10 Desserts That Are Healthier Than You Think

 

Dessert isn’t meant to be health food per se, but it can certainly have a better-for-you spin. Here are 12 decent treats that will satisfy your sweet tooth without sabotaging your diet.

Cheesecake (pictued above)

Lighter cheesecake is possible with just a few lower-fat substitutions.

Recipe: Light Lemony Berry Cheesecake

Chocolate Cake

This portion-controlled, five-ingredient cake comes in at only 300 calories per serving. Serve with fresh berries and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cake

Mousse

Lighten up this indulgent dessert by replacing some of the fat with yogurt or silken tofu — it will boost the protein content too!

Recipes: Lemon Yogurt Mousse and Chocolate Mousse

Dark Chocolate Mousse

Cupcakes

You can enjoy homemade cupcakes complete with a creamy, dreamy frosting for fewer than 240 calories per serving. These babies are better than anything out of a box.

Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes with Meringue Frosting.

 

Trifle

Velvety pudding, fresh fruit and angel food cake are stacked to perfection in this simply delish make-ahead dessert — you won’t believe it has only 200 calories and 4 grams of fat per serving.

Recipe: Berry Trifle with Amaretto

 

Peanut Butter (Enough Said)

This popular ingredient usually sends calorie counts soaring, but small doses of this healthy fat can create delightfully bite-sized goodies you won’t feel guilty about eating.

Recipes: Crunchy Peanut Butter Thins and Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter Balls

Apple Pie

Serve thin slices of this rustic apple dish and you can keep the calories under 375 per serving.

Recipe: Flat Apple Pie with Perfect Pie Crust

 

 

Cookies

Every baker needs a simple cookie recipe that can be dressed up with low-calorie flavorings like vanilla, herbs, cinnamon and citrus zest. These buttery delights come in at fewer than 85 calories each.

Recipe: Chewy Sugar Cookies

 

Chocolate Bark

Candy fans, you don’t have to skip the confections; just make your own with good-quality chocolate and flavorful low-calorie add-ins.

Recipe: Mocha Meringue Bark

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.

from Healthy Eats – Food Network Healthy Living Blog http://ift.tt/1Qt3F2z