I’ll be the first to admit that the moment I’m done with dinner (or any meal for that matter), I’m racing to the kitchen to scope out what’s for dessert. If you have a serious sweet tooth like me, you get it.
But of course, like anything in life, consuming added sugar in moderation is key—which is why I love finding desserts that don’t have an excess amounts of it (added sugar can, after all, lead to inflammation). That’s why these three-ingredient healthy dessert recipes were a mainstay in my weekly rotation all year long: They’re packed with antioxidants, protein, and gut-friendly fiber that make eating dessert a non-negotiable…obvi.
From a decadent vegan fudge recipe to almond butter brownies to creamy banana milk, there’s something for every type of dessert enthusiast. (And, yes, they’re all made with only three simple ingredients or less). So, let’s get cooking!
The 3-ingredient desserts we couldn’t stop making this year
1. Almond Butter Brownies
If you’re looking for the way to a dessert lover’s heart, it’s definitely with a simple treat that’s ready in mere minutes and requires minimal ingredients that you already have on hand. One example of this, and a go-to for us, is this decadent almond butter brownie recipe by Kirbie’s Cravings. It’s made with just bananas, creamy almond butter, and unsweetened cocoa powder. You’ll be surprised by how rich and naturally sweet these added sugar-free brownies come out.
Plus, every ingredient in this recipe has health benefits of its own. To break it down, cocoa powder is high in antioxidants that protect cells against free radicals in the body, almond butter is a great source of protein and magnesium, and bananas are full of gut-friendly fiber and potassium.
The toughest part about this recipe? Deciding who will get the coveted corner pieces.
Get the recipe: Almond Butter Brownies
2. Decadent Vegan Fudge
If chocolate is basically your middle name, this decadent vegan fudge is your long-lost soulmate. By far one of our favorite creations from Alt-Baking Bootcamp this year, this three-ingredient fudge recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut milk, and vanilla extract. Seriously, that’s it. To prepare this rich fudgy dessert, all you have to do is melt the ingredients together and plop them in the fridge until it sets. Yup, no baking skills are necessary. You can now breathe a sigh of relief. Phew!
Get the recipe: Vegan Fudge
3. Banana Milk
Sometimes the itch for dessert can hit first thing in the morning. That’s why this luscious banana milk recipe is one of the best discoveries we made all year: It’s a perfect way to eat dessert for breakfast. The banana milk recipe based on a sweet Korean drink and is made by blending together bananas, milk (or water), vanilla extract, and a pinch of sea salt. The result is a potassium-rich homemade milk that can naturally sweeten and enhance your favorite cereal, smoothie, or oatmeal recipe.
Get the recipe: Banana Milk
4. Peanut Butter Chocolate Muffins
IMO, there are only two types of breakfast enthusiasts: savory or sweet. Either you love a fluffy veggie-packed omelet first thing in the morning, or you absolutely need something sweet to get your day going. If you identify with the latter, these peanut butter chocolate muffins will be your new favorite breakfast BFF. (They were definitely ours all year long.) The muffins are made from a mix of peanut butter, banana, and cocoa powder, which makes them the perfect protein, potassium, and fiber-rich excuse to have something sweet for breakfast.
Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Muffins
5. Berries and Whipped Cream
Of course, one way to tame your need for something sweet and juicy is to eat a bowl of some of our favorite antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries and raspberries. However, when you want to add a little something extra to spruce up your usual bowl of berries, this simple homemade whipped cream is your answer. BTW, all you need is two ingredients: full-fat coconut milk and a splash of vanilla extract. Did someone say easy, peasy, lemon squeezy?
Get the recipe: Homemade Whipped Cream
An herbalist explains why cacao is so good (duh!) and good for you too:
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