5 Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (2024)

A diabetes diagnosis doesn’t have to mean a life of bland, boring food. With some cleverly crafted diabetes-friendly dessert recipes, you can indulge without having to worry about your blood sugar levels spiking.

Diabetes is a chronic health condition where your body either doesn’t effectively use insulin (type 2 diabetes) or doesn’t make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes). Insulin, a hormone your pancreas produces, is essential to regulating your blood sugar (glucose).

Although many people with diabetes use medications to manage their blood sugar levels, diet is an important part of supporting medication effectiveness, controlling symptoms, and preventing long-term health complications.

Restructuring your diet around diabetes can be overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve got a sweet tooth. Traditional desserts are often high in sugar and carbohydrates (carbs) that can rapidly spike blood sugar, and they aren’t generally recommended for people with diabetes.

The good news is that diabetes dessert recipes do exist, and with so many options to try, you’re bound to find a diabetes-friendly dessert you love.

5 Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (1)Share on Pinterest

Keto cinnamon almond cookies will be your new go-to when you need to satisfy a cookie craving. These delicious cookies are made from a short list of simple ingredients that come together to make a scrumptious ketogenic dessert option. They’re quick to make and quick to bake.

Ketogenic foods, called “keto” for short, are low in carbs and high in fats. They often form part of a diabetes-friendly diet plan because fats generally provide a more sustained source of energy in your body, meaning they don’t cause the same rapid spikes in glucose associated with many carbs.

Cinnamon almond cookie recipe

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If you’re a granola lover but you have trouble finding commercial diabetes-friendly granola products, consider making this one at home. This strawberry “granola” snack bowl combines all the elements of a traditional granola—sweetness, texture, and crunch—with four simple ingredients that aren’t as likely to spike your blood sugar.

Worried about the strawberries and chocolate? Fear not! Strawberries may be a fruit, but they’re considered low on the glycemic index, and they contain natural sugars that don’t spike your glucose in the same way as the added sugars in baked goods.

And the chocolate? This diabetes dessert recipe calls for dark chocolate, which has a much lower sugar content than milk chocolate. The higher the purity of your dark chocolate, the better!

Strawberry ‘granola’ bowl recipe

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Another keto dessert you won’t want to miss is the keto strawberry shortcake. Made with real cream cheese, strawberries, and cream, this summery treat uses erythritol instead of regular sugar to boost its sweetness factor.

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that has no effect on glucose or insulin, making it a great sugar alternative in diabetes-friendly dessert recipes.

Sugar alcohols aren’t for everyone, however, and you should try to consume them in moderation. If you’re sensitive to these products, consider swapping erythritol for a sweetener alternative recommended by your doctor or nutrition consultant.

Strawberry shortcake recipe

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Sometimes there’s just no substitute for a chocolate chip cookie craving. If your chocolate chip cookie itch needs to be scratched, this recipe is for you.

Not only is it keto-friendly, which is usually a good choice when you’re looking for a diabetes-suitable dessert recipe, but it also uses almond flour and coconut oil, which add subtle but rich dimensions of flavor.

With simple ingredients and short preparation and bake times, you can enjoy these cookies in under 20 minutes.

Chocolate chip cookie recipe

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Don’t be shy of diabetes-friendly dessert recipes that use avocado for bulk and texture. Although avocado might not sound appealing in a dessert, you’ll be surprised at how its flavor blends with the other ingredients to create something truly masterful.

Creamy keto avocado pudding is straightforward. You won’t even notice the avocado once it gets blended with the cocoa powder, vanilla, stevia, and milk.

Not a fan of dairy products? You can easily make this recipe with a milk alternative.

Another bonus: This recipe uses stevia, which may have anti-diabetes properties, according to some research.

Chocolate avocado pudding recipe

Diabetes dessert recipes do exist, and they often contain simple ingredients. Also, they don’t require you to spend an entire day in the kitchen.

To learn more about diabetes-friendly food choices and meal planning, check out Healthline’s:

  • From brunch to barbeque: Type 2 diabetes-friendly swaps for your favorite meals
  • The 9 best places to find diabetes recipes
  • 6 delicious diabetes recipes you’ll love this summer
  • 10 superfoods to try if you have type 2 diabetes
  • Healthy breakfast recipes for diabetes
  • Seven-day type 2 diabetes meal plan
5 Diabetes-Friendly Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best dessert for a diabetic to eat? ›

Baked goods made with whole wheat flour, almond flour, or other low-GI ingredients and less added sugar are fine for diabetics. Some good choices are sugar-free carrot cake, keto chocolate cake, and low-carb coconut macaroons.

What dessert won't spike my blood sugar? ›

"Dark chocolate covered berries and nuts [are a great choice] for both [types of diabetes] because the nuts have omega-3s. The dark chocolate has antioxidants and the berries are lower glycemic types of foods. They have more fiber, so they're friendly for both [types of diabetes]," she says.

What kind of ice cream is good for diabetics? ›

Halo Top: Halo provides ice cream flavors with additional protein and low carbohydrates. They are able to use lower amounts of sugar due to the use of the sugar alcohol erythritol, which provides sweetness without adding empty calories.

