5 Healthier Dessert Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Without the Guilt!
Lifestyle
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Jan 26, 2022
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7 MIN READ
Image source: Real Food with Jessica
Winter months call for comfort food and dessert baking. But January and the start of a new year often has many of us reevaluating what we eat and our approach to food and fitness. For a dessert to be good, it has to gravitate towards being high carb, high calorie and sugar-drenched, right? Not necessarily! I’d like to steer away from this and invite you to rethink how you make the desserts you like to enjoy.
As someone who has a big sweet tooth, rethinking the way I intake sugar did not come easy. Desserts are my weakness, and it wasn’t until I had kids of my own and started a family that I became more conscious about what I put in my body during my pregnancies as well as what I feed my kids. I wondered – can I still enjoy a sweet treat without all of the refined sugar and negative health consequences?
The answer is a definite yes!
Eating healthy and making healthier food choices is a gradual process that should ultimately lead to a way of life. It should not be a fad diet at the start of a new year that will help you reach your goal and then relapse months later. It also should not be a form of deprivation and resentment towards the food you eat. Just like with everything in life, moderation is key and allowing yourself to indulge in your favorite meal or treats from time to time is not going to harm anyone.
Food and the enjoyment that comes with it is one of the many blessings Allah (S) has given us and one of the halal indulgences we are permitted to partake in as Muslims. For that reason, eating wholesome, nutritious and delicious meals and desserts should be something enjoyable and something we look forward to. These days with the help of social media, there are an overwhelming amount of resources and accounts out there that provide healthier meal and dessert options that are simple and delicious and easy to make!
One of my favorite accounts to follow for healthy eating tips as well as easy recipes is Figs and Olives Wellness, run by my friend Marwa Ismail, who is an integrative nutrition health coach. She offers a variety of services and workshops focused on empowering you to take control of your health in practical ways that you can implement daily in order to gradually change your lifestyle for the better. Her upcoming workshop on February 6th is all about sugar. It will cover a variety of areas such as overcoming your constant sweet cravings, learning about hidden sugars in your food, discovering natural sweetener alternatives and so much more.
Image source: Pexels
One thing we can do when it comes to our desserts is make them in a healthier manner with the right ingredient substitutions. For more information on healthier substitutions, read this article on 10 alternatives to refined sugar, as well as this article on 9 healthful substitutions for butter.
Though these recipes use some non-traditional ingredients, I promise – they taste just as good! I’d like to share some recipes with you that have been a big hit in my family and are just as divine as your traditional sweet treats. Warning, the two cookie recipes are addictive! I don’t make or buy any other types of cookies anymore, Yes that’s how amazing these are.
Pro tip: Double the cookie recipes by adding a mixed nut butter that also includes seeds, such as flax and chia seeds, for an extra nutrition boost. This is my favorite mixed nut butter so far.
Almond Butter Cookies
Source: Emily DiDonato
Image source: Sally's Baking Addiction
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all natural creamy or chunky almond butter (use your favorite brand)
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- A pinch of sea salt
- 1 bar dark chocolate bar chopped
- Flakey sea salt for sprinkling on top (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Mix everything in a big bowl with a wooden or silicone spoon.
- Use a table spoon to scoop your cookie dough into 2’’ balls and place 2’’ apart, lightly flattening the tops with the back of your spoon.
- Bake for 15 minutes and remove when the edges begin to turn a golden brown. They will continue to cook during the cooling process out of the oven, so don’t worry if they look a little undercooked. You don’t want to burn or dry out your cookies.
- Let your cookies cool for five minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling.
- Sprinkle with sea salt flakes if desired.
Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Source: Ambitious Kitchen
Image source: Hello Spoonful
Ingredients:
- 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter (just peanuts + salt)
- 2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if desired)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips, dairy free if desired
- Flakey sea salt for sprinkling on top (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- Add in the oats, baking soda and chocolate chips.
- Using your hands, roll cookies into 2’’ balls and place 2’’ apart, lightly flattening the tops with the back of your spoon.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes and remove when the edges begin to turn a golden brown. They will continue to cook during the cooling process out of the oven, so don’t worry if they look a little undercooked. You don’t want to burn or dry out your cookies.
- Let your cookies cool for 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling.
- Sprinkle with sea salt flakes if desired.
Dark Chocolate Pie
Source: The Toasted Pine Nut
Image source: The Toasted Pine Nut
Crust ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsweetened finely shredded coconut
- 2 ¼ cup almond flour
- 1/3 cup melted coconut oil plus extra for greasing
- 1/3 cup honey
Filling ingredients
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 1 cup coconut oil
- 1/2cup cacao powder
- 1/3 cup honey
- Almond flakes for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9’’ pie pan with coconut oil.
- Make the crust by placing the almond flour, shredded coconut, coconut oil and honey in a food processor and pulse until coarse crumbs form.
- Transfer the dough to the pie pan and evenly press the dough onto the bottom and up sides of the pan.
- Bake for 15-20 min in the center of the oven until golden and firm.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
- Make the filling by placing all the ingredients in a saucepan on low heat and stir until combined.
- Transfer the mixture into a blender and blend for 2-3 minutes on high.
- Pour the filing into the cooled crust and refrigerate for a minimum of four hours.
- Decorate with almond flakes (optional).
Pumpkin Muffins
Source: Paleo Gluten Free
Image source: Paleo Gluten Free
Ingredients:
- 1 medium banana
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup almond butter, smooth and creamy
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
- 2 tablespoon coconut flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons collagen peptides
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Generously grease a 24 mini muffin pan with coconut oil or avocado oil.
- In a food processor (or high powered blender) blend all ingredients for the muffins until the batter is completely smooth.
- Using a small ice-cream scoop, fill the mini muffin pan, until the batter comes up almost all the way to the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
Apple Pie Crumb Bars
Source: Real Food with Jessica
Image source: Real Food with Jessica
Shortbread layer ingredients:
- 2 cups almond flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut flour
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp salt
Apple layer ingredients:
- 2 cups diced apples (2-3 apples)
- 1 ½ teaspoons apple pie spice or cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon water, if needed
Crumb topping ingredients:
- Remaining shortbread mixture (1/4 of total)
- 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
- 1/4 tsp apple pie spice or cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9’’ square pan with parchment paper.
- Make the shortbread by mixing the almond flour, coconut flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt in a large bowl. Divide the dough into fourths and press into the bottom of your pan. Save the remaining 1/4 of the dough in a small bowl for the topping.
- Bake the shortbread for 12-14 minutes until light brown around the edges.
- Make the apple layer while the shortbread bakes. Mix together the apples, apple spice, salt and arrowroot powder. Place in a saucepan and add the maple syrup. Cook on medium heat, while stirring the entire time until thickened for 5-7 minutes.
- After the shortbread bakes, let it cook for five minutes. Spread the apple mixture evenly onto the shortbread.
- With the remaining 1/4 of the shortbread, add the pecan and apple pie spice. Mix together and sprinkle evenly over the apple mixture, press down slightly so it stays in place.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes.
Want to learn more about healthy eating? For more information on her upcoming class you can contact Marwa at healthcoach@figsandoliveswellness.com. What favorite foods are you cooking or baking in a healthier way? Share with us in the comments below!
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