We here at Delish are all about “everything in moderation”, so while we’re likely not cutting out sugar from our diets completely (though we’ve tried keto and low-carb diets and totally support those who follow them), there are definitely times we want to lower our sugar intake. When we’re feeling low on energy or are having too many cravings, we know it’s time to turn to sugar-free desserts. Whatever your reasoning, if you’re looking for refined sugar-free sweet treats, this list is for you!
A number of desserts on this list skip white sugar in lieu of sugar substitutes like maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar. We like these because they don’t spike your blood sugar levels as much as white sugar, and they often have more complex flavors. In our almond cake, for example, maple syrup compliments olive oil and citrus in a way regular sugar wouldn’t. Our paleo brownies use coconut sugar and honey to help give them their extra fudgy texture. Honey also plays a role in our classic fruit salad too—we know, we know, fruit’s kind of a sugar-free no-brainer, but we promise, the honey-orange dressing we drizzle on top is worth checking out.
Looking to cut out carbohydrates completely? While we don’t always love the carbohydrate-free sugar substitutes out there, our two favorites are stevia (Truvia is our favorite brand) and erithyritol (Swerve is our favorite brand). While you can usually swap Swerve in cup-for-cup for sugar, stevia is much sweeter than sugar so you’ll want to use it in moderation. Our keto cheesecake, for example, only uses 1 tablespoon! Try Swerve in our keto birthday cake (the coconut flake sprinkles are SO cute) or keto ice cream. They’re perfect for sugar-free celebrations.
Another surprise ingredient in a number of our favorite sugar-free desserts? Avocados! They add incredible creaminess, and don’t make the final product taste savory at all. Try it in our avocado pops (dipped in chocolate, yum), chocolate mousse, or chocolate truffles. You may be tempted to sneak the fatty green fruit into desserts all the time!
For more sugar-free desserts, check out our keto and paleo dessert lists too.
