12 Simple Healthy Dessert Recipes

Healthy eating doesn't mean pretending you don't have a sweet tooth, or denying that sweet tooth the yummy goodness it craves. It's more about mindfulness, moderation, and creativity. ​

In this post:

• Peanut Butter Cups 
• ​Baked Peach with Whipped Cream & Cinnamon
• Frozen Yogurt Ice Pops
• Fruit & Veggie Ice Pops
• Fried Bananas 
• Candied Walnuts
• Watermelon Lime Sorbet ​ 
• Oat, Coconut, Chocolate Delight
• ​Mexican Chocolate Mousse
• ​Pumpkin Pie Mousse
• ​Peanut Butter Mousse
• Banana Bread ​

Since sugar can show up in ungodly amounts and by so many names in heavily processed and/or store-bought desserts, you can often get more than you bargained for (and certainly more than your body should have to process at once!) when you let companies, corporations, or other people decide how much of the sweet stuff gets included in your sweet treat.  

Instead, why not try one of these simple, healthy desserts made up of real food ingredients the next time you decide to indulge - there's no guilt for enjoying, no guessing about what exactly you're eating, no denial of a totally natural, normal, inherently human part of you, nothing but delicious, delicious dessert.

You can feel good about eating any one of these - you'll notice a few of the nutritional benefits highlighted in the recipes below - AND you can feel good about feeding them to your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors. ​

1. Peanut Butter Cups (adapted from Mark Hyman’s recipe)
Prep: 30 min   
Serves: about 10 (may vary

​Bottom layer

• 2T coconut oil
• ¼ cup smooth peanut butter
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1T honey
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

 
Top layer

• 2T coconut oil
• ½ cup smooth peanut butter
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1T honey

 
1. In one bowl combine all ingredients from the bottom layer until smooth.
2. Pour a thin layer into small baking cups.
3. Put tray in freezer or fridge for 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the top layer until smooth.
5. Once chocolate layer is solid, pour your new mixture on top of the chocolate for a peanut butter top.
6. Put back in fridge until firm.
7. Store in refrigerator (or they will melt).
8. Enjoy cold. ​

*A serving of peanut butter has 3 mg of the powerful 
antioxidant vitamin E,
49 mg of
    bone-building
magnesium, 208 mg of muscle-friendly 
potassium, and 0.17 mg of immunity-boosting 
​vitamin B6. 

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2. Baked Peach with Whipped Cream & Cinnamon
Prep:  15 min  
​Serves: 2

• 1 peach cut in half, pit removed
• ​½T butter
• ½ cup whipping cream
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2T pre-sliced raw almonds
• dash of cinnamon

 
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Place halved peaches facing up on baking sheet. Evenly place the butter on each half.
3. Bake for about 25 minutes, until they are browned; keep an eye on them so they do not burn though.
4. While the peaches are baking, add whipping cream and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl. Mix on high until you have whipped cream. Set aside in refrigerator until peaches are done.
5. Once peaches are done, top with the whipping cream, sliced almonds, and a dash of cinnamon.

*Peaches contain minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorous, zinc, and copper. They are low in calories, contain no saturated fat or cholesterol, and are a good source of dietary fiber as well

3. Frozen Yogurt Ice Pops
Prep:  5 min  
​Serves: 3

• 1 cup organic plain yogurt
• ½ cup fruit of your choice
• 2 dates

 
You need ice pop molds for this recipe.
 
1. Combine all ingredients and blend on high until smooth.
2.Pour mixture into ice pop molds. 
3. Freeze until solid (about 4 hours). ​

*Dates are a not only a good source of energy, sugar, and fiber,  but they also contain essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, & vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, & vitamins A & K!

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4. Fruit & Veggie Ice Pops
Prep:  15 min  
​Serves: 

• ½ green apple, cored 
• 1 full lime, peeled
• 1 large handful of spinach
• ½ inch fresh ginger, peeled
• ½ ripe banana

 
You will need a high powered blender and ice pop molds for this recipe.

1. Add all ingredients to blender; blend on high until completely smooth. 2. Pour into ice pop molds.
​3. Freeze for at least 3 hours before eating. ​

*Spinach is high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and manganese

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*Ginger boasts potassium, manganese, vitamin C, vitamin B6

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5. Fried Bananas 
Prep:  5 min  
​Serves: 2

• 2 bananas, peeled (slightly green)
• 2T coconut oil
• Cinnamon to taste

​
1. In a large frying pan, heat coconut oil on medium high heat.
2. While pan is getting hot, slice bananas to about ½ inch thickness.
3. Place sliced bananas in hot pan and fry until they are golden brown (just a couple minutes on each side).
4. Remove from heat when done and sprinkle with cinnamon to taste. ​

*Bananas are loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as potassium, calcium, manganese, magnesium, iron, folate, niacin, riboflavin, & B6

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​6. Candied Walnuts 
Prep:  5 min  
​Serves: 4

• 1 cup raw walnuts, chopped or whole
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2T coconut oil
• 1T honey (optional)
• Salt to taste

1. In a medium hot frying pan, add coconut oil, walnuts, salt and cinnamon.
2. Cook over low heat until toasted, about 10 min.
​3. In the last couple minutes, add the optional honey for a sweeter taste. ​

*Walnuts have excellent amounts of omega-3 fats, along with high amounts of copper, manganese, molybdenum, and biotin.

