18 Low-Sugar Desserts That Won’t Destroy Your Diet
We’ve been told time and time again that we eat too much sugar. But, like, it’s so good, you know? Luckily, just because you’re trying to cut back on the sweet stuff doesn’t mean you have to entirely give up delicious treats. To prove it, allow us to present these 18 mouthwatering low-sugar desserts that will satisfy your cravings for chocolate, cheesecake, cobbler and more.
RELATED: 20 Easy Plant-Based Dessert Recipes
1. Avocado Chocolate Mousse (12 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan
From the world’s first avocado bar, Avocaderia. This is the first dessert the Brooklyn eatery ever served. Decadent, smooth and intense, the treat is packed with protein and will keep in a resealable container in the fridge for two days.
2. 6-Ingredient, No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies (12 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, no-bake, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free
Yep, you read that correctly—and they're so easy to pull off. These plant-based, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies have just six ingredients, the main ones being salted cashews and Medjool dates.
3. Low-Carb Cheesecake (2 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly
Complete with raspberry sauce. The secret to its low-sugar numbers is granular or powdered erythritol in the almond flour crust and cheesecake filling instead of the real stuff.
4. Sugar-Free Blackberry Cobbler (3 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, keto-friendly
Low-carb and keto dieters, this one's for you. Traditional cobblers typically call for a ton of sugar and cornstarch as a thickening agent. This take on the tasty treat uses a zero-calorie monk fruit allulose blend as a sweetener and—wait for it—grass-fed gelatin, which boosts the dessert's protein content.
5. Paleo Carrot Cake (9 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, gluten-free, dairy-free, Paleo-friendly
Made with almond flour, sweetened with maple syrup and dates and frosted with whipped coconut cream, this healthier take on carrot cake is low in sugar and rich in protein and fiber. Oh, and it tastes damn delicious.
6. Keto Peanut Butter Fudge (1 gram sugar)
Total Cook Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly
How does dessert with a side of protein sound? Cream cheese, peanut butter and whey protein unite to create this decadent treat that's delicious enough to give as a gift.
7. Refined Sugar-Free Turtle Brownies (13 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Easy, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, Insta-worthy
Flaxseed meal takes over for eggs to bind the brownies and keep them vegan. Maple syrup and coconut sugar keep things just sweet enough, but the real treat is the date caramel on top.
8. Low-Carb Lemon Bars (1 gram sugar)
Total Cook Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, keto-friendly
Fresh lemon juice is the key to making these citrus bars taste like their sugary predecessors. The coconut flour crust adds a nice touch of tropical flavor to boot.
9. Gluten-Free Apple Crisp (12 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, Paleo-friendly, Insta-worthy
In case you needed a good excuse to treat yourself to a set of teeny-tiny cocottes. Might we suggest finishing each crisp with a scoop of sugar-free vanilla ice cream?
10. Keto Pumpkin Doughnuts (0 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, Paleo-friendly, Insta-worthy
A sweet that’s just as delish for breakfast as it is for dessert, these keto pumpkin doughnuts are sweetened with granulated monk fruit instead of real sugar. They’re also grain-free and coated in sugar-free chocolate glaze.
11. Keto Tiramisu (4 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, Insta-worthy
Instead of using store-bought ladyfingers, this masterpiece calls for almond-based cake made with sugar substitutes. The custard still has all the espresso, rum and mascarpone of the O.G.
12. Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream (1 gram sugar)
Total Cook Time: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, low-carb, keto-friendly
Vanilla bean paste drives the flavor home, but coconut cream and cashew butter offer a unique nuttiness (and plenty of richness) to this otherwise plain ice cream flavor.
13. Flourless Chocolate Torte (0 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, Paleo-friendly, Insta-worthy
This dinner party-ready gem is only six ingredients away. Top the crowd-pleaser off with whipped coconut cream and fresh berries if you're feeling fancy.
14. Keto Custard (2 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: Less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, Insta-worthy
Aka low-carb crème brûlée. Finish them with nutmeg and berries or sprinkle each ramekin with zero-calorie sweetener and torch your heart out.
15. Pecan Pie Bars (1 gram sugar)
Total Cook Time: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly
Bookmark this sticky, Southern-inspired recipe for Thanksgiving—your low-carb relatives will be thrilled.
16. Coconut “Snowball” Cookies (6 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan
Here are three fun facts about these cute little cookies: They’re made from just seven ingredients (including shredded unsweetened coconut, maple syrup and aquafaba, or chickpea water), they only require one bowl and they take less than 30 minutes to make.
17. Healthy Greek Yogurt Brownies (8 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: Easy, less than 10 ingredients, gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, Insta-worthy
Thanks to Greek yogurt and eggs, these dark chocolate chunk-studded treats boast 3 grams of protein a pop.
18. Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie (7 grams sugar)
Total Cook Time: 1 hour
Why We Love It: Easy, gluten-free, low-carb, keto-friendly, Insta-worthy
Picture vanilla-cream cheese filling and glazed strawberries, nestled in a flaky, keto-friendly pie crust that will fool even the most advanced sweet tooth.
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