These 20+ healthy dessert recipes use a lineup of wholesome ingredients while still satisfying your sweet tooth. Indulge in texture-filled dessert bars, decadent flourless chocolate peanut butter cookies, refreshing yogurt-based popsicles, and more with this list of lightened-up favorites!
Healthier Dessert Recipes
Yes, you are on a baking website with lots of butter and sugar-filled treats! But while my site focuses mainly on traditional dessert recipes, I also have a good handful of healthier recipes, and they’re usually what I bake the most often.
I’ve spent quite some time in the kitchen developing recipes that incorporate more wholesome ingredientsโthink oats, fruit, nuts, yogurt, and unrefined sugars. Obviously not the healthiest, but much less refined. Things like this are important for anyone trying to eat more whole foods, or anyone who may have allergies to gluten or dairy.
The recipes on this page, while on the healthier side, still hit the spot when you’re looking for a bite of something sweet. Flavor and funโtwo things I simply won’t skimp on!
Keep this list of 20+ healthy dessert recipes handy for the next time you’re looking for a sweet treat that’s more wholesome than, say, a piece of chocolate cake. Instead, try my chocolate coconut almond tart. It’s naturally vegan and gluten free, and I promise you won’t be bothered by the absence of butter and flour.
Or enjoy the natural sweetness of fresh fruit atop my no-bake Greek yogurt fruit tart. In addition to being a lighter dessert option, I love serving this at breakfast or brunch, too.
I hope you find some wholesome inspiration below. For even more healthier recipe ideas, I have 30+ healthy breakfast ideas for you, too.
What Makes a Recipe “Healthy”?
When labeling a recipe as “healthy,” remember that the term is relative. Like my healthy berry streusel bars and no-bake chocolate fudge oat bars, many of these recipes are made with healthier alternatives to traditional baking ingredients but still include some sugar (refined or unrefined). When it comes to labeling recipes as healthy, use the best judgement for YOU.
22 Healthy Dessert Recipes
Healthy Berry Streusel Bars
These easy healthy berry streusel bars combine 2 layers of almond oat streusel and one thick layer of mixed berry filling, using your favorite combination of berries.
No-Bake Greek Yogurt Fruit Tart (GF)
This wholesome Greek yogurt fruit tart comes together with a simple 3-ingredient crust, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and all your favorite seasonal fresh fruits.
Healthier Chocolate Almond Truffles
Sweeten the filling with dates and cover in dark chocolate, or you could even roll them in cocoa powder.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
Pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal bars are soft and chewy with satisfying pumpkin flavor. An obvious fall favorite, but they’re sure to be enjoyed any time you can get your hands on pumpkin puree!
Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (GF)
Almond butter chocolate chip cookies are simple and satisfying, and you need just 5 simple ingredients. You won’t miss the butter and flour in these naturally gluten free cookies.
Baked Apples Recipe
Like individually portioned apple crisp, baked apples are great for a small family and you easily can halve or double the recipe as needed.
Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups
You need just 1 bowl and some simple, wholesome ingredients to make these healthy-ish chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups. Theyโre ready in about 30 minutes and can double as an on-the-go breakfast or end-of-day treat.
No-Bake Chocolate Fudge Oat Bars
Enjoy a delightful combination of chewy-crispy-crunchy textures and salty-sweet chocolate-peanut butter flavors in every bite of these oat-based bars.
Maple Vanilla Baked Pears
You only need 4 ingredients to make these incredibly simple maple vanilla baked pears. They’re cooked until warm and soft, completely infused with maple and vanilla, and topped with crunchy granola.
Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
Out of all the recipes published on my website, I make theseย peanut butter banana chocolate chip oatmeal barsย most often. They’re naturally gluten free, adaptable to many different ingredients, and require just 1 mixing bowl.
Blueberry Yogurt Swirl Popsicles
These super simple, protein-packed 3-ingredient blueberry yogurt swirl popsicles are naturally gluten free and hit the spot when the weather heats up. Kids love them, too.
No-Bake Chewy Coconut Granola Bars
Sweet and salty no-bake coconut granola bars are soft, chewy, and pack huge flavorโand taste like Almond Joy candy bars!
Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This is dense, fudgy, and packed with a whopping 1 and 1/2 cups of shredded zucchini. This is certainly a sugary treat, but even with Greek yogurt and a vegetable, can also satisfy those chocolate cake or brownie cravings.
Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Granola Bars
These super soft and chewy oatmeal granola bars taste just like oatmeal raisin cookies, but are made with unrefined sugars and whole wheat flour. An easy 1-bowl recipe.
Healthier Chocolate Banana Muffins
Enjoy all of the rich chocolate flavor and moist texture of chocolate cake, but in a slightly healthier whole wheat muffin. I like adding a peanut butter swirl on top. What a treat!
Chocolate Cherry Almond Bars
Think of these as a homemade KIND bar. Grain free and gluten free, with a little chocolate to satisfy. Only 8 ingredients.
Greek Yogurt Lemon Bars
Everyone always loves the lightened-up lemon goodness in these protein-packed Greek yogurt lemon bars. Feel free to swap the lemons with limes.
Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cookies
These flourless brownie-like cookies are so rich and indulgent tasting, even without flour and butter!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Bars
Another easy 1-bowl recipe to keep handy for snacks or dessert throughout the week, these bars are gluten free & grain free.
Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almonds
Making a batch of dark chocolate sea salt almonds could not be easier. Give your almonds a good dunk in chocolate, sprinkle with sea salt and coarse sugar, and snack away.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie
Think of this smoothie as a healthier peanut butter cup milkshake. It’s brimming with flavor and packed with protein, and will leave you feeling full and satisfied.
Homemade Strawberry Sauce (Topping)
In just 10 minutes, you can enjoy homemade strawberry sauce on top of Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and pretty much anything you can think of. It’s only lightly sweetened with sugar, without taking away from the berryโs natural flavor.
Chocolate Coconut Almond Tart (GF & Vegan)
Coconut milk is the secret ingredient in this silky smooth and deeply decadent treat. Bonus: you only need the oven for 10 minutes because most of the magic is done in the refrigerator.
Healthier Dessert Recipe: Greek Yogurt Pineapple Bars
My lightened-up Greek yogurt lemon bars get a makeover with this tasty tropical pineapple version. Greek yogurt takes the place of some of the cream cheese in these cheesecake-style bars for a refreshing, ultra creamy treat. While I do use a scant 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, these arenโt overly sweet. The pineapple flavor is really front and center, and pairs beautifully with a crispy, buttery graham cracker crust.
For a piรฑa colada-inspired version, swap half the vanilla extract with coconut extract.
Greek Yogurt Pineapple Bars
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours, 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Super creamy pineapple bars made with protein-packed Greek yogurt & sweet pineapple juice. Donโt skip the chilling stepโthese bars need to properly set in the refrigerator like traditional cheesecake.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup (120g) graham cracker crumbs (about 8 full-sheet graham crackers)
- 1 Tablespoon (12g) granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons (43g) unsalted butter, meltedย (or melted coconut oil)
Filling
- 6 ouncesย (168g) brick-style lightย cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 cupย (181g) plain nonfat or low fatย Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 2ย largeย eggs, at room temperature
- 1ย largeย egg yolk, at room temperature
- 1/4 cupย (50g)ย granulated sugar
- 1/3 cupย (80ml)ย pineapple juice
- 1 teaspoonย pure vanilla extract*
- optional:ย top with cherries and pineapple slicesย when serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300ยฐF (149ยฐC). Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 sides to easily lift the bars out of the pan before cutting. Set aside.
- Make the crust: In a medium bowl, whisk the graham cracker crumbs and sugar together. Add the melted butter and stir until combined. Press evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.
- Make the filling: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese on high speed until completely smooth, about 1 minute. On medium-high speed, beat in yogurt until completely combined. Then beat in the eggs and egg yolk until combined. Finally, beat in the sugar, pineapple juice, and vanilla extract until everything is combined and no lumps remain. Filling is thin. Pour filling into the crustโit’s ok if the crust is still slightly warm.
- Bake for 34โ36 minutes or until the middle is no longer wobbly. A little jiggle is okโthe bars will continue to set up as they chill in the refrigerator, so you don’t need to bake them until the center is perfectly solidified. Don’t over-bake these bars, or the surface may crack.
- Set the pan on a cooling rack and cool for 1 hour, then transfer to the refrigerator to chill for 3โ4 hours or even overnight.
- Once chilled, lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment overhang on the sides and cut into bars. For neat bars, I use a very sharp knife and wipe it clean with a paper towel after each cut.
- Cover and store leftover bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions:ย Prepare the bars 1-3 days in advance and store covered tightly in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Bars can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Special Toolsย (affiliate links):ย 8-inch Square Baking Panย |ย Glass Mixing Bowlย | Electric Mixer (Handheldย orย Stand) |ย Cooling Rack
- Eggs:ย You need 2 large eggs plus an additional egg yolk making a total of 3 egg yolks and 2 egg whites.
- Room Temperature Ingredients:ย Room temperature dairy and eggs mix easily and more evenly into one another. I always recommend room temperature, especially cream cheese, when making these types of bars.
- Pineapple Coconut Squares:ย Replace the vanilla extract with 1/2 teaspoon of coconut extract.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 123
- Sugar: 9.8 g
- Sodium: 86.7 mg
- Fat: 6.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 11.9 g
- Protein: 3.9 g
- Cholesterol: 62.9 mg
Reader Comments and Reviews
I absolutely loved the healthy dessert recipes! They were not only delicious but also made me feel good about indulging. The use of wholesome ingredients is a big plus! Can’t wait to try more from your site!
These are delicious! Everyone loved them!
Sally you never fail to amaze me with tried and true recipes to tantalize our taste buds. Thank you for bringing memories back and creating new ones. I have a huge sweet tooth and I appreciate the healthier the better. You rock Sally โค๏ธ
I love your recipes, but my husband, at 94!, Has type two diabetes and I keep my eye open for recipes with a very low nail sugar content, even though I am sometimes having to resort to sugar substitute.
I am wondering if you have any recipes that have low sugar
Hi Sofie! We aren’t experts in low sugar baking. Here’s our collection of “healthier” recipes, some using natural sweeteners instead of granulated sugar, if that’s helpful.
The pineapple bars are great! I’ve been making them for years along with the lemon version too. Thanks for sharing all of these recipes together. There are many here I have not seen before.
I’ve tried the Greek yogurt lemon bars before and they are delicious!
Chocolate almond truffles – my daughter has a nut allergy, if you leave out almonds will they be too wet? Any thoughts on a substitute?
Hi Lori, yes, the truffles really need the texture from the almonds (or another nut) to help them keep shape. Here are all of our other truffle recipes, if you’re interested in browsing.