without worrying about a stomachache, because there’s no raw egg or flour.

Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, who’s based in Chicago, makes this cookie dough with chickpeas, which have both protein — 14.7 grams (g) per cup — and a hearty helping of fiber. One can of drained chickpeas provides 16.2 g of fiber, making it an excellent source of the nutrient.

“The recipe calls for canned chickpeas and peanut butter, two classic pantry staples,” says Jackson Blatner. “Plus, they’re no-bake — just eat like cookie dough!”

Per serving (serves 24): 60 calories, 2g protein, 6g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 4.5g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 80mg sodium, 1g sugar, 0g added sugar

There’s nothing cozier than curling up with a mug of something warm — especially when that mug is filled with cake. Unlike other mug cake recipes that use premade mixes filled with iffy processed ingredients, this recipe from Sydney-based blogger Monique Cormack, is made with simple, wholesome ingredients.

That means almond meal, maple syrup, cacao powder, and extra-virgin olive oil (a heart-healthier choice than butter). The almond meal, which is essentially ground almonds, along with the egg further boost the recipe’s protein content. Each serving is also a good source of fiber and iron.

Plus, each mug cake is ready in minutes, thanks to microwave cooking.

Per mug: 348 calories, 13g protein, 23g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 25g total fat, 4g saturated fat, 229mg sodium, 13g sugar

Feeling nostalgic for a classic treat? This macaroon recipe from Kaleigh McMordie, RDN, a blogger based in Lubbock, Texas, offers a healthier twist on Almond Joy candy bars.

McMordie's dessert philosophy: “Eat it, but make sure it’s worth it.” To her, homemade is almost always worth it. “Homemade desserts tend to be healthier, since they don’t need anything to make them shelf-stable for a certain period of time,” says McMordie.

None of the ingredients in her recipe are complicated or require scouring grocery store aisles — you’ll need shredded coconut, egg whites, dark chocolate, and almonds (plus a few other items).

Dark chocolate has special health benefits, helping to keep the heart healthy and type 2 diabetes at bay. The possible reason? Its polyphenols, natural compounds in whole foods that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Look for chocolate made with at least 70 percent cacao.

Overall, this is a dessert you can feel good about.

Per serving (serves 15): 129 calories, 1.6g protein, 13.5g carbohydrates, 1.3g fiber, 7.9g total fat, 5.6g saturated fat, 196mg sodium, 11.6g sugar

Want to make a healthier swap for your favorite candy? Try this simple truffle from Brissette. It contains only four ingredients: pistachios, raw cacao, 100 percent pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract.

“The nuts contain the power trio of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, which help you feel more satisfied and full longer,” says Brissette. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), an ounce (oz) of pistachios without the shells has 6 g of protein, 2.9 g of fiber, 7 g of monounsaturated fat, and 3.8 g of polyunsaturated fat.

These mini treats take only five minutes to make, offering an easy way to get your treat fix.

Per truffle: 55 calories, 2g protein, 4g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 4g total fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 18mg sodium, 2g sugar, 1.3g added sugar

While eating a straight-up peach is a taste sensation on its own, you can get a little more creative with this simple grilled peach recipe from Boston-based Sarah Gold Anzlovar, RDN. “If you aren’t able to get outside to grill, there are oven directions as well,” says Gold Anzlovar.

Peaches are a good source of fiber, with about 2.25 g in a medium peach.

What’s more, a medium peach also provides about 10 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, as well as a small amount of vitamin A. These essential vitamins help your body function at its best.

While you can swap in Greek yogurt for ricotta (both provide energizing protein), the ricotta makes this dish feel a little more indulgent.

Per serving (serves 4): 129 calories, 4.9g protein, 17g carbohydrates, 2.2g fiber, 6g total fat, 2.7g saturated fat, 26mg sodium, 14g sugar, 1.4g added sugar

If you live somewhere known for high temperatures, chances are you’re looking for a dessert that will cool you down. Enter these cherry yogurt bites from New York City–based Natalie Rizzo, RD.

The refreshing treats, which taste like a chilled cheesecake, are so easy to make — seriously, just five minutes — and with only four ingredients, there’s really no reason not to try them. All you need is half a cup of cherries, coconut-flavored Greek yogurt or skyr, maple syrup or agave sweetener, and shredded coconut.

