Healthy Desserts Your Kids Will Love

Kids love all things sweet but not all things healthy — so let's give them the best of both worlds!

You don’t need to reach for the sugar to whip up a sweet treat for your little ones, instead there are plenty of natural sweetener alternatives that deliver flavour without the extra nasties! These easy, quick and healthy desserts from My Kids Eat Volume 2 are always a winner in my household. Too good to resist, they’re a perfect healthy after-dinner treat!

Give them a go and let me know what you think!

Coconut & Mango Pops

Makes 8 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 3/4 cups (265g) Frozen Diced Mango
• 1/2 cup (125ml) Pure Fresh Apple Juice
• 2 tbsp Natvia
• 400ml Coconut Cream
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt Flakes
• 1/4 cup (10g) Shredded Coconut, toasted (optional)

METHOD:

1. Process mango and apple juice until smooth. Place 2 tablespoons of mango puree into eight 1/2 cup (135ml) popsicle moulds and freeze for 30 minutes. 
2. Whisk Natvia, coconut cream and salt in a medium bowl until Natvia has dissolved. Spoon mixture into popsicle moulds to fill. Cover mould with a double layer of plastic wrap (this will help keep the popsicles upright). Pierce the plastic with a small knife then push popsicle sticks into each hole.Freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
3. Place toasted coconut in a small bowl. Dip popsicle mould briefly in boiling water to remove popsicles. Dip each popsicle quickly in hot water and then into the coconut. Freeze on a baking paper lined tray for 20 minutes or until ready to eat.

Salted Date Caramels

Makes 15

INGREDIENTS:

• 310g Fresh Dates, pitted
• 150g Coconut Oil
• 25g Cacao Powder
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 tbsp Coconut Oil, extra, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp Sea Salt Flakes
• 50g Coconut Flour

METHOD:

1. Place dates in a medium bowl. Cover with boiling water and let stand for 10 minutes to soften. Drain dates and scared water. 
2. Meanwhile add melted coconut oil with sifted cacao in a small bowl and leave to one side to thicken slightly. 
3. Process dates, vanilla extract, extra coconut oil and salt until smooth. Transfer mixture to a small bowl, cover and freeze for 30 minutes or until firm. 
4. Line an oven tray with baking paper. 
5. Using damp hands roll tablespoons of the date mixture into balls. 
6. Place flour in a small bowl. Roll the balls in the flour first and then the cacao mixture before placing on a baking tray. 
7. Sprinkle with extra salt flakes and freeze for 10 minutes or until set. 

Choc-Berry Brownies

Makes 24

INGREDIENTS

• 120g Almond Meal
• 50g Chocolate Protein Powder
• 75g Cacao Powder
• 1/4 tsp Himalayan salt
• 100g Coconut Oil
• 250ml Rice Malt Syrup
• 280g Apple Sauce or Puree (Unsweetened)
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2 Eggs
• 2 Egg Whites
• 125g Blueberries (or berries of your choice) 
• Extra berries, to serve (optional)

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 20cm x 30cm slice pan; line the base with baking paper.
2. Combine almond meal, sifted protein powder, cacao and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Heat oil and syrup in a medium saucepan over medium heat until melted. Remove from heat; stand for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
4. Whisk sauce and vanilla into syrup mixture, then eggs and egg whites, one at a time, whisking after each addition. Add egg mixture to flour mixture; whisk until combined. Fold in berries. Pour into pan.
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in pan.
6. Cut into 24 pieces. Serve scattered with extra berries. 

Some of the kids other favourite healthy snacks include:

• Healthy Apple Crumble
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Fingers

• Berry Bircher

You can find 65 kid-approved recipes like these in My Kids Eat Volume 2. All recipes use minimally processed ingredients, fresh produce and easily accessible ingredients.

Let me know below which one is your littles one's favourite recipe!

Sophie x