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Sweet treats
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to skip dessert. You can have sweet treats if you look for the right ingredients and watch your portion sizes. From scones and muffins to cookies and crumbles, we’ve got all your classic favorites, but these recipes call for a fiber- and protein-packed whole grain—oats. The USDA recommends adults get at least three servings of whole grains per day, so enjoy these recipes—they’re delicious and you're getting a dash of healthy goodness in each bite.
Cherry-Oat Scones
This sweet snack is flavored with tart cherries and tangy ginger. These fruity and fiber-packed scones are perfect for enjoying with a nice cup of tea or decaf coffee after dinner.
Ingredients: Quick-cooking oats, whole-wheat flour, dark brown sugar, salt, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, dried tart cherries, unsalted butter, buttermilk
Calories: 248
Try this recipe: Cherry-Oat Scones
Dark Chocolate and Oat Clusters
Perfect for on-the-go snacking, these four-ingredient, bite-sized cookies are decadent without breaking your diet. At 160 calories for two clusters, you’ll get filling fiber from oats, protein from peanut butter, and a hearty dose of heart-healthy antioxidants from dark chocolate.
Ingredients: Peanut butter, milk, semisweet chocolate chips, old-fashioned rolled oats
Calories: 160
Try this recipe: Dark Chocolate and Oat Clusters
Peanut Butter Oat Bites
This recipe calls for a classic cereal to add some crunch to these blissful peanut-buttery bites. At 24 servings, you can make a big batch for snacking, school lunches, or freezing for later use.
Ingredients: Unsalted butter, peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, honey, vanilla extract, Rice Krispies cereal, quick oats, raisins, mini chocolate chips, dry-roasted peanuts
Calories: 125
Try this recipe: Peanut Butter Oat Bites
Cherry-Ginger Scones
These scones will satisfy your sweet tooth—and they’re diet-friendly to boot! Sweet cherries and brown sugar offer a touch of sweetness to this afternoon snack. Oats and buttermilk add filling fiber and protein to each treat, so it will curb cravings and you’ll stay fuller, longer.
Ingredients: Whole-wheat pastry flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, butter, dried cherries, crystallized ginger, buttermilk, egg whites
Calories: 348
Try this recipe: Cherry-Ginger Scones
Oatmeal-Date-Chocolate Cookies
At just 91 calories per cookie, you can eat two and still get far fewer calories than other treats. Dates are high in fiber and antioxidants, and they’re naturally sweet, so they are a nice alternative to using chocolate chips. Oats and whole-wheat flour make these treats a satisfying and substantial dessert.
Ingredients: Unsalted butter, light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, regular oats, salt, egg, vanilla extract, pitted dates, bittersweet chocolate
Calories: 91
Try this recipe: Oatmeal-Date-Chocolate Cookies
Double Apple Crumble
If you like the juicy taste of apples, you’ll love this decadent dessert. Made with apples and apple butter and topped with pecans, this crumble will satisfy your crunchy and crispy cravings.
Ingredients: Apples, apple butter, cooking spray, all-purpose flour, regular oats, light brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, butter, pecans
Calories: 251
Try this recipe: Double Apple Crumble
Almond Butter Cookies
Have a sweet treat and fill up on satisfying, belly-flattening fiber and protein—these cookies contain 4 grams of each. Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness without overpowering the cherries and dates.
Ingredients: Medjool dates, raw almonds, almond butter, maple syrup, almond extract, cinnamon, dried cherries, rolled oats
Calories: 128
Try this recipe: Almond Butter Cookies
Chocolate Peanut-Butter Energy Bars
Ditch store-bought energy bars and make your own at home! The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a classic pairing that everyone in your family will love. Plus, the nuts may even help prevent a blood-sugar spike because their combination of healthy fats, protein, and fiber are digested slowly, keeping you fuller longer with no sugar crash.
Ingredients: Cooking spray, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, light brown sugar, peanut butter, eggs, canola oil, vanilla extract, rolled oats, dried cranberries, dry-roasted peanuts, semisweet chocolate chips
Calories: 176
Try this recipe: Chocolate Peanut-Butter Energy Bars
Oatmeal-Cranberry Muffins
Prep and bake these fall-spiced muffins in just 35 minutes. They’re great on busy days when you and your family need a quick and healthy afternoon snack. For added protein, try smearing a bit of almond butter on top.
Ingredients: Old-fashioned rolled oats, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, water, oil, applesauce, eggs, sweetened cranberries
Calories: 317
Try this recipe: Oatmeal-Cranberry Muffins
Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeal is a cross between an oatmeal bar and a bowl of the creamy oatmeal you’re used to eating for breakfast. With this recipe, you can bake once and then eat the remaining four servings as leftovers for the rest of your workweek. With 7 grams of protein per serving, you’ll avoid mindless morning snacking and won’t feel hungry again until lunch.
Ingredients: Quick-cooking oats, brown sugar, raisins, chopped walnuts, baking powder, milk, applesauce, butter, egg, cooking spray
Calories: 281
Try this recipe: Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate Chunk and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal cookies are a tried-and-true classic. We enhanced this recipe to include chocolate chunks and walnuts for added texture. Reach for one of these cookies if you’re looking for a snack that’s less than 100 calories—you can indulge without guilt!
Ingredients: Unsalted butter, light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking soda, old-fashioned oats, salt, egg, vanilla extract, chopped walnuts, bittersweet chocolate
Calories: 92
Try this recipe: Chocolate Chunk and Walnut Oatmeal Cookies
Banana-Oatmeal-Chocolate-Chip Cookies
Bananas are the key ingredient in this revised oatmeal cookie recipe. The fruit adds creaminess as well as a dose of heart-healthy potassium. These treats are also low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium.
Ingredients: Oat flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raw sugar, canola oil, soy milk, vanilla extract, banana, chopped walnuts, semisweet vegan chocolate chips
Calories: 138
Try this recipe: Banana-Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Quick and Easy Banana-Oat Muffins
With 4 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, these muffins will keep hunger at bay. Oats and whole-wheat flour make this a hearty treat you’ll reach for again and again.
Ingredients: Bananas, canola oil, egg, milk, vanilla extract, whole-wheat flour, quick-cooking oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, cooking spray
Calories: 152
Try this recipe: Quick and Easy Banana-Oat Muffins
Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats
The rice treats you ate as a kid were probably made with marshmallows and tons of butter or margarine, and as a result were full of saturated fat and sugar. You can whip up this healthier whole-grain treat with wholesome ingredients like peanut butter and honey. Plus, this treat requires no baking—simply refrigerate for 40 minutes and serve!
Ingredients: Peanut butter, honey, brown rice cereal, dried cherries, cooking spray
Calories: 201
Try this recipe: Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Treats
Ginger-Infused Japanese Rice Pudding
For a rice pudding with a kick, we sweetened and spiced this version up with ginger and brown sugar. You’ll get plenty of bone-building calcium plus 7 grams of protein packed into each serving.
Ingredients: Water, brown sugar, granulated sugar, ginger, milk, soy milk, short-grain rice, heavy cream, strawberries
Calories: 267
Try this recipe: Ginger-Infused Japanese Rice Pudding
Strawberry Crumble
This skinny take on a classic crumble gives you the rich taste you want with added fiber and protein thanks to oats and sliced almonds. It's a sweet and crunchy strawberry treat that makes for a special dessert.
Ingredients: Strawberries, lemon juice, all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, almond meal, rolled oats, slice almonds, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, unsalted butter
Calories: 197
Try this recipe: Strawberry Crumble
