For those pursuing weight loss or a healthy lifestyle, the idea of enjoying desserts might seem contradictory. However, with the rise of veganism and a focus on whole, plant-based foods, it's now entirely possible to indulge in delicious treats without compromising your health goals. This article explores a variety of healthy vegan desserts perfect for weight loss, proving that you don't need butter, eggs, or cream to create something sweet, rich, and decadent.
The Vegan Dessert Revolution: Simple Swaps for Sweet Success
The key to creating healthy vegan desserts lies in understanding simple ingredient substitutions. Once you stock your pantry with a few staples, crafting knockout vegan desserts becomes surprisingly easy. Here are some essential swaps:
- Coconut Oil for Butter: Coconut oil provides a similar richness and texture to butter in many baked goods.
- Ground Flaxseed for Eggs: A mixture of ground flaxseed and water acts as a binder, mimicking the role of eggs in recipes.
- Maple Syrup for Refined Sugar: Pure maple syrup offers a natural sweetness and adds a depth of flavor.
By embracing these substitutions, you might be surprised to find that you don't miss dairy or eggs one bit. These healthy vegan low-calorie desserts are suitable options that won’t put your goals in jeopardy!
Spotlight on Recipes
Fruit-Forward Delights
- Pineapple Sorbet with Mint: This refreshing summer sorbet is full of fruity goodness, made from just two ingredients, and ready in five minutes.
- Melon and Coconut Fusion: A sweet, cold, and refreshing blend of melon and coconut.
- Berry Fruit Salad: A vibrant mix of fresh fruit tossed in a honey-lime dressing.
- Sugar-Free Banana Popsicles: A simple, delicious, healthy, and low-calorie treat made with just two ingredients.
- Spiced Apple Crumble: A fruit crisp that is easy to toss together, using fruit and a nutty crumble topping.
- Peach Cobbler: A naturally sweet treat that is brimming with peachy flavor.
- Easy Fruit Crisp: An adaptable recipe that allows you to use whatever summer fruit you have on hand.
Baked Goods Reimagined
- Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies: These cookies are highly addictive and easy to make.
- Vegan Apple Cookies: Soft, spiced with cinnamon, and studded with fruit and nuts, these cookies check every box.
- 6-Ingredient Crispy Treats: These treats require minimal ingredients and are crispy, toasty, and lightly sweet.
- Vegan Brownies: These brownies give any regular brownie recipe a run for its money.
- Spiced Apple Crumble: This is a favorite among fruit crisps.
- Healthy Oatmeal Banana Cookies: A snack that is one of our favorite healthy banana recipes.
- Irresistible Vegan Banana Muffins with Sweet Apple Chunks: A muffin to remember.
- Vegan Lemon Muffins: These ultra-moist lemon muffins are a fantastic breakfast or snack.
- Chocolate Chip Muffins: These muffins are moist and flavorful.
- Chocolate Banana Bread Bites: Dense, rich, and only 53 calories per serving.
- Muffin Top Scones: These scones are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside with no added fats, sugars, or gluten… and, they’re vegan!
Frozen Sensations
*Unlike the store-bought pudding pops of my childhood, these frozen vegan desserts get their creamy texture from avocados and almond butter.
Creamy Dream
- Silken Tofu Vegan Ice Cream: A cooling, sweet, and healthy dessert option.
- Chia Seed Pudding: This pudding is packed with deliciously sweet fruity flavors, creamy, and loaded with superfoods.
Decadent and Guilt-Free
- Vegan Chocolate Cake: This cake swaps maple syrup for refined sugar and uses a mix of white and whole wheat flour.
- Vegan Zucchini Bread: This bread is moist, warmly spiced, and topped with a sprinkle of chocolate chips.
- Vegan Pumpkin Bars: Pumpkin puree, coconut oil, and almond flour make them wonderfully moist, and cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg fill them with warm, spiced flavor.
- Vegan Banana Bread: With its perfect moist texture and spiced banana flavor, you’d never guess that this banana bread is totally dairy- and egg-free!
- Protein Cinnamon Rolls: These cinnamon rolls are puffy, soft, and irresistibly delicious. A healthier dessert that is filling and is naturally vegan and dairy-free.
No-Bake Wonders
- No-Bake Protein Cookies: Combine a crunchy nut, peanut butter, and rolled oats for these healthy cookies.
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: A rich, creamy delight, made with a simple, healthy, and incredibly tasty recipe.
- Peanut Butter Cookie Bars: These decadent bars are one of the best vegan desserts!
Recipes in Detail
Vegan Desserts: Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
These decadent bars are one of our favorite vegan desserts!
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Prep Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Serves: 16 to 25
Ingredients:
- ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Heaping ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2½ cups almond flour
- 2½ tablespoons maca powder, optional
- 1 cup vegan chocolate chips
Cacao Layer:
- 1½ cups walnuts
- 2 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 10 soft medjool dates, pitted
- 2 tablespoons water
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling on top, optional
Instructions:
- Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt until combined. Add the almond flour and maca, if using, and stir to combine (the mixture will be thick). Fold in the chocolate chips and press into the pan. Place in the freezer so that it firms up a bit while making the next layer.
- In a small food processor, pulse the walnuts, cacao powder, and sea salt until the walnuts are well chopped. Add the dates and pulse to combine, adding 2 tablespoons water if the blade gets stuck. Process until smooth, then spread onto the cookie layer. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
- Freeze for 30 minutes (this will help them firm up, making them easier to cut). Remove and slice into bars. Store remaining bars in the fridge. These bars freeze well.
Beyond the Recipe: A Holistic Approach to Healthy Indulgence
It takes more than just cutting out foods that are high-fat to lose weight or stay in shape. When a vegan’s top priority is their health, desserts can seem off limits, but they really don’t have to be.
Creating these low-calorie treats is literally what got me through the weight loss process (read my story here). If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off for good as I did, you'll love our 21-Day Weight Loss Transformation Plan that's complete with 3 weeks' worth of simple & delicious recipes, grocery lists, and meal prep schedules!
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