Healthy Summer Desserts

June 09, 2015
Take advantage of fresh, in-season produce and enjoy these healthy dessert recipes at your next barbecue, block party, or casual summer dinner. Plus, these summer desserts are so delicious and satisfying that you won't even notice they're lower in fat and calories!
Start Slideshow

1 of 24

Dessert Pizza with Banana Ice Cream

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Banana "nice" cream (pureed frozen bananas mixed with a bit of milk to achieve an ice cream-like consistency) is the sauce on this crispy rice cereal-crusted fruit pizza. Tailor it to the season by loading it up with strawberries and mango slices come early summer or peaches and blackberries later in the season.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 24

Blueberry and Peach Slab Pie

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Stick with one crust instead of two for this summer fruit pie. Not only will you slash the calorie count nearly in half, but you'll also showcase nature's candy that makes up the pie filling.

3 of 24

Banana Split Pie

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Can you believe this ice cream parlor-inspired slice has just 167 calories? It's true, thanks to lower-fat swaps for the graham cracker crumb crust, chocolate and vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and whipped topping. Promise you won't be able to taste the difference in this banana split treat!

Advertisement

4 of 24

Berry Tart with Lemon Cookie Crust

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Even with a homemade buttery crust, this stunning summer dessert is low in calories. The luscious lemon topping is made with fat-free cream cheese and Greek yogurt.

5 of 24

Nectarine Shortcakes with Honeyed Yogurt Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Give the peaches and cream concept a healthy summer makeover! Two nutrition-boosting strategies make this shortcake a smart choice: the biscuits are made with half whole-wheat flour, while the decadent cream mixture is hiding a cup of protein-rich Greek yogurt.

6 of 24

Rasberry Sorbet

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You're just five ingredients away from our most refreshing summer dessert. Fresh, in-season raspberries top the list, giving this sorbet its gorgeous color and sweet-tart flavor.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 24

Burrata and Stone Fruit

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sometimes, simple is best. Like that time in summer when stone fruit is so naturally sweet, you don't need to add a hint of sugar! Stock up on nectarines, plums, peaches, apricots (or a mix) and combine with creamy burrata cheese, spicy chili oil, and refreshing fresh mint for a healthy summer dessert recipe that toes the sweet-heat line beautifully.

8 of 24

Carrot and Zucchini Bars

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Move over, summer salads. Zucchini-carrot bars are a more scrumptious way to feature fresh summer produce. Top off the bars with a generous slather of our citrus-spiked cream cheese frosting.

9 of 24

Gluten Free Sweet Ricotta and Strawberry Parfaits

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Ricotta, a rich and creamy Italian cheese, only needs a bit of agave or honey and a dash of vanilla to taste just like cheesecake. Layer with fresh berries and mint for a healthy summer dessert that tastes way more decadent than its 159 calories.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 24

Raspberry Fudge Greek Frozen Yogurt

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Swap out your usual ice cream for homemade frozen Greek yogurt. It's a protein-packed summer dessert that's refreshing and satisfying. And despite a dousing of raspberry preserves and chocolate syrup, one serving of this treat has only 115 calories.

11 of 24

Berry-Banana Smoothie Bowls

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Freeze fresh cherries and blueberries to toss in this smoothie bowl recipe to highlight the summer produce all-stars in a refreshing way. Each 180-calorie bowl is sweet, yet surprisingly low in sugar, since you're using the fruit at its peak ripeness. For a desserty touch, garnish with sliced almonds and dark chocolate chips.

12 of 24

Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Moist, cocoa-loaded, and secretly healthy, these single-serving cakes get their summer style (and slimmed-down calorie tally) via two cups of shredded zucchini. Everyone will be so distracted by the peanut butter cup-like flavors that they won't even notice the veggies hiding inside the cupcake batter.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 24

Strawberry Sangria Ice Pops

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chill out with an ice pop inspired by the crowd-pleasing cocktail. The strawberry dessert recipe calls for a cup of white wine (about one-third of a bottle). What you do with the other two-thirds is up to you—although we highly recommend sharing it with a friend while enjoying the weather on a patio!

14 of 24

Dark Chocolate Fondue with Fruit Kabobs

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Whether you drizzle or dip, you'll love our dreamy (and low-cal) dark chocolate fondue. Served with summery fruit kabobs and a splash of coffee, it's the perfect summer dessert.

15 of 24

Vanilla Bean Mascarpone with Fresh Fruit

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You probably know this Italian cream cheese from its starring role in tiramisu. We let it step into the spotlight in this three-ingredient stone fruit dessert.

Tip: For even more summer flair, sprinkle the mascarpone mixture with ribbons of fresh basil or mint.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 24

Lemon Balm and Blackberry Meringues

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Light and airy vanilla meringues make an ideal base for a healthy summer dessert—they look just like fluffy clouds in a sunny sky! Citrusy herbs and fresh blackberries take this warm-weather treat to new seasonal, fresh heights.

17 of 24

Mexican Fruit Cups with Honey-Lime Syrup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

As we mentioned before, seasonal fruit doesn't need much to taste like dessert. Here we just add a nice amount of spice (see the cilantro and chile pepper?), plus zingy lime juice, and a drizzle of honey for a south of the border sweet course.

Tip: Tame the heat of the chile pepper by dunking the fruit in fat-free vanilla Greek yogurt before digging in.

18 of 24

Strawberry Greek Frozen Yogurt

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You'll melt over this easy ice cream swap that requires just 15 minutes of prep time before freezing. Make the frozen dessert recipe your own by using different yogurt flavors and summer fruits.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 24

Berry Slab Pie

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Load a light, flaky crust with your favorite berries for the ultimate summer dessert. Frozen puff pastry simplifies the prep so you can enjoy your sweet treat sooner.

20 of 24

Strawberry-Lemon Bars

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Topped with lemon-infused strawberry jelly and plump ripe strawberries, these gooey lemon bars are perfect for fruit-lovers. At 115 calories a pop, saying no is totally unnecessary.

21 of 24

Watermelon-Kiwi Pops

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Bright and refreshing, these easy-to-make fruit pops are an ideal dessert recipe for warm summer days. Recruit the kids to help you make them, and watch them enjoy a delicious serving of fruit as they cool off.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 24

Triple-Berry Cobbler

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries are topped with a crumb topping for an impressive dessert that comes right out of your slow cooker. Get it going in the morning, and a healthy dessert recipe will be ready whenever you are.

23 of 24

Mocha Cream Shake

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For an ice cream treat that's all grown up, turn to this rich mocha shake. Made with low-fat frozen yogurt, strong brewed coffee, and dark chocolate, this dessert recipe is decadence at its best.

24 of 24

Stovetop Peach-Blackberry Crisp

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Keep the oven off and "bake" this peach and berry crisp recipe right on your stove. Use your creativity  (and what looks best at the market) and make this 30-minute dessert recipe your own. Nectarines or plums make stellar peach stand-ins, while blueberries or raspberries work wonderfully in place of the blackberries.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next