Who said going on a diet means you can't have dessert? After all, some of the sweetest treats of all contain natural sugars that are relatively harmless when enjoyed in moderation. Having a dessert minus any added refined sugar is rather easy if you know what kinds of substitutes to be looking for — or, if you know which fruits and organic syrups can stand up to the challenge of being sweet all on their own.
Fruit is often served as dessert in some form or another, and harnessing it's natural sweetness can be quite simple depending on the variety. Some of our best sugar-free dessert ideas involve fruits like apples, pumpkin (yes, it's a fruit!), coconut, and raspberries, all shining examples of common grocery store finds that are organically sweet compared to their peers. Combined with other au-natural additives, such as honey, these sugar-free dessert recipes are chock full of pantry staples that keep calories low as well.
Some of these treats may also be free of gluten and other triggering allergens, including nuts, which is a boon for those who commonly have to steer clear of desserts. For those attempting the keto diet, you may be surprised to hear there are sugar-free versions that you'd be able to enjoy every once in a while — but be sure to enjoy these in moderation, as saturated fat counts can be quite high.
Here's hoping your sugar cravings get fulfilled in a natural way!
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1
Raspberry Chia Jam
This sweet and fruity superfood jam is sweetened with maple syrup!
Get the recipe for Raspberry Chia Jam »
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2
Strawberries and Cream Energy Balls
These supercharged plant-based nuggets are as sweet as classic Good Humor's strawberry shortcake frozen pops, says Jamie Vespa, MS, RD, of Dishing Out Health. Ready in just 10 minutes, they can be made-ahead for the workweek and stored in the freezer — plus, they're vegan and paleo-friendly.
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3
Rosé Popsicles
We love how Kate Wood, the brilliant mind behind Wood and Spoon, combines pears and strawberries to make the ultimate boozy popsicle. You can skip the simple syrup in this recipe and rosé if you want!
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4
Keto-Friendly Cheesecake
Rich and tangy, this overhauled cheesecake makes use of almond flour, coconut flour, and a dash of stevia in place of refined sugar for sweetness. Don't eat the whole cake at once, though; the sheer amount of cream cheese means this decadent dessert is certainly heavy on the fat content.
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5
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
We love how Carolyn Ketchum, the keto-friendly genius behind All Day I Dream About Food and author of The Ultimate Guide to Keto Baking, used two different naturally sweet fruits here. Cream cheese, butter, whipping cream, vanilla extract, and a sugar substitute of your choice come together to make a super luxe filling for fresh strawberries.
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6
Sugarless Peanut Butter Fudge
There's only three ingredients in this make-ahead dessert recipe — but we love how Brenda Bennett, the avid baker behind Sugar-Free Mom and author of Naturally Keto, maximized the sweetness of peanut butter and almond milk here. Two pieces of this rich fudge will only set you back 0.7g of natural sugar.
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7
Keto-Friendly Chocolate Cake
Cream cheese, butter, and a sprinkle of a keto-friendly sugar alternative makes for a deliciously decadent frosting. Unsweetened cocoa powder also helps make up for the lack of added sugar here.
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8
Frozen Yogurt Fruit Bites
Look for sugar-free yogurt, and skip the optional honey: The fresh fruits here are sweet enough. Freeze a big batch and enjoy them throughout the week.
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9
Peach Roses
There may be some sugar hiding in the peach jam and the puff pastry you use, but there's no added sugar in these Instagram-worthy sweet treats. You'll also need to forego the dusting of powdered sugar.
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10
3-Ingredient Coconut Cookies
Coconut, bananas, and almond flour come together to make these superfast treats. Try customizing this recipe with other sugar-free additions — dark chocolate, anyone?
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11
Keto Chocolate Mousse
What's the secret to lusciously creamy mousse without sugar, you might ask? Avocados, of course! You can also make this dessert dairy-free entirely by blending in coconut milk.
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12
Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie
It's also free of dairy and gluten. Honey, maple syrup, and vanilla extract make this pie's filling tase just like the real thing, though.
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13
Candy Apple Grapes
Yes, caramel will contain sugar — but the amount used here is very negligible when compared to ice cream, cakes, or pies. This party-friendly treat makes use of itty bitty chopped peanuts to combine both sweet and savory notes.
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14
Healthy Samoas Cookies
Harnessing the coconut aspect of this classic Girl's Scout flavor, you'll be able to make an updated version of a Samoas cookie with honey, unsweetened cocoa powder, and maple syrup. The cookies themselves are made from a coconut flour base.
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15
Instant Pot Apple Crisp
Making dessert in your Instant Pot is easy enough; but this gluten-free and sugar-free version of a beloved favorite is done in just 10 minutes. The crisp topping is made with oats and almond flour, while honey or maple syrup make the sweet base of the apple filling seen here.
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16
Keto-Friendly Ice Cream
This full-bodied dessert is so creamy, its almost savory; but a dash of a sugar-free sweetener and vanilla extract will bring you back to childhood. If you have three more ingredients, you have DIY ice cream!
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17
Peanut Butter Cacao Nib Cookie Bites
First, they made pasta from chickpeas — now, you can make cookie dough using these supercharged pulses, too. For a completely sugarless version of these gooey cookies, use 30 drops of Stevia and unsweetened cacao nibs.
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18
Keto-Friendly Chocolate Truffles
Dark chocolate has significantly less sugar than other chocolate varieties; this bite-sized dessert actually contains zero grams of sugar in each serving.
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19
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies
Believe it or not, these delectable cookies are totally free of both butter and sugar. They're sweetened with vanilla extract and pure maple syrup, which both contain trace amounts of naturally occurring sugar.
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20
Applesauce Cookies
Applesauce, cinnamon, and a few raisins can go a long way in creating a sugar-free treat that feels much more indulgent than it is. Eggs and flour help turn applesauce into a dough that you can bake.
