10 low-calorie desserts that taste anything but boring

Scroll through any weight loss hashtag, thread or blog, and often the first bit of diet advice you’ll read is it’s time to scrap the sweets. Whether you’re soft for sponge cake, craving white chocolate or can never quite resist the taste of tiramisu, dessert can be a hard thing to give up for anyone with a sweet tooth, and the bad rap it gets online can feel like an obstacle to even starting on your weight loss journey.

But what if we told you that maintaining a healthy diet doesn’t mean you have to skip dessert?

In fact, not only are there plenty of low-calorie dessert recipes out there, but there are even recipes that offer healthy versions of some of your staple favourites. So, if you love chocolate, don’t worry, there are healthy dessert recipes for you.  

Is there such a thing as a low-calorie dessert?

Lucky for all of us with a sweet tooth, there are actually plenty of options for low-calorie desserts that aren’t just going to sate the cravings, but will be a delicious and nutritious end to a healthy meal.

In particular, dieticians recommend what’s known as "the three pleasures": fruit, nuts and dark chocolate [2]. These diverse, flavourful foods offer not just a sweet snack, but are rich in antioxidants, protein, vitamins and minerals, meaning they support your heart health, immune system, digestive system and brain health too [4].

What is the lowest-calorie dessert you can eat?

The lowest-calorie dessert you can eat is largely thought to be sugar-free jelly. This light dessert only contains 12 calories per 60grams [3], making it a great option for anyone looking to lose weight and still satisfy their cravings.

That said, jelly alone doesn't exactly fit the criteria of "the three pleasures", and it rarely offers much in the way of nutritional value either, so pairing it with some fresh fruit can be a good way to make this dish a little healthier.

What foods are sweet but have no calories?

Very few foods have zero calories, but many fruits, in particular, are so low-calorie that they're often regarded as such.

Apples, papaya, watermelon and berries in particular are considered to have negligible calories while being rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, although some of these are also high in natural sugars, meaning they might not always be right for you.

10 easy low-calorie dessert ideas

When it comes to healthy eating, you're always best off making it yourself where you can, and healthy desserts are no different.

By making it yourself, you can avoid artificial sweeteners, saturated fats and control exactly what goes into what you eat. This gives you the power to manage your own ingredients, flavours, and portion sizes, but it can also assist you in meal prepping for the week.

So, here are ten healthy dessert recipe ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth without disrupting your diet.

1. Dark chocolate-dipped fruits

Dipping strawberries in milk chocolate is often seen as a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day, but melting down some dark chocolate to scoop up with some banana or berries makes for a perfect healthy dessert year-round [1]. Easy to make, high in nutritious fibre, and most importantly, delicious, this dessert is always a crowd pleaser.  

2. Ice cream, sorbet or granita

While ice cream might not be the first dessert that comes to mind when considering weight loss, homemade sorbets or granitas with simple ingredients like rhubarb, raspberry, mint, or lemon can be the perfect way to indulge without straying too far off course.

If you’re looking for something a little creamier for your sweet treat, though, why not experiment with some vegan ice creams? These gluten-free, dairy-free desserts use frozen banana to create that velvety vibe, and paired with some dark chocolate chips, can really satisfy those creamy cravings.

3. Puddings

Traditional puddings can sometimes be considered out of vogue these days, but the simple and delicious delight of packing up a basin mould with a little sugar and bread and a healthy hit of blueberries is hard to beat. Serve it with a dollop of low-fat cream and a dusting of icing sugar, and you could even serve this one up at dinner parties.

4. Easy mug cakes

Mug cakes are often a staple on recipe blogs, being quick, easy and a contained serve that stops you ducking back for that second slice. There are plenty of recipes out there, but finding ones that use maple syrup or honey instead of sugar, cacao powder instead of cocoa powder, and almond meal instead of flour can offer up a healthier alternative to a heavier cake.  

5. Yoghurt barks

Summery and sweet, yoghurt bark is often a prized afternoon treat for kids in the warmer months, but this simple dessert, involving Greek yoghurt, jam, and fruit frozen into a slice, offers a versatile and low-calorie dessert to complement any healthy eating plan. You can also mix up the flavours by adding dark chocolate, nut butter, chopped nuts, granola or coconut chips to give yourself a little more variety.

6. Balls and bites

Head into any health store and you’ll likely see a range of individually packeted protein balls or energy balls made up of a mix of oatmeal, peanut butter and dates. While these tasty snacks can be a great way to get moving or fill your stomach before or after a workout, they’re also easy to make and to sweeten up for a dessert.

In particular, mixing them up with pistachio and cranberries or strawberries and dark chocolate can make them a perfect way to finish a meal. The nature of balls and bites, too, is that they’re easy to make in batches, setting you up for the week ahead.

7. Muffins

A favourite breakfast treat, muffins are often criticised for being high in sugar and big on butter, but there are plenty of ways to make your muffins healthier, turning them from a weight loss no-no to a staple of your healthy eating meal plan.

When looking for recipes, focus on ones that have a wide variety of fruit and nuts in them, use a whole wheat flour or rolled oats, that substitute some of the sugar for an unsweetened applesauce and vanilla extract, and use low-fat milk, cream cheese or yogurt.

8. No-bake slices

Another one you can make ahead, a no-bake slice puts the ease into easy, healthy eating. Plus, it’s versatile – if you’re feeling festive or looking for something rich, try it with cherries and dark chocolate, or if you’re seeking something light and summery, why not make it a lemon and coconut slice?

There is a no-bake slice dessert recipe to suit any season or mood, making it a year-round staple on any sweet tooth-inspired weight loss meal plan.

9. Brownies and blondies

Whether you like the texture fluffy, fudgy or cakey, brownies and blondies are always a popular dessert option at the bakery, cafe or at home. Generally speaking, though, they’re high in sugar and saturated fat, making them less than ideal for anyone trying to lose weight.

That said, there are ways to make this dessert a healthier option, in particular by taking out the oil and replacing it with Greek yogurt, replacing your milk chocolate with dark chocolate and reducing the amount of sugar you use.

While a rounded all-purpose flour won’t lead you astray, you can also build up your fibre intake with a healthy wheat flour or oat flour to give you that extra nutritional boost.

10. Cookies and dough

Whether you like your biscuits cooked or prefer to eat the dough straight from the bowl, cookies are the sweet treat that you can have with your tea or coffee to see you through the rest of your day, making them a hard one to give up.

That said, there are plenty of ways to introduce a healthier version of your favourite biscuit into your life, in particular by finding ones made with applesauce and either brown sugar or honey instead of caster sugar or other sweeteners.

Again, the trick is also in moderation, so making them ahead and ensuring you only have one or two per serve will go a long way to supporting your weight loss journey.

Finding a nutritional balance

While substituting full-fat ingredients for ones lower in calories is a great way to support weight loss, it's important to remember that your body still needs healthy fats to function. Don't be afraid to sometimes stick with your full cream milk or to use regular butter over nut butter or all-purpose flour over oat flour.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that's sustainable and keeps the smile on your face is about finding the right balance and ensuring you don't hold yourself to a standard that will be impossible to maintain. Moderation and honesty are the keys.

If you're looking for more recipe advice, Juniper is here for you.

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