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!
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.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Tart recipe.
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.
Get the Strawberry Lemon Icebox Cake recipe.
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.
Get the Raspberry Lemon Scones recipe.
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.
Get the Matcha Blueberry Muffins recipe.
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.
Get the Lightened-Up Lemon Bars recipe.
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.
Get the Must-Try Strawberry Pie recipe.
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.
Get the Homemade Carrot Cake recipe.
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.
Get the Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble recipe.
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.
Get the Raspberry Chickpea Blondies recipe.
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.
Get the Strawberry Lemon Mousse Cups recipe.
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!
Get the Strawberry Oatmeal Cookies recipe.
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.
Get the Blackberry Peach Upside Down Muffin Cakes recipe.
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.
Get the Instant Pot Key Lime Cheesecake recipe.
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.
Get the No-Bake Lemon Coconut Cheesecake Bites recipe.
Spring calls for pretty pastries and satisfying sweets! These berry scones are perfectly portioned and packed with berrylicious flavor. Featuring a whole wheat base, a medley of your favorite mixed berries and a sprinkle of coconut sugar, this healthy spring scone recipe provides the crumbly texture and light sweetness of scones that you know and love.
Get the Mixed Triple Berry Scones recipe.
Delicious, dainty and diet-friendly, these little meringue cookie bites are the perfect dessert for your spring menu. They might look (and taste) like they’re straight from the local bakery but are actually quite simple to make. Serve them up on a colorful plate with fresh berries for a spring-inspired presentation.
Get the Almond Meringue Cookie recipe.
Who says you need flour to bake a moist, fluffy and delicious cake? Our recipe for Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Cake proves that you can create an impressive spring dessert with just five ingredients.
Get the Flourless Chocolate Raspberry Cake recipe.
Enjoy an elegant chocolate dessert that’s filled with fresh, fruity flavor. This simple Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Pie is a rich and decadent treat that’s perfect for any special occasion. Top it with some low-fat whipped topping and sliced berries for a beautiful presentation.
Get the Raspberry Chocolate Mousse Pie recipe.
This berrylicious pie might look like a gourmet dessert from your local bakery. However, it’s actually super simple to make! The secret ingredient is chia seeds, which provides extra fiber while creating a jelly-liked texture. This beautiful blueberry baked good is essentially to spring and summer dessert menu.
Get the Blueberry Crumble recipe.
These delicious Skinny Mint Chocolate Brownie Bites make some simple ingredient swaps to create a Nutrisystem-approved treat. Say goodbye to sugar-filled candy! These little mint and chocolate bites feature a wholesome crust and a creamy mint filling made from avocado, nonfat Greek yogurt, coconut oil, honey and mint extract. They are perfect for your spring celebrations (Hello, St. Paddy’s Day!).
Get the No-Bake Mint Chocolate Brownie Bites recipe.
Satisfy your homemade pie cravings without mixing, kneading or rolling any dough! Crisps and crumbles are ideal for all of the lazy cooks out there because they eliminate the most complicated step: pie dough. This easy raspberry spring dessert is made even easier with everyone’s favorite countertop appliance: the air fryer.
Get the Air Fryer Raspberry Crisp recipe.
Enjoy the flavors of carrot cake in a perfectly portioned muffin cup. This easy recipe is made with whole wheat flour, stevia and fresh-cut, nutrient-dense carrots. Feel free to add some raisins for even more sweet flavor. They are delicious with a cup of hot tea and could easily double as breakfast or brunch.
Get the Carrot Soufflé Cups recipe.
