37 Healthy Dessert Recipes: Low-Calorie, Low-Fat, Vegan, and More

Dessert is hard to resist, but it doesn't have to leave you feeling weighed down and guilty. Whether you're vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, or just looking for a healthy option to serve after your next meal, these healthy desserts are sure to please.

A Guide to Going Vegan

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Raspberry Frozen Yogurt Pops

The Spruce / Cara Cormack

Made with raspberries and Skyr yogurt, an Icelandic yogurt that is low-fat and high protein, this creamy frozen yogurt pop is a deliciously flavorful and healthy treat. A dip in dark chocolate and nuts makes them pretty enough for a party.
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Apple Phyllo Pie

The Spruce

Classic apple pie is made using a double crust, making it carb-heavy and high in fat. This phyllo pie is flaky, sweet, and perfectly spiced, and much healthier than the traditional version.
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Heavenly Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crêpes

The Spruce

Made with buckwheat flour, these classic crepes are gluten-free and perfectly delicious. The thin pancake is ideal for serving with ripe berries, low-sugar jam, or a little butter and a sprinkle of sugar.
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Colorful Fruit Kebabs With Vanilla Lime Yogurt Dip

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Kids will love this healthy but festive dessert. Perfect for cookouts and parties, fruit kebabs make eating fruit fun. Serve with a creamy and lightly sweet yogurt dip.

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Vegan Chocolate Sorbet

The Spruce / Andrea Livingston

Chocolate sorbet is the ultimate secret weapon. Stash it in your fridge and grab it when a chocolate craving hits. It's vegan and low-fat but still creamy and decadent.
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Low-Fat, Low-Calorie Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

The Spruce

Mashed, ripe banana is the key to these chewy vegan oatmeal cookies. Use your favorite dried fruit and nuts to customize the recipe. Since the dough doesn't contain oil or butter, don't forget the parchment paper.
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Low-Fat Vegan Vanilla Pudding

The Spruce Eats / Emily Hawkes

You don't need eggs to make homemade pudding. Vegan vanilla pudding is made using just a few simple ingredients: soy milk, sugar, vanilla, and cornstarch. Add a drizzle of chocolate ganache or some fresh berries if desired.
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Angel Food Cake

Kristina Vanni

Angel food cake is a classic low-fat dessert. The pillowy, light-as-a-feather cake is made using egg whites and is free of butter and oil. It's often served with fresh berries or a berry compote for a light, summery dessert.

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Tofu Cheesecake

Kristina Vanni

Silken tofu is often used in desserts since it mimics creamy ingredients like cream cheese or whipped cream when puréed. It makes a silky base for this vegan cheesecake along with raw cashews.
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Fat-Free Pumpkin-Apple Angel Bars

The Spruce / Nita West

Made with only a few ingredients, these pumpkin-apple angel bars are a cinch to whip up. The light and airy bars are a great way to use up that can of pumpkin purée and extra applesauce.
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Mini Chocolate Caramel Apples

Samantha Merritt

One way to make desserts healthier is to make smaller servings. For this festive treat, mini apples are dipped in melted caramel before a quick coating of chocolate. The caramel apples are lovely at a fall party.
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Vegan Strawberry Sorbet

The Spruce Eats / Emily Hawkes

Turn great summer strawberries into something even greater—strawberry sorbet. The ice-cold, creamy treat is dairy-free and low-calorie, so you can enjoy dessert without the guilt.

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Carrot Cake With Pineapple

The Spruce

Carrot cake is always a healthier cake option since it contains veggies and often dried fruit and nuts. The beautifully moist, spiced cake also tastes great with sweet pineapple. Leave off the frosting and dust with powdered sugar for a lighter dessert.
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Watermelon Granita

Leah Maroney

Three simple ingredients—fresh watermelon, lime juice, and sugar—are all you need to make a refreshing granita. Freeze and scrape to create a slushie-like dessert that's perfect for a hot summer day.
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Yogurt Panna Cotta With Figs and Honey

The Spruce

Panna cotta is a creamy, sweet dessert that's enhanced by tangy Greek yogurt and goat cheese. It's lighter than most puddings and gluten-free. Serve with a drizzle of honey and fresh figs, if you have them.
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Banana Ice Cream

Kristina Vanni

Did you know you can make creamy, sweet ice cream with just one healthy ingredient? Frozen bananas are transformed into an ice-cold dessert with the help of a food processor. There's no added sugar, eggs, or heavy cream.

