The Best Low-Sugar Sweets and Desserts

By Amy Gorin, MS, RDN

Have a sweet tooth but don't want to overdo it on sugar? Looking for a new favorite low-sugar dessert? This list of the best low-carb desserts will do the trick!

I've been surrounded by chocolate cake. Yup. I've been baking up wedding cake and birthday cake. There's so much cake in our house! 

While I love a good slice of cake, especially the drizzle icing, I also have a such a sweet tooth that I'd typically much rather have lower-carb sweet treats so my cravings don't go into overdrive.

And of course, I'm always wanting to avoid that post-dessert sugar slump. You may also have a medical condition, such as type 2 diabetes, or be following a specific diet that lends itself to low-carb desserts.

For your next birthday blowout, dinner party, or just-because treat, add a few of these lower-sugar desserts to the treat table. I'm giving you more than two dozen low-sugar sweets to choose from!

Many of them contain ingredients, such as nut butter and almond flour, that will help stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Looking for more healthy entertaining recipes?

 
Yes, even cheesecakes, cookies, and pudding can be made low carb! My go-to low-sugar dessert recipe is included in this Everyday Health article, and I can't wait to try the other dietitian-approved desserts.

You can still eat your cream cheese, peanut butter chocolate chip, and pumpkin pie desserts!

In fact, many of them use simple ingredients such as Greek yogurt, dark chocolate, sea salt, and maple syrup that tend to be better dessert choices for people with diabetes.

Some of these recipes are even foods with no added sugar. Curious about which fruits have the least sugar? Psst...I also love a prune jam with brie and cantaloupe ice cream.

Make this treat: Almond Butter Protein Balls!
 

When you need a small piece of something sweet to help you get through the work day, turn to my chewy energy balls.

These bite-sized, chocolatey treats offer plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fat to keep you full until your next meal—all in just 180 calories per treat. They make a healthy snack or dessert.

Now break out that mixing bowl, stat! My vanilla smoothie is also plenty sweet without any added sugar.

You all have been asking for more low-sugar dessert recipes. So here you go! These picks are from my registered dietitian colleagues and they are all super delicious and satisfying.

• Mangoes and Cream Popsicles from Laura Yautz, RD, owner of Being Nutritious 

• Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies from my own kitchen

• Keto Chocolate Avocado Pudding from Lyssie Lakatos RDN, CFT and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CFT, co-authors of The Nutrition Twins' Veggie Cure

• Chocolate Mocha Ice Cream from Melissa Altman-Traub, MS, RDN

• Maple Pecan Baked Pears from Brittany Poulson, MDA, RDN, CDCES, author of The Healthy Family Cookbook

• Carrot and White Bean Vegan Blondies from Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, nutrition blogger at It's a Veg World After All

• Chocolate Chia Pudding from Shahzadi Devje, RD, CDE, MSc, owner of Desi~licious RD

• Slow Cooker Coconut Rice Pudding from Kara Lydon RD, LYT, owner of The Foodie Dietitian

• Chocolate Chickpea Blondie Bar from Jennifer Hunt, RD, owner of Jennifer Hunt Nutrition

• Dairy-Free Orange Cake from my own kitchen

• Apple Cinnamon Granola Clusters from Vahista Ussery, MS, MBA, RDN at To Taste

• Half-Baked Greek Yogurt Cheesecake from Chelsea Jackle, MFN, RDN, nutrition blogger at Chelsea Dishes

• Grilled Peaches with Honey Ricotta from Sarah Gold, RD, owner of Sarah Gold Nutrition

• Apple, Rhubarb, and Berry Crisp from Liz Weiss, MS, RDN, co-author of No Whine with Dinner

• Chocolate Coconut Cream Pudding from Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN, owner of Bucket List Tummy

• Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough from my own kitchen

• Low-Carb Almond Flour Cookies from Mary Ellen Phipps, RD, author of The Easy Diabetes Cookbook

• Fruit Pizza with Oat & Almond Butter Crust from Leanne Ray, MS, RDN, founder of Leanne Ray Nutrition

• High-Protein Banana Bread from Josten Fish, RD, nutrition blogger at Muscle and Manna

• Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon and Pecans from Diane Norwood, MS, RDN, CDCES, nutrition blogger at The Wandering RD

• Wild Blueberry Lemon Nice Cream from my own kitchen

• Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies from Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD, owner of Alena Menko Nutrition

• Low-Carb Lemon Bars from Anne Danahy, RD, author of The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Two

• Fresh Lemon Honey Tapioca Pudding from Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN, CSO, owner of Champagne Nutrition

• Peanut Butter No-Egg Cookies from my own kitchen

• Dairy-Free Chocolate Pudding from Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, nutrition blogger at Mama Knows Nutrition

• Chocolate Chickpea Peanut Butter Ice Pops from Theresa Gentile, MS, RDN, nutrition blogger at Theresa Gentile RD

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Avocado Brownies from my own kitchen

This blog post was updated in July 2020.

• 9 Surprisingly Low-Carb Desserts for People With Type 2 Diabetes, EverydayHealth.com
• 8 Mouthwatering Brownie Recipes for People With Diabetes, EverydayHealth.com
• Mangoes and Cream Popsicles from Laura Yautz, RD, owner of Being Nutritious 
• Lyssie Lakatos RDN, CFT and Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CFT, co-authors of The Nutrition Twins' Veggie Cure
• Melissa Altman-Traub, MS, RDN
• Brittany Poulson, MDA, RDN, CDCES, author of The Healthy Family Cookbook
• Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, nutrition blogger at It's a Veg World After All
• Shahzadi Devje, RD, CDE, MSc, owner of Desi~licious RD
• Kara Lydon RD, LYT, owner of The Foodie Dietitian
• Jennifer Hunt, RD, owner of Jennifer Hunt Nutrition
• Vahista Ussery, MS, MBA, RDN at To Taste
• Chelsea Jackle, MFN, RDN, nutrition blogger at Chelsea Dishes
• Sarah Gold, RD, owner of Sarah Gold Nutrition
• Liz Weiss, MS, RDN, co-author of No Whine with Dinner
• Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN, owner of Bucket List Tummy
• Mary Ellen Phipps, RD, author of The Easy Diabetes Cookbook
• Leanne Ray, MS, RDN, founder of Leanne Ray Nutrition
• Josten Fish, RD, nutrition blogger at Muscle and Manna
• Diane Norwood, MS, RDN, CDCES, nutrition blogger at The Wandering RD
• Alena Kharlamenko, MS, RD, owner of Alena Menko Nutrition
• Anne Danahy, RD, author of The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Two
• Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN, CSO, owner of Champagne Nutrition
• Kacie Barnes, MCN, RDN, nutrition blogger at Mama Knows Nutrition
• Theresa Gentile, MS, RDN, nutrition blogger at Theresa Gentile RD

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What's your favorite low sugar dessert? Which of these low-carb sweet treats are you going to try first? What other diabetes friendly desserts and low sugar snacks do you enjoy?

Comment below, or tag @amydgorin on Instagram and Pinterest and @amygorin on Twitter and Facebook.

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