Recipes and Cooking Healthy Recipes Healthy Dessert Recipes Healthy Pumpkin Desserts for Any Time You Crave a Taste of Fall By Kristy Alpert Kristy Alpert Instagram Kristy Alpert has spent nearly two decades as a freelance travel writer and food editor, gathering recipes and stories from the more than 86 countries she's visited. Her bylines have appeared in Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Esquire, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, AFAR, TripSavvy, Better Homes & Gardens, American Way, The New York Daily News, and more. She is also a former editor at Cosmopolitan, D Magazine, Dallas Child, and AvidGolfer. Kristy is passionate about unearthing stories about interesting flavors and recipes from around the world. She was a food critic in Dallas, Texas, before moving on to the freelance world, where she has since lived on three continents and visited all seven. Kristy's appetite for adventure has led her to extracting the secrets of bread baking on Muhu Island, discovering Swiss beauty rituals on an alpine dairy farm, and unearthing ancient Georgian traditions for making qvevri wine. Along with her passion for journalistic storytelling, Kristy is also an E-RYT200 certified yoga instructor, earning her certification while living in Bali, Indonesia, before studying advanced techniques in Rishikesh, India. Kristy is an avid home cook and recipe tester, where she is always armed with a timer and a kitchen scale. She takes far too much joy in admiring her spice cabinet, which includes juniper berries from Norway, cardamom from Nepal, and a coveted Ras El Hanout blend from Morocco. Kristy graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas with a B.A. in English Literature and a certification in Technical Writing. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on July 7, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Jason Donnelly Pumpkin is a jack of all trades. Pumpkin recipes like brownies, cakes, and cookies have unrivaled fall flavor, but pumpkin puree also gives typically indulgent desserts a good-for-you boost. We've got all kinds of ideas, such as a reduced-fat pumpkin bread recipe and a healthy pumpkin cheesecake recipe that's almost too-good-to-be-healthy. Trust us, you don't want to miss out on these healthy low-calorie pumpkin dessert recipes. 01 of 19 Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting View Recipe Andy Lyons Agave, flaxseed meal, and canola oil lighten up the richness of these cupcakes, plus they lend nutrients that regular cupcakes lack. These healthy pumpkin cupcakes are delicious on their own but are extra decadent with a dollop of low-fat cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle with an extra dash of nutmeg for a truly flavorful fall treat. 02 of 19 Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies View Recipe Jason Donnelly We took a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe and added a healthy dose of fall flavor and a healthy spin all at once. Canned pumpkin and whole wheat flour are the secret ingredients for these healthy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Chunks of semi-sweet chocolate chips make all the difference in these moist and chewy healthy pumpkin cookies. Buy It: Farberware Insulated Cookie Sheet ($13, Bed Bath & Beyond) 03 of 19 Pumpkin Cookies with White Chocolate Chips View Recipe Jason Donnelly These decadent white chocolate chip cookies have a little secret; they're healthy! Whole wheat flour and canned pumpkin add a nutritional boost in this healthy pumpkin cookies recipe. The warmth from the pumpkin pie spices and the sweetness from the white chocolate chips make these an easy fall favorite. Our Test Kitchen's Best Cookie Recipes of All Time 04 of 19 Light and Luscious Pumpkin Pie View Recipe Andy Lyons Finally, a delicious pumpkin pie without the heavy ingredients! This healthy pumpkin pie recipe starts with an oil pastry crust that swaps in cooking oil and fat-free milk for butter. Using a sugar substitute will add low-sugar to this low-calorie and low-fat pumpkin dessert's credentials, and means you don't have to skimp on the frozen light whipped dessert topping. 05 of 19 Pumpkin-Pomegranate Cheesecake View Recipe Karla Conrad The pumpkin flavor—with a hint of orange—tastes so indulgent that you'd never guess this is a "skinny" pumpkin cheesecake. The pomegranate topping complements the creamy cake beautifully. This healthy pumpkin cheesecake comes together in your slow cooker for a fuss-free fall dessert. Buy It: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker ($42, Target) 06 of 19 Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread View Recipe Andy Lyons Not a fan of the ultra-sweet? Snack on our traditional pumpkin bread made a little healthier by subbing in low-fat yogurt and whole wheat flour. This reduced fat pumpkin bread is so good, it definitely qualifies as a special treat. 