Most classic desserts contain sugar, eggs, milk, and flour. So when you give up any of the above, it can be difficult to find a worthy alternative to your tea. For anyone looking for a replacement for their favorite treats, we have collected the best recipes for delicious and healthy sweets without sugar, animal products, gluten, and lactose.
Natural sweets
The healthiest desserts that don’t even require cooking are fresh fruits. Yes, they contain natural sugar – fructose, but they also contain various vitamins, minerals, and other useful substances, such as fiber.
Fruits, like vegetables, can be used as a base for desserts. They are usually lower in calories and healthier than standard sugar-laden options.
Sugar-free desserts
If you started your healthy eating journey by completely eliminating added sugar, but can’t imagine life without desserts, don’t despair. You can still cook and eat them, but instead of your usual sweetener, use a substitute. For example, fruit or dried fruit, natural sweet syrup, or a low-calorie sugar substitute.
PP desserts
Low-calorie desserts usually fall into this category. The reduction in energy value is usually achieved by replacing regular sugar, which has almost 400 kcal per 100 grams, with a lower-calorie alternative. For example, 100 grams of xylitol and isomalt have almost half as many calories — 240, and the calorie content of erythritol, stevia, and sucralose is almost zero.
Also, for the preparation of PP desserts, it is better not to use refined products: for example, instead of premium wheat flour, use whole grain or oat flour.
More Read
Vegan and Lenten Sweets
For those who have given up animal products temporarily or permanently, there are also replacement options. For example, instead of eggs, use diluted starch, ground flax or chia seeds, and banana or apple puree. If you want to make vegan meringue or marshmallows, use aquafaba instead of egg whites.
Another category that is prohibited for vegans and those fasting is dairy products. Everything is simple with them: today there is a large selection of plant-based milk. Instead of cow’s milk, add oats, rice, almonds, and coconut. And to replace cottage cheese, take tofu soy cheese.
Gluten and lactose-free desserts
If you have an intolerance to wheat protein or milk sugar, look for products that do not contain these substances. For example, instead of wheat flour, which contains gluten, use rice, corn or organic oat flour marked gluten-free. You can also find ready-made gluten-free mixes for bread, pancakes, and waffles in supermarkets.
Some manufacturers make lactose-free lines, which include milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese. You can also use plant-based analogs from soy, rice, oatmeal, almonds, and coconut.
Calorie Calculator
