6 No-Added-Sugar Dessert Recipes to Help Reduce Inflammation: These dessert recipes are flavorful and delicious without any added sugar. Plus, they focus on ingredients that fight inflammation like nuts, berries and cherries so your tasty treat can help relieve symptoms like mental fog, digestive distress and joint pain. Recipes like our Tart Cherry Nice Cream and Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls are delights that you’ll want to make again and again.
6 No-Added-Sugar Dessert Recipes to Help Reduce Inflammation
1. Apple Pie Energy Balls
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These no-bake Apple Pie Energy Balls come together easily and will give your body the energy it needs to power through the afternoon.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Medjool dates, pitted and chopped
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup chopped dried apples
- ½ cup unsweetened almond butter
- ¼ cup chopped pecans, toasted
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Directions
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Soak dates in a small bowl of hot water until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain.
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Combine oats, dried apples, almond butter, pecans, cinnamon and the soaked dates in a food processor; process until very finely chopped.
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Roll the mixture into 12 balls (about 2 tablespoons each). Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 1 week.
2. Tart Cherry Nice Cream
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This easy vegan tart cherry nice cream—made from only a few simple ingredients—is guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth and also deliver a boost of melatonin that may help you get a more restful night’s sleep.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups mashed ripe banana
- 1 cup frozen pitted sweet cherries
- ½ cup frozen pitted tart cherries
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
Directions
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Place banana, sweet cherries, tart cherries and almond milk in a food processor (see Tip); process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.
3. No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
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Soft, chewy and no added sugar! Sweeten these classic oatmeal cookies with ripe bananas and raisins or dates. Plus, a touch of nut butter adds lots of flavor and holds the cookies together while keeping them vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats (see Tip)
- ¾ cup almond flour or almond meal
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- ½ cup almond butter or natural peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup raisins or chopped dates
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
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Whisk oats, almond flour (or almond meal), cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mash bananas, almond butter (or peanut butter) and vanilla together in a large bowl until creamy and well combined. Add the dry ingredients and raisins (or dates) to the banana mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Scoop or roll level tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the prepared baking sheet, making 12 cookies per batch. Press with a fork to flatten slightly.
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Bake until firm to the touch and light brown on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining batter.
4. Berry-Almond Smoothie Bowl
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A little frozen banana gives creamy texture to this satisfying smoothie bowl.
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup frozen raspberries
- ½ cup frozen sliced banana
- ½ cup plain unsweetened almond milk
- 5 tablespoons sliced almonds, divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
Directions
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Blend raspberries, banana, almond milk, 3 tablespoons almonds, cinnamon, cardamom and vanilla in a blender until very smooth.
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Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top with blueberries, the remaining 2 tablespoons almonds and coconut.
5. Purple Fruit Salad
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Serve this refreshing fruit salad featuring juicy plums, grapes and berries on its own or with other colorblock fruit salads (like red, green and orange) for a fun, crowd-pleasing rainbow side dish.
Ingredients
Lime Yogurt Dressing
- 1 ½ cups low-fat plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
Purple Fruit Salad
- 2 cups halved seedless black grapes
- 2 cups blueberries or halved blackberries
- 2 cups diced plums (about 2)
- 2 tablespoons chopped purple basil (optional)
- 1 cup Lime Yogurt Dressing (optional)
Directions
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To prepare Lime Yogurt Dressing: Combine yogurt, lime zest, lime juice and sugar in a medium bowl.
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To prepare Purple Fruit Salad: Combine grapes, blueberries (or blackberries), plums and basil (if using) in a large bowl. Serve with yogurt dressing, if desired.
6. 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
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Whir up frozen bananas into an “ice cream” without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.
Ingredients
- 2 medium bananas, peeled, halved and frozen
- ¼ cup natural peanut butter
- Unsweetened shredded coconut for garnish
Directions
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Place bananas and peanut butter in a food processor. Pulse and process until mostly smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed. Garnish with coconut, if desired. Serve immediately.
