Superfood Desserts to Try

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

Craving something sweet? There’s always room for dessert! Yes, most cookies, cakes, and brownies are filled with sugar, fat, and other unhealthy ingredients. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to indulge your sweet tooth. There are many ways to eat dessert and still have it be fairly healthy. And if you can sneak in some superfoods, even better! To help, several registered dietitians and recipe developers provided us with thise delicious list of superfood-packed dessert recipes.

1. Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Have an extra avocado sitting around on your counter? Turn it into a healthier and creamy pudding-like dessert. “Avocado is high in healthy fats, while cocoa powder is high in antioxidants and has been linked to various health benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving heart health,” says Devon Ferguson, a recipe developer and Senior Editor of with Carnivore Style.

Ingredients:

2 ripe avocados
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Blend the avocados, cocoa powder, honey, almond milk, and vanilla extract in a blender until smooth.
Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes in a bowl.
Top with your favorite fruit or nuts when ready to serve.

2. Chia Seed Pudding

Chia seeds are considered a superfood because they are packed with nutrients such as fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and various minerals. “When combined with almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract, they create a creamy and flavorful pudding that is high in protein and fiber, and low in sugar,” Mary Sabat, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Alpharetta, Ga. This dessert is a great option for those looking for a healthier, plant-based alternative to traditional pudding. “You can use stevia instead of maple syrup for a lower sugar dessert,” adds Sabat.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chia seeds
2 cups almond milk
1/4 cup maple syrup or stevia to taste
1 tsp vanilla extract
Fresh fruit for topping

Directions:

In a large bowl, whisk together the chia seeds, almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
When ready to serve, top the pudding with fresh fruit or other toppings of your choice.

3. Berry Quinoa Parfait

Quinoa is a superfood and a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. It is also high in fiber, iron, and magnesium. This parfait recipe combines cooked quinoa with mixed berries, chopped nuts, and a drizzle of honey and coconut milk to create a delicious and healthier dessert. “Berries are also a superfood due to their high antioxidant content, which has been linked to numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic disease,” says Sabat. “The nuts add a source of healthy fats and protein, making this parfait a balanced and nutritious dessert option.”

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup chopped nuts (such as almonds or walnuts)
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 Tbsp honey or stevia to taste

Directions:

In a small saucepan, warm the berries over medium heat until they start to break down and release their juices. Remove from heat and let cool.
In a small bowl, whisk together the coconut milk and honey.
To assemble the parfaits, start with a layer of cooked quinoa at the bottom of a glass or jar.
Top with a layer of the berry mixture, followed by a layer of chopped nuts.
Repeat the layers until the glass or jar is full, then drizzle the coconut milk mixture over the top.

4. Protein Cookie Dough

This delicious cookie dough uses fiber-rich oats and chickpeas as a base. It’s sweetened with monk fruit—which you can swap for sugar if you aren’t on a low glycemic diet—and has an added boost of protein if you add your favorite protein powder or collagen. “The high fiber legumes in here may improve the abundance and diversity of microbes in your gut, which in turn may improve digestion, blood sugar and immune function,” says Jessie Gutse, owner of Culinary Nutrition Project. And as this doesn’t have raw eggs, you can eat it raw, just like you did when you snuck cookie dough as a kid growing up!

Ingredients

1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup collagen powder or your favorite protein powder
1/4 cup whole, rolled oats
2 Tbsp monk fruit sweetener, or granulated sweetener of choice
2 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt, plus finishing salt or additional salt as garnish
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips, regular chocolate chips, chopped chocolate, or cacao nibs

Directions:

Begin by adding everything (except the chocolate!) to a high speed food processor and processing for 2-3 minutes, until everything is smooth. This is key: process as long as it takes for your tongue to no longer feel the oats and legumes.
Transfer to another bowl, and hand-mix in your chocolate of choice. If your mixture is somewhat warm after pulverizing (as it may be), chill it in the fridge for 10 minutes or so before adding your chocolate chips.
Once finished, chill for 1+ hours. The cooler this is, the sweeter it tastes (and more reminiscent of real cookie dough). Enjoy with apples slices, rice cakes, graham crackers or just a spoon!

5. Carrot Ice Cream

Hear us out on this one! We’re not talking about carrot-flavored ice cream. This healthier recipe tastes more like a cool and refreshing bowl of carrot cake. It’s packed with beta-carotene, healthy fats, and is a favorite of Gutse.

Ingredients:

1 can coconut milk (1 2/3 cups)
2/3 cup honey
2 cups whole carrots, washed, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 Tbsp bourbon
1 tsp kosher salt, split into 2 equal portions
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cardamom

Directions:

Place the washed, peeled and chopped carrots in a steamer basket over medium -high heat for about 10 minutes, until the carrots are easily pierced with a fork.
Once fork-tender, allow the carrots to cool slightly then transfer them to a high powered blender.
Add the remaining ingredients and blend until creamy, smooth. You do not want lumps remaining.
Place the mixture in the fridge for 1+ hours to chill; mixture should be cool or cold.
Set up your ice cream maker and remove your frozen drum from the freezer.
Transfer the carrot mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to the instructions of your machine. This may generally be from about 15-20 minutes.
Transfer to a freeze-safe, well-sealed container. Chill for 4+ hours until frozen. Enjoy with a drizzle of honey and chopped pecans.

6. Fruit and Nut Tart

“The crust of this tart is made of dates, which have plenty of B vitamins (energy-production) and vitamin C,” says Adrienne Raimo, an integrative and functional dietitian and Columbia University-certified health and wellness coach. “The fruits, such as blueberries, have high antioxidant levels; kiwi has vitamin E and C which helps with growth and repair of tissues in each part of the body, as well as fiber that helps with digestion,” says Raimo. And it just looks delicious!

Ingredients:

Crust:

1 cup chopped nut blend (we used 1/2 cup walnuts and 1/2 cup pecans)
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup flaked or shredded coconut
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of nutmeg, optional

Toppings:

1-2 mashed bananas
Blueberries, strawberries, and kiwis to decorate (about 1 cup of each)

Directions:

Soak dates in warm water for about 10 minutes to soften them. Chop nuts with a knife or use a food processor. Drain dates and mix with nut blend, coconut, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a bowl.
Once well mixed, roll into balls and press into pie plate.
Mash bananas and add a layer or ‘frosting’ to the crust.
Top with berries and kiwi or your desired fruits. For extra pizazz, drizzle honey or melted chocolate over the tart.

7. Cocoa Matcha Energy Balls

These are great to eat after a meal as a healthier superfood-packed dessert but also to grab when you’re on the go and looking for a pick me up. You could even pop a few for a healthy breakfast! “Maca root powder is a nutritional powerhouse with vitamins such as vitamin C and minerals such as calcium, copper, potassium and iron,” says Raimo. “It also is a great source of fiber. All of this helps promote healthy cells, digestion and metabolism.”

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut oil, melted
2 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup cacao powder (or cocoa powder)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cayenne powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp maca powder

Directions:

Put shredded coconut, cacao powder, cinnamon and cayenne in medium bowl.
Mix melted coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and pour over dry ingredients.
Combine well and put in freezer for about 15 minutes.
Remove mixture and shape into balls; recipe makes 24.
Store in fridge for up to a week or in freezer for up to 3 months.

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