Looking for a dessert that satisfies your sweet cravings without derailing your diet? You’re in for a treat!
These 11 low-calorie dessert recipes are as delicious as they are weight-loss-friendly, with each serving under 150 calories.
Can I still eat desserts on a diet?
Yes, you can absolutely eat desserts while on a diet! The key is to practice mindful eating, choose healthier options, and watch portion sizes.
Enjoying an occasional dessert can help prevent feelings of deprivation and boost mood, helping you stick to your diet goals in the long term.
You could have dessert only on the weekends or once after lunch and prepare a healthier treat yourself with our low-calorie recipe ideas below.
Tips for Making Low-Calorie Desserts
Traditional desserts usually contain calorie-dense ingredients like flour, cream, sugar, and butter, which is why they can pack a lot of calories in just a few bites.
Yet, making a low-calorie dessert is possible — and easier than you'd think.
A few smart substitutions and strategies can help you transform high-calorie treats into healthier desserts.
Here are my best tips for making desserts more diet-friendly:
Reduce the sugar in the recipe. Most desserts taste great even with one-third less or half of the sugar.
Rely on fruit for sweetness. Blended bananas, pureed dates, or mashed sweet potatoes provide all-natural sweetness with the added benefits of fibres.
Try zero-calorie sweeteners. Erythritol, stevia or monk fruit sweeteners are excellent sugar-free options for healthier desserts.
Focus on flavour boosters. Vanilla extract, lemon oil, rums and wines, chai tea, matcha powder, and spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves add flavour with zero calories.
Bulk up with liquids. Desserts made with milk or water, such as jellies, flans, mousses, and sorbets, can contain fewer calories.
Choose low-fat. To reduce fat and calories, replace butter and cream with Greek yoghurt, silken tofu, or applesauce.
Go smaller. The same dessert made just a little smaller can curb your cravings with fewer calories. Try tinier cookies, mini-cakes, espresso cup brownies, or bite-sized truffles.
11 Low-Calorie Dessert Ideas That Fit Your Diet Plan
1. Silken Tofu Coffee Flan
A healthier take on the classic creme caramel, this coffee-infused dessert swaps heavy cream for silken tofu to create a velvety custard.
Silken tofu keeps it low-fat while offering a protein boost — a tasty Vegan Tofu Coffee Flan in under 150 calories per serving.
2. Beany Coconut Ice Cream
Pureed yellow mung beans make a brilliant base for fibre-rich and high-protein ice pops and pair perfectly with creamy coconut milk.
Try them out in our Asian-inspired Mung Bean Ice Cream made with erythritol for a sugar-free dessert!
3. Almond Jaffa Cakes
Topped with a thin layer of orange jam and dark chocolate, these spongy mini-cakes use almond flour as a low-carb alternative to traditional flour.
Perfectly portioned, these Healthy Jaffa Cakes deliver a zesty chocolatey punch for fewer than 150 calories.
4. Rose & Almond Milk Pudding
Inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine, this Vegan Muhallebi is a delicate floral pudding perfect for a sophisticated treat with just 135 calories per serving.
Low-calorie almond milk and a hint of rose water create a light, aromatic base, thickened with just a little cornstarch. Top it off with a sprinkle of crushed pistachios.
5. Biscoff Truffles
Craving a decadent treat? These truffles hold a delightful filling of Lotus Biscoff spread, bursting with spiced caramel notes.
Coated in extra dark chocolate, these Biscoff Truffles are an indulgence you can enjoy without guilt — only 139 calories per bite-sized ball!
6. Mangonada
This Mexican-inspired dessert blends sweet and spicy for an adventurous flavour!
Layers of homemade mango sorbet and chilli chamoy sauce create a refreshing and exciting dessert. Try our No-Sugar Mangonada recipe with just 140 calories per serving.
7. Peanut Butter Mochi
Soft and chewy Japanese mochi gets a nutty twist with a gooey peanut butter filling.
These Peanut Butter Mochi Balls are bite-sized treats with less than 150 calories, making them a delightful way to enjoy a taste of Japan.
8. Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse
Dried dates, cocoa powder, and silken tofu come together into a creamy, naturally sweet mousse that’s guilt-free and irresistible.
This Silken Tofu Chocolate Mousse is a low-fat and sugar-free dessert not to miss!
9. Butterfly Pea Jelly
This pretty Blue Jelly is basically a zero-calorie dessert. Yep, you read it right!
We used exotic butterfly pea flowers to make blue pea tea, then sweetened it with sugar-free erythritol and thickened it with vegan agar agar. As light as pretty!
10. Salted Caramel Ice-Cream
With three clever ingredients, you can turn calorie-rich ice cream into a diet-friendly dessert.
Grab ripe bananas, reduced-fat coconut milk, and dates, and we'll show you how to make Vegan Salted Caramel "Nice" Cream. No ice cream machine needed!
11. Honey Meringue
Made with egg whites, meringues are a low-fat, high-protein dessert. For a diet-friendly treat, top them with fresh fruits and nuts.
Our Honey Meringue recipe cuts down the sugar content and uses raw honey for a more wholesome sweetness. Each nest has only 20 calories!
Takeaway
Trying to lose weight doesn't mean giving up desserts for good.
With the right mindset and healthier ingredients, you can prepare and enjoy satisfying treats while staying on track with your health goals.
We hope that one or two of the low-calorie dessert ideas in our list tickled your tastebuds and that you'll try them when a sweet craving strikes!
If you're looking for more inspiration, you can use our Recipe Search Engine. This free tool lets you filter the hundreds of recipes on the site by allergens, diets, nutritional macros, and more. Check it out!
Have a wonderful day!
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666313004698?via%3Dihub
