Homemade baked goods are some of my favorite treats (mmmm muffins…), but I’ve been playing around with no-bake recipes recently and am pleasantly surprised.
They’re easy to prepare, keep extremely well, and can be really tasty.
Whether you have a backyard BBQ or special occasion to prepare for, or you just want to satisfy your own sugar cravings, these twenty no-bake dessert recipes are perfect for fulfilling your sweetest summer dreams.
Enjoy!
Picture courtesy of The Nutritious Kitchen
It’s hard to give up cravings when you’re sticking with a strict meal plan. Rather than trying to avoid your favorite snacks completely, it’s smarter to turn them into a healthy treat.
You’ll find it a lot easier to meet your target macros when you don’t feel deprived. By making snack bars out of Oreo cookies, you can enjoy the flavors you love for dessert while adding nutrient-dense whole foods like oats, peanut butter, and chocolate whey protein.
Serves 12
Ingredients
Protein Fudge:
1/2 cup oat flour
1/2 cup (about 2 scoops) WHEY+ chocolate protein isolate
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup pure honey (or maple syrup)
Middle Layer:
1/2 cup healthy chocolate granola (optional)
Crème Layer:
1 cup white chocolate chips
6 Oreo cookies, crushed
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 253
Protein: 9 grams
Carbs: 30 grams
Fat: 12 grams
Picture courtesy of Blissful Basil
Peanut butter cups meet Crunch bars in this easy-to-make dessert. The recipe comes together quickly by melting most of the ingredients in a saucepan, then gently folding in the quinoa.
If you don’t mind spending a few more minutes in the kitchen, you can make your own puffed quinoa rather than buying it in the cereal aisle (or ordering online).
Add dry quinoa to a hot pot, and keep the little grains moving for a minute or two until they’re a bit bigger and crispier.
Serves 16
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups puffed quinoa
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. peanut butter
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. coconut butter
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 113
Protein: 3 grams
Carbs: 8 grams
Fat: 9 grams
Picture courtesy of Fit Foodie Finds
This recipe is mainly made of fresh strawberries and bananas, so it’s the perfect dessert for anyone who loves that classic combo of fruit flavors. And since the thickener for this easy homemade ice cream is whey, each serving is hiding half a scoop of protein powder.
Vanilla or chocolate protein will work if that’s what you have in your kitchen, but this frozen treat will taste best with strawberry banana WHEY+, which enhances the fresh fruit without any artificial flavors or food dyes.
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 large bananas, frozen
Handful of strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 scoop WHEY+ strawberry banana protein isolate
2–3 Tbsp. milk
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 194
Protein: 14 grams
Carbs: 37 grams
Fat: 1 gram
Picture courtesy of Pop Sugar
This healthy dessert is fancy enough to serve at a holiday dinner, yet it only takes a handful of nutritious ingredients to make.
Since the outside is pure dark chocolate, all anyone will notice about the filling is that it’s creamy and tastes like cocoa. Unless someone is worried about the macros, nobody needs to be in on the secret that the mousse is made from tofu, chickpeas, and dates.
Serves 16
Ingredients
Edible Chocolate Cups:
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. dairy-free dark chocolate chips
Mousse:
1 container (1 lb.) silken tofu
1/2 cup (about 1/3 can) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
10 pitted dates
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
16 fresh raspberries, washed and dried (optional)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 100
Protein: 2 grams
Carbs: 16 grams
Fat: 5 grams
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Picture courtesy of The Gracious Pantry
Typically made from custard or whipped cream, this fruit fool recipe gets a modern update by using a can of coconut milk.
Be sure to get the full-fat kind, or just purchase a separate can of coconut cream. Either way, refrigerate that overnight, and then you’ll be able to make a coconut version of whipped cream.
To make it into a fool – that’s a traditional English dessert – puree any kind of fruit you’re craving, and gently fold it into your whipped coconut cream.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 lb. strawberries, washed and hulled
3/4 cup coconut cream, whipped
Sweetener to taste
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 140
Protein: 2 grams
Carbs: 11 grams
Fat: 11 grams
Picture courtesy of Purely Twins
Chocolate cheesecake is so decadent, but the end result can be more cream cheese than cocoa. These raw chocolate cakes also have a rich texture and flavor, yet the sumptuous elements inside are pecans, cashews, and dates.
It’s like trail mix turned into a fancy dessert, and since they’re mini cakes, it’s easy to track portions so you don’t overload on healthy fats.
Serves 12
Ingredients
Pecan Chocolate Crust:
1 cup pecan meal
3 Medjool dates (or 2 Tbsp. maple syrup)
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
Pinch of sea salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Chocolate Filling:
2 cups cashew pieces
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or honey)
1/2 cup water
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup raw cacao powder
Chocolate Sauce:
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup (or granulated stevia)
5 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 417
Protein: 7 grams
Carbs: 30 grams
Fat: 32 grams
Picture courtesy of Primally Inspired
The summer heat can ruin any plans that involve turning on the oven. With this recipe, you can make the most of fresh fruit in pie form without having to hang out in a hot kitchen for half the day.
The crust can be made in a blender or food processor – then clean out the bowl, and use it to prepare the raw pie filling. To thicken it up quickly, chia seeds are in the mix so that there’s no need to cook down the fruit on the stove.
Serves 6
Ingredients
Crust:
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (or nuts)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
4 pitted dates
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. butter (or coconut oil)
Fruit Filling:
2 cups fresh strawberries (or other fruit)
2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 Tbsp. chia seeds
1 Tbsp. pure honey (or sweetener of choice to taste)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 201
Protein: 5 grams
Carbs: 17 grams
Fat: 14 grams
Picture courtesy of The Texan New Yorker
Any kind of sorbet is easy to make from whole fruit when you want a fat-free ice cream alternative.
For every four cups of fruit, use about a cup of sugar, plus water and lemon juice to make the base. The exact ratios will have to change depending on the fruit you use, but that standard works well for berries, peaches, plums, bananas, and more.
Prepare your simple fruit sorbet in an ice cream maker. Don’t have one? You can make a dessert that’s like an icy granita by freezing the mixture in a baking dish and scraping it out with a fork.
Serves 6 / Makes 1 1/2 quarts
Ingredients
3/4 lb. rhubarb (about 5 thin stalks), trimmed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
10 oz. fresh strawberries (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 121
Protein: 1 gram
Carbs: 31 grams
Fat: 0 grams
Picture courtesy of Miss in the Kitchen
Who says you have to know how to bake to make a pie? This one doesn’t even go in the oven.
Using a store-bought crust will help you skip a step, or you can make a no-bake graham cracker crust from crumbs and melted butter.
Instead of putting that in the oven after pressing the crumb mixture into the pie plate, chill it for an hour in the fridge, and then add the creamy filling.
Serves 10
Ingredients
1 graham cracker pie crust
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 cup crushed pineapple with juice
Whipped cream (optional garnish)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 333
Protein: 6 grams
Carbs: 40 grams
Fat: 17 grams
Picture courtesy of Spoon University
Avocados aren’t just for guacamole and salad. As a rich, creamy, and wholesome fruit they make an excellent addition to dessert whether you’re craving cheesecake, ice cream, or a bite of chocolate.
These truffles look like they belong among the lines of chocolates in a candy store; yet you can make them at home with just three ingredients.
Mash an avocado until smooth, melt chocolate, and stir the two together. Once that mixture chills, it can be rolled into round truffles and coated in cocoa powder.
Serves 20
Ingredients
1 medium avocado, ripe
10 oz. (about 1 2/3 cups) dark chocolate chips
2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 84
Protein: 1 gram
Carbs: 10 grams
Fat: 5 grams
Picture courtesy of Food Network
Need a dessert for a dinner party, but don’t want to do much more than mix together a fruit salad? Dress it up with more than mint.
In this recipe, the berry salad itself is fairly standard. Slice up some fruit, and toss it in a bowl.
What makes this easy dessert extra-special is the dressing: a splash of limoncello liqueur, plus a dollop of Greek yogurt mixed with lemon curd.
Serves 6
Ingredients
Lemon Yogurt Dressing:
2/3 cup (about 7 oz.) nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1/3 cup lemon curd
1 Tbsp. pure honey
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
Fruit Salad:
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup raspberries
1 cup blueberries
2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
3 Tbsp. limoncello liqueur
1 banana, sliced
Sprigs of fresh mint (optional garnish)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 154
Protein: 2 grams
Carbs: 26 grams
Fat: 6 grams
Picture courtesy of a Better Happier St. Sebastian
When you’re used to making stir fry for dinner or opting for take-out, it can be hard to step into the world of preparing dessert too. Luckily you don’t have to bake to make something from scratch that satisfies your sweet tooth.
Slice up a pear, sprinkle with cinnamon, and cook it in a hot skillet for a few minutes. Once it’s softened, serve with yogurt and/or whipped topping for a lighter alternative to pie à la mode.
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 medium Bosc pear, cut into sixths
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
Whipped topping, to serve
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 96
Protein: 5 grams
Carbs: 17 grams
Fat: 1 gram
Picture courtesy of Busy but Healthy
Snickers sure can beat your hunger – but with artificial flavors, partially hydrogenated oils, and 27 grams of sugar.
Instead, make these protein bars ahead of time so you’ll be ready to kill those cravings a more wholesome way. The caramel sauce is replaced with a date paste, and the nougat is made from whey protein and peanut butter.
Serves 8
Ingredients
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup pure honey
1 cup (about 4 scoops) WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate
1/2 cup pitted dates + 2 Tbsp. water
1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tsp. coconut oil
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 267
Protein: 15 grams
Carbs: 30 grams
Fat: 11 grams
Picture courtesy of Minimalist Baker
If you’ve never tried vegan cheesecake, you are missing out – and that’s coming from someone who loves real cheese.
Not only do these dairy-free desserts taste remarkably like a classic cheesecake, but they only require seven ingredients.
The walnut crust makes these cheesecakes gluten-free, and the base is the perfect canvas for your favorite flavors; try swirling in fruit jams, caramel, fresh berries, or almond butter.
Serves 12
Ingredients
1 cup pitted dates
1 cup raw walnuts (or almonds)
1 1/2 cups raw cashews
Juice of one lemon (scant 1/4 cup)
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. full-fat coconut milk
1/2 cup maple syrup
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 324
Protein: 6 grams
Carbs: 29 grams
Fat: 22 grams
Picture courtesy of This Rawsome Vegan Life
Every recipe from the Rawsome Vegan Life blog and baking “un-cookbook” looks ridiculous good, but perhaps none more so than this cake.
It’s a hell of a lot more impressive than a store-bought ice cream cake or regular ol’ homemade pie, but it’s also way better for you.
This dessert is packed with nutritious foods like hemp seeds, cacao, and cashews, and it’s perfect for the Reese’s peanut butter cup lover in your life.
Serves 10
Ingredients
Crust:
1/2 cup hemp seeds
1/3 cup flax seeds
3 Tbsp. cacao powder
1 cup dates
Filling:
3 medium bananas, frozen
1 cup dates
2 cups cashews
2 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or any variety of vegan milk)
1/4 cup cacao powder
4 Tbsp. PB2 + 2 Tbsp. water (or 2 Tbsp. nut butter)
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 360
Protein: 8 grams
Carbs: 48 grams
Fat: 18 grams
Picture courtesy of A Whisk and Two Wands
There’s nothing like creamy, melt-in-your-mouth ice cream, and this no-fuss version, which uses a base of bananas and sweet potato, is even better than most frozen yogurt and “light” ice cream knock-offs.
And the best part? It’s dairy-free, has minimal calories from added sugar, and doesn’t even require a fancy machine to make.
Serves 3 (about 1 cup per serving)
Ingredients
1 medium sweet potato, cooked and frozen
2 ripe bananas, sliced and frozen
1 1/4 unsweetened almond milk (more if needed for thickness)
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1–2 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. coconut sugar
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 136
Protein: 9 grams
Carbs: 32 grams
Fat: 2 grams
Picture courtesy of Chocolate-Covered Katie
When you need a quick hit of sugar and chocolate, these are the perfect guilt-free bite. And because they’re stored in the fridge, this snack will help you cool off when it’s warm out.
Unlike a true fudge, this low-calorie variety isn’t very rich or dense because the main ingredient is whole fruit. But that means there’s plenty of natural fruit sugar and even more to love (including more to eat per serving!).
Serves 4
Ingredients
2/3 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
4 Tbsp. coconut butter
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp. agave syrup
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 162
Protein: 2 grams
Carbs: 17 grams
Fat: 11 grams
Picture courtesy of With Salt & Wit
This simple dessert has the perfect balance of sweet and tart, and you can get the lemon blueberry flavor you love even when they’re out of season.
Use frozen berries and lemon extract, if that’s what works best. Or, replace the extract with the juice of half a small lemon plus a pinch of the zest.
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 cup oats
1 scoop WHEY+ vanilla protein isolate
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup whipped cream cheese
1/4 tsp. lemon extract
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 489
Protein: 27 grams
Carbs: 67 grams
Fat: 15 grams
Picture courtesy of Fo Reals Life
Don’t like yogurt? That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the amazing taste of a healthy indulgence that’s (almost) on par with ice cream. Instead of using dairy, this parfait gets its luscious texture and rich flavor from blended cashews.
The final dish is a cool, creamy mix of mangoes, cashews, and chia seeds that’s delicious any time of day.
Serves 4
Ingredients
1/2 cup raw unsalted cashews
1/2 cup water
2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/3 cup white chia seeds
1 scoop unflavored protein powder
1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt
2 medium mangoes, peeled
2 Medjool dates, pitted
Pinch of salt
Pinch of ground cardamom
2 Tbsp. chopped pistachios, roasted
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 272
Protein: 13 grams
Carbs: 30 grams
Fat: 15 grams
Picture courtesy of Laura’s Sweet Spot
No summertime party is complete without a fruit salad, and this healthy spin on a classic Southern Jell-O salad will have everyone fooled.
And unlike other cookout classics like cake, pie, or a plate of brownies, this takes hardly any effort to throw together.
The cottage cheese in this salad already contributes a lot of protein for a dessert, but if you want even more to boost your macros, replace a box of the gelatin mixture with a couple scoops of vanilla whey protein powder.
Serves 12
Ingredients
1 large container (32 oz.) cottage cheese
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained
1 can (15 oz.) mandarin orange segments, drained, cut in half
2 small boxes (3 oz. each) orange-flavored gelatin powder
2 small jar (10 oz.) maraschino cherries, drained and chopped
1 large container (16 oz.) whipped topping
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)
Calories: 275
Protein: 14 grams
Carbs: 35 grams
Fat: 10 grams
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