22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (2024)

From warm cookies and cake to refreshing frozen treats, these desserts will satisfy any sweet tooth. With only three steps or less, having a balanced and flavorful homemade dessert has never been so easy. Plus, with complex carbs like whole-wheat flour and oats, fiber-rich nuts and seeds and low counts of saturated fats and sodium, these recipes fit well within a diabetes-friendly eating pattern. Recipes like our Apple Crumble with Oats and Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Brownies are equally easy and delicious.

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Apple Crisp

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (1)

There's nothing like this old-fashioned apple dessert recipe to top off a good dinner. It's low in calories and can be made even lower if prepared with sugar substitute.

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (2)

Kids and adults alike will love this easy peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe, which--unlike most cookie recipes--doesn't call for flour. These gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and, with only five simple ingredients, they can easily be whipped up by young chefs and enjoyed as an after-school treat. They're also perfect for a holiday party or for a cookie swap.

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Strawberry Nice Cream

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (3)

This luscious strawberry nice cream is a wonderful healthy ice cream alternative. It's all fruit, dairy-free, vegan and contains no added sugar, but is bursting with sweet berry flavor. And it takes just minutes to whip up this easy healthy dessert in a food processor if you freeze the fruit ahead. While you'll get the best flavor from fresh berries, if you don't have them on hand, feel free to use store-bought frozen fruit in this recipe. Serve the nice cream on its own or top it with more fresh berries for a refreshing summer treat.

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Bev's Chocolate Chip Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (4)

EatingWell reader Beverley Sharpe of Santa Barbara, California, contributed this healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe. She gave chocolate chip cookies a healthy update by cutting back on sugar and incorporating whole grains. To increase protein, Sharpe replaces the rolled oats with 1 cup almond meal.

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Apple Crumble with Oats

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (5)

Leaving the skins on the apples provides fiber and vitamins, so this diabetic-friendly dessert is not only good tasting but also good for you.

Soft Sugar Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (6)

These easy and classic cookies incorporate mild-tasting white whole-wheat flour for extra fiber and nutrients.

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Vegan Chocolate-Dipped Frozen Banana Bites

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (7)

These bite-size frosty morsels of frozen banana, peanut butter and vegan chocolate make a perfect low-calorie snack or easy dessert. These banana bites store well in the freezer, so make some ahead and keep them on hand for those moments you crave a taste of something sweet.

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Peanut Butter Swirl Chocolate Brownies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (8)

This diabetic-friendly brownie recipe uses the classic flavor combination of chocolate and peanut butter to make a delicious dessert you'll want to make again and again.

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Brownie Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (9)

Cocoa powder and brown sugar make this easy drop cookie recipe taste like rich brownies.

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Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (10)

Can't get enough pumpkin spice and pumpkin? Get those fall flavors you love in this dairy-free and vegan ice cream alternative made with bananas and pumpkin puree. This easy and healthy dessert contains no added sugar, unless you use the optional maple syrup--which is a delicious touch. Add some chopped pecans to make it really special.

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Flourless Chocolate Cookies

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These flourless cookies get their volume from whipped egg whites (like a meringue) instead of grains, making them gluten-free and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A chocolate chip in each bite adds to the rich chocolate flavor.

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Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (12)

Lightly sweetened Greek yogurt gets studded with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids and adults alike. Use full-fat yogurt to ensure the creamiest bark possible.

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Chocolate-Fudge Pudding Cake

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (13)

When you have a craving for a comforting dessert, try this pudding cake, which forms its own rich-tasting sauce as it bakes. The coffee flavor is subtle, but it adds complex depth to the cake's flavor.

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No-Sugar-Added Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (14)

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.

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Strawberry-Mango Nice Cream

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (15)

This creamy strawberry-mango nice cream is a delicious healthy ice cream alternative. It's all fruit, dairy-free, vegan and contains no added sugar. And this three-ingredient dessert is super-fast and easy to prep. Serve it as a snack or light dessert on the hottest days of the summer--or any time you want a refreshing treat.

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Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (16)

Classic chocolate chip cookies get a fall update by mixing in pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice. Not only are these pumpkin cookies even more flavorful than regular chocolate chip cookies, they're also oh-so-soft and cakelike. Use chocolate chunks for big gooey bites of chocolate or opt for mini chocolate chips to ensure a bit of chocolate in each bite.

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Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (17)

All you need are four simple ingredients to make healthier crispy peanut butter balls that kids and grownups will love. Make this easy recipe for a bite-size treat, on-the-go snack or easy homemade gift. You can swap the peanut butter for almond butter or even sunflower seed butter if you need a nut-free snack for school.

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Gingerbread Tea Cake

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (18)

This low-calorie cake gets its festive flavor from molasses, cinnamon, ginger and ground cloves. Serve it for dessert at the holidays.

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Caramelized Spiced Pears

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (19)

Serve these caramelized pear slices over ice cream, stir into plain yogurt or enjoy as a topping for pancakes or waffles. Brown-skinned Bosc pears hold their shape during cooking, but any variety of pears tastes delicious.

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Tart Cherry Nice Cream

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (20)

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.

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No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (21)

We gave no-bake cookies a healthy makeover, bumping up the peanut butter and cutting back on added sugar and butter. The result is a chewy, peanut buttery, oat-packed delicious cookie. It's easy to whip up a batch of these--only a few simple ingredients are needed to make these chewy peanut butter cookies and there's no baking required.

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One-Bowl Chocolate Cake

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22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (22)

This easy-to-make chocolate cake is dark, moist, rich--and only dirties one bowl! Not quite as easy as boxed cake mixes, but those often contain trans fats. Our simple "from scratch" recipe gives you a home-baked cake with healthful canola oil and whole-wheat flour.

