Often when people think of healthy desserts, they picture a plate of uninspiring copycat treats.
The thing about these so-called healthy desserts is that they often fail to satisfy your craving.
A nagginglack of satisfactionthat keeps you hungering for the sweetness youre really after.
Jeanine Donofrio viaLove and Lemons
(More on how we generally think abouthealthy eatingat SELF below.)
Or a moist and fluffy cake that also happens to be filled withvitamin-rich sweet potatoes.
And lots of your favorites dont need tweaking at all.
), and can be adapted to fit gluten-free or vegan diets.
We also threw in a few that focus more on decadence than nutritionbecause thats just what you need sometimes.
A note about the wordhealthyhere: We know that healthy is acomplicated concept.
Some of those foods might fall into conventional ideas of what healthy is.
And some might not.
Save the extras for dessert tomorrow night!
And be sure to use bananas that have a bit of brown on them for best results.
Feel free to use frozen puff pastry or pie dough if you dont feel like making your own.
Though its specific to pears, you might use the same principles to poach apples as well.
Especially when caramelized and paired with earthy pecans and warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Swap in whatever fruit you do have.
(No cast-iron skillet?
Another heavy-bottomed pan or casserole dish will do the trick just as well.)
Chocolate-Covered RaspberriesfromEating Bird Food
These bite-size frozen treats are ideal for munching on after dinner.
Expect a delightfully seedy texture from a few spoonfuls of poppy seeds.
Use store-bought dough for the bottom crust to save yourself even more energy.
What better way to start your day than with cake?
Swap out the cream cheese for a dairy-free alternative to make it vegan too!
Top with chopped nuts or a scoop of ice cream.
Sweet, crunchy meringues are simply the perfect counterpart to all that tart, juicy, vitamin C-packed fruit.
Eat with a refreshing glass of milk or a plant-based alternative to balance out all the richness.
They can be made with with all-purpose, white whole-wheat, or regular whole-wheat flour.
This recipe plays off the fruity and nutty aspects of the oil by pairing it with ground pistachios.
It might even take the place of your trail mix before you know it!
Vegan Rasmalai CakefromVegan Richa
Rasmalai is popular in the Bengali region of the Indian subcontinent around Diwali.
Crunchy, creamy, salty, and sweet, this dessert can satisfy just about any craving.
(Swap in gluten-free pretzels and/or dairy-free ice cream if needed.)
This recipe is packed with polenta, fresh corn kernels, whole milk, and caramelized fruit.
During the summer, swap apples and pears for ripe berries or plums.
(If you haveceliac disease, double-check the oats have a GF certification.)
Vegan Panna CottafromLive Eat Learn
Though impressive-looking, panna cotta isnt actually very difficult to make.
And with an Instant Pot, it doesnt have to take that long to cook either.
This particular recipe needs only 10 minutes of active cooking.
Pecan Pie BarsfromAmbitious Kitchen
Thanksgiving may be a memory, but were still thinking about pecan pie.
And unlike the traditional pie, these maple syrup-sweetened bars happen to be vegan- and GF-friendly.
Make the crust from scratch or use a store-bought alternative to cut prep time in half.
Matcha Swiss RollfromJust One Cookbook
Matcha, a Japanese green tea powder, is full ofantioxidantsand flavor.
Its full of protein and calcium and some people find it easier to digest than cows milk.
And absolutely dont skip the sweet rice flourthis ingredient is essential for preventing sticking!
