66 Healthy Desserts to Satisfy Every Craving

From lightened-up cheesecake and brownies to tempting fruit desserts, you can feel good about treating yourself to these sweet bites.

December 16, 2022

By: Food Network Kitchen

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Better-for-You Options

Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean giving up all the foods you love — not even desserts! Whether you make smart swaps like using fruit to sweeten your baked goods, rely on clever baking hacks or reach for treats that are low in carbs, there are plenty of ways to incorporate sweets into your healthy eating plan. Take this bright, lemony pound cake, for example. Heart-healthy olive oil and protein-rich Greek yogurt take the place of butter. Egg whites also help reduce calories, fat and cholesterol, and whole-wheat flour boosts fiber. You’ll end up with a classic pound cake — that you can feel good about indulging in!

Get the Recipe: Lemony Yogurt Pound Cake

No-Bake Peanut Butter-Chocolate Bars

These creamy bars contain natural peanut butter and Greek yogurt, plus a chocolate-cookie crust. No baking is necessary; the dessert sets in the refrigerator.

Get the Recipe: Healthy No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars

Marbled Banana Bread

Save your ripe bananas for this chocolatey cake. Melted chocolate swirled into the batter gives you chocolate in every bite.

Get the Recipe: Marbled Banana Bread

Baked Apples with Oatmeal and Yogurt

Bobby Flay dresses up in-season apples with fall spices and light brown sugar. Top each with steel-cut oatmeal and low-fat Greek yogurt, then finish them off with an apple cider reduction.

Get the Recipe: Baked Apples with Oatmeal and Yogurt

Low-Fat Cheesecake

The secret to a low-fat cheesecake that still tastes rich and creamy? A combination of Neufchatel cheese (a French cheese that is naturally low in fat), reduced-fat sour cream and fat-free cream cheese.

Get the Recipe: Low-Fat Cheesecake

Crunchy Peanut Butter Thins

These crunchy little cookies are a satisfying alternative to regular peanut butter cookies. Chia seeds are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids — look for them in specialty health food stores if you don't see them in the regular grocery store.

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Peanut Butter Thins

Made-Over Deep Dish Brownies

These fudgy brownies get their deep flavor from a combination of semisweet chocolate, cocoa powder and coffee.

Get the Recipe: Made-Over Deep Dish Brownies

Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

Whenever you're in need of a quick dessert, whip these up with vanilla wafer cookies and whatever frozen yogurt you have in the freezer.

Get the Recipe: Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

Alton Brown 's Angel Food Cake

Alton adds orange extract to his angel food cake for a citrusy variation on this classically low-fat dessert.

Get the Recipe: Angel Food Cake

Lemon Icebox Bars

Ellie Krieger's version of these classic, cool dessert bars is made with low-fat cream cheese and fat-free sweetened condensed milk, so they've got the creaminess you expect, without all the fat.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Icebox Bars

Mascarpone Mini Cupcakes

Mascarpone cheese adds creaminess to white cake mix for Giada De Laurentiis' shortcut cupcakes topped with a deceptively simple strawberry glaze.

Get the Recipe: Mascarpone Mini Cupcakes with Strawberry Glaze

Broiled Banana Splits

Top a caramelized, broiled banana with berries, toasted almonds, chocolate and frozen yogurt for an upscale, better-for-you take on the ice cream parlor classic.

Get the Recipe: Broiled Banana Splits

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ellie's carrot cupcakes are super-moist thanks to applesauce hidden in the batter.

Get the Recipe: Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Brulee Cheesecake

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice give this cheesecake its flavor, and reduced-fat cream cheese and Greek yogurt ensure that it has all the creaminess of a traditional cheesecake with a fraction of the fat.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Brulee Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Mousse

This dairy-free dessert gets its creaminess from a surprise ingredient: silken tofu.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Mousse

Slow-Cooker Coconut Rice Pudding

Rice's natural starch (helped along with a bit of coconut milk) turns into creamy, surprisingly light rice pudding with sweet floral flavor from coconut water. Set out a toppings bar of dried fruits, toasted nuts, shredded coconut and seeds, and let everyone personalize their own bowl.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Coconut Brown Rice Pudding

Lemon Cake with Lemon Meringue Frosting

Food Network Kitchen created this lightened-up recipe from a user submission. The citrusy cake is filled with a layer of fresh raspberries and a light meringue frosting.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Cake with Lemon Meringue Frosting

Blueberry Bread and Rice Pudding with Orange Caramel Sauce

This pudding combo uses both rice and sweet Hawaiian bread (with a blast of blueberries, orange zest and juice) for texture and flavor, with evaporated milk for richness without the fat. You'd never know it was fewer than 300 calories per serving!