07 of 19 Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites View Recipe Blaine Moats These adorable cheesecake bites will be a great addition to a dessert buffet (or even a dessert charcuterie board!) any time of the year. They shine in fall though, thanks to sweet caramel and toasted pecans drizzled on top of a lightened-up cheesecake mixture. You'll have to tell your guests that these caramel-y, pumpkin-y treats are actually low-cal (130 calories per cheesecake!)—otherwise they'd never know. 08 of 19 Marbled Chocolate-Pumpkin Brownies View Recipe Jason Donnelly Pumpkin and chocolate are a match made in fall-food heaven. Plus, the addition of pumpkin nearly cuts the fat content in half for this healthy pumpkin dessert recipe. Basically, you're cutting back on the unhealthiness while adding flavor you crave to the treat. 09 of 19 Frosted Pumpkin Bread View Recipe Jason Donnelly This healthy pumpkin bread (that's smothered in a chocolate-coffee glaze) has fewer calories than most—but we promise it's just as delicious. A dash of espresso powder adds a kick to this sweet cinnamon-and-nutmeg spiced recipe. To add a little more nutrients, swap in some whole wheat flour for part of the all-purpose flour. 10 of 19 Pumpkin-Almond Macarons View Recipe Andy Lyons Start with a healthy scoop of almond flour and mix in three egg whites with some other spices and dry ingredients for a light and healthy macaron. Use homemade pumpkin butter to take this healthy pumpkin spice dessert recipe to the next level. Have one and it's only 65 calories—or have three and that's still under 200! 11 of 19 Sour Cream Pumpkin Bars View Recipe Blaine Moats These healthy pumpkin bars are super moist (thanks, canned pumpkin!) and use part all-purpose flour and part whole wheat flour. The end result is a deliciously sweet healthy treat, where each bar comes in at only 130 calories. Opt for low-fat sour cream instead of full fat so you can add this recipe to your favorite low-fat pumpkin recipes list! 12 of 19 Pumpkin Coffee Break Cake View Recipe Blaine Moats Sure, coffee cake usually belongs at brunch, but a cake this good shouldn't be limited to just one meal. White whole wheat flour and canned pumpkin add a bit of hidden nutrition to this lightened-up cake. Topped with chopped pecans and a rich orange glaze, this healthy pumpkin cake recipe makes a tasty finish to any autumn meal. Buy It: King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour ($5, Target) 13 of 19 Harvest Spice Smoothies View Recipe Jason Donnelly Two types of vegetables and three fresh apricots are hiding out in this creamy and satisfying pumpkin smoothie. Pumpkin pie spice and a dash of honey add some flavor, but the real secret ingredient is silken-style tofu, which packs a real protein punch. At just 162 calories per serving, you can sip it as a meal replacement or as a treat after dinner. 14 of 19 Pumpkin Angel Food Cake View Recipe Matthew Clark Canned pumpkin takes the place of any oils or fats to make this healthy pumpkin angel food cake recipe even lighter and airier. No one will ever guess that this recipe uses a box cake mix as its base, especially since it comes out fluffy and moist every time. Drizzle with a simple glaze of fresh orange juice mixed with powdered sugar. 15 of 19 No-Bake Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake View Recipe Andy Lyons Pumpkin plus cheesecake equals healthy and delicious. This healthy pumpkin cheesecake recipe features reduced-fat and fat-free cream cheese, plus the option to use a sugar substitute. Chill it overnight and then let the beautiful white swirls be the centerpiece on your holiday dessert table. 16 of 19 Gluten-Free Pumpkin-Walnut Streusel Muffins View Recipe Jason Donnelly Oats, flaxseed, brown rice flour—these muffins are packed with nutrient-filled ingredients. Oh yeah, and thanks to the pumpkin pie spice, they're packed with fall flavor, too. The reduced-fat cream cheese frosting is optional, but even just a drizzle goes a long way over these gluten-free healthy pumpkin desserts. Gluten-Free Desserts That Are Seriously Delicious 17 of 19 Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bars with Chocolate Chips View Recipe Matthew Clark There are zero added fats in this healthy pumpkin bar recipe. Instead, they are loaded with good-for-you ingredients like whole wheat flour, pumpkin puree, nuts, and fat-free milk. These classic bars are a guilt-free treat you can enjoy all season long. 18 of 19 Baked Pumpkin Pudding View Recipe Andy Lyons Pumpkin plus pudding? The name rolls off the tongue like the delicious combo it is. This light and silky pumpkin-spiced pudding has all the flavors of a healthy pumpkin pie but with only 148 calories per serving. 19 of 19 Pumpkin Pancakes View Recipe Andy Lyons Sure, pancakes are technically breakfast food, but these are so good we want to make them for dessert! Again, canned pumpkin as the base means these healthy pumpkin pancakes are super moist but with less unnecessary dairy or fats. Skip the sugary syrup and try them topped with a dollop of reduced-fat whipped topping and a sprinkle of pepitas instead. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit