Everyone loves dessert, but the sugar and other unhealthy ingredients that often come with it are far less attractive. However, you can have your cake and eat it too when you indulge in a healthy dessert makeover.
By making just a few alterations to your favorite recipes, you can have your favorite sweet treats in a way that is healthy, without sacrificing the taste.
Garbanzo bean brownies
Few things are more decadent than a rich chocolate brownie, and you can still have them with a few substitutions. Instead of all of that gooey milk chocolate, you can use a combination of garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas), organic coconut oil, raw dark chocolate and organic coconut crystals for sweetness.
These are ingredients that provide you with plenty of nutrients, as well as intense chocolaty flavor.
Warm apple pie
The ultimate comfort food is a warm slice of apple pie, sometimes served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. That sugar and gluten though: no thanks. Luckily, this is an easy one to enjoy healthy.
Cut several baking apples in half, and arrange cut-side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with some softened, grass-fed butter and top with almonds. Bake at 350 degrees F until apples are cooked. Cool slightly on baking sheet.
Move apple halves to plates, and top with a tablespoon of raw honey, and a tablespoon of organic Greek yogurt. Yum.
Healthy chocolate cake
Instead of the usual sugar-filled version, search for a gluten-free chocolate cake recipe which utilizes organic coconut crystals, pure agave nectar, raw stevia leaves or raw honey for sweetness. Instead of frosting, top your cake with fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.
Oatmeal raisin cookie
Replace the flour-and-sugar version with an oatmeal peanut butter bar that is sweet, satisfying and packed with healthy nutrients, including plenty of fiber and protein. You simply mix gluten-free oats and organic peanut butter together. Add any fruits or nuts of your choice to add extra flavor.
Teff chocolate pudding
Teff is a popular food with Ethiopian runners, because it is a whole grain packed with energy-boosting iron and other nutrients. It is also gluten-free. You can use teff to create a healthy chocolate pudding option, and add things like raw cacao powder, organic coconut milk and organic molasses to create a pudding with a flavor far better than anything you’d find at the supermarket.
The above-listed desserts are much healthier than their conventional cousins, but they still have that decadent flavor that you long for after a hard day. To ensure that these are extra healthy, make them at home so that you have full control over the ingredients.
Although these desserts are nutritious, remember that you’ll still want to enjoy them in moderation.
-The Alternative Daily
