Healthier Chocolate Dessert Recipes

Is it possible to shower your loved ones with decadent chocolate desserts on Valentine’s Day without showering them with excess amounts of fat and calories? The answer — if you follow this blog — is YES!

I looked back into my recipe archives and selected four of my favorite “healthier” chocolate desserts for your culinary enjoyment. What follows is a sumptuous chocolate torte, playful chocolate berry cupcakes, irresistible chocolate Whoopie pies, and a luscious chocolate mousse. Each of my treats is extremely delicious, extremely hard to resist, and all are made with an array of better-for-you ingredients including semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, canola oil, omega-3 eggs, whole wheat flour, pumpkin puree, avocados, and even blueberries!

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Berry Good Chocolate Cupcakes are a makeover of traditional cupcakes. Instead of the usual buttercream frosting, I use a healthier spread made with Smart Balance, and I ramp up the nutritional GPA of my cupcake batter with canola oil versus butter, wild blueberries (they replace some of the fat), and less sugar than the average cupcake. I keep the portion size in check by baking my adorable cupcakes in mini muffin tins!

I-Love-Chocolate Party Torte is made with dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, unsweetened cocoa powder, canola oil, and whole wheat flour.  Watch the portion (I cut this cake into 16 slices), and top with lots of nutritious ruby-red sliced strawberries and just a dollop of light whipped cream.

Chocolate Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, a makeover of a Whoopie recipe from the Food Network, are made with ingredients like canned pureed pumpkin, unsweetened cocoa powder, light cream cheese, and low-fat milk. You will not be disappointed.

The creaminess in my Avocado Chocolate Mousse does NOT come from butter or cream. Instead it’s made with a California avocado, light agave nectar, cocoa powder, and light coconut milk.

What are some of your favorite healthier chocolate desserts? Do tell 🙂 Oh, and let’s not forget about my Fudgy Black Bean Brownies. They’re always a huge hit …