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Bread and Rice Pudding with Orange Caramel Sauce

Puffed Millet and Brown Rice Treats

The nutty flavor and varied textures of chewy puffed millet, crunchy brown rice and a touch of honey come together with a little marshmallow for a more complex version of your standard rice cereal treat.

Get the Recipe: Puffed Millet and Brown Rice Treats

Malted Chocolate Pudding Cake

Dutch processed cocoa has all the rich flavor of unsweetened cocoa powder without the bitter aftertaste, making it a perfect choice for this malted chocolate cake that makes its own fudgy sauce.

Get the Recipe: Malted Chocolate Pudding Cake

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Apple butter adds moisture, flavor and sweetness to these cakey cookies.

Get the Recipe: Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Cheesecake Brownies

These marbled brownies combine two decadent treats, lightened up. The cheesecake layer is made with reduced-fat cream cheese while low-fat buttermilk keeps the brownie base moist and fudgy.

Get the Recipe: Lighter Cheesecake Brownies

Decadent Chocolate Cake

Low-fat Greek yogurt is the secret ingredient that keeps this cake especially moist.

Get the Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Cake

No-Bake Chewy Truffle Cookies

These chewy little cookies start with dried dates for a natural sweetness, then get mixed with some cocoa, reduced-fat peanut butter and ground whole-wheat graham crackers for a quick and satisfying treat.

Get the Recipe: No Bake Chewy Truffle Cookies

Honey Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Ellie cuts down on the butter in these cookies by using almond butter, which gives them a hint of nutty flavor.

Get the Recipe: Honey Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Double-Chocolate Brownies

Ellie gives her brownies a double dose of chocolate with bittersweet and cocoa powder. Low-fat yogurt makes the brownies extra fudgy.

Get the Recipe: Ellie Krieger's Double-Chocolate Brownies

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Try a cool new take on pumpkin pie: This one is made with vanilla frozen yogurt and sets in the freezer, like an ice cream cake.

Get the Recipe: Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Rustic Apple and Dried Cherry Pie

Guests will love this easy freeform apple pie studded with sweet-tart cherries.

Get the Recipe: Rustic Apple Pie with Dried Cherries

Berry Easy Dessert

This light, fresh dessert made with Greek yogurt and juicy berries is the perfect sweet finish to a weeknight meal.

Get the Recipe: Berry Easy Dessert

Mini Olive Oil Cakes with Lemon Glaze

Using extra virgin olive oil in these cakes gives them an earthier flavor that is freshened up by the tangy lemon glaze.

Get the Recipe: Mini Olive Oil Cakes with Lemon Glaze

Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Ellie's comforting rice pudding is made with two-percent milk and sweetened with honey for a satisfying treat that won't weigh you down.

Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Berry Brown Betty

This dessert lets fruit shine, with the sweet crunch of crushed sugar cones to round it all out.

Get the Recipe: Apple-Berry Brown Betty

Blackberry-Grape Topping

Skip store-bought sundae toppings — making your own fruit topping is simple and quick. All you need are blackberries, grapes and a bit of sugar.

Get the Recipe: Blackberry-Grape Sundaes

Melissa d'Arabian's Homemade Yogurt

Melissa’s homemade thick and tangy yogurt pairs perfectly with her simple apple compote.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Yogurt With Apple Compote

Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

These chewy-crispy whole-grain cookies are only 110 calories each and use a little applesauce to replace some of the fat. Challenge your friends and family to see if they can tell!

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Flu-Fighter Cookies

These cookies are full of spices, dried fruit and other goodies, so every bite has maximum vitamin kick.

Get the Recipe: Flu-Fighter Cookies

Giada's Lemon Thyme Bars

Thyme adds delicate flavor to Giada's light and tangy lemon bars.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Thyme Bars

Devil's Food Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

The swirl on top of Ellie's chocolate cupcakes makes them look like they're store-bought, but they're free of preservatives and made with whole-grain flour, so you can snack like you're a kid again, without feeling the guilt.

