By Adrianna Zampieri

Brownies, cookies, and ice cream, oh my! Eating healthy can be a difficult task where there are so many delicious foods tempting you to cross over to the dark side. But even desserts can be transformed into something (mostly) healthy with alternative recipes, and when eaten in moderation, can be a tasty treat you don’t have to cut from your meal plans.

Avocado BrowniesAvocado Brownies

Avocado is all the rage lately, recipes ranging from simply adding slices to sandwiches to stuffing halves with eggs, cheese, and bacon for breakfast. Inspired by the versatility of the avocado, “The Healthy Maven” figured out a way to add this nutrient-rich fruit to a dessert everyone loves: brownies. It’s used in place of oil or butter, so you can still get your chocolate fix without the extra fat.

What You Need:

  • 1 large avocado
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda

How to Do It:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a blender or food processor, combine avocado, applesauce, maple syrup, and vanilla. You can also mash these together by hand but make sure that you mash it up very well and there are no clumps.
  3. Add the ingredients from step 2 to a large bowl and whisk in eggs.
  4. Add in coconut flour, cocoa powder, sea salt and baking soda and stir until well combined.
  5. Grease an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with coconut oil and add batter.
  6. Place in oven to bake for 25 minutes, slightly less for fudgier brownies or slightly longer for more cake-like brownies.
  7. Allow the brownies to cool for 20 minutes before cutting into 16 brownies.
  8. You can keep them on the counter in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or for a longer shelf life, store in the fridge or freezer.

PeanutButterCookiesPeanut Butter Cookies

Cookies are staple in the world of desserts. They’re a blank canvas that can be transformed into just about anything: macadamia white chocolate, triple fudge, butterscotch pecan, and many, many more. But sometimes it’s best to keep things simple when you’re looking for a healthy alternative. “Amy’s Healthy Baking” offers an easy recipe that balances the sweet and salty flavors of a perfect peanut butter cookie without the excess sugar.

What You Need:

  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 2 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 9 tbsp creamy peanut butter
  • 1 cup coconut or brown sugar

How to Do It:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the butter, egg whites, and vanilla. Stir in the peanut butter until thoroughly combined. Stir in the sugar. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated.
  4. If your cookie dough is too dry, add one tbsp. of milk at a time until the cookie dough is the proper consistency.
  5. Roll the dough into 24 balls, and place onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten to the desired thickness and width.
  6. Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes.
  7. Cool on the baking sheets for ten minutes before placing them on a wire rack.

Ice cream cherry with red napkin on boardCherry Banana Ice Cream

With no dairy, no excess sugar, and only a minimum number of ingredients, this cherry banana ice cream recipe from “Living on a Dime” is the easiest and healthiest dessert you can make on your own. Buy your produce fresh, stick in the freezer, and then blend together. It’s easy as pie. It’s also adaptable. Use strawberries instead of cherries. Mix mango and pineapple together. Experiment with raspberries, peaches, and any other fruit you can get your hands on. The choice is yours.

What You Need:

  • 4 bananas, ripe, sliced and frozen
  • 1/2 cup frozen cherries
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

How to Do It:

  1. Blend the bananas, cherries and vanilla (if using) in a blender or food processor until smooth. This may take some time, so just scrape it down and keep blending.
  2. Scoop into a bowl and serve cold.