Kids love all things sweet but not all things healthy—so let's give them the best of both worlds! Here's how to make healthy desserts for kids that your little ones will actually want to eat.
14 Healthy Desserts for Kids They’ll Actually Want to Eat
1/14
Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This gluten-free chocolate cake is a yummy treat that everyone can enjoy. Sometimes I stir in gluten-free chocolate chips or chopped nuts for variety. —Nichele McCague, Poway, California
Find all of our best kids’ recipes here.
2/14
Carrot Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cookies are both flavorful and colorful. The shredded carrots add nice bright flecks of orange color.
3/14
Strawberry-Rhubarb Ice Pops
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 pops
From the Recipe Creator:
These cool, creamy pops are a deliciously different way to use up the bounty from your rhubarb patch. —Donna Linihan, Moncton, New Brunswick
Now that you know how to make healthy desserts for kids, try these meals they’ll love!
4/14
Cranberry Stuffed Apples
Total Time
3 hours 10 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cinnamon, nutmeg and walnuts add a homey autumn flavor to these stuffed apples, while the slow cooker does most of the work. —Graciela Sandvigen, Rochester, New York
Find healthy candy options the kids will enjoy, too!
5/14
Chunky Banana Cream Freeze
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings (3 cups)
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone loves ice cream, but we all know it doesn't make a great after-school snack. Until this! With its sweet banana-almond flavor and chunky texture, this appealing banana peanut butter "ice cream" is a crowd-pleaser. People who ask me for the recipe can't believe how easy it is to make. —Kristen Bloom, Okinawa, Japan
6/14
Mixed Berry Sundaes for 2
Total Time
10 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These delightful yogurt sundaes are an easy way to add fruit and calcium to your diet. Berries star in the dish, which I enjoy as a simple breakfast or healthy dessert for two. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
7/14
Frozen Berry & Yogurt Swirls
Total Time
15 min
Servings
10 pops
From the Recipe Creator:
I enjoy these frozen yogurt pops because they double as a healthy snack and a cool, creamy sweet treat. —Colleen Ludovice, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
These quick and kid-friendly dinners are perfect for weeknights.
8/14
Fruit & Granola Crisp with Yogurt
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's an easy recipe you can feel good about. Blueberries and peaches are such a delightful flavor combination. —Sue Schmidtke, Oro Valley, Arizona
9/14
Berry White Ice Pops
Total Time
10 min
Servings
10 pops
From the Recipe Creator:
Nothing says summer like an ice pop. Kids and adults alike love this fruit-filled version. —Sharon Guinta, Stamford, Connecticut
10/14
Saucy Spiced Pears
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We serve these tangy, saucy pears over angel food cake, pound cake or with a little yogurt or vanilla ice cream. Sprinkle with a favorite topping. —Joy Zacharia, Clearwater, Florida
11/14
Mango Rice Pudding
Total Time
55 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Mangoes are my son's favorite fruit, so I was ecstatic to incorporate them into a healthy dessert. You can also use ripe bananas instead of mango, almond extract instead of vanilla or regular milk in place of soy. —Melissa McCabe, Victor, New York
12/14
Frosty Watermelon Ice
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a fun twist on watermelon. It's so refreshing on a summer day, and you don't have to worry about seeds while you're enjoying it. —Kaaren Jurack, Manassas, Virginia
13/14
Slow-Cooker Baked Apples
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coming home to this irresistible dessert on a dreary day is just wonderful; it’s slow-cooker easy. — Evangeline Bradford, Erlanger, Kentucky
14/14
Star-Spangled Parfaits
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The best time for this dessert is midsummer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors. —Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts