Desserts for 300 Calories or Less

It's time for dessert. Do you dive face-first into a slice of chocolate sin or painstakingly abstain from anything sweet? Fortunately, you don't have to make that decision. These delicious, low-cal desserts are rich enough to satisfy your craving, but they're all under 300 calories per serving.

Cheesecake brownies
Get the smooth taste of cheesecake with all of the decadence of brownies for only 140 calories per serving. Using low-fat cream cheese cuts down on calories without giving up any of the creamy taste. And the espresso granules are an easy way to add a burst flavor without unwanted calories.

Try this recipe: Cheesecake Brownies

Though these fun little cakes take a good bit of prep work, they're the perfect shade of pink for a little girl's birthday—or just for fun. Use any ice-cream or frozen-yogurt flavor to tailor it to your preference. You can assemble and freeze the cakes up to a day in advance, so make them whenever you have free time.

Try this recipe: Mini Ice-Cream Cake

You won’t feel guilty eating these delicious make-ahead sweets—they’re low in fat and have a host of nutrients packed into every bite. Dark chocolate offers stress-busting antioxidants, while cranberries may help fend off colds and fight stomach bugs. And pecans are rich in zinc, good fats, and fiber. For more variety, try this recipe using other combinations of dried fruit and nuts (e.g., raisins and peanuts, apricots and cashews).

Try this recipe: Chocolate, Fruit, and Nut Clusters

Try this recipe: Tiramisu

A shortcut to classic tiramisu, this decadent treat needs only one-third of the chilling time. The unsweetened cocoa and bittersweet chocolate are full of heart-healthy antioxidants, and this recipe keeps a figure-friendly calorie count by using a combination of fat-free cream cheese and mascarpone.

Ingredients: Granulated sugar, instant espresso granules, Kahlua, fat-free cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cakelike ladyfingers, unsweetened cocoa, bittersweet chocolate

Calories: 260

Are you craving some chocolate? This deceptively decadent cross between a mousse and a pudding is slimmed down with low-fat dairy ingredients, which add bone-building calcium. Make it for an event or simply for an after-dinner treat. If covered in the refrigerator, this dessert will keep up to five days.

Try this recipe: Creamy Chocolate Pudding