Get the Recipe: Devil's Food Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

Banana Pudding

Almond milk gives this pudding a subtlely sweet, nutty flavor, while bananas and sliced almonds add interesting texture.

Get the Recipe: Banana Pudding

Giada's Individual Orange and Chocolate Cheesecakes

These perfectly portioned cheesecakes are topped with grated orange zest for a boost of bright flavor.

Get the Recipe: Individual Orange and Chocolate Cheesecakes

Strawberry Parfaits

Crumbled gingersnaps add unexpected spice and crunch to this simple parfait.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Parfaits

Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes

Canola oil takes the place of butter in these cupcakes, making them lower in saturated fat while keeping the crumb moist. The frosting is simply sweetened reduced-fat cream cheese, but it's plenty tasty.

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes

Ellie's Balsamic Strawberries with Ricotta Cream

Reducing balsamic vinegar with a little bit of sugar brings out a sweet and tangy flavor that goes perfectly with tart strawberries and creamy ricotta.

Get the Recipe: Balsamic Strawberries with Ricotta Cream

Mini Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze

Whole-wheat flour and Greek yogurt keep these cakes flavorful and moist while adding fiber and protein. Each cake gets 1 teaspoon of sweet cream cheese glaze — far fewer calories than the multiple tablespoons of frosting piled onto your typical cupcake.

Get the Recipe: Mini Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze

Almost-Famous Frozen Yogurt

A combination of whole-milk yogurt and reduced-fat Greek yogurt creates a light, airy and tangy homemade fro-yo.

Get the Recipe: Almost-Famous Frozen Yogurt

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Thanks to some healthy swap-outs, Ellie's fruity, nutty coffee cake comes in at just 210 calories per serving.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Coffee Cake

Chocolate Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting

Incorporating pureed prunes leaves these cupcakes ultra-moist; you won’t even taste the prunes in these chocolaty, frosted cupcakes.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes With Meringue Frosting

Raspberry Vanilla Tartlettes

You can also top these little tarts with blueberries, sliced strawberries, or sliced bananas.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry Vanilla Tartlets

Orange Sherbet

No fancy ingredients required for this dessert: Just milk, citrus, vanilla extract, sugar and salt. Freshly squeezed orange juice and a good amount of orange zest give the sherbet its refreshing flavor.

Get the Recipe: Orange Sherbet

Oatmeal-Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kids may be able to identify the oats in these chewy cookies, but they'll never guess there's another good-for-you ingredient in there: ground flax seeds.

Get the Recipe: Oatmeal-Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate-Hazelnut Drop Cookies

These five-ingredient cookies couldn't be easier (or tastier): The batter is made with a mix of chocolate-hazelnut spread, butter, flour, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Each cookie is just 104 calories.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Drop Cookies

Banana Cream Pie

Velvety vanilla pudding and sliced bananas in a lightened-up graham cracker crust make for a special dessert with only 215 calories per serving.

Get the Recipe: Banana Cream Pie

Chocolate Fondue

Chocolate fondue is a satisfying end to just about any meal. In Ellie's recipe, cocoa powder and evaporated milk come together to create a dark and delicious dip for fresh fruit.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Fondue

Sauteed Bananas with Tangy Sweet Cream

For a healthy after-dinner treat, Melissa serves sweet, caramelized bananas with her Tangy Sweet Cream, a combination of sour cream, brown sugar, cinnamon and orange zest.

Get the Recipe: Sauteed Bananas with Tangy Sweet Cream

Lemon-Yogurt Mousse

Whipped egg whites, low-fat Greek yogurt, and fresh lemon juice and zest come together for an ultralight and airy mousse.

Get the Recipe: Lemon-Yogurt Mousse

Giada's Lavender and Lemon Cookies

Honey and lavender give these eggless cookies a thick floral flavor. Arrowroot, a type of starch, acts in place of eggs as these sweet morsels' binding ingredient.

Get the Recipe: Lavender and Lemon Cookies

Apple Muffins

Replacing butter with applesauce in these muffins doesn't just make them more nutritious — it also makes them moist and deepens their apple flavor.

