Nothing can quite derail my diet like a massive, fudgy brownie. Luckily, if I know I have healthy sweet treats to look forward to, I can typically ignore the temptation. There’s no shortage of “healthy” sweets on the market, but I’ll be honest: a lot of them lack imagination. Plus, there’s no denying that anything you make from scratch is going to taste WAY better than anything from a package… and be far cheaper, too.
Easy no-bake sweets
When I have a craving for something sweet, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven and patiently wait (yes, even if it is for healthy donuts). Que, easy, no-bake sweet snacks.
Stick to natural or low-calorie sweeteners. There’s no denying that added sugar contributes to weight gain and crashes in your blood sugar. Opt for snacks that are naturally sweetened with fruit or don’t have refined sugar added. Opt for fruit or dark chocolate desserts. Similarly, dark chocolate or fruity treats can curb sugar cravings without packing on the calories. Read the labels. This may seem like a no-brainer, but pay attention to the hidden ingredients in your snacks. You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve raided my pantry only to find there’s corn syrup hidden in half of my favorite sweets! Healthy-fy your favorite treats. I love ice cream as much as the next guy, but when I want a pint of delicious ice cream, I make it with cottage cheese, and it’s instantly low in calories and high in protein.
Protein pudding– With just two ingredients and a few minutes, you can make creamy pudding with no added sugar, countless flavor combinations, and 28 grams of protein! Healthy cookie dough– Who doesn’t love edible cookie dough? How about edible cookie dough with no raw flour, added sugar, or gluten? Count me in! Coconut chia pudding– Chia seeds are packed with fiber and protein, and when you mix them with coconut milk and maple syrup, you get the perfect midday pick-me-up. Banana protein bars– We love making homemade protein bars, especially when you get to have them taste exactly like banana bread! Coconut energy balls– Soft, fudgy, and made with 4 wholesome ingredients. Larabars– Try one of these almond and cashew-laden bars once, and you’ll never buy the store-bought bars ever again! Have a nut allergy? Make these nut-free granola bars instead. Banana bread energy bites– The perfect healthy snack for using up those leftover bananas.
Healthy cookie recipes
I could never stick to a diet that didn’t let me indulge in cookies. Luckily, I’ve never had to make such a sacrifice, and neither should you!
Yogurt cookies– Made with Greek yogurt, oats, almond butter, cinnamon, and sweetened with banana, these are the perfect healthy cookie. No-bake oatmeal cookies– Made with three ingredients and ready in minutes, they taste just like freshly baked healthy oatmeal raisin cookies. Applesauce cookies– Naturally sweetened with apple, I look forward to these cookies every Fall! Strawberry cookies– When berry season hits, you better believe I’m making these cookies on repeat! Prefer blueberries? Try these blueberry oatmeal cookies instead. Healthy chocolate chip cookies– All the flavors of freshly baked cookies, but with no flour, sugar, eggs, OR grains. Healthy Monster cookies– Insanely soft and chewy, these cookies are studded with M&M candies and still manage to be healthy.
Healthy chocolate snacks
I can’t go a day without chocolate, and why should I? With countless healthy chocolate recipes available, you can make a new one every day of the week.
Chocolate peanut butter balls– If you love chocolate and peanut butter as much as I do, you’re going to love this recipe. Healthy mug cake– An easy way to satisfy my sweet tooth in a few minutes using wholesome ingredients. Healthy chocolate muffins– I’ve made this recipe for countless friends and family, and they NEVER believe me when I say they’re made with whole grains! Healthy Snickers– Yes, you read that right. You can now enjoy your favorite candy bar guilt-free. Keto chocolate bark– It’s amazing what roasted almonds and low-carb chocolate can taste like! Healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie– Creamy, chocolatey, and deceptively healthy, it’s basically a healthy banana milkshake.
Healthy frozen sweet treats
If my family ever wonders where I am in the middle of the day, they usually check the kitchen first. That’s because I’m sneaking some ice cream for a little pick-me-up!
Sugar-free frozen yogurt– Once you learn how to make frozen yogurt from scratch, you’ll never buy it again– especially when you can make it with or without an ice cream maker! Protein ice cream– I’m not going to lie; there are a lot of protein ice creams on the market, but they taste a little ‘off,’ in my opinion. This recipe proves that you can have protein-packed ice cream that actually tastes like the real deal. Healthy popsicles– Naturally sweetened with a drizzle of honey, you can customize them with any fruit you have on hand. Low-calorie ice cream– At under 50 calories per serving, you better believe I make this every week! Healthy milkshake– Ultra-creamy, chocolatey, and decadent, this dairy-free milkshake is the perfect midday treat. Protein milkshake– Get your protein fix AND dessert in one. I’ve included all the popular flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
More recipe collections
Sugar-free desserts Whole30 snacks Recipes with oats Keto snacks Protein powder recipes
Originally published January 2022, updated and republished June 2024