We’ve all been there: A sugar craving strikes after dinner and as hard as we try to fight it, we give in to temptation. We make the candy or ice cream run to the grocery store and afterward, all we’re left with are feelings of regret. If you’re being health conscious, many people will recommend skipping dessert since it tends to be high in calories. But what if you didn’t have to give it up? As it turns out, there are many low-calorie desserts out there that taste great, too. Here are 52 of them.
Low-Calorie Desserts
1. Chocolate SunButter
Offering 180 calories per serving, Chocolate Sunbutter is a great spread for dessert on its own or with apples or strawberries, says Liana Werner-Gray, certified nutritionist, natural food chef and author. With only 4g of sugar, it’s 80% less than the amount in Nutella.
2. Bhu Cookie Dough
Vegan and gluten-free, Bhu cookie dough is only 160 calories per serving, plus 5 grams of protein. “It’s sweetened with monk fruit which helps to keep it low in calories. As an added bonus, it can be eaten raw!” Werner-Gray explains.
3. Hu Kitchen Hazelnut Bar
These dairy-free bars make an excellent dessert. Sweetened with coconut sugar and plant-based, half of a Hu Kitchen Hazelnut Bar is 180 calories and offers the nutritious benefits of raw organic cacao, says Werner-Gray.
4. Bhu Chocolate Chips
Just 80 calories per serving, these chips are made with organic ingredients. “Sweetened with monk fruit, this keeps Blu Chocolate Chips low in sugar and calories. It’s the refined sugar in desserts that bump up the calories to a shocking amount,” says Werner-Gray.
5. Smart Sweets
As a healthier version of conventional candy, this is a great low-calorie treat. “Sweetened with stevia and allulose—Smart Sweets are just 100 calories per bag. They contain up to 95% less sugar than conventional candy,” Werner-Gray explains.
6. Cosmic Bliss Vegan Ice Cream
A dairy-free and low sugar ice cream option, Cosmic Bliss vegan ice cream is only 290 calories per serving. “Sweetened with coconut sugar to help keep the calorie count low, this ice cream is made with real, wholesome ingredients,” says Werner-Gray. “It’s nearly half the amount of calories of conventional, dairy and refined sugar ice cream options.”
7. Imlak’esh Cacao Wafers
These wafers are made with just one ingredient: Organic Cacao. “Imlak’esh cacao wafers are free of sugar, keeping them very low calorie, at just 180 calories per 10 wafers. You can eat these alone or melt them down to dip strawberries in,” Werner-Gray states.
8. Peeled Dried Fruit Apple
These organic dried apples are a delicious dessert or snack when needing something sweet, Werner-Gray explains. At just 280 calories for the whole bag, it’s one simple ingredient: An organic apple.
9. Nubocha
Recommended by Werner-Gray, this dairy-free and low sugar gelato option have only 2-5 grams of sugar per pint, keeping the calorie count to 250 calories. Now you can finally eat an entire pint of ice cream without the guilt!
10. Frooze Balls
Sweetened with dates, Frooze balls are a low-sugar option that helps keep the calorie count low. These balls are nutrient-dense and make a well-rounded dessert option, Werner-Gray explains. Totaling 284 calories per serving which is a generous amount of five balls. One ball is quite satisfying at 56 calories.
11. Frozen Grapes
Frozen grapes make for a healthy and refreshing dessert. “Low in calories and high in nutrients, frozen grapes are a great choice for those looking for a healthy snack or dessert to satisfy their sweet tooth,” says Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, ASYSTEM’s Registered Nutritionist and Director of Formulations.
12. Fruit Smoothies
Fruit smoothies make a great dessert because they are nutritious and filling. “They are perfect for when you want something sweet but don’t want to overload on sugar or calories. Smoothies are also easy to get some extra fruit into your diet,” Cowin states.
13. Angel Food Cake
Cake is typically synonymous with calories, but not in this case. “Made with egg whites and low in sugar, angel food cake is a healthy, low-calorie option for those looking for a sweet treat,” says Cowin.
14. Fruit Popsicles
Fruit popsicles are another good low-calorie dessert because they are made with natural ingredients and are relatively low in sugar. They also provide a good amount of vitamins and minerals, making them a healthier option than most other desserts, Cowin states.