22 Easy Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best dessert for a diabetic to eat? ›

Examples of some diabetes-friendly desserts include:
  • granola (with no sugar added) and fresh fruit.
  • trail mix with nuts, seeds, roasted pepitas, and dried cranberries.
  • graham crackers with nut butter.
  • angel food cake.
  • chia seed pudding.
  • low sugar avocado mousse.
  • frozen yogurt bites made with plain Greek yogurt and berries.

What dessert won't spike my blood sugar? ›

Choosing the Best Dessert for Diabetes

Some of Burgess' go-to desserts include Medjool dates stuffed with peanut butter, energy bites, chia seed pudding with toppings (like fruit, nuts and yogurt), desserts baked with protein powder, and nut butter-based desserts like these Almond Butter-Quinoa Blondies.

How can I satisfy my diabetic sweet tooth? ›

Try these ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth:
  1. Sliced strawberries with low-sugar Greek yogurt and chopped nuts.
  2. Chia pudding (made with cow's milk or a milk alternative) topped with blueberries.
  3. Dark chocolate-covered frozen banana bites.
  4. Chocolate frozen yogurt pops.
  5. Low-sugar fruit crumble or cobbler.
Aug 24, 2021

What kind of cake can a diabetic eat? ›

Best Birthday Cake Alternatives for People Living With Diabetes
  • Keto Vanilla Cupcakes made with Splenda Monk Fruit Sweetener.
  • Chocolate Birthday Cake made with Splenda Stevia Jar Sweetener.
  • Confetti Birthday Cake made with Splenda Original Granulated Sweetener.
  • Classic Carrot Cake made with Splenda Sugar Blend.
Sep 29, 2022

Is there any dessert a diabetic can eat? ›

All types of dessert foods can be incorporated into diets for people with diabetes. "Combining carbohydrates with protein and fat, as well as choosing higher fiber carbohydrate sources, can produce a more modest rise in glucose that is easier to match to the body's natural insulin or medications," says Kirptich.

What desserts should diabetics avoid? ›

The combination of flour, sugar, and dairy found in most high-carb desserts can contribute to blood sugar spikes, making diabetes harder to manage. For example, a single serving of strawberry cheesecake may contain more than 30 grams of carbohydrates.

Is angel food cake diabetic friendly? ›

As stated previously, Angel Food Cakes are great for people with diabetes because they are low in sugar compared to most other cakes, and especially low in simple sugars and carbohydrates.

What pudding can diabetics eat? ›

Try sugar-free gelatins and puddings

Unlike fruits, these dessert options offer no nutritional value. However, people can eat a small portion of sugar-free pudding or gelatin as a low-carb dessert without interfering with their blood sugar levels.

What desserts stabilize blood sugar? ›

Fiber-rich complex carbs, as well as healthy fats, like nuts, protein, and Greek yogurt can help keep blood sugar balanced. Try high-protein desserts like oat-based waffles and chocolate Greek yogurt ice cream.

What do diabetics eat when they crave sugar? ›

10 Foods to eat if you often experience sugar cravings:
  • Berries. Berries like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries are packed with fibre and antioxidants that help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce sugar cravings.
  • Avocado. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Greek yogurt. ...
  • Cinnamon. ...
  • Dark chocolate. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Spinach.
Jun 16, 2023

What ice cream can diabetics have? ›

The following are the best brands and flavors for those who have diabetes. Blue Bunny Ice Cream: This brand offers vanilla and chocolate options. Both contain 20 grams (g) of carbohydrates per ½-cup serving. Breyers Creamy Vanilla: This contains minimal fat and 17 g of total carbohydrates per ½ cup.

Is peanut butter good for diabetic? ›

Peanut butter contains essential nutrients, and it can be part of a healthful diet when a person has diabetes. However, it is important to eat it in moderation, as it contains a lot of calories. People should also make sure their brand of peanut butter is not high in added sugar, salt, or fat.

What foods can diabetics eat freely? ›

Here are some examples of free foods for diabetics, as outlined by a committee of the American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:
  • Carbonated water.
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • Coffee or tea.
  • 1 cup raw cabbage.
  • Hard, sugar-free candy.
  • 1 cup raw cucumber.
  • 2 tablespoons whipped topping.
Jul 13, 2007

Are bananas good for a diabetic? ›

Though bananas are higher in carbs and sugars than some foods, they also contain fiber and resistant starch that slows down the digestion and release of sugar into your bloodstream. These qualities make bananas a healthy, go-to snack for people with diabetes.

What is the healthiest dessert you can eat? ›

Healthier Desserts
  • Oat Apple Crisp. 5/12. ...
  • Fruit and Cheese. 6/12. ...
  • Chocolate-Covered Frozen Bananas. 7/12. ...
  • Nut Bar. 8/12. ...
  • Poached Pears. 9/12. ...
  • Sweetened Popcorn. 10/12. ...
  • Chocolate Milk. 11/12. ...
  • Frozen Yogurt Bars. 12/12. Brands vary, but it's possible to get that creamy, sweet goodness for just 80 calories per bar.
Dec 1, 2022

What can a diabetic eat at a bakery? ›

8 baked foods that a person with diabetes may eat
  • Low sugar chocolate chip cookies made with milk and honey.
  • Gluten-free chocolate avocado muffins made with almond flour.
  • Low sugar peanut butter fruit dip.
  • Peanut butter cookies.
  • Whole-wheat orange cake.
  • Dark chocolate.
  • Gelatin desserts.
May 3, 2022

What sweets and chocolate can diabetics eat? ›

Instead of 'diabetic' chocolate, try choosing good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa is best). It has a stronger taste than milk chocolate, so you are likely to eat a bit less. Decide how much you are going to eat and put the rest of the chocolate away, out of reach.

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