NOTE: This is Part 4 in our Dinner Party series. Check out our our appetizer ideas, our salad ideas, and our main course.
Three Courses Down And One To Go! And Now It’s Time For Possibly Our Favorite Course: Dessert!
One of the things we love about dessert is that, in addition to satisfying our sweet tooth, it’s also a great place to sneak in some healthy ingredients. That can include zucchini and spinach, but also bananas and other fruit are excellent additions that add flavor, texture and pack loads of nutrients.
And remember, just because you want to eat healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat bland. This is especially true of desserts, which too often use an excess of sugar. While the recipes below call for sugar, you can always turn to healthier sweeteners such as agave nectar or honey. At the very least, we recommend using either raw sugar or raw stevia to achieve sweetness.
Another cool thing about dessert: While you can certainly go all out, many winning dessert ideas are actually quite simple in both the number of ingredients and the cooking technique. Some can even be done a day or two in advance, so you don’t have to fuss once it’s time to serve them. And just as was the case with some of our other recipe ideas, feel free to substitute ingredients to suit your own tastes.
Strawberry Fro-Yo Cupcakes: Who doesn’t love cupcakes? These beauties are quite fun and easy to make, and because they rely on frozen yogurt over flour, they add nice little protein boost. If strawberries aren’t your thing, you could also look to other types of berries, or even make a simple sauce with frozen berries, a touch of butter, and some sweetener.
Frozen Pumpkin Slices: This dessert takes a similar approach to the cupcakes, but it has several more ingredients and is a little more involved. That said, it’s still the pumpkin spice time of year, and these are a great, healthier way to get that without ordering a latte or eating pie.
Chocolate Zucchini Brownies: Sometimes it seems like it’s not just dessert without chocolate. These brownies sneak in zucchini to add vitamins and minerals, but also to add a great texture. Serve a la mode with a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt and you’ll have some very happy dinner guests.
Want more ideas for some healthy and tasty desserts? Schedule a visit with one of our alternative medicine specialists or join us for one of our cooking classes to get started.