The term “sweet treat” has taken over the internet. What was once a dessert after dinner or on special occasions has become an everyday necessity for young adults. In college you may hear “sweet treat run” or “it’s sweet treat o’clock” multiple times a day. 

If a dessert a day doesn’t fit into your personal health goals, here are some lower-calorie recipes and store-bought snack options, because everyone deserves a little dessert after dinner! 

Homemade Brownie Bites 

Combine your choice of all-natural peanut butter, maple syrup (swap with sugar free for less carbs), chocolate chips and cocoa powder in a large bowl. If hoping to meet protein goals for the day, try using a chocolate protein powder of your choice. Roll into balls and place your bites in the freezer for 10 minutes and enjoy! 

INGREDIENTS: 

1/3 cup cocoa powder 

1/2 cup peanut butter 

1/4 cup maple syrup 

2 tbsp chocolate chips 

Gluten-Free Cookie Dough Bark 

Combine almond flour, all-natural peanut butter, maple syrup, fat-free milk, vanilla extract, chocolate chips and cinnamon to create yummy edible cookie dough. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet and evenly spread out the dough. To make this recipe even better, melt down 1/2 cup of chocolate chips in a double boiler. Then, spread this melted chocolate on top of the dough and place in the freezer for 15 minutes. Break into pieces like bark and go to town! 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup almond flour 

1/2 all-natural peanut butter 

1/4 cup maple syrup 

2 tbsp fat-free milk 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

2 tbsp unsweetened chocolate chips 

1 tsp cinnamon 

S’mores Rice Cake 

Pick up a pack of your favorite rice cakes. For lower calories, opt for the rice thin squares. To add more flavor, grab caramel or chocolate rice cakes. Once you have your rice cake, spread on marshmallow fluff. Place 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips in a double boiler to melt. Add as much of the melted chocolate on top of the rice cake as needed to cover its surface. Place the rice cake in the freezer for 5 minutes, and then enjoy! To add more depth include 2 tbsp of all-natural peanut butter or a nut butter of your choice to your rice cake! 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 pack of rice cakes 

2 tbsp marshmallow fluff 

1/2 cup unsweetened chocolate chips 

Fluffy Chocolate Yogurt Bowl 

Add a package of zero-calorie chocolate JELL-O pudding mix to a cup of greek yogurt. This addition makes the yogurt fluffy and flavorful. Add toppings of your choosing, such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, peanut butter or unsweetened chocolate chips. 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 package JELL-O pudding mix 

1 cup greek yogurt 

Toppings of your choice 

Date Snickers 

Grab your dates and split each one open, removing the pit. Grab your all-natural peanut butter or PB Fit mixture and fill the middle of each date. In a double boiler, place your unsweetened chocolate chips to melt. Once fully melted, cover each date in chocolate. Place the finished dates on a baking sheet and place in the fridge for 15 minutes. Enjoy guilt-free! 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 pack of Medjool dates 

All-natural peanut butter or PB Fit. 1 cup (as much needed to cover all of your dates) 

STORE BOUGHT OPTIONS

Tru Fru 

Tru Fru sells frozen sweet treats: a variety of chocolate covered fruits. Some options include dark chocolate and peanut butter covered bananas, white and dark chocolate covered raspberries and white and dark chocolate covered strawberries. All of these and more are available at Publix, Walmart, Target and CVS. 

Yasso Greek Yogurt Ice Cream Bars

Yasso greek yogurt ice cream bars are only 100 calories per bar with 4 grams of protein. These are a healthier alternative to normal ice cream bars while still tasting like a yummy dessert. These are sold at CVS, Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target and more. 

Chocolate Hummus or Cool Whip 

Pair chocolate hummus or cool whip with fruit to enjoy a tasty, sweet and healthy treat. Cool Whip is only 25 calories per 2 tbsp, making it a low-calorie topping. Add unsweetened chocolate chips for even more fun! 

Meringue

Meringue is a super light and airy treat typically consisting of egg whites, sugar and lemon juice. One company, Krunchy Melts, offers meringue with only 10 calories per piece. This low-calorie dessert satisfies crunch and sweet treat cravings. You can find Krunchy Melts on Amazon, but other meringues can be found at Trader Joes, Publix and Walmart.