7. Watermelon Lime Sorbet (adapted from Food For My Family)
Prep:  15 min  
Serves: 8

• 1 cup filtered water
• ¼ cup sugar of your choice like honey, coconut palm sugar or other
• 6 cups frozen cubed watermelon
• 1/3 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

 
1. Cube and freeze watermelon the day before.
​
2. Create a syrup by boiling water with sugar until fully dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. In a high powered blender, mix all ingredients until smooth. Don’t over blend otherwise it may melt.
​4. Serve immediately and enjoy! ​

*Watermelon is soaked with nutrients- you get 
​vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, 
antioxidants 
​& amino acids, and even a bit of potassium.

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8. Oat, Coconut, Chocolate Delight 
Prep:  5 min  
Serves: 

• ¼ cup shredded coconut flakes
• ½ banana
• ½ cup uncooked oats
• 2T dark chocolate (at least 65-70% cocoa)

 
1. Mash banana with a fork, set aside.
2. Grate a dark chocolate bar on a cheese grater to get small flakes.
3. Mix all ingredients together 
4. Serve raw. ​

*Oats are a strong source of carbs, fiber, protein, and healthy fats. They also contain manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamins B1 & B5.

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9. Mexican Chocolate Mousse (adapted from Cook Eat Paleo)
Prep:  5 min  
​Serves: 6

• 2 ripe avocados
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• ½ cup full fat coconut milk
• ¼ cup honey (or to taste)
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 2tsp pure vanilla extract
• ¼tsp ground ancho chili (or to taste)

 
1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or high speed blender until smooth.
2. Let set in refrigerator for 30-45 minutes. 
3. Enjoy! ​

*Avocados are a great source of vitamins C, E, K, and B-6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. They also provide lutein, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids.

10. Pumpkin Pie Mousse
Prep: 5 min  
Serves: 4

• 1 can organic pumpkin pie filling
• 1 can full fat coconut milk
• 1T pumpkin pie spice mix (or to taste)
• Optional: Sweetener of your choice to taste

 
1. Mix all ingredients until fully combined.
2. Chill for at least 30 minutes. 
3. Enjoy! ​

*Pumpkin is a great source of potassium and beta-carotene, which is a carotenoid that converts to vitamin A, as well as some minerals including calcium and magnesium, & vitamins E, C and some B vitamins.

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11. Peanut Butter Mousse
Prep:  5 min  
​Serves: 4

• ½ cup organic plain Greek yogurt 
• ½ cup organic smooth peanut butter
• 1T full fat coconut milk

 
1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
​2. Enjoy! ​

*Greek yogurt is rich in amino acids, potassium, vitamin B12, calcium, probiotics, and protein

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12. Banana Bread (adapted from Primally Inspired)
Prep:  15 min  
​Serves: 12

• 4 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 4 eggs
• 1tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup coconut flour
• 1tsp Original Himalayan Crystal Salt
• Optional: 1/3 cup raw walnuts

 
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Lightly grease a bread pan with coconut oil.
3. Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
4. Add mixture to the greased bread pan.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes. The top will be golden brown. 
6. Let cool; enjoy!

*Eggs contain protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and various antioxidants, and are an especially good source of choline, selenium, vitamin D and riboflavin

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and one more for good measure...

13. Soul Fitness Power Mix
Prep: 5 minutes
​Serves: 2 

• 1 banana, sliced
• 1C fresh berries of choice; I use whatever we have on hand - usually raspberries, blueberries and/or blackberries
• pumpkin seeds
• raisins
• walnuts
• hemp seeds
• dark chocolate chips

1. Mix desired amounts of each ingredient together in a bowl.

2. Slightly mash the banana and berries to help "carry" the seeds, chocolate chips and nuts.

3. THAT'S IT! So easy, so nutritious, so yummy. 

*Berries are an excellent source of fiber; pumpkin seeds provide protein and omega-3 healthy fats, plus iron, calcium, B vitamins, magnesium and zinc; raisins have fiber, calcium and iron; hemp seeds are rich in healthy fats and essential fatty acids, a great protein source and contain high amounts of vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, 
sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc; 
and dark chocolate is rich in iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and flavanols.

​Whew! 

Talk about a powerhouse.

Which one will you try in your kitchen first?

I'm interested in knowing if you're interested in sharing! 
xo

Learn More Here:

• Avocado: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-proven-benefits-of-avocado
• Bananas: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-bananas
• Dark Chocolate: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/dark-chocolate/
  
• Eggs: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283659.php
• Ginger: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-benefits-of-ginger
• Greek yogurt: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/greek-yogurt-benefits
• Hemp Seeds: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-health-benefits-of-hemp-seeds
  
• Oats: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-benefits-oats-oatmeal
• Pumpkin: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-pumpkin
• Pumpkin Seeds: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-pumpkin-seeds
• Spinach:​https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/ingredient-focus-spinach
• Walnuts: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=99
• Watermelon: https://www.livescience.com/46019-watermelon-nutrition.html