Feeding kids a well-rounded diet can seem like an uphill battle, especially if you have picky eaters on your hands. Instead of giving in to demands for packaged or processed sweets, these healthy dessert recipes are kid-approved and all have hidden nutritional benefits.

No matter how picky your child may be, chances are she will jump at the opportunity to pile her plate with dessert. But dessert doesn’t always have to be a sugar-loaded, highly processed affair. By spending a little time in the kitchen and choosing high-quality ingredients, you can impress your kids and yourself with tasty homemade desserts that are actually healthy.

Best Healthy Dessert Ideas for Kids

Healthy Apple & Carrot Oatmeal Cookies

Whole grain oats, whole wheat flour, and three different kinds of fiber-rich produce (apples, carrots, and banana), make these doughy, chewy cookies a secret nutritional powerhouse. They’re just sweet enough to count as dessert, but also make a healthy breakfast for little ones on the go.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

These moist, fluffy homemade cupcakes look and taste like real carrot cake, complete with cream cheese frosting. But only you will know that they’re naturally sweetened with applesauce and can be made with spelt flour. For an even healthier take, substitute the oil with more applesauce.

Black Bean Brownies

Fudgy, chocolaty, and incredibly moist, no one will guess that these brownies are made with black beans. Plus, beans are a great dietary source of folate. 1 cup of cooked black beans contains 256 milligrams per 1 cup cooked. Children between 1 and 18 years old need folate in their diets to prevent folic acid deficiency anemia and other health issues.

Whole Wheat Crepes

This whole wheat crepe recipe makes a fun do-it-yourself dessert to get kids engaged in the kitchen and encourage them to make healthy eating choices. The batter is made with simple whole-food ingredients and sweetened with honey instead of sugar.

Let kids assemble their own crepes with their favorite sliced fruits and berries. Berries like strawberries, in particular, are high in vitamin C, an essential nutrient for kids. Studies suggest that vitamin C and zinc deficiency can have adverse effects on physical and mental growth and development. Inadequate vitamin C levels can also impair children’s immune responses.

Frozen Banana "Nice Cream"

This one-ingredient dessert checks two important boxes when it comes to feeding your kids: it’s easy for you to whip up and the whole family will love it. Frozen, ripe bananas make an instantly sweet and creamy ice cream-like treat without any processed ingredients or added sugars. To make this sweet treat even more decadent, add a sprinkle of chopped walnuts or berries on top.

Studies suggest that children who consume a diet high in dietary fiber have overall healthier eating habits, consuming less saturated fat and significantly higher levels of vitamin B6, magnesium, and zinc compared to kids on a low-fiber diet. One medium banana contains 3 grams of fiber, making this dessert an easy way to sneak a few more grams of this essential nutrient into your kid’s diet.

Chia See Energy Bites

Full of fiber from chia seeds, healthy fats from peanut butter, and whole grains from old-fashioned oats, these two-bite desserts can really do no wrong. They’re naturally sweetened with honey and call for just five ingredients.

Plus, these bites store well in the freezer so you’ll never be without a sweet pick-me-up when the need strikes. Substitute almond or sunflower seed butter to make these allergy-friendly.

Grain-Free Sweet Potato Blondies

Yes, you can make soft, cake-like blondies with mashed sweet potato. This recipe gets a decadent upgrade from your favorite nut butter, coconut flour, and maple syrup. But you can’t beat the naturally sweet taste, high fiber content, and vitamin C boost from eating sweet potatoes for dessert!

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the key to making a healthy dessert for kids comes down to ingredients. With a few simple swaps (choosing fruits and vegetables as much as possible and always opting for whole-grain flour), you can give your kids the sweet treats they’re asking for without sacrificing a healthy diet.

Of course, because eating healthy doesn’t always work out as planned, the best way to balance your kids’ diets for healthy development is to ensure they meet their daily recommended intake of essential nutrients like calcium and zinc with a simple daily vitamin.

If you like our recipe selection, then try our 5 Healthy Kid-Friendly Recipes for lunch or dinner.