Kids love dessert, but too much sugar can lead to energy crashes, mood swings, and even impact their long-term health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children limit added sugar to less than 10% of their daily calorie intake—yet most exceed this by a mile.

The good news? You don’t have to cut out sweet treats altogether. By swapping refined sugar for natural ingredients and adding nutrient-rich elements like fruit, yoghurt, and whole grains, you can create desserts that are just as indulgent—without the sugar spike. 

These healthier options keep kids happy, satisfied, and full of energy for playtime without the post-dessert meltdowns.

Want Healthy Desserts for Kids? Get the Recipes!

Desserts can be both delicious and nutritious. Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids by Dr Nick Fuller is filled with easy, kid-friendly recipes that satisfy sweet cravings without the sugar overload.

From fruity frozen treats to healthier takes on classic favourites, this guide makes it simple to serve desserts that kids will love and parents will feel good about. Grab your copy of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids today!

6 Healthy Indulgent Desserts For Children

Healthy desserts don’t have to be boring. With the right ingredients, you can whip up treats that taste just as indulgent as traditional sweets, minus the sugar overload.

Apple Crumble

This warm and comforting dessert is a perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth while keeping it nutritious. Made with wholesome ingredients, it’s packed with fibre and natural sweetness, making it a great option for kids. 

You can prepare it as a family-sized dish or scale it down for a single serving. Try adding frozen berries or stone fruit to the apple mixture for extra flavour and nutrients. It’s also a great way to use up overripe fruit while creating a healthy, indulgent treat.

Serves 6

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 medium apples (you can use a variety e.g. Pink Lady and Granny Smith)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup desiccated coconut
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• ¼ cup raw almonds, roughly chopped (Walnuts or macadamias also work well)
• Greek yoghurt, to serve

Recipe

1. Remove apple cores and roughly chop apples in bite sized pieces, keeping the skin on. Place chopped apples into a large saucepan with the water, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange zest.
2. Cook apple mixture over a medium-high heat for approximately 10 minutes. Stir every few minutes, until the apples are heated through and tender. Pour the cooked apple mixture into a baking dish and set aside. 
3. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
4. To make the crumble topping combine the oats, coconut and olive oil and mix together well. Spread the crumble mixture evenly over the top of the cooked apples in the baking dish. Sprinkle with the chopped almonds.
5. Place the baking dish into the oven and cook for approximately 15-20 minutes until heated through and golden on top. Remove from the oven, and serve warm with a dollop of Greek yoghurt.  

Mango Frozen Yoghurt

This creamy, refreshing treat is a delicious way to keep cool while enjoying a healthier alternative to ice cream. Packed with natural sweetness and probiotics, it’s a great option for kids who love a frozen dessert. It takes just two minutes to prepare, or you can make it ahead of time and store it in the freezer for a ready-to-go treat.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Serves 2

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 small mangoes, frozen (alternatively use store-bought frozen mango chunks)
• ½ cup Greek yoghurt

Recipe

1. Add frozen mango and yoghurt to a blender and blend for approximately 1 minute until ingredients are combined into a smooth soft serve consistency.
2. Pour frozen yoghurt out of the blender and serve

Apple Streusel

This warm, spiced apple dessert is a deliciously wholesome way to enjoy a sweet treat. The crumbly streusel topping adds a satisfying crunch, making it perfect for dessert, a snack, or even breakfast with a dollop of yoghurt. It stores well in the fridge for a couple of days and can be enjoyed cold or reheated. Serve it without yoghurt for a naturally dairy- and lactose-free option.

Type: Vegetarian, Contains Nuts

Serves 3-4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 25 minutes 

Ingredients

• Olive oil spray, for greasing
• 3 pink lady apples, chopped into small pieces
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1 ½ cups rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons almond butter 
• Greek yoghurt, to serve (optional)

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Spray a small loaf tin with olive oil spray and set aside. 
2. In a mixing bowl combine the chopped apple, lemon zest and juice, and half of the cinnamon. Stir to combine. 
3. Transfer the apple mixture into the loaf tin. Spread the apples to cover the entire bottom of the tin. 
4. Add the rolled oats, honey, almond butter and the remaining half teaspoon of cinnamon into the mixing bowl. 
5. Stir well to combine. If your honey and/or almond butter are not liquid enough to stir easily, heat them gently in the microwave for 10 seconds at a time until runny. 
6. Sprinkle the oat streusel mixture over the top of the apples in the loaf tin. Place the loaf tin into the oven and bake for 25 minutes until golden. 
7. Divide the apple streusel into serving bowls, and top with a dollop of yoghurt. Serve immediately and enjoy.