Rizzo notes that you’re getting antioxidants from the cherries, and you’ll also score other vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C and calcium. One cup of raw, pitted sweet cherries provides 10.8 mg of vitamin C.

To prepare the yogurt bites, puree the cherries and mix the yogurt and maple syrup in a bowl. Then spoon the yogurt into a muffin tin, add the cherries and more yogurt, and sprinkle with the coconut, then freeze.

Per serving (serves 5): 80 calories, 5g protein, 14g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 1g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 25mg sodium, 12g sugar

There’s good reason to stock up on chia seeds. “They are full of fiber, protein, and even omega-3 fatty acids, so mixing them in with antioxidant-rich cocoa powder is a powerful combination,” says Ginger Hultin, RDN, who’s based in Seattle. One tablespoon of chia seeds provides 4 g of fiber, along with 2 g of protein.

With this tasty recipe, you can reap the benefits of these super seeds. Think of it as a souped-up take on classic chocolate pudding. It makes a great dessert dip for apple or pear slices, too. Plus, like the other desserts here, it’s all about simplicity.

“These are vegan- and vegetarian-friendly, and can be made in a matter of minutes. They set overnight, so they’re very hands-off,” Hultin adds.

Per serving (serves 5): 152 calories, 5g protein, 17g carbohydrates, 11g fiber, 8g total fat, 1.4g saturated fat, 14mg sodium, 6.7g sugar

Peanut butter cups earn the top slot on many people’s list of nostalgic desserts. With this healthier take on store-bought peanut butter cups from Mascha Davis, RDN, who is based in Los Angeles, you’ll get so much more than chocolate and a small dose of sugary peanut butter.

All it requires are two (preferably dark chocolate) peanut butter cups (ideally a low-sugar variety — Davis likes Lily’s Sweets), then top them with 1 tablespoon of almond butter and four raspberries, for one serving.

That tablespoon of almond butter gets you 3.4 g of protein and 1.7 g of fiber.

And those tart-sweet raspberries are also packed with fiber — 1 cup provides 8 g — making these berries an excellent fiber source.

Per peanut butter cup: 241 calories, 7g protein, 18g carbohydrates, 6g fiber, 20g total fat, 7g saturated fat, 86mg sodium, 2g sugar

Have a bag of oats in your cabinet and don’t know what to do with them? Here’s the solution: This easy cookie recipe from Malina Malkani, RDN, of Rye, New York.

Oats often receive high praise from nutritionists because they contain a fiber called beta-glucan, which can create a feeling of fullness and even suppress appetite. What’s more, oats may help prevent cardiovascular disease and promote healthy digestion. So there are a number of good reasons you’ll want to bake (or in this case, not bake) with them.

The peanut butter gives you a bit of extra protein, but the secret ingredient is flaxseed, which ups the fiber count and helps with digestion, with about 2 g fiber per tablespoon.

Per cookie: 218 calories, 6.7g protein, 17g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 15g total fat, 4.1g saturated fat, 105mg sodium, 10g sugar, 8.4g added sugar

Got extra yogurt in the fridge and tired of the same old parfait? Try turning it into a delicious homemade frozen yogurt.

The simple recipe from Meredith Hedberg Link, RD, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, contains just vanilla Greek yogurt, a fruit of your choice (like blackberries), plus your favorite toppings (like pumpkin seeds or chopped almonds).

The yogurt delivers about 14 g of protein in 5.3 oz, according to the USDA, along with 159 mg of bone-strengthening calcium (making it a good source).

The fruit gives you extra fiber, plus vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and potassium. Another perk of this chilly treat? It requires virtually no prep time and is ready in an hour, says Hedberg Link. Just load up a container or molds (Hedberg Link uses pineapple shapes) with the yogurt and mix ins, then layer on toppings and freeze.

Homemade desserts are generally healthier than the ultra-processed store-bought desserts that are often overloaded with sugar.
Adding healthy ingredients like chickpeas and chia seeds to oats and fresh fruits can increase the nutritional value of a dessert.
You can help make your dessert recipes more nutritious by using sweeteners like maple or agave syrup.

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