11 Dessert Hacks that Satisfy Cravings but are Secretly Healthy

 

Is dessert your diet's achilles heel? Well, we have that in common. But often, the psychology of having something sweet is more powerful than the actual need for something that will sabotage your time in the gym. Here's a list of awesome treats from around the web that seem much more sinful than they actually are! These treats are not only delicious, they also have secret weapon ingredients that are actually good for you.

1. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie (above)

There are many varieties of the pumpkin pie smoothie on blogs across the web; this one in particular from the blog Food Plus Words is packed with secret healthy weapons.

Secret weapon #1: Tofu. For those of you who don't have anything against soy, tofu is an awesome thickener. Don't bust it 'til you try it, people. The beauty of tofu is that it tastes like whatever you put it with - in this case, it creates an awesome creamy texture while adding nutritional value. If you're exploring smoothies on your own, just make sure to start out with a little. Too much tofu in the smoothie will start to weird-i-fy the taste.

Secret weapon #2: Pumpkin puree. Many of us only eat pumpkin puree in pies, so we automatically associate the taste with decadence. But pumpkin itself is quite healthy! (Click here for more pumpkin recipes).

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip

This dip is high in protein and gluten free - and tastes so much more sinful than it actually is.

Secret weapon: Chickpeas. Can you believe it? Genius blogger Chocolate Covered Katie realized that blending these little suckers resulted in a neutral tasting base for a sweet treat. She took the dip to a party and didn't tell anyone what was in it, and watched as guests made comments about how addictive it was.

3. Avocado green tea (matcha) pops.

Whoa. These Munchin with Munchkin treats pack a punch of everything we love, and are sweetened with agave to boot.

Secret weapon #1: Avocado. Don't wince. Avocado is actually a main shake ingredient in Brazil and Indonesia (avocado vanilla shakes with chocolate - we've tried it - it's unbelievable, trust us.) This recipe takes advantage of the creamy "good fat" texture of avocado for a decadent treat.

Secret weapon #2: Green tea! We don't need to tell you how much we love green tea, but have you ever had green tea ice cream??

4. Banana "Ice Cream"

Secret weapon: Frozen bananas. There are many variations on banana "ice cream", but the secret is the same: blending frozen bananas results in a miraculously creamy consistency and taste. Note that bananas do have a lot of sugar, but if the alternative is Ben N' Jerrys, there's really no competition. Bananas win. Potassium, yo.

Secret weapon: Cocoa. Guys, chocolate only gets a bad rap because we add so much sugar to it. Cacao itself is great for you, promoting seratonin production in the brain (happy chemicals) and providing antioxidant benefits as well.

Source: Gotchocolate.com

5. Frozen Blueberries and Milk, or Blueberries in Whipped Yogurt Milk and Honey

This sounds super simple, and it is. This is a another great treat to satisfy that icecream urge! Freeze blueberries in season, and when the time is right, pop a few in the glass and cover with milk (regular or the non-dairy substitute of your choice.)

Secret weapon: frozen berries. You might notice a trend here: frozen fruit is an amazing way to satisfy that "cold and sweet" urge. Specifically with berries, when you freeze them and add milk, the milk freezes over the berries resulting in a sort of frozen milk mash. The other benefit of this is that it's COLD - meaning you have to take your time eating it. Slower is better, people.

Drawback: Some studies show that eating berries with milk (from a cow) negates the antioxidant properties of the berries. This may be true, but our unofficial studies show that eating berries an milk is healthier than downing a pint of Chunky Monkey.

6. Quinoa Pudding

Do you like rice pudding? This recipe Cannelle et Vanille (exectution by Honest Fare) recreates the treat with a more nutritions grain.

Secret weapon: Quinoa. This power grain is a great subtitution for rice given its high protein content and amino acid count. Top with healthy extras like fruits and nuts.

7. No Sugar Added Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles

Sometimes you just need a good old fashioned fruit popsicle. Try this variation from the blog Sugar Free Mom that achieves the deliciousness without all of the extra sugar.

8. Frozen Grape Kabobs.

There's no secret here. It's just grapes. What we like about this particular method of freezing them is the portioning. By sticking the grapes on kabobs, it will be easier to reach for one at a time (yup, you can overindulge on fruit, too).

9. Whipped Cashew Cream and Raspberries

Test out this delish whip substitute by Kirstin Uhrenholdt of The Family Dinner. "It’s sweet and creamy, rich and fluffy, but without dairy, or added sugar. Made with fruit and nuts it quickly comes together with a whir of your blender."

Secret weapon: Cashews. These nutty guys are great for you and the cream derivation replicates the consistency of good old whipped.

10. Maple Spice Yogurt Dip

Here's a delicious dip from the blog Organizing with a Side of Fabulous for fruits and rice cakes, using protein-packed greek yogurt.

Secret weapon: Tons of spices. Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg... yum!

11. Raspberry Ricotta Mousse

This yummy recipe from the blog Food For Thought uses blended ricotta, is a great way to achieve a creaminess for those of you who are A-ok with dairy.

Enjoy your dessert hacks! Do you have favorite "brain tricking" sweets? What are they?

Love,

You might also like:

Get more yummy, healthy recipes.