Is angel food cake ok for diabetics to eat? ›

Because of this, when consumed in moderate amounts, Angel Food Cake does not affect blood sugar levels. People with diabetes can safely eat Angel Food in moderate amounts because it doesn't have simple carbohydrates and sugars, meaning that it won't cause a sudden or significant spike in blood sugar levels.

What sweets are best for diabetics? ›

Examples of some diabetes-friendly desserts include:
  • granola (with no sugar added) and fresh fruit.
  • trail mix with nuts, seeds, roasted pepitas, and dried cranberries.
  • graham crackers with nut butter.
  • angel food cake.
  • chia seed pudding.
  • low sugar avocado mousse.
  • frozen yogurt bites made with plain Greek yogurt and berries.

What cake can diabetics eat? ›

Best Birthday Cake Alternatives for People Living With Diabetes
  • Keto Vanilla Cupcakes made with Splenda Monk Fruit Sweetener.
  • Chocolate Birthday Cake made with Splenda Stevia Jar Sweetener.
  • Confetti Birthday Cake made with Splenda Original Granulated Sweetener.
  • Classic Carrot Cake made with Splenda Sugar Blend.
Sep 29, 2022

Which nuts should diabetics avoid? ›

Nuts can make a simple snack. Most are safe to eat raw, and they are available in many grocery stores. People with diabetes should avoid salted varieties.

What can I eat at night that won't raise my blood sugar? ›

Other options include:
  • A sugar-free frozen pop.
  • One light cheese stick.
  • One tablespoon of peanut butter (15 grams) and celery.
  • A hard-boiled egg.
  • Five baby carrots.
  • Light popcorn, 3/4 cup (approximately 6 grams)
  • Salad greens with cucumber and a drizzle of oil and vinegar.

What can I eat in the morning to not spike my blood sugar? ›

However, certain foods, such as leafy greens, whole grains, eggs, and nuts, will not raise it as much as others and can help lower long-term fasting glucose levels. This means these foods will not raise a person's blood sugar, also known as blood glucose. These foods may also help them avoid a blood sugar spike.

What are the 5 worst foods for blood sugar? ›

You limit dairy products, red meat, sweets, added sugars, sodium (salt), and highly processed foods. Some additional guidelines include focusing on seasonal produce and reading food labels to help you avoid added sodium and sugar.

How can I satisfy my diabetic sweet tooth? ›

Eat fresh fruit: Fruits such as apples, pears, and papaya are naturally sweet but also contain complex carbs and soluble fiber, which can satisfy your sweet tooth without wreaking havoc on your blood sugar.

What is the healthiest cake to eat? ›

What Type of Cake is Healthy?
  1. Angel Food Cake. Angel food cake is healthy because It does not contain egg yolk and butter. ...
  2. 2 . Flourless Chocolate Cake. ...
  3. 3 . Protein Mug Cake. ...
  4. 4 . Homemade Strawberry Shortcake. ...
  5. 5 . Sugar-Free Carrot and Date Cake. ...
  6. 6 . Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. ...
  7. 7 . Cheesecake. ...
  8. 8 . Red Velvet Cake.

What desserts should diabetics avoid? ›

Though no food is completely off-limits, if you want to keep blood sugar levels low, it's important to limit eating desserts that contain primarily refined carbohydrates and sugar, such as snack cakes, candy or cookies.

Are strawberries good for diabetics? ›

Strawberries can be a safe, beneficial addition to the diet for individuals living with diabetes. They offer a range of nutrients and antioxidants that support overall health and blood sugar management. Because of their low GI, strawberries have relatively minor effects on blood sugar when consumed in moderation.

What kind of candy can a diabetic eat? ›

Diabetes Candy Exchanges
M&Ms, plain or peanut1 fun size bag
Tootsie Roll midgees3
Charms Blow Pop1
Kit Kat1/2 of large or 1 fun size
Baby Ruth1 fun size
12 more rows

What is the healthiest dessert you can eat? ›

Healthy dessert ideas from dietitians and doctors
  • Oatmeal raisin cookies. ...
  • Ice cream with seasonal fruit and honey. ...
  • Homemade sorbet or "nice cream" ...
  • Chocolate. ...
  • Chocolate and peanut butter smoothies. ...
  • Smoothie popsicles. ...
  • Easy mug cakes. ...
  • Frozen yogurt bark.
Dec 21, 2023

What kind of cookies can a diabetic eat? ›

10 Healthy but Delicious Cookie Recipes for People With Diabetes
  • Swapping regular sugar for the sugar alcohol erythritol can help make your cookie more diabetes-friendly. ...
  • Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. ...
  • Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies. ...
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies. ...
  • Low-Carb Coconut Macaroons.
Dec 18, 2018

How can I satisfy my diabetic hunger? ›

If you're still feeling hungry, your best bet is a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie snack, preferably one that's high in protein or fiber, such as Greek yogurt or a small handful of nuts. Other options include: A sugar-free frozen pop. One light cheese stick.

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