15. Baked Apples
While apples are tasty cold, they also make a great hot dessert. “Apples are naturally low in calories and are a great source of fiber,” says Cowin. “Baking them with cinnamon makes them even more delicious.”
16. Fruit Tarts
Fruit tarts are a great low-calorie dessert because they are made with fresh fruit and minimal sugar, Cowin explains. They are also very easy to make, and you can customize them to your taste. These are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth without overindulging.
17. Low-Fat Yogurt Parfait
This classic breakfast dish can also make a great low-calorie dessert. Cowin recommends layering some low-fat yogurt, fruit, and cereal for a sweet and satisfying healthy treat.
18. Banana Bread With Walnuts
“Most banana bread recipes call for a lot of sugar, most times you can cut the sugar in half and add well-ripened bananas for the sweetness,” says Blanca Garcia, registered dietitian nutritionist. “Banana bread is a good source of vitamins and minerals found in the bread and walnuts can provide healthy plant-based fats and protein.”
19. Fruit Salad with Condensed Milk
Take this traditional dessert up a notch with condensed milk. “I make a bowl with a variety of fruits like apples, grapes, pineapple chunks and mix it with condensed milk,” Garcia explains. “The sweetness automatically makes it feel like a dessert, but this dessert is filled with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates.”
20. Chocolate Brownie Made with Black Beans
Instead of adding the full amount of chocolate as recommended in the recipes, you can switch out about half of all of the chocolate for black beans. If you don’t tell anyone you made it with black beans most people won’t notice. Black beans are a great source of protein, fiber, and minerals, Garcia states.
21. Applesauce and Whipped Cream
Another apple-themed dessert! Applesauce is a fraction of the calories compared to apple pie and apple crisp. “If you had a heavy dinner, a light dessert can come in handy,” says Garcia. “Applesauce is light and filled and with a little whipped cream, you can enjoy a sweet and tart dessert.”
22. Homemade Banana Ice Cream
In the mood for a homemade dessert? Take some ripened bananas, smash them with a fork, add cinnamon and freeze in a container. Once frozen you can scoop it up and serve, Garcia explains. This is a two-ingredient dessert that is natural and filled with vitamins, minerals, and fibers.
23. Rice Pudding
If you have some leftover rice that is not seasoned from cooking a dish, you can make it into rice pudding. All you have to do is add milk, raisins, some sugar, and cinnamon and you have made a healthy dessert; as long as you don’t overdo the sugar. The milk comes with protein, raisins with vitamins and minerals, sugar, and cinnamon for taste, says Garcia.
24. Peanut Butter Cookies
This is a plant-based protein dessert that eliminates all the added sugar and is still a tasty treat. “My favorite cookies are peanut butter cookies, the ingredients can be as low as three ingredients: peanut butter, sugar, and eggs,” Garcia states. “It’s best to choose peanut butter without sugar to minimize the amount of sugar in the recipe.”
25. Frozen Chocolate Dipped Banana
This is like homemade chocolate ice cream. You peel the banana, add a stick on one end and dip it into melted chocolate. Place it on wax paper and freeze, this dessert is great for a healthy version of ice cream and it’s packed with vitamins and minerals, Garcia explains.
26. Small Latte with Unsweetened Almond Milk and Sugar-Free Syrup
Coffee drinks can be sneaky with the number of liquid calories you consume.“A latte with milk is less than 100 calories when unsweetened almond milk is used,” says Justine Chan, RD, CDE. “Add in sugar-free syrup for a flavor boost!”
27. Sugar-Free Jello
Sugar-free jello comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from banana cream to black cherry. Each serving is only 10 calories, Chan explains.
28. Snack-Sized Candy Bars
This is where portion control matters. “Individually wrapped candy bars do the heavy lifting by proportioning your dessert for you,” says Chan. “These snack-sized portions are typically 100 calories or less.”
29. Strawberries Dipped in Dark Chocolate
At 25 calories each, strawberries are low in calories to begin with. Three strawberries dipped in dark chocolate (hello antioxidants!) is under 100 calories, Chan states.
