5 Desserts Sweetened Only With Fruit

This post is a guest post by Faith Ralphs from Faithful Plateful

Fruit is nature’s sweetener, and it is by far the most nutrition-packed way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Fruit is low-calorie, high-fiber, and prevents disease. Eat more fruit by swapping out less-nutritious treats with these fruity desserts. 

Pineapple Dole Whip

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen pineapple chunks freeze your own fresh pineapple or buy it in the frozen fruit section
• 1/4 cup canned coconut milk
• A frozen banana or mango added is also a yummy variation

Directions

1. In a food processor, process the pineapple until it’s chopped into fine pieces. You can use a blender, but it won’t “whip” up quite the same.
2. Add the coconut milk and run the food processor for at least a full minute, until very smooth and light and fluffy. 
3. Enjoy immediately! Add a sweetener of choice if you feel necessary, but I think it’s delicious on its own.

Healthy Brownie Bites

Ingredients

• 1 cup walnuts
• 14 dates, pitted
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder unsweetened
• 1/4 tsp salt (1/2 tsp if you like sea salt chocolate)

Directions

1. If your dates are hard, soak in hot water for 10 minutes first. In a food processor or chopper, process all ingredients. Let run several minutes until walnuts are completely smooth and the mixture is shiny with the oil from the walnuts. Add a drizzle of honey if the mixture is not sticking together. 
2. Form into balls. Roll in shredded coconut, chopped nuts, or more cocoa powder if desired. Store in refrigerator. 

For a nut-free version of these brownie bites, see the “Healthy Treats” section of my blog, Faithful Plateful.

Mango Piña Colada Popsicles

Ingredients

• 2 cups pineapple, fresh or frozen (not canned)
• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 cup canned coconut milk
• 1 cup mango, cut into small chunks
• Dash of salt
• Sweetener of choice, to taste, if desired  (honey or maple syrup for example. I think they’re delicious without.)

Directions

1. In a food processor, process the pineapple until fine. Add coconut milk and banana and optional sweetener. Stir in mango chunks. Now you can choose to eat it all right now like soft serve, or spoon into popsicle molds and freeze for at least 4 hours. Both good options. 🙂
2. To remove, run molds under hot water and slide out. Makes about 6 popsicles.

Strawberry Watermelon Slushie

Ingredients

• 1 cup watermelon chunks
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• A squeeze of lime juice, to taste
• 1 cup ice

Directions

Blend all together in a blender and enjoy!

Chocolate Cherry Chia Nice Cream

Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen cherries
• 3 frozen bananas
• 1 cup canned coconut milk (or other plant milk, for lower fat)
• 3 TBSP cacao powder or cocoa powder
• 2 TBSP chia seeds
• 4 dates

Directions

Combine all into a food processor (a blender will require more liquid in order to blend). Let it sit for 10 minutes so frozen fruit can soften. Blend until smooth. Eat as is, or pour into a loaf pan and freeze until a little firmer, then scoop out to serve.

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For more healthy treats and no-sugar-added plant-based recipes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook at @faithful.plateful, or check out my blog www.faithfulplateful.com.