With the springtime warmer weather—and summer just on the horizon—you might be thinking about spending more time outdoors. With that in mind, you may be even more motivated to stick to your healthy eating plans.
But what about all of the delightful light and airy springtime desserts out there? You might feel frustrated by having to forgo some of the delicious treats that pop up at this time of year. Though many of these traditional spring dessert recipes tend to feature spring fruits, you know that they’re also packed with lots of sugar.
But at Nutrisystem, we never want you to feel deprived of fresh and healthy desserts. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of 22 healthy spring dessert recipes that are lightened-up versions of some of your favorite treats. You can enjoy any of these to the fullest with zero guilt!
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1. Lightened-Up Lemon Blueberry Tart >
Fruit tarts are typically as beautiful as they are delicious. This particular recipe does not disappoint on either accord! Plus, it’s lightened up, making it a diet-friendly choice. It starts off on the right foot using whole wheat pastry flour which adds a nutrition factor that traditional white flour simply cannot. It also uses a whole cup of antioxidant-packed blueberries for some serious nutrient power. While you won’t feel deprived of the delicious taste, a slice only has a mere 161 calories per serving. Click here for the full recipe! >
2. Strawberry Lemon Icebox Cake >
Traditional icebox cakes are those with only a few simple ingredients and no baking involved. While they typically use full-fat whipped cream, our lightened-up version swaps in healthier, nonfat plain Greek yogurt. You still get the luscious texture and creaminess but without all the added fat and calories. Add in some layers of low-fat graham crackers and some fresh sliced strawberries and you’ve got a truly delicious spring dessert that won’t derail your healthy eating plans. Click here for the full recipe! >
3. Healthier Raspberry Lemon Scones >
If enjoying a fresh scone—perhaps with a cup of coffee—is an indulgent treat for you, then you’re going to love our healthier version. Using whole wheat pastry flour, a low-calorie sugar, skim milk and some coconut oil, this scone dough is off to a healthy start. The sweet and tart pairing of lemon with raspberries also creates a winning flavor combination. They are perfect for Easter brunch or as an after dinner treat. Click here for the full recipe! >
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4. Matcha Blueberry Muffins >
Matcha, which is a special form of green tea made from finely powdered dried tea leaves, is said to be high in antioxidants with numerous health benefits. In this blueberry muffin recipe, matcha not only adds a delightful green hue but also nutritional goodness. They’re wholesome, delicious and will satisfy your sweet tooth, too. Click here for the full recipe! >
5. Lightened-Up Lemon Bars >
What sounds more springtime, light and airy than lemon bars? The problem with traditional bar or cookie-type desserts is that they’re usually loaded with sugar. Not our version! These truly lightened-up bars get their sweetness from applesauce and a low-calorie sugar—plus they go light on the butter. As a result, the zest and natural deliciousness of the lemons really shines through in this citrusy delight. Click here for the full recipe! >
6. Must-Try Strawberry Pie >
There’s no question that springtime brings all of the fruit pies and baked goods out—particularly strawberries, which are in-season in the spring. Unfortunately, these recipes are often loaded with sugar, taking away from the natural health power of the antioxidant-rich berries. Our version keeps things light and healthy. With a simple graham cracker crust, the strawberries themselves really take the spotlight—as they should! A delicious slice of this spring pie is a mere 132 calories. Click here for the full recipe! >
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7. Homemade Carrot Cake >
With a vegetable in its name, carrot cake sounds like a healthy treat. However, most carrot cakes are loaded up with unhealthy ingredients. Our carrot cake recipe uses healthful ingredients like nonfat plain Greek yogurt, applesauce, coconut oil and whole wheat pastry flour. Plus, the frosting is lightened-up, too. Instead of full-fat cream cheese, our version swamps in part-skim ricotta plus some nonfat plain Greek yogurt for a light-but-still-delightful topping. Click here for the full recipe! >
8. Skinny Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble >
Nothing screams spring like rhubarb—a famously tart vegetable (yes, it’s a veggie!) that pops up early in the season and is often used in pies and jams. Its tart flavor is known to pair well with super sweet strawberries—and both are used in this delicious crumble. It’s indulgent and will fully satisfy your sweet tooth while only clocking in at a mere 185 calories per serving. Click here for the full recipe! >
9. Raspberry Chickpea Blondies >
Chickpeas in a dessert? You heard it right! When blended up in a food processor, chickpeas can create the perfect creamy base for these dessert bars which combine the gooey-ness of brownies with the consistency of a fresh-based cookie. Packed with antioxidant-rich raspberries and protein-packed nut butter, this is a spring dessert with lots of surprising flavor combinations that just work. They’re sure to become a go-to favorite. Click here for the full recipe! >
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10. Strawberry Lemon Mousse Cups >
Though they sound decadent and indulgent, these light and airy strawberry lemon mousse cups have the fluffy consistency that you love about mousse—but in a totally diet-friendly recipe. By combining a can of lite coconut cream with plain nonfat Greek yogurt, a lemon, stevia and strawberries, you can get in your sweet fix with a mere 95 calories. Click here for the full recipe! >
11. Strawberry Oatmeal Cookies >
If cookies are your go-to dessert, you’ll definitely want to whip up a batch of these! They use healthful ingredients like oats, fresh strawberries, Greek yogurt and applesauce to create a sweet treat that’s good for you, too. It’s a spring dessert recipe that you can enjoy with zero guilt at just 78 calories for a serving of two cookies! Click here for the full recipe! >
12. Blackberry Peach Upside Down Muffin Cakes >
Peaches and blackberries are the star of these fruit-based muffin cakes! Like a traditional upside down cake, the fruit is baked on the bottom—but the cakes are served “flipped” so that the bottom is on top. At just 153 calories for two muffins, they make a great snack that will also satisfy your craving for something sweet. Click here for the full recipe! >
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13. Instant Pot Key Lime Cheesecake >
Did you know that you can use your Instant Pot to make desserts? This delicious key lime cheesecake uses six simple ingredients plus your Instant Pot (instead of the oven) for cooking! You’ll be able to enjoy the indulgent texture and taste of cheesecake but in a low-calorie version. Click here for the full recipe! >
14. Mini No-Bake Lemon Coconut Cheesecake Bites >
When it comes to simple, nothing quite beats “no-bake” desserts. With this recipe, you can whip up some delicious cheesecake bites with some simple mixing and freezing! The freezer will “set” the bites, which use healthy substitutes to traditional full-fat ingredients. With low-fat cream cheese, nonfat plain Greek yogurt, medjool dates and raw almonds, these bites are packed with goodness. Click here for the full recipe! >
