Worried that your health goals will be kicked to the curb with all the delicious summer goodies? You can still stay on track AND enjoy amazing treats. Keep reading to find 25 amazing healthy summer desserts that are so easy to make!
Summer Boredom + Hot Weather = Trouble in Healthy Eating
Open freezer.
Close freezer.
Open freezer.
Close freezer.
Welcome to a day in my house. This is me, desperately trying to fight the temptation to eat the whole 1/2 gallon of cookies-and-creme ice cream in the freezer.
Guys, ice cream is my crack, and when it’s in the house, I’m done for. I know, the smart thing would be to just not buy it altogether, but when you have a husband and 3-year-old twin boys who aren’t quite committed to healthy goals like I am, well…. easier said than done, right?
Summer in and of itself just feels like it should be a party all season long, and that alone gives me a reason to make exceptions ALL.SUMMER.LONG. I NEED a healthy alternative to the fattening ice cream and summer treats if I’m not going to fall off the wagon.
Solution: Healthy (& EASY!) Summer Desserts
If you’ve signed up for this torture with me and are really trying to hold on to some healthy habits during the summer, I’ve got what you need. Some amazing food bloggers have come up with some DELICIOUS summer desserts that are 1. easy to make and 2. healthy! Now we’re talking! Easy and healthy is food love language.
Take a look below for some outstanding options for healthy summer desserts. Make them for yourself, your kids, or for a party. They all would work perfectly for any occasion. You just might be able to convince your family to ditch the fattening stuff. Worth a college try, right? (But if you really want the fatty sugary desserts especially if you’re going to a cookout, here are 35 amazing & easy summer desserts for a crowd – totally OK to splurge once in awhile!).
A Few Things about the Healthy Summer Treats Below
A few things about the recipes you’ll find. Everyone has a little bit of a different definition of ‘healthy.’
Some recipes are paleo, some are clean, some are keto, some are low-calorie, low-carb or Weight Watchers.
You do what’s healthy for you! Many can be adjusted or customized to your diet by substituting ingredients or leaving them out altogether.
Some are great for kids (like ice pops!). Others are perfect to bring to a BBQ or summer get-together, which is extremely respectful if you know the host has a healthy lifestyle. Others are packed with enough protein to be an actual meal replacement.
But my favorite part about them all? They are cool and refreshing and NO-BAKE! PERFECT for summer!
Ok, go make your favorite!
25 Easy and Healthy Summer Desserts
Dark Chocolate & Coconut Frozen Yogurt Granola Cups
This is a clean healthy refreshing summer dessert - perfect individual portions! Healthy Greek yogurt with clean granola topped with shredded coconut and dark chocolate chips. Oh, yum. You can definitely skip the ice cream here!
Chocolate Banana Sushi
How adorable and delicious is this - just 3 ingredients! Banana, dark chocolate and nut of your choice. Oh YUM!
No Churn Low Carb Ice Cream {Sugar Free}
If you happen to love Keto, this is a great ice cream alternative without the sugar! You can customize it with all kinds of mix-ins - this one has cherries and carob nibs!
Healthy Snickers Ice Cream Bites (Vegan + GF)
A Snickers knock-off? Sign me up! Just 4 ingredients - dates, dark chocolate, peauts and peanut butter!
No-Bake Gluten-Free S'mores Parfait (Vegan, Allergy-Free)
If you have eating restrictions or allegies, this is a great, healthy option to indulge, and it's one the kids will love, too!
Key Lime Cheesecake
This is a dreamy dessert if you are on a Keto or low-carb diet! Made with cream chease, Erythritol, coconut oil and other delicious goodies, this will be a healthy crowd-pleaser!
Rocky Road Froyo Bark
Five ingredients, 4 Weight Watchers Smart Points, and chances are, you have the ingredients at home already! A healthier option for the kids, too!
Frozen Yogurt Donuts
I LOVE this as a donut option - and it's cold and refreshing too! The donut is made from granola, yogurt and fruit. You can eat it with or without the drizzle! Genius idea.
Caterpillar Summer Fruit Kabobs With Easy Yogurt Dip
This is a fun healthy choice for the kids, though adult may or may not need the cute eyes! Made with a yogurt dip, this will satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way.
Clean & Healthy Banana Split Boats
Clean eating has been one of my favorite healthy options after doing Whole30. This one just looks sooo delicious. Refined sugar-free, coconut cream, almond butter, granola... you cannot go wrong with this clean option!
Healthy + Decadent Coffee Ice Cream Bars (Vegan)
This is a 2-step process, but look at those bars. They are refined-sugar free and amazing. You can even just make the healthy coffee ice cream if you want a simple, indulgent treat!
Blueberry and Avocado Frozen Yogurt and Smoothie Recipes
This is a healthy treat you can either eat or drink. Made from heavy cream, avocados, bananas, blueberries and Greek yogurt - this is a filling treat!
