28 Healthier Desserts That Still Feel Like a Treat

Avocado brownies, paleo chocolate cake, mug cakes, flourless cookies, no-bake cheesecakes and nice cream: 28 healthier desserts that still feel like a treat.

ByEmma Brooks Hours Hours
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Healthier desserts: avocado brownies, no-bake strawberry cheesecakes and paleo lemon blueberry cake

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I am a firm believer that dessert belongs in a healthy lifestyle. The trick is choosing treats made with better ingredients, like almond flour, avocado, nut butters, coconut and fruit, so you get all the joy without feeling weighed down. These are my favorite healthier desserts, including plenty of gluten-free, paleo, vegan and no-bake options.

Chocolate Lovers

1
A stack of fudgy keto almond flour brownies on parchment paper with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Healthier Keto Almond Flour Brownies
Healthier gluten-free, low-carb brownies in about 25 minutes.
Check out this recipe
2
A stack of rich fudgy avocado brownies on a wooden cooling rack with chocolate chips
Fudgy Avocado Brownies
Fudgy avocado brownies.
Check out this recipe
3
A stack of rich fudgy paleo brownies with a crackly top on parchment paper
Fudgy Paleo Brownies
Paleo brownies.
Check out this recipe
4
A decadent triple-layer paleo chocolate cake topped with glossy dark chocolate ganache on a wooden cake stand.
Amazing Paleo Chocolate Cake
An amazing gluten-free, dairy-free paleo chocolate cake.
Check out this recipe
5
A warm Molten Chocolate Cake on a white plate with coconut whipped cream and crushed pistachios.
Molten Chocolate Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream and Pistachios
Molten chocolate cake with coconut whipped cream.
Check out this recipe
6
A glass ramekin filled with silky smooth chocolate avocado pudding topped with a fresh raspberry.
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Chocolate avocado pudding in 10 minutes.
Check out this recipe
7
Close up of smooth dark chocolate truffles dusted with cocoa powder on a white plate.
2 Ingredient Chocolate Avocado Truffles
Two-ingredient chocolate avocado truffles.
Check out this recipe
8
Close-up of two small ramekins filled with dark, glossy Chocolate Pots de Crème, garnished with fresh raspberries.
Chocolate Pots de Crème
Silky chocolate pots de crème.
Check out this recipe

Single-Serve Mug Cakes

9
A moist paleo chocolate mug cake in a white ceramic mug with a spoon
Paleo Chocolate Mug Cake
A gluten-free, paleo chocolate mug cake in minutes.
Check out this recipe
10
A chocolate mug cake with cherries and chocolate chips inside a white ceramic mug.
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Black Forest Mug Cake
A gluten-free, dairy-free Black Forest mug cake.
Check out this recipe

Better-for-You Cookies

11
A stack of warm vegan chocolate chip cookies on a cooling rack with melted chocolate chips.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegan chocolate chip cookies.
Check out this recipe
12
A stack of soft chocolate chip tahini cookies with melted dark chocolate and flaky sea salt on top.
Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies (Gluten-Free, Paleo)
Gluten-free, paleo chocolate chip tahini cookies.
Check out this recipe
13
A stack of chewy flourless almond butter cookies with dark chocolate chips on parchment paper.
Flourless Almond Butter Cookies
Flourless almond butter cookies in 20 minutes.
Check out this recipe
14
A stack of golden brown flourless peanut butter cookies with a classic fork crisscross pattern on a cooling rack.
Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies
Flourless peanut butter cookies.
Check out this recipe
15
A tray of golden brown peanut butter oatmeal protein cookies with dark chocolate chips
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Cookies
Peanut butter oatmeal protein cookies.
Check out this recipe

No-Bake & Frozen Treats

16
Individual glass jars filled with pink strawberry cheesecake mousse and graham cracker crust topped with fresh berries.
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake
No-bake strawberry cheesecakes.
Check out this recipe
17
A beautiful raw mixed berry cheesecake with a marble swirl and vanilla bean seeds on a wooden table.
Raw Mixed Berry and Vanilla Bean Cheesecake
A raw mixed berry and vanilla bean cheesecake.
Check out this recipe
18
A bowl of green mint chocolate chip nice cream topped with dark chocolate chips
Mint Chocolate Chip Nice Cream
Mint chocolate chip nice cream in 10 minutes.
Check out this recipe
19
Layered yellow mango and white coconut chia popsicles on a wooden board
Coconut Chia Mango Popsicles
Coconut chia mango popsicles.
Check out this recipe
20
A close up of homemade dark chocolate peanut butter cups with sea salt on top
Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
Healthy homemade peanut butter cups.
Check out this recipe
21
A plate of round strawberry cheesecake protein balls coated in graham cracker crumbs.
Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Balls
Strawberry cheesecake protein balls.
Check out this recipe

Fruity Cakes, Bars & Puddings

22
A golden Paleo Lemon Blueberry Cake topped with fresh berries.
Paleo Lemon Blueberry Cake
Paleo lemon blueberry cake.
Check out this recipe
23
A golden gluten-free clementine upside down cake with caramelized citrus slices on top
Clementine Upside Down Cake (Gluten-Free, Paleo)
Gluten-free, paleo clementine upside-down cake.
Check out this recipe
24
Sliced gluten-free lemon bars dusted with powdered sugar on a white platter
Gluten-Free Lemon Bars
Gluten-free lemon bars.
Check out this recipe
25
Slice of moist almond cake on a plate with powdered sugar and fresh berries
Almond Cake
A naturally gluten-free almond cake.
Check out this recipe
26
Creamy white coconut panna cotta topped with a vibrant red berry sauce in a glass ramekin.
Berry Coconut Panna Cotta (Dairy-Free, Paleo)
Dairy-free berry coconut panna cotta.
Check out this recipe
27
A tray of golden brown coconut macaroons on parchment paper
Coconut Macaroons
Chewy coconut macaroons.
Check out this recipe
28
A tray of dark chocolate-dipped coconut macaroons on parchment paper.
Paleo Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
Gluten-free chocolate coconut macaroons.
Check out this recipe

How I Make Desserts a Little Healthier

  • Swap the flour: almond and coconut flour add protein and fiber and make many recipes naturally gluten-free.
  • Use whole-food fats: avocado, nut butters and coconut create rich, creamy textures.
  • Let fruit sweeten: bananas, berries and dates add natural sweetness.
  • Keep portions small: mug cakes, truffles and cookies are built-in portion control.

Healthier Desserts FAQ

Which of these desserts are vegan?

The vegan chocolate chip cookies are a great place to start, along with any recipe labeled vegan on its recipe card. Dairy-free recipes may still contain eggs or honey, so always check the full ingredient list.

Holiday baking? See my easy Christmas cookies and healthier Thanksgiving desserts, or browse all healthy desserts.

More Healthy Recipe Collections

Emma Brooks is the home cook behind The Gentle Bite. After years of juggling long workdays and family dinners, she started sharing the balanced, wholesome recipes she loves to make on busy weeknights, most ready in about 30 minutes with everyday ingredients. Her goal is simple: quick, nourishing meals that feel approachable, with easy swaps for gluten-free, dairy-free and high-protein diets.

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