Festive Stuffed Strawberries

These vibrant, bite-sized treats are a perfect addition to a healthy dessert platter. Juicy strawberries are stuffed with a creamy filling and topped with green pistachios and red cranberries for a naturally festive look. Best served fresh, they’re a fun and nutritious way to enjoy a sweet treat.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 10 strawberries

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• 10 medium to large strawberries
• 10 heaped teaspoons cottage cheese
• ¼ cup pistachios, roasted
• 1 tablespoon dried cranberries

Recipe

1. Use a small sharp knife to slice off the top of the strawberry, and to carefully remove the core of the strawberry. 
2. Use a small spoon to fill each strawberry with one heaped teaspoon of cottage cheese. 
3. Chop the pistachios and dried cranberries into small pieces. 
4. Sprinkle the stuffed strawberries with the pistachios and cranberries, ensuring that they stick to the cottage cheese. 
5. Arrange the stuffed strawberries on a festive serving platter. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Stuffed Dates

These naturally sweet treats make a delicious and nutritious addition to a healthy dessert platter. With their rich flavour and festive look, they’re perfect for special occasions. They store well in the fridge for a couple of days in an airtight container, so you can prepare them in advance. Double or triple the recipe as needed for easy holiday entertaining

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 10 dates

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• 10 Medjool dates
• 10 almonds, roasted
• 10 teaspoons 100% natural peanut butter
• ¼ cup pistachios, roasted
• 1 tablespoon dried cranberries

Recipe

1. Use a small knife to slice each date open length wise and remove the pit. You don’t want to cut all the way through the date, just along one side so that you can remove the pit. 
2. Stuff one roasted almond into each date, in place of the pit. 
3. Add one teaspoon of peanut butter into each date, adding it into the middle cavity where you have stuffed the roasted almond. 
4. Gently pinch each side of the date together to stick the edges together slightly.  
5. Chop up the pistachios and dried cranberries into small pieces. Sprinkle the pistachios and cranberries over the stuffed dates, ensuring that they stick to the peanut butter filling. 
6. Arrange the stuffed dates onto a festive serving platter. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Chocolate Mousse

This rich and creamy chocolate mousse has a secret ingredient—silken tofu. It blends perfectly to create a smooth, indulgent dessert that’s packed with protein. Trust the process, and you’ll have a delicious treat that’s both satisfying and nutritious. Keep it vegan by skipping the yoghurt topping and using dairy-free dark chocolate.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Serves 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes (+overnight refrigeration) 

Ingredients

• 130g 85% dark chocolate
• 300g silken tofu
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup 
• 6 tablespoons plain yoghurt, to serve (optional)
• Fresh fruit, to serve 

Recipe

1. Break the chocolate into squares and microwave in 30 second bursts, stirring in between, until melted. 
2. Pour the chocolate into the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Alternatively, you could use a blender or electronic handheld whisk. 
3. Add the silken tofu into the bowl of the mixer, along with the vanilla essence and maple syrup. 
4. Start the mixer at a slow speed. Once the ingredients are combined, increase the speed to medium-high. 
5. Continue to mix for at least 10-15 minutes until smooth. Scrape the bowl at regular intervals and continue to mix. 
6. Transfer the mousse mixture into 6 small glasses or ramekins. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but ideally overnight. 
7. Before serving, top each mousse cup with a spoonful of yoghurt (optional) and fresh fruit. 
8. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Wrapping Up

Healthy desserts can be just as delicious and indulgent as traditional treats, with the added bonus of nourishing ingredients. These recipes offer a balance of sweetness and nutrition. They’re perfect for satisfying cravings while keeping things wholesome. Try them out and enjoy guilt-free treats the whole family will love.

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Meet Dr Nick Fuller

My Story

As a father, I know first-hand that raising healthy and happy children is tricky. Children are fussy, particularly at the end of the day when they are shattered. We also live in a society where companies seek to profit from what we feed our kids; incorrect and damaging advice is pushed on us and marketed towards our children, and we have no time.

But with these recipes and resources, you and your children can enjoy simple and well-founded food and lifestyle choices for lifelong health.