Naturally-Sweetened Key Lime Pie Popsicles
Key lime is the flavor of summer, in my opinion! Sweetend with honey and made creamy from Greek yogurt, you can't go wrong with this one!
Mango Pineapple Sorbet
Just 3 ingredients for the tropical treat! Frozen mangoes, pineapples and pure mapel syrup - yes, please! Let the kids eat up - it's good for them!
Paleo-Vegan Maple Walnut Ice Cream
Four ingredients for this clean treat - coconut milk, vanilla extra, walnuts, and pure maple syrup. What a dessert!
Easy Strawberry Fluff Dessert Recipe
This is a fantastic low-carb, Keto treat made with heavy cream and cream cheese! You will definitely be satisfied after eating this one!
Vanilla and Chocolate Protein Popsicles
This is another popsicle treat that is good for you! You can make vanilla, chocolate or both (as shown) - and there are lots of ways to customize!
Vegan Chocolate Ice Cream (paleo, nut-free, dairy-free)
Look how decadent that ice cream is! If you're used to a paleo and/or a dairy free lifestyle, you probably have these ingredients on hand. This is sure to satisfy those chocolate cravings!
Vegan Coconut Lime Nice Cream
Coconut and lime? Nice cream? Now you're really speaking my love language! Just a few ingredients (coconut milk, bananas, lime zest, and you're good to go!
Strawberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bark
This is SO easy to whip up, and it's a refreshing treat, too. Made with Greek yogurt, granola, and strawberries- you can feel great about pointing the kids in this direction (even easy enough for them to help make!)
Healthy Fruit Pizza Recipe
Made with a gluten-free granola crust, Greek yogurt, and fruit- this is no- guilt indulgence. Perfect to bring to a BBQ or party!
Homemade S'mores Frozen Yogurt
This is such a great alternative to traditional (and sugary) ice cream! With milk and Greek yogurt as your creamy base, you can customize this to what you love! The S'mores option looks amazing to me!
Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon Honey Ricotta
How yummy does this look??!? Just 5 ingredients, including the peach! You can use this filling for a variety of healthy treats (or on its own!)
Watermelon Cake
Cake is a little deceptive, since there's no baking involved! Two ingredients - the watermelon and coconut cream (plus garnishes of your choice). What a healthy treat that is refreshing and delicious!
Mixed Berry & Whipped Coconut Cream Pie
I love this as a paleo option! Crust from nuts and dates, add in coconut cream and fruit, and it's truly a guilt-free dessert!
Healthy Orange Julius Smoothie
Oranges are SO refreshing in the summer and just PACKED with vitamin C! This is a delicious way to be healthy and enjoy that sunny orange flavor with an old-school throw-back, copycat recipe!
Healthy Summer Treats And Dessert Recipes for the Win!
Don’t these look amazing? I can’t even imagine that you’d miss the unhealthy stuff. I’m so grateful for creative foodies who come experiment and come up with these healthy summer desserts that are easy to make and are delicious.
And if you want another fun idea to try for a healthy summer crowdpleaser, how about a dessert dip charcuterie board? This post shows you how to put one together, and this post right here has 30 healthier versions of your favorite dessert dips!
More Delicious Summer Food
If you’re looking for more delicious food to eat this summer, I’m putting together a special series focused just on that! Summer is a time for cookouts and family and friends, even in these crazy times. For all the food inspiration, take a look at these posts below! You can also follow the hashtag #summereats2020, just in case you miss anything, as I’ll be adding all summer long!
25 Delicious Summertime Strawberry Desserts & Treats
35 Refreshing & Healthy Summer Salads
30 Foil Pack Meals – Oven, Grill or Campfire
35 Delicious Summer Sides for a Cookout
35 Amazing & Easy Summer Desserts for a Crowd
If you try any recipe on any list, I’d love to hear how it came out or any suggestions you have (always a work in progress here!). Please tag me on Instagram@100affections or leave a comment on Pinterest! And use the hashtag #summereats2020.
Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment so we can chat!
Know others who could use these recipes? Feel free to share the love!
More Summer Fun
The Easiest Menu Ever for a Healthy and Nutritious Summer BBQ
Thanks so much for including my cherry ice cream! so many tasty summer recipes I must try
You are very welcome! It looked delicious! Can’t wait to try! 🙂
Oh mama! Thank you for this round up! I’ve been making popsicles for my kids all summer but it’s just not satisfying for my as ice cream is my weakness too! Excited to try some of these!
Oh I’m so glad! They all look amazing!! Come back and let me know how they work out!!!
Perfect for a very hot day like today! I wish I found this site yesterday so that I could have done it now. Anyway, I’ll just going to do it tomorrow. Thanks for sharing!
Oh, awesome! I’m so glad to read this! Let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear! 🙂