There is no reason you need to sweat over a hot oven, baking pies for dessert this summer. Check out these three healthy dessert options instead.
1. Clean-Eating Peanut Butter Banana Cups
Growing up, dessert was all about candy, especially peanut butter cups. Obviously, traditional candy is full of sugar and unhealthy preservatives, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the sweet, melt-in-your-mouth goodness of a peanut butter cup.
The peanut butter banana cup recipe found on Skinny Ms is one of the best candy dessert recipes available. It uses dark chocolate, peanut butter, bananas, and coconut oil for a recipe full of antioxidants and proteins. In an hour and 10 minutes, you can enjoy your own candy without the store-bought guilt.
Ingredients:
1 banana (medium)
1/4 cup peanut butter (all-natural)
3/4 cup chocolate chips (dark)
1 tablespoon coconut oil (melted)
1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)
Directions:
For preparation, you will need parchment or wax paper and baking cups. You can place the sheet on the counter with the cups on top.
In a small saucepan over low heat, you will melt the chocolate. In a separate bowl or dish, mix the coconut oil and peanut butter.
Allow the melted chocolate to cool slightly before adding one teaspoon to the bottom of each baking cup. Top the layer of chocolate with a banana slice and one teaspoon of the peanut butter mixture. Finally, place 1/2 teaspoon of chocolate on top.
Place the cups in the freezer for about one hour. Allow the cups to sit at room temperature for two to three minutes before eating. Additionally, to slow the thawing process, you can add one tablespoon of powdered sugar to the peanut butter mixture before adding it to the cups.
2. Vegan, No-Bake, Chocolate Quinoa Crisps
One of the worst things you can do on an already hot and humid day is kick on the oven to bake something sweet. However, the summer is also one of the best times to treat yourself to something chocolaty and delicious. If you are interested in trying a new dessert that is truly no-fuss, try these chocolate quinoa crisps from the Toasted Pine Nut:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup refined coconut oil (melted)
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 1/2 cups puffed quinoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions:
Whisk the vanilla, agave nectar, melted coconut oil, and cocoa powder in a bowl until smooth. Fold in the puffed quinoa.
Using a cookie scoop, scoop out approximately eight mounds onto parchment paper. If the mixture is difficult to scoop out, try microwaving it for about 10 seconds.
Using a clean finger, flatten the tops of the crisps. Place them in the freezer or fridge for approximately one hour. Eat and enjoy.
3. Pineapple Mango Sorbet
Few summer desserts are more treasured than ice cream. Unfortunately, most ice cream is high in sugar and fat. Try this pineapple mango sorbet from Two Peas and Their Pod if you want a healthier chilled option.
Ingredients:
2 cups cubed mango, packed
2 cups fresh cubed pineapple, packed
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 cup granulated sugar
Directions:
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Blending typically takes two to three minutes.
Churn the mixture in an ice cream maker. Using an airtight container, transfer the sorbet to the freezer for four to six hours. You can keep the sorbet for up to two weeks.
Forget about the oven this summer. Use the fridge and stovetop to make some quick, cool, and delicious treats. What are your favorite healthy summer dessert recipes?