10 Summery clean eating desserts to get excited about

Jul 23, 2015

by Tiffany McCauley, SheKnows Expert

Food

I'm a mama, food blogger and cookbook author. I create clean eating recipes for everyday living.

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Image: HappyHealthyMama.com

Peach ice cream, strawberry brownie sundaes, and blueberry crumb bar recipes to drool over

We all love dessert. I mean, what's not to love? Sweet, rich and comforting, dessert has its place in all of our lives. But many desserts these days come with unpronounceable ingredients and questionable production methods. Dessert isn't just dessert anymore. At least not if you buy it at the store.

So I decided to troll the internet for some amazing, healthy, homemade dessert recipes that aren't overly complicated, taste great, look amazing and have whole-food ingredients — ingredients you can not only pronounce, but also recognize as real, honest-to-goodness food.

And while all desserts should be enjoyed in moderation (even these), you can definitely feel good that your body is getting some actual nutrition from these instead of a bunch of junk. I mean, if you're going to enjoy dessert, why not get some nutritional benefit from it as well?

1. No-Churn Homemade Peach Ice Cream

This amazing ice cream is perfect for a hot summer day. Having friends over? Throwing a barbecue or party? Hosting a potluck? This ice cream is sure to please!

Image: EatingHappy.com

2. Clean Eating Lemon Bars

Who doesn't love a good lemon bar? Tart, sweet and refreshing, these tangy bars are a perfect dish to bring as a hostess gift, or just to share with friends and family!

Image: The Gracious Pantry.com

3. Strawberry Brownie Sundae

Get in ma belly!!!! This amazing concoction is truly a summer-time comfort food. It has all the necessary components! Chocolate, ice cream, syrup and even strawberries. How could you not want to eat this???!!! Nom, nom, nom...

Image: GI365.co

4. Vegan Twix Bars

I don't know about you, but Twix has always been my favorite candy bar gasp!!!>. Yes, even as a clean eater, I will (on very rare occasion) indulge in a store bought version (remember the 80/20 rule before you get upset). But thanks to this amazing recipe, I have just reconsidered the error of my ways. I mean, just imagine an entire plate of Twix bars sitting on your counter top just waiting to be enjoyed? SQUEEK!!!> Well, okay. Maybe not the entire plate in one sitting, but you catch my drift... I hope...

Image: MyWifeMakes.com

5. Raw Chocolate Raspberry Brownies

Good grief, these look like heaven! Nothing beats raspberries in the summer — that is, unless you pair them with brownies. It's like the clouds are parting and the angels are singing just looking at the photos! Go ahead... make a batch... you know you want to!

Image: MyWifeMakes.com

6. Blueberry Crumb Bars

Blueberries are a fabulous part of summer's bounty. These delicious, sweet berries are also a powerhouse of nutrition! Mix them together with some whole food ingredients (yes... real, actual food... nothing from a boxed mix!) and you've got a recipe for pure deliciousness!

Image: iFoodReal.com

7. Key Lime Pie Ice Box Bars

Summer and key lime "anything" just belong together. That tart flavor has a way of breaking through the summer heat and leaving you with nothing but a purely refreshed feeling. And just think, on a hot day, these come out of the freezer!!! Who wouldn't love that? I can just see myself sitting by the pool or at the beach with an ice tea in one hand and one of these in the other. Pure summer-time pleasure!

Image: BeWholeBeYou.com

8. Fresh Fruit Pizza

Pizza is one of my favorite food groups. Well, okay... it's not a food "group" all by itself, but it should be! Pizza comes in so many variations that the possibilities are pretty endless. You can even enjoy pizza for dessert! Come on my fellow pizza lovers.... you know you want to try this! Just look at all those delicious summer berries!!

Image: HappyHealthyMama.com

9. Clean Eating Lemon Curd

Lemon curd is an exquisite thing. Better than pudding, softer than a cloud and indescribably delicious! Nothing beats the combination of sweetness and lemony tartness, especially during the hot summer months. You can spread this on some whole grain toast at breakfast, or save it for dessert. I am not embarrassed to say that I ate it straight from the jar. Yeah.... it's that good.

Image: TheGraciousPantry.com

10. Almond Butter Chocolate Cookies

Summer is a time for indulging. We indulge in relaxation, time with friends and family, vacations and lots of lovely meals with those we care for. So it only stands to reason that indulging in a little chocolate this summer is par for the course. And these whole-food chocolate cookies are nothing if not indulgent! And did I mention that you don't have heat up the oven to bake them? You're welcome.