The short answer: the best healthy desserts are built on fruit, Greek yogurt, oats, nuts or dark chocolate, with little or no added sugar. All 20 treats below come in under 280 calories a serving with 9 grams of added sugar or less.
- No added sugar: frozen banana nice cream (121 calories), fruit salad with lime and mint (156), cottage cheese with mango (164), peanut butter stuffed dates (229)
- Most protein: pumpkin pie yogurt bowl (19 g), peanut butter yogurt dip with apples (16 g), cottage cheese with mango (15 g)
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Our picks for healthy desserts
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Nutrition numbers are calculated from USDA FoodData Central and were checked November 13, 2026. "Added sugar" counts honey, maple syrup and the sugar in dark chocolate. The sections below cover all 20 desserts, no-bake picks, sugar swaps and a grocery list.
20 healthy desserts (calories, added sugar, protein and fiber)
Numbers are per serving and calculated from USDA FoodData Central for the ingredients listed.
| # | Dessert | What's in it (1 serving) | Calories | Added sugar (g) | Protein (g) | Fiber (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frozen yogurt bites | 1/3 cup Greek yogurt, strawberries, 1/2 tsp honey, frozen in small drops | 73 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
| 2 | Greek yogurt bark with berries | 1 piece of a sheet of Greek yogurt, blueberries, raspberries and honey (makes 4) | 85 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| 3 | Mango-pineapple sorbet | Frozen mango and pineapple blended with lemon and a little honey (makes 4) | 102 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Grilled peaches with yogurt | 1 peach, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tsp honey, cinnamon | 115 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| 5 | Frozen banana nice cream | 1 frozen banana blended with cocoa and a splash of almond milk | 121 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 6 | Oatmeal banana cookies (2) | Mashed banana, oats and dark chocolate chips (makes 16 cookies) | 123 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 7 | Chocolate-dipped strawberries | 1 cup strawberries, 1/2 oz melted dark chocolate | 132 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 8 | Poached pears | 1 pear simmered with cinnamon and 1 tsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp Greek yogurt | 133 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 9 | Chocolate avocado mousse | Avocado, cocoa, maple syrup, almond milk, vanilla (makes 4) | 140 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Fruit salad with lime and mint | Strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, kiwi, grapes | 156 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| 11 | Cottage cheese with mango | 1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese, 1/2 cup mango, unsweetened coconut | 164 | 0 | 15 | 2 |
| 12 | Dark chocolate and almonds | 1/2 oz dark chocolate, 1/2 oz almonds | 165 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 13 | Baked apples with cinnamon and walnuts | 1 apple, walnuts, oats, 1 tsp maple syrup | 171 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 14 | Pumpkin pie yogurt bowl | 3/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1/4 cup pumpkin, 2 tsp maple syrup, pecans | 195 | 6 | 19 | 2 |
| 15 | Berry chia pudding | 2 tbsp chia, 1 cup almond milk, raspberries, 1 tsp maple syrup | 198 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| 16 | Watermelon pizza | A round slice of watermelon topped with Greek yogurt, berries and honey | 205 | 6 | 14 | 3 |
| 17 | Mixed berry crisp | Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, oat-pecan topping, a little butter and maple (makes 6) | 208 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| 18 | Peanut butter stuffed dates | 2 Medjool dates, 1 tbsp peanut butter | 229 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 19 | Peanut butter yogurt dip with apples | 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tsp honey, 1 apple | 268 | 3 | 16 | 5 |
| 20 | Chocolate protein mug cake | Oats, 1 egg, cocoa, 1/2 banana, almond milk, 1 tsp maple syrup | 278 | 3 | 13 | 8 |
Reading tip: dates, bananas and mango are naturally sweet, so their sugar isn't added sugar. Peanut butter and nuts add most of the calories in #12, #18 and #19, so measure them.
Best healthy desserts by craving
| If you're craving... | Try | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate | Dipped strawberries, avocado mousse, nice cream with cocoa or the mug cake | Cocoa and a small amount of dark chocolate give real chocolate flavor |
| Ice cream | Nice cream, sorbet or frozen yogurt bites | Frozen fruit and yogurt get creamy in a blender or freezer |
| Something baked | Baked apples, berry crisp or oatmeal banana cookies | Oats and fruit stand in for most of the flour and sugar |
| Pie | Pumpkin pie yogurt bowl or baked apples | Pie spices without the crust |
| A protein boost | Pumpkin pie bowl, yogurt dip or cottage cheese with mango | Greek yogurt and cottage cheese do the work |
No-bake healthy desserts
- Freezer: frozen yogurt bites, Greek yogurt bark, nice cream, mango-pineapple sorbet
- Fridge: chocolate avocado mousse, berry chia pudding (make it the night before)
- No-cook: fruit salad, stuffed dates, cottage cheese with mango, watermelon pizza, dark chocolate and almonds
Healthy dessert swaps
| Instead of... | Try... |
|---|---|
| Ice cream | Frozen banana nice cream or blender sorbet |
| Chocolate pudding | Chocolate avocado mousse or chia pudding with cocoa |
| Apple pie | Baked apples with cinnamon and walnuts |
| Cookies made with sugar and butter | Two-ingredient oatmeal banana cookies |
| Frosting | Greek yogurt with a little honey and vanilla |
| A candy bar | A half ounce of dark chocolate with almonds |
The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6% of calories a day, about 6 teaspoons for most women and about 9 for most men. One 12-ounce can of regular soda has about 10 teaspoons, so a fruit-based dessert is an easy trade.
