Low-Fat Dessert Recipes

Low fat dessert recipes including chocolate and coffee mousse, blackcurrant sorbet and zingy melon salad

If you're on a diet, there's nothing worse than knowing there's something you can't eat. If anything, it makes you crave it more. It's even worse if you have a sweet tooth and feel as though you're being denied everything that you love. Our low-fat dessert recipes will show you that there's no reason why you can't indulge a little, even if you are watching your waistline. We've brought together healthier dessert recipes that are lower in fat and sugar than shop-bought desserts, but just as delicious and satisfying.

Try our strawberry fizz recipe (pictured) - it's even great to serve as a dessert when expecting guests. This will satisfy your sweet tooth and what's even better is that strawberries are an anti-oxidant which means that you'll be doing your body some good whilst enjoying this dessert! If you don't like strawberries or don't have any at home, then any seasonal berries are great. The sparkling wine adds a fun twist to the end of any meal and guests are sure to be delighted.

A delicious, indulgent dessert doesn't have to be packed full of refined sugar and saturated fat to taste good, it's actually surprisingly easy to stay healthy and enjoy a little dessert from time to time. The variety of recipes is huge too, so you'll never be short of ideas. Whether you're making a snack for yourself, or expecting guests round for afternoon tea or dinner, we have some great low fat dessert recipes you can try that are tasty and won't affect your waistband!

Most of these are great for kids too, especially if you want to keep them away from additives and E-numbers that you often find in desserts marketed to children!

Click through to discover low-fat desserts that will put a smile back on your face...

Chocolate and Coffee Mousse

Avoid the gym with this guilt-free chocolate and coffee mousse recipe. It's rich, decadent and completely delicious but it contains no added fat. Using purely eggs to get the light finish this gorgeous dessert is silky smooth with an indulgent texture and intense chocolate hit, to help satisfy any chocolate cravings. The quantities listed make between 4-6 mousses so why not make up a batch and leave them in the fridge to have as an after dinner treat each night after dinner? Get the recipe: Low fat chocolate and coffee mousse

Blackcurrant, Mint and Cassis Sorbet

Blackcurrants are a fantastic source of vitamin C and also contain potassium, iron and vitamin B5, so we like to think of this dessert as a health food if anything! With only a little sugar, plenty of fresh fruit and a good squeeze of lemon juice this melt-in-the-mouth sorbet makes the perfect end to any meal, refreshing the palette and leaving you feeling satisfied on the sweet front without you feeling bloated. It's much easier than you might think to throw together as well and will keep for weeks in the freezer, which makes it perfect for last-minute entertaining. Get the recipe: Blackcurrant, mint and cassis sorbet

Coconut and sticky rice pudding

Swap the coconut milk in this delicious recipe for a light version, for a perfectly creamy rice pudding without the normal levels of fat. Coconut oil contains healthy saturated fats which are thought to help reduce blood cholesterol levels and the papaya will help up your 5-a-day intake for a guilt free sweet treat. Plus, this is a Hairy Bikers' recipe so you know it's going to be packed with bright, bold flavours despite being a lower fat dessert. Get the recipe: Coconut and sticky rice pudding

Low fat lemon Posset

Try our guilt-free lemon posset, it's truly irresistible and you'd never be able to tell it's a low fat dessert if you didn't know the secret. Made with sharp, sherbety lemons and cool reduced fat creme fraiche it's a really zingy way to end any meal. The best part is that it's completely preparable in advance, meaning you can whip up a batch when you have the time and leave them in the fridge for moments over the coming few days when you think you deserve a little treat! Get the recipe: Lower fat lemon posset

Fruit Salad with Star Anise and Coconut

This fresh fruit salad recipe is jazzed up with a zingy star anise and coconut syrup, giving everything a gorgeously fragrant flavour. It contains virtually no fat and tropical fruits are a good source of dietary fibre - the perfect diet dessert we think. If you fancy something a little creamy to go alongside your fruit then why not pop a dollop of fat free yogurt on top and drizzle with leftover syrup? Delicious! Get the recipe: Fruit Salad with Star Anise and Coconut

Poached Pears with Cinnamon Parfait

Lighten up an otherwise decadent dessert by adding a good portion of healthy fruit. These poached pears are absolutely beautiful and best made in the autumn when the fruit is in its prime. Combining cinnamon and brandy, the flavours in this grown-up pudding dish will warm you up from the inside. If you're trying to be good but can't resist a dessert then just cut down on your portion of parfait and up your pear intake to balance things out. Get the recipe: Poached Pears with Cinnamon Parfait

Mango with Lime Syrup and Sorbet

A refreshing mango with lime syrup and sorbet recipe with not a single iota of fat in it. Mango is packed with anti-ageing antioxidants, so you can feel rather virtuous eating it, too. This is one of those dessert recipes that can be prepared almost in its entirety in advance making it perfect if you're expecting guests and don't want to spend all evening in the kitchen, they're sure to be suitably impressed that you made your own sorbet. Get the recipe: Mango with Lime Syrup and Sorbet

Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

A lighter carrot cake with lemon cream cheese frosting is the pudding of dreams. Full of healthy nuts, fruit and vegetables, this delicious carrot cake has a lovely cream cheese frosting and swaps out butter for a light oil while using unrefined sugar to reduce calories and cut back on fat. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can enjoy a slice at any time, even if it's just a little tea team treat rather than a full on dessert. Get the recipe: Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Orange Cake

Wheat and gluten-free, this chocolate orange cake also doesn't have any butter in it to cut down on fat and calories. If it's health benefits you're looking for in your dessert then we've got those too. you see, oranges contain phytochemicals and flavonoids which help fight heart disease. Which means you should definitely have two slices of this deliciously moist chocolate dessert... It is low fat after all. Get the recipe: Chocolate Orange Cake

berry-yoghurt-parfait.jpg

This creamy parfait is so saintly we think it would be perfectly acceptable to eat for breakfast as well as before bed! Made without an ounce of sugar or cream it still manages to be satisfyingly sweet and rich tasting. The sweet and sharp combinations of dairy and berries is a tried and tested combination that everyone loves, so why not whip this up for your next dinner party? Get the recipe: Berry Yogurt Parfait