15 Resolution-Approved Desserts To Help You Keep Crushing Your Goals
Last Friday was unofficial “Quitting Day” so if you’ve made it this far with your New Year’s resolutions, we say you deserve a treat. Though we’d be the first to support you fully ditching whatever healthy eating resolutions you’ve set for yourself, we also are so proud of you and don’t want to derail your successes. Instead, we’ve rounded up 15 of our most decadent, but still diet-friendly, dessert recipes that we hope will help get you to the end of January (and all year long if you like!). Whatever you’re craving, from cookies to cake to ice cream, there’s something for you here.
We’re always celebrating how health looks different to different people, and we know that your resolutions to eat better are fully your own. With that in mind, we’ve included some keto, vegan, and low-carb recipes here, like our keto fudge, our vegan brownies, and our gluten-free strawberry shortcakes. We’re also getting creative with fruit, so check out our banana ice cream or our Sour Patch grapes if you’re looking to up your produce intake this year. Trying out the Mediterranean diet this year (it was the most popular diet of 2024, after all)? Our Greek yogurt panna cotta or our olive oil chocolate chip cookies swap traditional ingredients for more heart-healthy ones, without sacrificing any flavor.
Want even more health-minded picks? Check out our top healthy dinners for even more ideas.
Mason Jar Ice Cream
We ALL scream for ice cream. What we’re not so into: how tempting it is to eat an entire store-bought pint. Here's an idea: next time the craving hits, make this mason jar ice cream instead. It's single serving, AND you get a little arm workout in the process. 😉
Get the Mason Jar Ice Cream recipe.
Sour Patch Grapes
Sour Patch grapes, or Glitter Grapes, have been a blogger favorite for years, and it's long time you tried the treat firsthand. This magical recipe transforms green grapes into a sour-and-sweet snack that tastes suspiciously like Sour Patch Kids.
Get the Sour Patch Grapes recipe.
Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies
Those who say that butter makes everything better have yet to meet these these secretly healthy, but no less delicious olive oil chocolate chip cookies. With equal parts whole wheat and all-purpose flour and no chilling time required, these are ready to go the instant you want them.
Get the Olive Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce
Pavlovas have a crispy exterior with a soft, marshmallow-like interior, and these mini ones made into cupcakes are the perfect way to get your sweet fix. Dollop with a little whipped cream and raspberry sauce for the perfect bite.
Get the Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce recipe.
Banana Ice Cream
If you're unfamiliar, banana ice cream is made up of frozen ripe bananas, a little milk, and a sweetener blended together to make a creamy consistency that's honestly not far off from regular ice cream. Does it taste like banana? Yes. Does banana go wonderfully with a wide variety of flavors, making this treat still extremely versatile? Definitely!
Get the Banana Ice Cream recipe.
Almost Flourless Chocolate-Orange Cake
If you just can't take any more gluten-free desserts, try adding just 2 tablespoons of flour to our flourless chocolate cake recipe. Topped with some candied orange peel, this cake is rich and decadent, but still a little lighter than your average chocolate cake.
Get the Almost Flourless Chocolate-Orange Cake recipe.
Berry Crisp With Walnut-Pecan Topping
Inspired by the Greek version of baklava, this crisp is brimming with tart berries, warm spices, orange zest, honey, and walnuts. To stay true to the Greek theme, we used olive oil instead of butter in the topping too. Feel free to mix up what berries you use—any will work here.
Get the Berry Crisp With Walnut-Pecan Topping recipe.
Cookies & Cream Fat Bombs
Never fear: These decadent fat bombs are here to save you from those 3 p.m. (or 10 p.m.!) hunger pangs.
Get the Cookies & Cream Fat Bombs recipe.
Green & Red Grape Sorbet
Looking for a sweet treat, but avoiding dairy? Sorbet's just the thing! We made ours with grapes, but we especially love this recipe because it's so versatile and simple. You only need a few ingredients and a food processor to make it—feel free to experiment with other fruit too.
Get the Green & Red Grape Sorbet recipe.
Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcakes
Shortcakes (aka biscuits) + macerated strawberries + whipped cream = one of life’s greatest desserts. With this recipe, you can have it all, but with less carbs. Strawberry shortcake is obviously the classic, but feel free to serve these with different fruits or spreads too.
Get the Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcakes recipe.
Air Fryer GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
You won't believe these little cookies only have six ingredients, not including a pinch of salt (most of which you probably already have on hand!). We made 'em mini so you can eat more of them! 😊
Get the Air Fryer GF Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta
Panna cotta is a creamy, chilled dessert often found throughout Italy. We put a slightly more nutritious spin on the popular dessert by incorporating Greek yogurt and honey into the recipe and swapping out most of the cream. The result is a rich dessert that isn’t overly sweet, perfect for enjoying again and again.
Get the Greek Yogurt Panna Cotta recipe.
Keto Birthday Cake
Calling all Funfetti lovers! Meet your new favorite keto-friendly birthday cake. Finding sugar-friendly sprinkles can be a major hassle, but this clever coconut flake hack is easy, fun, and just as impressive. Hot tip: you can also turn this recipe into cupcakes.
Get the Keto Birthday Cake recipe.
Vegan Chocolate Brownies
Craving chocolate? If you're a fan of fudgy brownies and dark chocolate, you've met your match. Cocoa, espresso powder, and bittersweet chocolate come together in these dairy-free treats that are just as rich and fudgy as any non-vegan version.
Get the Vegan Chocolate Brownies recipe.
Marshmallow Fruit Dip
Three ingredients and only 5 minutes of work make this dip a dream come true! It's the ideal light and simple dessert when you just don't have the time or effort to whip up something extravagant (we feel you).
Get the Marshmallow Fruit Dip recipe.
Keto Fudge
We love cookies, don’t get us wrong, but sometimes we want to switch things up. Fudge is simpler, and we find it easier to savor just a piece or two (rather than eating half a baker's dozen's worth).
Get the Keto Fudge recipe.
Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse
Have you heard of aquafaba? It's the magical liquid left behind by cooked chickpeas, and when whipped vigorously, it acts exactly like egg whites. Use it to replace egg whites in foamy cocktails like our Rosemary Gin Fizz, in baked goods, or as a sub for heavy cream, like in this light-as-air chocolate mousse.
Get the Aquafaba Chocolate Mousse recipe.
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