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Dessert doesn’t always have to be filled with sugar and butter to be decadent! Here is a collection of Healthier Small Batch Desserts, that are just as tasty as sweets for the holidays. These easy healthy dessert recipes include everything from cakes and cookies, all the way to ice cream and frozen treats.
Healthier Small Batch Desserts
Now that most of the major holidays are behind us (translation: holidays that must have chocolate on the menu!), I’m switching gears and trying to indulge in desserts that are a bit healthier.
However, I’ll be back to sugar, butter, and chocolate soon. I mean, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and there must be a chocolate dessert or two on my menu plan!
What Makes This Roundup of Dessert Recipes Healthier
Refined Sugar Free – The desserts feature a natural sweetener like maple syrup or honey.
Gluten Free – My paleo flour mix that consists of almond flour, arrowroot flour, coconut flour, and tapioca flour is a delicious and allergy-friendly flour swap.
Oats and Seeds – Chia seeds, flax seeds, and oats make a regular appearance in these recipes.
Fruit, Fruit, and More Fruit – Whether it is in season or frozen, a signature ingredient in a lot of these recipes is fruit!
Coconut Cream – A can of unsweetened coconut milk or cream is one of my favorite dairy alternative ingredients because of its versatility. I use it as Whipped Coconut Cream, to make Ice Cream and a butter alternative in Frosting Without Butter.
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Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Parfaits
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding Parfaits are delicious for dessert or healthy enough for breakfast! This overnight chia seed pudding recipe is made with coconut milk and maple syrup for a vegan and refined sugar free treat. Layer the chocolate pudding with coconut milk yogurt, fresh pomegranate seeds, and whipped coconut cream.
The Smooth Red Berry Smooth Chia Seed Pudding is a new take on classic chia seed pudding. Fresh red berries are blended with chia seeds for a sweet and tart smooth pudding. Make it even more delicious and layer it with classic vanilla chia pudding and whipped coconut cream for a healthy layered dessert!
This is an easy recipe for Caramel Banana Overnight Oats made with gluten free rolled oats, ripe bananas, maple syrup caramel sauce, and oat milk. A gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free treat healthy enough for breakfast and decadent enough for dessert!
Everything you love about your favorite Fall morning latte is in these Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats! This is an easy recipe for creamy vegan and gluten free overnight oats made with pumpkin puree, Fall spices, and topped with a spiced Latte coffee whipped cream.
The easy recipes for these healthier cakes and cupcakes feature the following to make them a little on the healthy side:
Gluten Free – Except for the Snack Cake, these sweet little cakes feature my almond flour blend or oats as the flour of choice.
Refined Sugar Free – Honey and Maple Syrup are the featured natural sweeteners in these recipes.
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Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes
This is an easy small batch recipe for Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes, that are also refined sugar free!Made with a tasty almond flour blend and maple syrup, the cupcakes are moist, tender, full of vanilla flavor, and perfect for any holiday or celebration.
These Mini Winter Citrus and Cream Oatmeal Tarts for two celebrate the sweet and tart fruits of the season. Fresh pink grapefruit, white grapefruit and oranges are lightly sweetened with a honey lime glaze and set on a light whipped coconut cream. A healthier dessert that is just as decadent!
Craving a taste of sunshine? This small easy small orange cake recipe is your answer! Bursting with bright citrus and floral honey, this easy cake uses simple ingredients, a fresh orange, and is refined sugar-free. The delightful small cake is made in a loaf pan for sweet portions and endless goodness!
These delightful Honey and Orange Mini Bundt Cakes are gluten free and refined sugar free! A blend of almond flour and oat flour to make 3 perfectly moist cakes full of floral and fruity honey and the essence of orange.
We can’t do an easy healthy dessert recipe roundup without a few cookies in the collection, right!? Each of these cookie recipes are gluten free and made with an almond flour blend. Chances are you won’t be able to taste the difference!
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Small Batch Almond Flour and Maple Cookies
This small batch of Almond Flour and Maple Cookies are gluten-free and refined-sugar free, and are super easy to make! Only one bowl is needed to make 6 soft and tender cookies full of almond flavor, sweetened with maple syrup, and finished with slivered almonds for a light and sweet treat.
This is an easy small batch recipe for healthier thin mint cookies that are gluten free and refined sugar free. A copycat version of the Girl Scout Thin Mints, these cookies are made with an almond flour blend, maple syrup, and can be made with vegan chocolate chips. The cookies are crisp, full of mint flavor, and coated with a snappy chocolate mint shell.
This easy small batch recipe for Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies makes 6 bakery-style cookies. Adapted from my classic chocolate chip cookie recipe, these cookies are made gluten free with an almond flour blend, and just like the originals, the cookies have chewy centers with perfectly crisp edges.
Ice cream and popsicles are healthier when made with canned coconut milk and natural sweeteners. And even when you eat the whole batch, you can still feel a little less guilty!
Creamy Ice Cream – To achieve creamy dairy-free ice cream, we use a combination of canned coconut milk and coconut yogurt. Plus fresh fruit for a bright flavor and sweetness.
Summer Popsicles – It doesn’t get any easier when there are only 4 ingredients in your frozen treat.
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Dairy-Free Strawberry Ice Cream
This is an easy no-churn recipe for Dairy-Free Strawberry Ice Cream. The creamy ice cream is made with only 5 ingredients including canned coconut milk, fresh (or frozen strawberries), and honey. Plus, a secret ingredient that makes this ice cream extra velvety and smooth!
The tropics are calling with this no-churn and dairy free creamy pina colada ice cream! Experience the flavors of coconut, pineapple, and fresh lime in this homemade ice cream – that does not require an ice cream maker! The creamy coconut cream base combines with all the fresh flavors for a incredibly velvety and bright ice cream.
What could be better than extra creamy dairy free strawberry floats? How about ice cream floats that are also on the healthy side! This recipe uses our dairy-free strawberry ice cream, plus an extra creamy strawberry and coconut milk puree. Top with your favorite sparkling water and you have a delicious, lightly-sweetened frozen treat!
Enjoy the flavors of summer with these creamy watermelon popsicles with magic shell! This is an easy recipe for a small batch of watermelon popsicles lightened with coconut cream, slightly sweetened with honey, and topped with your very own chocolate Magic Shell!
I love recipe roundups because they are a great resource when you need specific dessert ideas! And I think layering in some easy healthier dessert options throughout the year is a great way to avoid sugar burn-out. If that is even a thing? Maybe that’s just me … 🙂
And it doesn’t get any better when the healthier desserts are easy too! Because, if I’m going to eat healthy, I don’t want it to be fussy. Again, just me.
Happy healthy dessert eating friends!
about the author ...
I'm Erin and I'm all about desserts - and a little bit of butter!
I've tested, written, and photographed hundreds of recipes on my website. Here you'll find the tastiest small batch desserts - all homemade, all simple, and all for you! Click here to learn more about me!
