Avocados aren’t just for guacamole and avocado toast. You can go beyond savoury recipes and feature the nutrient-packed fruit in sweet treats, too.
From cookies to truffles to ice cream sandwiches, avocados are the perfect healthy fat for all your favourite desserts. Over 75% of the fat in avocados is unsaturated fat in the form of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, making them a healthy substitute for ingredients high in saturated fat such as butter and cream.
Avocados offer plenty of other health benefits. They contain phytosterols, which may help maintain healthy cholesterol levels. They're also a good source of pantothenic acid, a B-vitamin that helps your body convert food into energy. Plus, avocados are rich in copper, an essential mineral that helps keep your blood vessels, nerves, immune system and bones healthy.
Next time you're making dessert, try these 7 creative avocado treats. You’ll get amazing creaminess and healthy goodness in every bite.
Photograph courtesy of Kim's Cravings
Avocado icing
I know it sounds wild, but avocados are the perfect base to make better-for-you frosting. Once you try it, you’ll be converted. This delicious Chocolate Avocado Icing from Kim’s Cravings tops decadent chocolate avocado cupcakes. Mixing the green fruit in both the icing and the cake gives you a perfect creamy texture and heart-healthy fats. No butter full of saturated fat here! Kim's chocolatey icing is sweetened with maple syrup and uses cocoa powder for even more antioxidants and heart health benefits.
Photograph courtesy of Food Faith Fitness
Avocado cookies
Did you know you can bake cookies using avocado in place of butter and oil? You still get the soft and chewy texture you want in a cookie, but you also get fibre and other nutrients from the avocado. These Chocolate Mint Avocado Cookies from Food Faith Fitness have avocado in the cookie batter and in their rich chocolate centers. They're made with oat flour so they’re high in beta-glucan fibre, a type of soluble fiber that lowers unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels.
Photograph courtesy of 80 Twenty Nutrition
Avocado truffles
Dessert doesn't get more decadent than a creamy chocolate truffle. Wait until you try one made with the goodness of avocados. They’re dreamy and melt in your mouth. My Chocolate Avocado Truffles with Pink Himalayan Salt, featured on 80 Twenty Nutrition, are the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Plus, you can add some cayenne pepper for a little kick. These vegan, gluten-free truffles feature a short ingredient list, and pack so much flavour for so little work. Keep that your little secret!
Photograph courtesy of 80 Twenty Nutrition
Avocado pudding
The smooth texture of avocados make them the perfect base for pudding. My Chocolate Mint Avocado Pudding on 80 Twenty Nutrition has only 5 ingredients, so it’s quick and easy to make. This velvety pudding is vegan, gluten-free, and low carb. Plus, you get some vitamin E from the avocado, which can help boost your immune system and give you glowing skin! What are you waiting for? Grab a spoon and dig in.
Photograph courtesy of Further Food
Avocado ice cream
Avocado adds the signature creaminess to ice cream without requiring any dairy. That means you’re getting plant-based healthy fat instead of saturated fat like you would in your classic scoop. Just blend with bananas and you’ll get delicious dairy-free “nice cream” that’s loaded with nutrients. These Chocolate Avocado Ice Cream Sandwiches from Further Food put the frozen treat between double chocolate cookies featuring another superfood ingredient: black beans! Beans provide vegetarian protein along with fiber for digestive health. This dessert is a win-win: great for your health and your taste buds.Photograph courtesy of Fit Mitten Kitchen
Avocado muffins
Are muffins breakfast food or just cake in disguise? I usually say the latter, but it all depends on the ingredients you use. For instance, these Triple Chocolate Avocado Muffins from Fit Mitten Kitchen are made with coconut flour and dairy-free chocolate chips. Each muffin has only 6 grams of fat and contains 4 grams of protein plus 5 grams of fibre to help you stay satisfied. That makes these muffins a great choice for dessert or breakfast. How many sweet treats can claim that?
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