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Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

While cheesecake isn't exactly diet food, you can enjoy all of the flavors of the classic dessert in cute berry form with cheesecake-stuffed strawberries. There's no baking required, and with a higher fruit-to-cake ratio and small serving size, it's a much lighter option.
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Low-Fat Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Spruce

With half the amount of butter and a single egg white, these double chocolate chip cookies have half the fat of a typical cookie without sacrificing flavor and texture.
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Thai Mango Sticky Rice Dessert (Khao Niaow Ma Muang)

The Spruce

Mango sticky rice is a favorite Thai dessert that's fun to eat. Naturally vegan and gluten-free, the coconut-flavored sweet rice is a natural pair for ripe mango.
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New Zealand Pavlova

The Spruce

Pavlova is a popular dish in New Zealand and Australia, and it happens to be low in calories. A base of crisp and tender meringue is topped with fluffy whipped cream and plenty of juicy fruit. It's also naturally gluten-free.

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Whole Grain Jewish Apple Cake (Pareve)

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Classic apple cake is given a nutritional upgrade with whole wheat flour. Moist and fluffy, no one will know the difference. It makes a lovely dessert or addition to a brunch spread.
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Rice Krispie Sprinkle Bites

Leah Maroney

Rice Krispie treats, or marshmallow squares, are on the lighter end of kid-friendly desserts. These sprinkle bites transform them into fun truffle-like treats, and portion control while they're at it. Try serving at a kid's party.
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Vegan Pumpkin Pudding

The Spruce

Pumpkin pudding is a deliciously easy dessert that has all of the flavors of pumpkin pie without the long bake time. Try topping with a sprinkle of crumbled gingersnaps or amaretti cookies.
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Easy Mixed Berry Dessert Sauce

The Spruce

A ruby-red berry sauce is all it takes to make a cup of frozen yogurt, vanilla pudding, or angel food cake extra special. This sauce can be made with fresh or frozen berries, so enjoy it all year long.

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Sauteed Pears With Yogurt, Honey and Pistachios

Anita Schecter

For a quick and easy dessert, grab some ripe pears, yogurt, and honey. Refined sugar and gluten-free, sweet sautéed pears pair perfectly with the tart and creamy yogurt. A sprinkling of pistachios adds nutty crunch.
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Baked Olive Oil Doughnuts

The Spruce

These doughnuts are baked instead of fried and tossed in heart-healthy olive oil and cinnamon-sugar instead of butter or icing. They're a decadent treat that's decidedly lighter than your average doughnut.
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Easy Fat-Free Vegan Watermelon Popsicles

The Spruce Eats / Emily Hawkes

All you really need to make an icy, sweet treat is a few cups of seeded watermelon and popsicle molds. Free of added sugar, a little vanilla extract or lime juice add nice flavor to these popsicles.
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Apple Crisp With Brown Sugar Oat Topping

The Spruce

Crumbles and crisps are a healthier dessert option thanks to a big dose of naturally sweet fruit. Adjust the sugar in this apple crisp recipe, swap the flour for whole wheat, or use vegan butter to make it even healthier.

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No-Bake Yogurt and Cool Whip Pie

The Spruce / Emily Hawkes

Creamy cheesecakes and pudding pies tend to be loaded with sugar and fat, but this no-bake yogurt pie is a lovely lighter option. It comes together in minutes and you can use whatever flavor yogurt you like. Top with fresh fruit.
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Sugar-Free Vegan Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, and Banana Cookies

Claire Cohen

Refined sugar-free, these oatmeal cookies are flavored with peanut butter, banana, and maple syrup. You can swap the maple syrup for a sugar-free liquid sweetener if desired.
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Super Moist Vegan Carrot Cake

The Spruce

This flavorful and moist vegan carrot cake is delightful when paired with a cup of tea or coffee. Serve without frosting for a heathier treat, or top with vegan cream cheese frosting for a special occasion.
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Black Sesame Pudding

The Spruce

A classic Asian dessert, black sesame pudding is nutty, sweet, and creamy. It's also low-fat, vegan, and gluten-free. The beautiful dark color is sure to impress any dinner guests.

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Gluten-Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Soy milk and cornstarch are swapped for dairy and eggs in this vegan pumpkin pie. With a gluten-free pie crust, you'll satisfy everyone's dietary restrictions while still enjoying a delicious dessert.
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Tapioca Flour Crepes

The Spruce / Andrea Livingston

These light and fluffy crepes are made with tapioca flour, making them gluten-free. Fill them with a thin layer of dark chocolate and fresh fruit and, if desired, top with coconut whipped cream.
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Peach Sorbet

Leah Maroney

Ripe, sweet peaches, lemonade, and sugar are all you need to make this frozen treat. Peach sorbet doesn't even require an ice cream maker. Simply mix it up in a blender and freeze.
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Easy Roasted Rhubarb

The Spruce

Roasted rhubarb is a traditional British dessert that's sometimes used to top rice pudding or served with creamy custards. It's also nice with a little vanilla yogurt or simply served as-is.

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Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Diana Rattray

Yogurt replaces much of the oil in this bundt cake recipe and adds great flavor and moisture. Studded with blueberries, this yogurt cake is a tasty dessert or sweet brunch dish.

16 Delicious and Tempting Sugar-Free Desserts