The mention of dessert brings a guilty smile to our faces. Whether you love pies or ice cream, cookies or chocolate, desserts can be very personal. To be truly satisfying, desserts must deliver the flavors, textures and aromas you desire. A dessert should be savored, whether it is a rich piece of chocolate cake or a juicy piece of fresh fruit.
If you are looking to indulge with health in mind there are plenty of simple swaps that can improve the nutrition density of a sweet ending. Believe it or not, a healthy dessert can be quite satisfying.
- Try to reduce sugar: Sugar provides taste and texture for baked goods. But, up to 1/3 of the sugar in most recipes can be eliminated without a noticeable difference. Note: do not reduce sugar in yeast breads as the sugar is needed to activate the yeast.
- Add fruit: Use fruit such as raisins, dried apricots, dates or bananas to baked goods to add natural sweetness.
- Try adding vegetables: Some vegetables are sweet and can add a pleasant and tasty surprise. Pumpkin is not just for pie. Canned pumpkin can be used to replace eggs, oil and butter in recipes. Beets can be used to add moisture and sweeten baked goods. Beets often work well in chocolate desserts because the cocoa powder and chocolate mask any subtle earthy flavors.
- Change up the flour: Whole grain flours and flours made from nuts, cereal grains, root vegetables and even beans can contribute to a range of new flavors, textures and nutrients to baked goods.
- Watch the toppings: Traditional frosting is loaded with calories. Try decorating baked goods with lower sugar and lower fat frostings by using ingredients like light cream cheese and low-carb sweetener. Swap out Greek yogurt for heavy cream.
- Enjoy fresh fruit: nature’s candy!
Try some of these satisfying, lightened up desserts:
- If cookies are your thing, these light gluten free Coconut Macaroons are a pretty addition to any dessert table.
- For chocolate lovers, don’t miss these Chocolate Date Tahini Bites. This no-bake dessert includes naturally sweetened dates to create a delicious and nutritious treat
- Fresh Figs and Yogurt make an awesome dessert, yet also healthy enough to begin your day. Simply top yogurt with sliced fresh figs, honey cinnamon and pistachio nuts. For less than 160 calories, a ½ cup of goodness!
- Star Spangled Fruit Salad is quite festive for any summer party. Watermelon slices are transformed into stars with a cookie cutter and mixed with blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
- Mix yogurt, apple juice and blueberries to create these fantastic low-fat, low calorie Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops.
- These Strawberry Shortcake Parfaits will be a favorite all summer long. This pre-portioned, low-fat treat uses creamy yogurt instead of whipped cream.
- This Peanut Butter Dip made with low fat cottage cheese and tofu offers a high protein dessert option. Enjoy this dip with sliced apples, bananas or low-fat graham crackers.
- If you love a s’more, this Banana S’more recipe will be your new best friend. Bananas are simply dipped in dark chocolate and topped with crumbled graham crackers.
- Surely to become a family favorite, this Banana Ice Cream is made by blending frozen bananas and mixing in chocolate chips and cinnamon.
- These Black Bean Brownies are a decadent gluten free dessert that everyone will love.
- Topped with low fat yogurt and strawberries, this Chocolate Angel Food Cake is light and airy – even though it includes some whole wheat flour.
There you have it! Lightened up desserts can be a delightful option. Always remember that portion control plays a critical role when trying to maintain a balanced diet.