Healthy dessert grocery list
- Fruit: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, apples, pears, peaches, mango, pineapple, kiwi, grapes, watermelon, Medjool dates, frozen berries and mango
- Dairy: plain nonfat Greek yogurt, 1% cottage cheese, butter
- Pantry: old-fashioned oats, chia seeds, unsweetened cocoa, 70–85% dark chocolate, canned pumpkin, maple syrup, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, whole-wheat flour
- Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanut butter, unsweetened coconut
- Other: eggs, avocados, unsweetened almond milk, limes, lemons, mint
Budget tip: frozen fruit, bananas, oats and plain yogurt in a large tub cost less per serving than single cups and keep well. A grocery price book helps you spot good fruit prices, and how to grocery shop on a budget has more ways to save.
More dessert and healthy snack ideas
For more sweet ideas, see easy dessert recipes, best desserts, oatmeal cookies and Mexican desserts. For light treats between meals, try healthy snacks, low calorie snacks and healthy smoothie recipes.
Save and plan your healthy desserts
Keep your family's favorite healthy desserts, swaps and notes in the Family Recipe Binder ($6.99), and add two or three treats a week to the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) so the fruit and yogurt are already in the fridge. Track grocery spending with the Budget Planner Printable ($5.99), and browse all Home & organizing printables. For the bigger picture, see meal planning on a budget.
Family Recipe Binder
Section dividers, four recipe page layouts with room for the family story, 4x6 and 3x5 cards and a conversion chart - print it or type into the fillable version.
$6.99 · Instant download. Print at home or fill it in on screen. Or browse the full Home & Organizing collection.
Frequently asked questions
What is the healthiest dessert? Fruit-based desserts with little or no added sugar are the healthiest picks. A fruit salad with lime and mint has about 156 calories, 6 grams of fiber and no added sugar, and frozen banana nice cream has about 121 calories with no added sugar, based on USDA FoodData Central numbers.
What are some easy healthy desserts? Easy healthy desserts include chocolate-dipped strawberries (about 132 calories), Greek yogurt bark with berries (about 85 calories a piece), baked apples with cinnamon and walnuts (about 171) and berry chia pudding (about 198). Most take 10 minutes of hands-on time.
How much added sugar is OK in a dessert? The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to about 6 teaspoons (25 grams) a day for most women and about 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for most men. Every dessert on this list has 9 grams of added sugar or less per serving, and many have none.
What healthy desserts are high in protein? Greek yogurt and cottage cheese desserts have the most protein. A pumpkin pie yogurt bowl has about 19 grams of protein, a peanut butter yogurt dip with apple slices about 16 grams, and cottage cheese with mango about 15 grams.
Is dark chocolate a healthy dessert? Dark chocolate can fit a healthy dessert in small portions. Half an ounce of 70 to 85 percent dark chocolate has about 84 calories and about 3 grams of sugar, per USDA FoodData Central, so pairing it with fruit or almonds keeps the portion satisfying.
What healthy desserts are no-bake? No-bake healthy desserts include frozen banana nice cream, Greek yogurt bark, chocolate avocado mousse, berry chia pudding, frozen yogurt bites, stuffed dates, fruit salad and blender mango-pineapple sorbet.
Are healthy desserts good for weight loss? Healthy desserts can fit a weight-loss plan when they help you enjoy something sweet without overdoing calories. Choosing a fruit or yogurt dessert under 200 calories instead of a slice of cake or a pint of ice cream can make it easier to stay on track.
What can I use instead of sugar in desserts? Ripe bananas, dates, applesauce, cinnamon, vanilla and small amounts of maple syrup or honey can sweeten desserts with less added sugar. Honey and maple syrup still count as added sugar, so measure them by the teaspoon.
Where can I save my favorite healthy dessert recipes? The Family Recipe Binder ($6.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. keeps your healthy dessert recipes, swaps and family favorites in one place. You can also start with the free recipe book starter pages, which we email to you.
How do I plan healthy desserts into my week? Pick two or three desserts from this list and add their fruit, yogurt and extras to your weekly list on the Meal Planner & Grocery List ($3.99) from HomeBase Paper Co. Planning treats ahead makes it easier to skip impulse buys at the store.
Are healthy desserts kid-friendly? Many are. Frozen yogurt bites, banana oatmeal cookies, watermelon pizza and chocolate-dipped strawberries are easy for kids to help make, and they use fruit as the main ingredient.
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Sources
- USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) fdc.nal.usda.gov
- American Heart Association: Added Sugars heart.org