15 Healthy Thanksgiving Themed Desserts To Try
I don’t think anyone will disagree with me when I say that Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year. The air is crisp, everyone is feeling festive, and the food is delicious. But, for those who happen to be on a diet or are just trying to at healthier when Thanksgiving rolls around, it can be challenging to find options that fit everyone’s desires. This is especially true when it comes to the delicious desserts that are usually filled with ingredients that aren’t so great for you. So, if you’re looking for some healthy dessert alternatives this Thanksgiving, check out this list and get cooking!
1. Low-carb pumpkin bars
Get ready for lots of pumpkin recipes on this list, because what would be Thanksgiving without pumpkin? These yummy low-carb pumpkin bars are made with canned pumpkin and topped with cream cheese frosting. But don’t worry, these pumpkin bars are low-carb and made with all-natural ingredients!
2. Healthy chocolate pie
Our next dessert is not only healthy for you, but it’s also vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free! This is a no-bake pie, meaning all you need to do is combine ingredients like cashews, chocolate chips, honey, and almond milk, then store in the fridge until chilled! You can add toppings like pecans or whipped cream too if you like!
3. Apple pie oatmeal cookies
Regular cookies are oftentimes filled with copious amounts of sugar, butter, and other ingredients that aren’t exactly healthy for you. But, these apple pie oatmeal cookies are the ultimate way to not have to worry about the ingredients and just enjoy a cookie! If you feel like you’re missing out on the apple pie this Thanksgiving, give these cookies a try!
4. Whole wheat pumpkin muffins
You can’t honestly can’t go wrong with anything pumpkin for Thanksgiving dessert, especially if you have these whole wheat pumpkin muffins. Thanks to the pureed pumpkin you’ll be using for this recipe, these muffins are super moist and delicious. Plus, you could eat these for breakfast, as a snack, and of course after your Thanksgiving meal!
5. Pumpkin frozen yogurt
Get your ice cream maker out for this next recipe because you’re going to need it. You’ll only need four ingredients for this recipe, including greek yogurt, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice. Just throw those in an ice cream maker and enjoy this yummy frozen dessert!
6. Crustless pumpkin pie
Craving pumpkin pie, but don’t want all those calories? Try a crustless pumpkin pie! Of course, it won’t be exactly the same as your average pumpkin pie, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be delicious. Plus, all you have to do is beat together all your ingredients in one bowl, then pour into a pie pan, and bake! You can serve with whipped cream or ice cream!
7. No-bake pecan pie bites
These fun little no-bake pecan pie bites are not only delicious, but they’re also vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free too! The crust is made from ingredients like almonds, cooking oats, pecans, and maple syrup, and the filling uses dates, pecans, cinnamon, and maple syrup. These bites are the perfect dessert to make ahead of time and avoid all that holiday stress!
8. Healthy apple cake
I could probably eat a piece of cake every day of my life, and I’m sure there are others out there that feel this way too. If that’s the case, check out this healthy apple cake to make this Thanksgiving! This cake is perfect for those who don’t love anything overly sweet but still crave something sugary after your Thanksgiving meal.
9. Vegan pumpkin cheesecake bars
Cheesecake is notorious for being one of those foods you can really indulge in but sometimes leaves you feeling guilty when you consider all of the not so healthy ingredients used in the recipe. But, these vegan pumpkin cheesecake bars are a real gamechanger. The main filling of the cheesecake is made from cashews, but once blended thoroughly with your pumpkin puree, these cheesecake bars will be as smooth and decadent as any cheesecake you’ve had before!
10. Low-carb lemon meringue pie
As a lover of all things lemon, I just couldn’t resist including this dessert on this list. I know it isn’t traditionally a Thanksgiving dessert, but there are no rules when it comes to enjoying your favorite desserts. This low-carb lemon meringue pie is the perfect light dessert, for instead of regular sugar for the meringue and filling, this recipe uses an alternative sweetener.
11. Skinny cranberry bliss bars
Your Thanksgiving dinner party just got a whole lot sweeter with these skinny cranberry bliss bars. There’s nothing better than a frosted fruit bar, and that certainly includes this recipe. You’ll need all your normal baking ingredients for these like flour and sugar, plus dried cranberries and chocolate chips. Frost these bars to your heart’s content and enjoy!
12. Healthy carrot cake
Carrot cake is great year-round of course, but I think it tastes a whole lot better during the holiday season. This recipe for carrot cake is made from healthy ingredients and is sugar-free, so if you’re watching what you eat this Thanksgiving, you don’t have to worry too much about this dessert. The cake uses ingredients like banana, dates, whole wheat flour, walnuts, coconut, and of course carrots. All these fruits and vegetables will make the cake super moist and delicious!
13. Butterfinger pie
You might be confused about how this next dessert could possibly be healthy, but in reality, no dessert is exactly healthy for you. It’s all about eating in moderation! This delicious Butterfinger pie is exactly what your sweet tooth needs this Thanksgiving, and only uses five ingredients: A Butterfinger candy bar, graham cracker crust, Cool Whip, and chocolate and caramel syrups. There is no baking involved, just freeze and enjoy!
14. Cinnamon apple chips
This next dessert is perfect for if you happen to be short on time, or you’re looking for a truly healthy dessert. Cinnamon apple chips are exactly what the sound like, and are so tasty. The great thing about these is that they are so simple to make, just toss some apple slices in cinnamon sugar and bake to your desired texture!
15. Healthy apple crisp
The final healthy dessert on this list is a personal favorite, apple crisp. My version of apple crisp tends to be covered in an absurd amount of brown sugar and cinnamon, but this healthy version definitely cuts back on that. This apple crisp recipe calls for coconut sugar instead of refined sugar and adds rolled oats for a good source of fiber. Remember, healthy desserts can be just as delicious as regular ones!
