Sweet Treats! Diet-Friendly Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

Moist Honey Carrot Cookies

So soft and fluffy, you won’t believe they’re healthier than regular cookies! Keep cookies fresh by storing them in a sealed container or cookie jar along with a slice of bread. The bread will help keep them soft for twice as long!

• Cuisine: American;
• Category: Desserts;
• Serves: 4-6;
• Prep Time: 10 min;
• Cook time: 25 min;
• Nutrition Per Serving: 111.1;

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup raw or clover honey
• 1 whole egg (large)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Zest of one lemon
• Zest of one orange
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 ¼ cups grated carrots

Directions:

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside. Using a stand or hand mixer, cream together the butter and honey. Add egg, vanilla, and citrus zests. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined. Stir in shredded carrots.

Drop dough by heaping teaspoons onto a cookie sheet that’s been coated with nonstick spray. Bake for 13-15 minutes at 375, or until edges just begin to turn brown.

Try This! Turn this easy recipe into carrot cake cookies by adding golden raisins, chopped pecans (or walnuts) and a pinch of allspice when you stir in the carrots.

Awesome Brownies

Packed with rich chocolaty flavor, you’d never guess these brownies were lower in fat, calories and carbs than regular brownies!

• Cuisine: American;
• Category: Desserts;
• Serves: 4-6;
• Prep Time: 10 min;
• Cook time: 45 min;
• Nutrition Per Serving: 330;

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 whole eggs (or 3 egg whites)
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. Spray brownie pan (or 8 inch square cake pan) with nonstick spray and set aside.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan (or in microwave) and then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, and then stir in vanilla, honey, eggs, applesauce and sugar. Combine well and then stir in cocoa powder, flour, salt, baking powder and pecans. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly, but not completely dry.

Try This! For delicious rocky road brownies, replace pecans with chopped almonds and dark chocolate chips, and make a frosting by combining 3 tablespoons softened butter, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 ½ tablespoons honey, and ¼ cup powdered sugar. Beat well and use to frost warm brownies.

Lemon Cinnamon Fruit Salad

The tangy lemon cinnamon syrup in this salad goes well with all types of fruit. Feel free to mix it up with whatever is in season.

• Cuisine: American;
• Category: Desserts,Salad;
• Serves: 4-6;
• Prep Time: 20 min;
• Cook time: 1 hr 30 min;
• Nutrition Per Serving: 150;

Ingredients:

• ½ cup water
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 (3 inch) strips of lemon peel
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 mango, peeled and diced
• 1 white peach, peeled and diced
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• Freshly chopped mint

Directions:

Combine sugar, water, lemon peel, lemon juice and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes. Strain and refrigerate for at least an hour.

In a bowl or trifle dish, place the diced fruits and berries. Drizzle with syrup and add mint. Toss gently to combine.

Try This! Mix and match flavors to make different types of syrup to go with the kind of fruit you like. Try a citrus syrup by omitting the cinnamon and adding lime, orange and tangerine peel before boiling.

Better Poached Pears

Bosc pears work especially well in this recipe, as their natural sweetness lends itself well to creating a flavorful syrup. These pears make an elegant dessert for dinner parties, as well. Serve with a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a scoop of French vanilla ice cream.

• Cuisine: American;
• Category: Desserts;
• Serves: 2-4;
• Prep Time: 10 min;
• Cook time: 45 min;
• Nutrition Per Serving: 260;

Ingredients:

• 4 pears, peeled and sliced
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 whole vanilla bean, split.
• ¼ cup orange liquor
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

Place the pear slices in a saucepan. Cover with cool water, making sure that the water is about an inch over the pears. Add sugar, vanilla bean and salt and simmer for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the water has condensed down to a light syrup. Remove from heat and add liquor. Serve warm.

Peanut Butter Crunch Pie

With all the flavors of peanut butter cup candies, we dare anyone to notice that this decadent pie is actually light on calories! This pie tastes even better after it’s been frozen. Try leaving it in the freezer overnight for a cool and creamy treat.

• Cuisine: American;
• Category: Desserts;
• Serves: 4-6;
• Prep Time: 15 min;
• Cook time: 1 hr;
• Nutrition Per Serving: 270;

Ingredients:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ½ cup crunchy, all natural reduced fat peanut butter
• ½ block (4 oz) non-fat cream cheese
• ½ can fat free sweetened condensed milk
• 1 reduced fat graham cracker pie crust
• 6 oz fat free whipped topping, thawed
• Fat free chocolate syrup

Directions:

Combine sugar, peanut butter and cream cheese in a bowl. Beat, using a hand mixer, until creamy. Add condensed milk and mix well. Fold in whipped topping and pour onto crust. Refrigerate overnight. Drizzle with chocolate syrup before serving.
More: 10 Delicious Gluten-Free Desserts

When you are trying to drop weight or simply stay fit, it’s hard to find delicious yet diet-friendly desserts that your kids will love too. Give the aforementioned desserts a try and you will instantly satisfy your sweet tooth without wrecking your healthy eating plan. Which dessert are you going to try first?