30. Stuffed Strawberries
Core your strawberries after cutting the stems off and fill them with a mixture of low-fat cream cheese and sugar-free sweetener. These will remind you of strawberry cheesecake and will be a great way to stay on track with your calorie intake. One cup of strawberries is about 50 calories and low-fat cream cheese is about 25 calories per 2 tablespoons, saysDr. Nicole Avena, nutrition consultant.
31. Skinny Dipped Almonds
Skinny Dipped creates nuts thinly coated in chocolate that have only 6 grams of sugar and 5 grams of protein! This is a great on-the-go sweet treat or dessert to end your night. They come in a variety of flavors and taste just like original chocolate-covered nuts, without all the calories, Dr. Avena explains. Almonds also contain beneficial fatty acids combined with higher protein content than other nuts.
32. Cottage Cheese and Berries
Cottage cheese may be new to some, but once you try it and create your favorite combination of toppings it’ll be on repeat. Low-fat cottage cheese contains about 90 calories per ½ cup, 13 g of protein, and only around 1 g of fat. Pairing this high-protein snack with a serving of berries for fiber can crush your hunger for hours, says Dr. Avena.
33. Dark Chocolate Bark
Homemade is always best! “Melting your own dark chocolate bark using 85% or more dark chocolate, raw nuts or seeds, and dried fruit set on a baking sheet in the freezer will keep you satiated in a small portion,” Dr. Avena states. “If you’re a chocolate-craver, this hack will help you stay on track. Aim for consuming only one ‘broken’ piece of bark per serving to keep your calories low.”
34. Homemade Sorbet
Frozen fruit can be utilized in a multitude of ways to create low-calorie desserts that are delicious and contain limited amounts of sugar. Blend your favorite fruit (berries, mango, banana, and pineapple are popular options) together with only a little water until smooth and thick. Serve straight from the blender or chilled in the freezer. One serving is around 1 large ice cream scoop, says Dr, Avena.
35. Chia Pudding
Chia seeds are packed with omega 3 fatty acids and fiber. This dessert will keep you full for longer and prevent sugar cravings. Meal prep your chia pudding in the refrigerator with unsweetened nut milk, chia seeds, and sugar-free sweetener of choice, Dr. Avena explains. Top your chia pudding with fresh fruit for a decadent dessert.
36. That’s It Truffles
Satisfy your sweet tooth with these covered raisin truffles. “The ingredients in these are great and they only have 33 calories in each bite. Plus,-there’s only .3g of added sugar in each. What a win!” says Marissa Meshulam, registered dietitian and founder of MPM Nutrition.
37. Siete Foods Mexican Wedding Cookies
Unlike many cookie brands that are packed with calories, Siete’s Mexican wedding cookies are a tasty low calorie alternative. “These cookies are a delicious, nutritious treat with only 90 calories for 3 cookies. Made with wholesome ingredients, these are an A+ in my book,” Meshulam states.
38. A Cadbury Egg
One egg is only 150 calories and will satisfy any chocolate craving you might be having. “I like this choice over others because it has an easy endpoint,” says Allison Sizemore, certified sports nutritionist and online fitness coach. “It is really easy to get a bag of something that might be low calorie, but then eat and eat until you’ve eaten 3 servings. Anything with a clear endpoint is always a good option, especially if you are watching your calories, because it makes it very difficult to overeat.”
39. Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches
The frozen dessert aisle is filled with countless calorie-laden options such as gallon tubs of ice cream, whole pies, and large popsicles. “I love enjoying theseMad Minis ice cream sandwiches,” Mackenzie Burgess, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer atCheerful Choices, explains. “They’re made with real ingredients you can pronounce and contain just 60 calories per bite. It’s a perfect way to enjoy your favorite sweet treat while keeping the calories and portions in check.”
40. Nut and Seed Bars
Whenever I’m craving a healthy dessert but don’t feel like making anything, I reach for theseSea Salt Dark Chocolate bars from Munk Pack. They taste super indulgent but they’re only 150 calories and have less than 1g of sugar. They also contain nourishing ingredients like almonds and pumpkin seeds, Burgess states.
