7 Diabetes-Friendly Desserts That'll Actually Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Diabetes and dessert don’t always go hand in hand. Thanks to loads of added sugar and refined flour, most sweet treats fall squarely into the Just Once in a While category.
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There are plenty of ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without sending your blood sugar skyrocketing (can we get a praise emoji, please?!) and they don’t involve spending hours in the kitchen trying to follow complicated recipes with special ingredients. Just take a look at these fantastic ideas. They’re dead simple, delicious, and dietitian-approved!
Chocolate Pistachio Bark
What happens when you top melted dark chocolate with chopped nuts and sea salt, let the whole thing cool, then break it into pieces? You get a chocolate bar-like treat that’s low in added sugar and rich in healthy fats.
The key is to use dark chocolate that’s 70% cacao or greater. (We like this one.) “It has heart-healthy benefits and is a good source of magnesium. This is important for those with diabetes since magnesium deficiency has been linked to insulin resistance,” explains Lori Zanini, RD, CDE, author of The Diabetes Cookbook and Meal Plan for the Newly Diagnosed.
Creamy Stuffed Plums
Here’s a yummy way to turn juicy plums into a satisfying dessert: Halve and pit them, then fill each half with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a sprinkling of chopped almonds, and a pinch of ground cinnamon. “The protein from the yogurt and the nuts slows the digestion of the carbs from the plum, preventing blood sugar spikes and crashes,” say Tammie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT and Lyssie Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT.
And the cinnamon doesn’t just add extra flavor: “It also helps naturally lower blood sugar,” they say.
Peanut Butter Banana Pops
You don’t need sugary ice cream to make rich, creamy popsicles. Just spread banana halves with natural peanut butter, roll them in chopped peanuts, and freeze on some parchment paper until hard.
The bananas will take on a creamy texture, but because they’re high in fiber and free of added sugars, they won’t cause your blood sugar to rise like other frozen desserts, explains Erin Palinski-Wade, CDE, LDN, CPT, author of 2-Day Diabetes Diet.
Skinny Peppermint Café Mocha
This DIY latte isn’t just cheaper than buying one from a coffee shop; it’s also better for your blood sugar since it’s sweetened with stevia instead of sugary syrup. Lakatos and Lakatos Shames blend coffee, unsweetened almond milk, stevia, cocoa powder, and peppermint extract until the mixture is rich and frothy. “Putting the ingredients in the blender is the trick to make it more creamy,” they say.
Blueberry Mint Parfait
Plain yogurt topped with fresh blueberries isn’t just yummy for breakfast. When finished with a sprig of fresh mint, the combo doubles as a sophisticated, just-sweet-enough dessert, says Zanini.
“Berries are high in fiber and antioxidants while being lower on the glycemic index, so they’ll cause less of an impact on blood sugar levels compared to many other fruits,” she explains.
Dark Chocolate Dipped Apples
To make this delectable looking treat, slice apples into rounds, dip half of each into dark chocolate (again, look for 70% or higher), and sprinkle the chocolate-covered halves with yummy toppings like chia seeds or freeze-dried berries, recommends Palinski-Wade.
Want to mix things up? Try dipping another lower-sugar fruit like strawberries or orange slices into chocolate, she says.
('You Might Also Like',)