Desserts that are exciting for kids but not too unhealthy

[Anonymous]

We eat something for dessert each night mostly because it’s fun low-stress family time. It’s the time my kids are most likely to talk about their days and the time I’m least likely to be nagging. So please don’t tell me to cut dessert. Instead of eliminating dessert, I’m looking for new, easy, not-too-unhealthy ideas. Store-bought preferred, but easy homemade is fine too.

Here’s what’s in our rotation. I’m looking for more ideas:

-homemade or store bought popsicles (this is my kid’s favorite)
-leftover Halloween candy (yup—it’s never ending)
-store bought cookies or granola bars or ice cream

Out of these, the only somewhat healthy thing is the homemade popsicles. Anything you’d add that’s more healthy than leftover candy while still being fun and appealing? I’m not trying to take the fun out of our dessert ritual; I just want some options that have a bit less added sugars and dyes and I’m wondering what your kids like as “treats.”

[Anonymous]

Berries with a little whipped cream. Bonus points if you make the whipped cream, which is fun to do. It will keep for a few nights.

Chocolate-covered strawberries; make on a Saturday and have them for a few nights.

Hot chocolate with marshmallows

[Anonymous]

Fruit crisp, make it with oats, flax, and chia in your crisp and lots and lots of fruit.

[Anonymous]

I was coming to say berries too.

Some kind of stone fruit with a little oatmeal and brown sugar sprinkled on top.

Make your own candy. Melt chocolate and stir in fruits and nuts, top with sea salt.

Greek yogurt bark. Basically spread the greek yogurt in a pan, sprinkle some fruit over it, put it in the freezer, then once it's frozen, break it up and serve.

[Anonymous]

Chocolate chia seed pudding made with coconut milk and berries on top.

[Anonymous]

Stick frozen banana chunks in the blender. Ends up creamy like ice cream. Add a little chocolate syrup or berries for variety.

[Anonymous]

Also, try fruit kebabs. Any food on a stick is 100 percent more fun.

[Anonymous]

Peaches with nilla wafers

[Anonymous]

Smitten Kitchen apple cake-- my kids go crazy for it, it's even better left over, and it's mostly made of a

[Anonymous]

Chocolate covered fruit, from orange slices to berries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Berries with a little whipped cream. Bonus points if you make the whipped cream, which is fun to do. It will keep for a few nights.

Chocolate-covered strawberries; make on a Saturday and have them for a few nights.

Hot chocolate with marshmallows

+1

[Anonymous]

Granola bars are really depressing compared to nice fruit. As long as you don’t make the switch to something like a plain banana this could be an easy win.

Could you start with fancy fruit? Pomegranate for dessert is a hit at our house in the winter, with supremed citrus a close second.

[Anonymous]

I like strawberry shortcake

[Anonymous]

Trader Joe’s mini ice cream cones.

[Anonymous]

Melt chocolate chips on bananas