11 Delicious Low-Calorie Dessert Swaps That Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

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11 Delicious Low-Calorie Dessert Swaps That Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

You don’t have to deny your sweet tooth while you’re dieting — try these substitutions and indulge without missing the extra sugar and fat.

Credit: Shutterstock

11 Delicious Low-Calorie Dessert Swaps That Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

You don’t have to deny your sweet tooth while you’re dieting — try these substitutions and indulge without missing the extra sugar and fat.

Credit: Shutterstock

Eat Baked Apples

A gooey slice of apple pie is the quintessential all-American dessert, but a baked apple is a much healthier option. Simply core the apple and fill the cavity with a mix of rolled oats, nuts and cinnamon and bake for about 45 minutes. The warm, creamy fruit tastes as toothsome and comforting as pie filling, without all the calories and fat from the dough.

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Eat Sorbet

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ... sorbet? For a sweet postmeal bite, ditch the ice cream and go for a scoop of sorbet. This fruity, dairy-free treat is naturally fat-free and has far fewer calories than ice cream. Sorbets can be high in sugar though, so look for versions made with stevia, a natural sweetener that doesn’t spike blood sugar levels — making it ideal for those with diabetes.

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Eat Dark Chocolate

Despite milk chocolate’s positive attributes, such as its calcium content, the treat gets a bad rap because it’s pumped full of sugar in order to counteract cacao’s naturally bitter taste. “Sweet swaps are key!” says nutrition expert Dawn Jackson Blatner, who recommends simply trading milk chocolate for dark chocolate, which has around half the amount of sugar, fewer calories, plenty of antioxidants and even heart-protecting properties.

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Eat Chia Pudding

One of nature’s superfoods, chia seeds are ideal for making creamy, thick puddings. Skip the egg-yolk-and-cream-laden mousse and get onboard with the chia version for a far more nutritious delight. Full of fiber and packed with omega-3, chia seeds blend well with nut milks (try using unsweetened almond or coconut), fresh berries and a dash of cacao powder or maple syrup for a little sweetness. Just mix and refrigerate for a few hours, since chia seeds soak up to 12 times their weight in liquid.

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Eat Avocado Mousse

A chocolate dessert that tastes great and packs powerful antioxidants? It may sound too good to be true, but chocolate avocado mousse is worth trying for that health benefit alone. Made with ripe avocado, cacao powder, coconut milk, vanilla extract, coconut oil and a touch of raw honey, it has the same consistency of regular chocolate mousse and an almost identical flavor but without the sugar and dairy. Just watch the portion size: Avocado mousse is full of (good) fats that can still bust your diet.

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Eat Baked Peaches With Greek Yogurt

A store-bought peach cobbler is made with a host of processed ingredients, from all-purpose flour to white sugar. Add some ice cream and the dessert loses almost all its already shaky nutritional value. For a guilt-free, low-cal choice, try this recipe: Slice up peaches, brush lightly with butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and honey, then bake in the oven until tender and slightly brown around the edges. Enjoy over Greek yogurt, and skip all those fat-laden calories from adding ice cream.

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Eat Fruit Kebabs

Putting down the bag of Snickers and making a fruit kebab can slash sugar and fat from your diet. For an easy and sweet treat, just stack your favorite fruit — bananas, pineapple, strawberries and melon work great — onto a wooden skewer and enjoy without the guilt. If you need a little extra flavor, try drizzling some chocolate sauce (made without high-fructose corn syrup) or honey on top. Just don’t overdo it, since most fruits contain plenty of natural sugar.

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Eat Frozen Grapes

While not all popsicles are bad, many contain added sugar, artificial coloring and little to no nutritional value. “Replace a sweet snack post-dinner with a handful of frozen grapes,” suggests Danielle Krupa, a health-supportive chef, recipe developer and author of the blog Red Kitchenette. “You’ll skip all the [refined] sugar and gain plenty of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants while still enjoying a delicious treat.”

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Eat No-Bake Energy Bites

Keeping a batch of healthy sweets around will keep you from reaching for the bad stuff when you get a sugar craving. That’s where these no-bake energy bites come in. They can be made with a variety of unprocessed ingredients like oats, almonds, cacao powder, coconut flakes, chia seeds and raw nuts, blended in the food processor with a bit of water. Roll into balls and chill in the fridge, then enjoy the next time you get a hankering.

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Eat Frozen Bananas

Ice cream brands are now selling low-sugar, reduced-calorie versions of the frozen treat, but well- ness and nutrition expert Alissa Rumsey RD has said consumers can sabotage their diet by thinking they can eat more and by ignoring their body’s “feelings of fullness and satiety.” Tame ice cream cravings by freezing bananas and blending them in a food processor. Because of the pectin found in bananas, the result is a creamy mix that is as satisfying as its sugar-and-fat-filled counterpart, but with none of the drawbacks. Try adding a little peanut butter, honey or cinnamon for an extra kick.

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Eat Strawberries With Cream

Skip the fatty slice of cake — often covered in frosting with even more between the layers — and enjoy a nice, juicy bowl of fresh strawberries after dinner. The sweetness of the berries will help satiate your sugar craving, and a little dollop of full-fat whipped cream provides a luscious mouthfeel without all the extra refined carbs of baked goods.