I’ve made it no secret that I I love dessert. I’m also a firm believer that there is plenty of room for dessert in a healthy lifestyle. It seems as though when people are trying to be healthy or lose weight, dessert is the first thing to go; either that or their dessert of choice becomes something like “fresh berries with a dollup of yogurt.” Look, as much as I love fruit, that just doesn’t cut it for me.
Knowing that I can still indulge in dessert is one of the motivating factors to stick to a healthy diet…but that doesn’t mean I’m going to have apple pie and ice cream sundaes every night of the week. Instead, I stick to some easy and delicious ways to have dessert without compromising my health.
1. freeze it.
Healthy baking and dessert recipes can be found just about anywhere these days. But who wants to come home from a long day and spend hours in the kitchen? I sure don’t. Instead, I prefer to bake when I have the free time, and stick the goodies in the freezer for a quick dessert to grab in the future.
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Tip: cookies and muffins are best for this. After they cool completely, wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in a labeled ziplock bag.
2. mock it.
Pretty much any dessert can be made into a mock version. Here are my favorites:
Mock Apple Crisp. Combine a sliced/cubed apple, 1 tbsp water, cinnamon, and a sprinkle of brown sugar (optional) and microwave for about a minute (or until apples are soft). Top with granola (and/or oats) and crushed nuts, and mix it all together. A scoop of ice cream wouldn’t hurt either 
VitaMuffins/VitaTops. If you haven’t tried Vitalicious products – you must! They taste exactly like real muffins and brownies but are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They’re perfect for brownie sundaes, a smear of nut butter, or simply on their own.
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Mock Chocolate Mousse. Combine plain Greek yogurt with a tbsp (or 2) of cocoa powder and a sprinkle of stevia (optional). Stir until combined and top with nut butter and/or whipped cream.
3. have breakfast.
To me, breakfast foods make some of the best desserts. I mean, who says you can’t put ice cream on oatmeal? 
Here are a few of my favorite breakfast-inspired desserts.
Cereal + chocolate chips.
Waffles. You can do pretty much anything with frozen waffles – top with nut butter, banana, whipped cream…
Pancakes. A single Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pancake or Banana Oatmeal Pancake are great when you’re craving a piece of moist, fluffy cake.
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Toast with peanut butter.
Loaded Yogurt – I’d argue that my bowls of loaded yogurt rival your favorite ice cream sundae. Use a base of your favorite yogurt (mine is plain Greek yogurt) and top with cereal, fruit, nuts, nut butter, muffins, cookies, candy…the possibilities are endless.
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My point is that “dessert” and “unhealthy” do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. So next time you think that you should skip dessert, think again. I’m pretty sure you won’t regret it.
For more healthy recipes, check out: Spark Recipes, Cooking Light, Real Simple, Love Veggies and Yoga, or browse the blog world.
- What’s your favorite healthy go-to dessert?
- Do have any “mock” dessert ideas/recipes?
Okay yum…loved this post! I actually like a lot of Hungry Girl’s mock dessert recipes!
Awesome ideas Gina! Now I want “dessert”!
I was so proud last night. I went for a run and my husband and kids played in the park while I ran. When we got home they wanted a snack. They both chose fat free vanilla yogurt topped with some of my homemade granola! I’m so excited that this healthy snack is something they WANT to eat at 2 and 5 years old!
Jocelyn in the STL
Sorry I meant Gracie! I just emailed my friend Gina
I love this post!!! And I am a huge fan of Vita products.
Yes to your title. Always. Even if it means eating a lame-o dinner. I love these suggestions!
I agree- Giving up dessert is sure to make your diet fail! Everyone needs sweets!
These are absolutely terrific reviews and selections. You must know I have a very naughty disposition to sweets, this is PERFECT!
I’m jotting down some faves for this weekend.
Thank you for pulling all these great finds:)
Such an awesome post!! I make a mock peach cobbler that my hubby is obsessed with which really suprised me cause he is a chocoholic!! Lol
i agree- fruit is NOT dessert!unless it is in pie form of course.
great tip about freezing cookies- i never thought to do that
Love this! I am hungry now! My favorite desserts are Greek yogurt with grapes and chocolate chips, banana soft serve, and baked apples with cinnamon! Yummm.
These are all such great ideas!! I’m a big fan of the freezing, but I think the mock up idea is the best
Really nice post!!!! Thank you so much for the ideas…you are sooo right, there is always room for dessert !!!!
I am a big ‘freeze it’ fan! I love to bake, but whenever I do, there is always wayyy too much to eat before the baked good would go bad. In steps the freezer, so I can pull out some goodies anytime I want!
What a great post - I never thought about freezing muffins
How do you defrost them? Just waiting? Or could you put them in the oven again?
I like to put 1 or 2 apples in the foodprocessor and mix them together with some sunflower seeds and maybe honey if you want to have it really sweet - makes a lovely dessert.
Gracie,
I couldn’t agree more. I’m in love with desserts and I have more motivation to eat healthier knowing I can still eat my sweets.
My absolutely favorite (and pretty guilt free) dessert are my Vegan Cookies I bake. They are SO delicious. I’ll actually be posting the recipe soon on my blog.
Such great ideas girl, as usual! In the winter I made a KERF-inspired pumpkin pie recipe - a cup of pumpkin puree, 1 egg white, microwaved for a little (I forget how long exactly), topped with Greek yogurt and a crumbled granola bar - so, so, SO good!
Love this post lady! I am a big freezer when it comes to baked goods…and of course the dessert for bfast is always satisfying! I like mock banana splits with oats a lot!
omfg, i’m in heaven. your right. you are dessert queen. it’s official.
Goodness girl! This post is just chalk full of food porn! Love it
You know I’m right behind you with all these desserts!! My favorite healthy dessert is a few squares of dark, good-quality chocolate. No prep, and it feels so decadent! Recently I’ve also been loving raw chocolate mousse….avocado, cocoa powder and stevia. It sounds weird, but it hits the spot!
Wow I am drooling over all of the yummy deliciousness in this post… love it :O)
I love this post! Desserts will always be in my future. I love to eat them and I won’t deny them from myself as long as I use self-control. But I so agree with you on making mock desserts. They really are the best kind. The picture of your loaded yogurt with m&m’s looks like my favorite m&m sonic blasts. I must try it.
“have breakfast”
Yup! I pretty much have dessert every morning!!
My favorite summer mock dessert is banana soft serve. And there are so many delicious ways to make it!
Oh I agree about greek yogurt making the best desserts! I can do so much with it. It always takes the cake in the “go to” snack or dessert category
[...] Example C: breakfast for dessert. [...]
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