Listen, maybe it’s not “cool” or “hip,” but we just genuinely love vegetables. Not as much as we love dessert, but enough. In fact, we love our veggies so much that we’ve been known to sneak them into places that some might think they don’t belong – including, yes, our beloved dessert!
Before you freak, hear us out. We’re not talking kale ice cream or broccoli pie. Instead, we look for recipes that pair naturally sweet veggies – like sweet potato, beets, and carrots – with our favorite desserts. Other times, we seek out protein-rich sweets that include black beans or chickpeas, and who could deny the pleasure of a decadent brownie kept moist by shredded zucchini?
These desserts aren’t “healthy” versions of the “real thing.” They’re right and proper sweets in their own right, that just happen to include a hearty helping of vegetables in each bite. Before you turn up your nose, try turning up the temp on the oven so you can make one of these veggie-packed dessert recipes.
Chocolate Sweet Potato Pie
This decadent, fudgy chocolate pie is actually vegan, and loaded with sweet potato, which gives the filling a creamy texture and sweet-but-not-too-sweet flavor.
Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes
There are two full cups of sweet potato puree in these cupcakes, meaning with each sweet bite you’re also getting a healthy dose of fiber and vitamins.
Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies
Put an autumnal twist on whoophie pies by making soft carrot cake cookies instead of chocolate, then fill them with spiced cream cheese frosting.
Double Chocolate Zucchini Beet Brownies
Grated zucchini and beet keeps these brownies extra-moist, while chopped dark chocolate bars, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder give them a rich flavor.
Sweet Potato Sour Cream Poundcake
Pound cake is even better when it’s made with sweet potato and topped with a maple pecan praline sauce.
Salted Caramel Carrot Cake
Carrots have an earthy sweetness that make any dessert – even boxed yellow cake mix – taste special. Especially when paired with salted caramel.
Healthy Pumpkin Swirl Brownies
There are more than a few secretly health ingredients in these brownies, including pumpkin, black beans, and blueberries.
Chai White Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
You won’t be able to tell that there are chickpeas in these cookies – the chai spices, maple syrup sweetness, and white chocolate chips will distract your taste buds.
Chickpea Lemon Poppyseed Bars
Thanks to a healthy dose of chickpeas and almond flour, these protein and fiber-rich lemon poppyseed bars can be enjoyed at breakfast or for dessert.
Apple Butternut Squash Crisp
Sweet-tart apples and earthy butternut squash are sprinkled with a crispy almond flour and oat topping to make this dessert.
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