Get the Recipe: Apple Muffins

Vegan Banana Bread

This is an eggless and dairy-free banana bread, but you'll hardly notice the difference. The crumb is moist and tender, and the flavor gets better each day (if it lasts!).

Get the Recipe: Vegan Banana Bread

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

These muffins are just as satisfying as regular muffins, with the same sweet, tender crumb. You can use fresh or frozen blueberries; the fresh blueberries may make the muffins slightly moister.

Get the Recipe: Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake

Cinnamon-y pita chips take the place of the usual graham crackers for the crust in this uber-satisfying cheesecake (with only 12 grams of fat per slice!). It's so creamy and tangy, you may never need to make full-fat cheesecake again.

Get the Recipe: Greek Yogurt Cheesecake

Whole-Grain Caramel Apple Oven Pancake

This high-fiber, low-fat breakfast dish is a crowd-pleaser. It's sweet and tender and quicker to make than individual pancakes. Try it with just a dusting of confectioners' sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Caramel Apple Oven Pancake

Whole-Grain Pumpkin Scones

Whole-wheat pastry flour is the key ingredient in these sweet, spice-scented high-fiber scones. It's milled from a softer wheat than is used in regular whole-wheat flour, which results in tender, lighter baked goods.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Pumpkin Scones

Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins

These whole-wheat muffins are lower in fat than regular, partly thanks to reduced-fat sour cream, which also adds wonderful tenderness and flavor.

Get the Recipe: Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins

Chocolate-Chia Pudding

Chia seeds give this super-chocolaty pudding a satisfyingly rich texture.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Chia Pudding

Mini Carrot-Apple Cupcakes

These mini cupcakes are topped with just a touch of cream cheese frosting. Giada uses dark brown sugar, which has a lot of molasses flavor to pair well with the apples and carrots.

Get the Recipe: Mini Carrot-Apple Cupcakes

Fruity Oat Squares

These fruity squares are simple to prepare with only seven ingredients.

Get the Recipe: Jam-and-Oat Squares

On Tonight

Healthy Every Week

66 Healthy Desserts to Satisfy Every Craving

Related To:

Better-for-You Options

No-Bake Peanut Butter-Chocolate Bars

Marbled Banana Bread

Baked Apples with Oatmeal and Yogurt

Low-Fat Cheesecake

Crunchy Peanut Butter Thins

Made-Over Deep Dish Brownies

Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

Alton Brown 's Angel Food Cake

Lemon Icebox Bars

Mascarpone Mini Cupcakes

Broiled Banana Splits

Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin Brulee Cheesecake

Peanut Butter Mousse

Slow-Cooker Coconut Rice Pudding

Lemon Cake with Lemon Meringue Frosting

Blueberry Bread and Rice Pudding with Orange Caramel Sauce

Puffed Millet and Brown Rice Treats

Malted Chocolate Pudding Cake

Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Cheesecake Brownies

Decadent Chocolate Cake

No-Bake Chewy Truffle Cookies

Honey Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Double-Chocolate Brownies

Frozen Pumpkin Mousse Pie

Rustic Apple and Dried Cherry Pie

Berry Easy Dessert

Mini Olive Oil Cakes with Lemon Glaze

Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Berry Brown Betty

Blackberry-Grape Topping

Melissa d'Arabian's Homemade Yogurt

Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Flu-Fighter Cookies

Giada's Lemon Thyme Bars

Devil's Food Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

Banana Pudding

Giada's Individual Orange and Chocolate Cheesecakes

Strawberry Parfaits

Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes

Ellie's Balsamic Strawberries with Ricotta Cream

Mini Carrot Cakes with Cream Cheese Glaze

Almost-Famous Frozen Yogurt

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Chocolate Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting

Raspberry Vanilla Tartlettes

Orange Sherbet

Oatmeal-Flax Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate-Hazelnut Drop Cookies

Banana Cream Pie

Chocolate Fondue

Sauteed Bananas with Tangy Sweet Cream

Lemon-Yogurt Mousse

Giada's Lavender and Lemon Cookies

Apple Muffins

Vegan Banana Bread

Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Greek Yogurt Cheesecake

Whole-Grain Caramel Apple Oven Pancake

Whole-Grain Pumpkin Scones

Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins

Chocolate-Chia Pudding

Mini Carrot-Apple Cupcakes

Fruity Oat Squares

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