41. Blueberries
Only 80 calories per cup! “Blueberries are one of my favorite fruits to snack on for dessert. As a fruit that’s low in calories, you can feel good about enjoying them as a dessert,” says Burgess. “If you’re craving an extra pop of sweetness, try covering them with vanilla yogurt and freezing.”
42. Protein Mug Cake
Mug cakes can satisfy a sweet craving in a flash. Simply mix and microwave to reveal a perfectly portioned cake for one. Thisprotein-packed mug cake combines simple ingredients like mashed banana, protein powder, and peanut butter, Burgess explains. Healthier mug cake recipes are typically low in calories while packing in protein to help us to feel fuller longer.
43. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is rich in fiber and healthy fats–two nutrients that help fill us up and keeps hunger at bay. “The calories in dark chocolate can add up quickly so I recommend measuring out your chocolate rather than eating straight from the bar or bag. A 1-ounce serving of dark chocolate (about 3 squares or 3 tablespoons of chocolate chips) contains around 170 calories,” says Burgess.
44. Protein Cookies
Want a dessert that doubles as a post-workout snack? These chewyprotein cookies from Naked Nutrition can satisfy any sweet tooth. Plus, they contain just 200 calories and pack in 10 grams of protein (compared to around 1 gram of protein found in a typical cookie), Burgess states.
45. Bliss Bites
Bliss bites, or energy bites, contain a mix of whole food ingredients like dates, dried berries, and nut butter that’s blended together and rolled into snack-sized balls. “I recommend making a large batch and freezing. Then, you can simply pop a couple out to thaw when you’re in need of a naturally sweetened dessert,” says Burgess.
46. Avocado Truffles
Another easy healthier treat is dark chocolate avocado truffles. Simply mash together avocados and melted chocolate. Then, roll in any toppings you like such as freeze-dried strawberries, shredded coconut, cocoa powder, or chopped nuts, Burgess explains. The heart-healthy unsaturated fats from the avocado make it a great alternative to calorie-laden heavy cream typically found in truffles.
47. Nice Cream
If you like the consistency of ice cream, but want a lower calorie option try nice cream. “When you blend frozen bananas, you’re left with an ice cream-like consistency and vegan-friendly dessert known as ‘nice cream,’ Burgess states. “Since this dessert uses bananas as a base, it’s typically much lower in calories and sugar. When blending, feel free to add any low-calorie additions into the mix like powdered peanut butter or strawberries.”
48. Chocolate Tahini
If you’re a sucker for Nutella, you gotta give thisChocolate Tahini from Soom a try. “It contains just three ingredients—protein-packed sesame seeds, cocoa powder, and a touch of cane sugar. With just over 80 calories per tablespoon, I love to enjoy a spoonful as a quick, satisfying dessert,” says Burgess.
49. Cookies Made with Greek Yogurt
“It’s a secret ingredient I use in my cookies instead of oil or butter. It makes the cookies fluffy and chewy and saves calories,” Chef Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, CD, FAND, explains.
50. Grilled Fruit
Cut large pieces of fruit, like nectarines, peaches, plums or pineapple and place them on the grill until they have grill marks and are warmed through, Andrews explains. Serve with frozen yogurt to make the perfect summer dessert.
51. Baked Doughnuts
By making your own donut batter and baking them, you save a ton of fat and calories. “I love making my donuts with whole grain flour, lots of spices and pureed fruit, like pumpkin.8. Mini cupcakes. Just by making your favorite cupcake into a mini size, you can save a ton of calories! Enjoy every tiny bite,” Andrews states.
52. Mini Cupcakes
Just by making your favorite cupcake into a mini size, you can save a ton of calories! Enjoy every tiny bite, Andrews explains. Next up: 19 No-Sugar-Added Fresh Berry Dessert Recipes
Sources
Liana Werner-Gray, certified nutritionist, natural food chef and authorJay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, ASYSTEM’s Registered Nutritionist and Director of FormulationsBlanca Garcia, registered dietitian nutritionistJustine Chan, RD, CDEDr. Nicole Avena, nutrition consultantMarissa Meshulam, registered dietitian and founder of MPM NutritionAllison Sizemore, certified sports nutritionist and online fitness coachMackenzie Burgess, RDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices
