20 Sugar-Free Desserts That You Won’t Believe Are Healthy

Sugar isn’t as bad as many people want you to think…but if you eat too much of it too regularly, it can become a problem.

Well, what if you could cut back on your sugar intake without having to give up the tasty indulgences?

That’s what sugar-free recipes like these are for!

And if you think that sugar-free desserts aren’t barely even worth the calories, then you need to give some of these a try.

You won’t believe they don’t have sugar!

Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Flourless Brownies

Picture courtesy of Healthy Aperture

The best thing about super chocolatey brownies is, unlike other chocolate baked goods, they don’t need flour or a whole lot of sweetness to be extremely tasty.

These are both cakey and fudgy with a mix of coconut flour, chocolate chips, and cream cheese. For sugar-free brownies, use a stevia baking blend or other granulated sugar substitute.

Serves 16

Ingredients

6 oz. unsweetened baker’s chocolate

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sweetener (stevia or xylitol)

3 large eggs

2/3 cup espresso (or strongly brewed coffee)

2/3 cup coconut flour

1 Tbsp. ground flaxseed

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup no-sugar-added chocolate chips

1 Tbsp. heavy cream (or butter)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 211

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 13 grams

Fat: 17 grams

 

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Almond Berry Muffins

Picture courtesy of The Comfort of Cooking

When you load fresh-baked muffins with banana and berries, they don’t need a single teaspoon of added sugar to be perfectly sweet. And these sugar-free muffins also don’t need alternative sweeteners to be delicious.

Just follow the standard muffin method to get these in the oven. First mix the dry ingredients, and set aside. Next combine the wet ingredients, and mix them into the flour mixture until just combined. Divide into muffin cups, top with slivered almonds, and bake.

Serves 18

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup almond meal (or corn meal)

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 ripe banana

3 large eggs

1/4 cup oil

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup mixed berries, fresh or frozen

3/4 cup sliced almonds

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 136

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 11 grams

Fat: 9 grams

 

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Peanut Butter Cheesecake Ice Cream

Picture courtesy of Sugar-Free Mom

This sugar-free ice cream is satisfying thanks to a base of peanut butter and cream cheese.

For more amazingly healthy dessert recipes like this, pick up Sugar-Free Mom: Naturally Sweet and Sugar-Free Recipes for the Whole Family by Brenda Bennett.

The cookbook includes recipes for every occasion, including sugar-free coffee cake and mocha protein coffee frappe for breakfast, from-scratch barbecue sauce to have with lunch, and chocolate-coated salted chickpeas as a tasty snack.

Serves 8

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter

8 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup Swerve sweetener

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. toffee-flavored liquid stevia (or vanilla stevia)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 194

Protein: 6 grams

Carbs: 6 grams

Fat: 18 grams

 

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Cinnamon Sweet Potato Truffles

Picture courtesy of Nutrition Stripped

These truffles don’t use any granulated sugar, sugar alternatives, honey, or syrup. Instead what makes them an addictive dessert is a combination of dates and sweet potato.

They’re also adaptable as you can use a wide variety of flavors for the garnish, including goji berries, sesame seeds, dessicated coconut, or cocoa powder. If you want chocolatey truffles, you can also coat them in a quick ganache, which uses a touch of maple syrup.

Serves 6

Ingredients

3 cups sweet potato (1 large sweet potato), baked

1 cup raw almonds

1 cup pitted dates

3/4 cup old-fashioned oats

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Pinch of sea salt

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 307

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 50 grams

Fat: 11 grams

 

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Low-Carb Strawberry Shortcake

Picture courtesy of Mom, Can I Have That

Strawberry shortcake is a go-to dessert for dieters. It can be made with biscuits or shortcake, which are both less sweetened than a typical cake. Yet it’s usually full of sugar – and not just from the fresh fruit. The whipped cream is often sweetened with as much sugar (or more) than what goes into the main dessert.

This shortcake uses erythritol, a sugar alcohol, instead. And it gets plenty of flavor from almonds and cream cheese.

Serves 15

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks butter, melted

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup almond flour

8 oz. cream cheese

1 1/4 cup erythritol

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 quart strawberries, sliced

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 342

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 7 grams

Fat: 34 grams

 

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Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Picture courtesy of Desserts with Benefits

How can dairy-free, sugar-free pudding taste so good? It starts with an unexpected ingredient: firm tofu. When blended, tofu can turn into a thick, silky pudding that’s not only adaptable but full of protein.

Add pumpkin puree and spices for a fall twist, plus roasted almond butter for depth of flavor. Sweeten with toffee-flavored stevia or sugar-free maple syrup to taste.

Serves 4 / Makes 4 1/2 cups

Ingredients

1 container (16 oz.) firm tofu, drained

2 cups pumpkin puree

1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

2 Tbsp. roasted almond butter

2 tsp. toffee-flavored liquid stevia

2 tsp. maple extract

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)

1/4 tsp. salt

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 180

Protein: 13 grams

Carbs: 15 grams

Fat: 9 grams

 

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Zucchini Chocolate Cupcakes

Picture courtesy of I Breathe I’m Hungry

These wholesome chocolate cupcakes aren’t just nutritious because of the zucchini and almond flour. They contain no added sugar – not even in the frosting.

Although sugar-free cupcakes can be made by using an alternative sweetener in most recipes, it can be harder to find a good topping. This mocha frosting is thickened up with mascarpone cheese, and to make it chocolate, simply leave out the coffee extract.

Serves 8

Ingredients

Zucchini Cupcake:

6 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 cup shredded zucchini, packed

1 cup almond flour

3 Tbsp. coconut flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute

3 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. xanthan gum

Pinch of salt

2 tsp. baking soda

Frosting:

1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, softened

3 Tbsp. Swerve confectioner’s blend

1/4 tsp. coffee extract

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 263

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 8 grams

Fat: 23 grams

 

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Sugar-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake

Picture courtesy of Dreams and Dumbbells

Pound cake can seem innocent, but it’s often full of oil and sugar. Half the fat is replaced with Greek yogurt to make it a bit leaner, and this lemony cake has one measly gram of sugar per serving because it uses xylitol.

Often called sugar alcohol, xylitol is naturally occurring in many plant fibers. It tastes similar to sugar but has 40% fewer calories. And while xylitol is a form of carbohydrate, it won’t spike your blood sugar levels.

Serves 8

Ingredients

Lemon Cake:

1 3/4 cups self-rising flour, sifted

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup xylitol

Zest of 2 lemons

2 large eggs, room temp.

1/2 cup sunflower oil

1 Tbsp. milk

7 oz. (scant 3/4 cup) non-fat plain Greek yogurt

Drizzle:

Juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup xylitol

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 279

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 28 grams

Fat: 15 grams

 

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Andes Mint Fudge

Picture courtesy of All Day I Dream About Food

Whether you’re in an old-fashioned candy shop, or trying to survive the holiday deluge of sweets, it’s hard to say no to fudge when it’s right in front of your face.

With this sugar-free fudge, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating a couple bites. It’s still real fudge with heavy cream, so watch the portions. But you’ll get full fast and won’t have to worry about a sugar crash.

Serves 25

Ingredients

Fudge Layer:

1 1/4 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup powdered Swerve

1/4 tsp. liquid stevia (or more to taste)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

6 oz. unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped

Mint Layer:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup powdered Swerve

2 Tbsp. heavy cream, room temp.

1 1/2 tsp. mint extract

1/2 tsp. matcha powder (or spirulina)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 111

Protein: 2 grams

Carbs: 3 grams

Fat: 11 grams

 

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Sugar-Free Chocolate Protein Pudding

Picture courtesy of Bay Area Fit Pro

An easy way to make a healthy dessert is to start with a box of sugar-free pudding. Make it according to the package directions – well, almost. It’ll be even better for you when you stir in a couple scoops of protein powder.

Check out the website for other flavor combinations like chocolate cheesecake and vanilla egg nog. After trying a few recipes, it’s easy to experiment with your own concoctions.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 box (3.4 oz.) sugar-free chocolate pudding mix

1 1/2 cups skim milk

2 scoops WHEY+ chocolate protein isolate

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 155

Protein: 17 grams

Carbs: 23 grams

Fat: 0 grams

 

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Apple Pumpkin Yogurt Parfaits

Picture courtesy of The Healthy Apple

There are now countless versions of yogurt, yogurt blends, and prepared parfaits in grocery stores. While the yogurt itself is really healthy, however, the flavors often come from added sugar.

When you layer together the ingredients at home – which just mere minutes of prep time – you can make a sugar-free yogurt parfait that’s even more delicious than the store-bought kind.

Serves 12

Ingredients

2 cans (15 oz. each.) pumpkin puree

2 large apples, peeled, cored, and chopped

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 Tbsp. unsweetened almond milk

1/4 cup stevia

32 oz. (about 2 cups) nonfat plain Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt)

1 3/4 cup sugar-free granola

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 135

Protein: 10 grams

Carbs: 19 grams

Fat: 4 grams

 

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Sugar-Free Granola

Picture courtesy of Super Healthy Kids

Most granola – especially the store-bought stuff – is loaded with sugar. That’s because the crystals caramelize as it bakes, making the oats crunchy.

Instead this recipe coats the oats, seeds, and nuts in whipped egg whites to make them nice and crispy. Not only do the egg whites help cut sugar, but they also add protein.

Serves 6 / Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/4 cup cashews

1/4 cup almonds

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3 large egg whites

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 315

Protein: 14 grams

Carbs: 40 grams

Fat: 12 grams

 

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Sugar-Free Apple Cake

Picture courtesy of The Baguette Diet

You can have an apple a day while enjoying cake for breakfast.

This simple cake isn’t one of those healthy recipes that’s unrecognizable. It still has flour, baking soda, salt, and an egg. The only thing it’s missing is any kind of sweetener. You won’t miss it when there’s natural sugars from applesauce and diced fruit.

And to make the prep easy, you don’t even have to peel the apple.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. oil

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 large egg

3/4 cup finely chopped apple

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 144

Protein: 3 grams

Carbs: 23 grams

Fat: 4 grams

 

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Coconut Cream Pie

Picture courtesy of Low Carb Yum

This coconut pie is sinfully creamy, but one bite will leave you in disbelief that there’s no added sugar. It’s not exactly a sugar-free pie since the wholesome ingredients like cream cheese and coconut milk add natural sugars.

That said, you’ll still be able to shave off significant carbs by using erythritol and a grain-free almond crust. A small slice of pie will have just 2 grams of sugar.

Serves 12

Ingredients

Crust:

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup almond flour

2 large eggs

1/4 cup erythritol

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup coconut flour, sifted

1/3 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

Pie Filling:

1 can (13 oz.) coconut milk

3 egg yolks

1/2 cup + 3 Tbsp. erythritol, divided

1 tsp. xanthan gum

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted

1 tsp. unflavored gelatin

2 Tbsp. water

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

12 oz. cream cheese, softened

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 350

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 7 grams

Fat: 34 grams

 

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Low-Carb Chocolate Cookies

Picture courtesy of Ditch the Carbs

Sugar-free chocolate cookies sound like an oxymoron, but it only takes a handful of ingredients to get a batch of these in the oven.

Of course you’ll have to skip the flour to cut carbs, but it’s possible to use a mixture of ground almonds and shredded coconut instead. Then there’s plenty of fudgy flavor from cocoa powder, butter, and eggs.

Serves 14

Ingredients

3 1/2 Tbsp. butter, softened

4 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa

2 Tbsp. granulated stevia (or sweetener to taste)

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

2 large eggs

2 cups ground almonds

Pinch of salt

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 138

Protein: 4 grams

Carbs: 5 grams

Fat: 13 grams

 

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Sugar-Free Tres Leches Cake

Picture courtesy of The Nourished Caveman

Since the most amazing thing about tres leches is the sauce, you won’t lose any of the magic by making it sugar-free.

This tres leches is finished with a rich sauce of coconut cream, crème fraiche, and butter. Since it doesn’t compromise on the cream – and it uses coconut instead of white flour – there are over 20 grams of fat, and yet this cake has only 1 gram of sugar per serving.

If you want to make it a little leaner, use a fat-free whipping topping rather than making real whipped cream.

Serves 8

Ingredients

9 eggs, separated

1 cup Swerve (or erythritol)

2 Tbsp. vanilla extract, divided

1 cup coconut flour

3 Tbsp. butter, melted

1/4 cup crème fraiche

1/4 cup coconut cream

2 cups heavy whipping cream

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 355

Protein: 10 grams

Carbs: 29 grams

Fat: 26 grams

 

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Vanilla Coconut Flour Cookies

Picture courtesy of The Prudent Wife

Looks can be deceiving. These might appear to be sugar cookies, but in fact they’re sugar-free with just a few drops of liquid stevia.

You can avoid getting a sugar rush with these paleo cookies, which are rich and cakey because of the coconut flour base. They’re even easier to make than chocolate chip cookies and are every bit as easy to eat.

Serves 12

Ingredients

3/4 cup coconut flour

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/2 cup melted butter (or coconut oil)

1 cup coconut milk (or almond milk)

6 large eggs

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

Vanilla liquid stevia to taste

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 183

Protein: 5 grams

Carbs: 7 grams

Fat: 16 grams

 

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Apple Pie Yonanas

Picture courtesy of Yonanas

The secret’s out: you can make homemade ice cream with just a frozen banana.

Yonanas takes it a step further by creating flavorful recipes that start with the banana base and build from there. With the mix-ins, you can make countless kinds of banana ice cream. The site also has ingredients lists to make blueberry pomegranate, candied ginger, and pumpkin spice latte Yonanas.

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 over-ripe bananas, frozen

1/2 medium apple, sliced and frozen

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 141

Protein: 1 gram

Carbs: 38 grams

Fat: < 0 gram

 

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Sugar Free Jello & Casein Cups

Picture courtesy of My Protein

Flavored gelatin is a popular snack for cutting calories. However, it doesn’t provide any nutrition. Boost it by adding a quick protein topping.

Start by chilling a layer of Jello on the bottom – any fruity flavor will work. Mix the strawberry casein using milk or water, and add it on top so you’re consuming more protein than anything else.

These healthy dessert cups will keep for up to three days in the fridge.

Serves 8

Ingredients

1 box sugar-free strawberry gelatin (or another flavor)

2 scoops strawberry micellar casein

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 30

Protein: 7 grams

Carbs: 1 gram

Fat: < 1 gram

 

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Homemade Lemon-Lime Gelatin

Picture courtesy of Whole New Mom

You can make sugar-free gelatin in countless flavors from a cardboard box, or you can round up a few more ingredients to make a Jello-style dessert from scratch. Either way, you’ll end up with a low-calorie snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Yet when you opt for convenience, you may get artificial flavors and colors too.

Serves 8

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. granulated gelatin

3/4 cup xylitol

12 scoops stevia extract

1 1/2 cups boiling filtered water

3 cups cold water, divided

1 cup + 2 Tbsp. lemon and/or lime juice

1/2 tsp. lemon or lime zest

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 32

Protein: 3 grams

Carbs: 5 grams

Fat: < 1 gram

 

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What did you think of these sugar-free desserts? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!