12 Healthy Sweet Snacks to Crush Your Cravings
Updated: Apr 30, 2021
This is one of my favorite topics because A) I have a sweet tooth and B) I love nutrition and healthy eating! You don’t have to give up sweets in order to eat well, but when selecting healthy sweet snacks to buy, it’s a good idea to look for options that are lower in added sugar and that also provide some nutritious ingredients, such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Granted, you’re not going to eat healthy sweet snacks in place of less healthful ones all the time. Some days will call for more indulgent sweets. But for everyday eating, here are some of the healthy sweet snacks that I recommend. (Be sure to take a look at the healthy travel snacks I recommend. They're also great for at-home snacking! And for even MORE snack options, take a look at the healthiest snacks at Target.)
Lily's Salted Almond Milk Chocolate Bar
I normally don't go for milk chocolate, but I'm a huge fan of this bar, which is sweetened with the naturally-based no-calorie sweeteners stevia and erythritol. It's sweet, creamy, and crunchy yet just a gram of added sugar. I really like all of Lily's Chocolates, but if you aren't sure which one you'll like best, get the Lily's Variety Pack. You can't go wrong with any of the flavors!
Skinny Dipped Almonds Super Dark + Sea Salt
This is a lower sugar, healthy sweet snack that’s really satisfying! 16 almonds supply 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, and these dark-chocolate coated nuts have just 4 grams of added sugar. They’re a great way to tame a sugar craving while also getting some meaningful nutrition. If you prefer cashews to almonds, you can go for their newly released Skinny Dipped Cashews Dark Chocolate Cocoa.
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a sample of this mix and both my son and I devoured the results! They’re made with almond flour and coconut flour, and are sweetened with Swerve, which is a naturally-based sugar alternative derived from erythritol. That means the brownies have no added sugar and keep carbs in check.
Undercover Quinoa Dark Chocolate + Sea Salt
Crispy quinoa gets the dark chocolate treatment here and the results don’t disappoint. A portion is really generous and yet has just 120 calories and 6 grams of added sugar. I find that I don’t even need a full serving to crush my cravings, but you do you!
Lily’s Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
It’s easy to get a sweet fix by nibbling on a few baking chips. Since they’re sweetened with the naturally-based zero calorie sweeteners erythritol and stevia, these baking chips have no added sugar and are just a calorie per chip. In addition to enjoying them straight up, one of my favorite healthy sweet snacks is a date stuffed with nut butter and topped with a few chocolate chips, which tastes like a candy bar to me.
Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Larabar is a prime example of a healthy sweet snack that’s low in added sugar. The truth is that a bar can be a lower sugar way to satisfy a sweet tooth without turning to a cookie or something less healthful. These, with 4 grams of added sugar, are the perfect amount of sweet for me. I also love their no added sugar options, including Peanut Butter Cookie and Cashew Cookie.
Good and Gather Organic Dried Mango
If you’re in the mood for something sweet but don’t need an all-out dessert, you might find these dried mango strips hit the spot. They’re chewy and sweet with no added sugar and a serving provides some much-needed nutrients, like potassium and iron.
Made Good Chocolate Chip Granola Minis
This checks a lot of boxes for a healthy sweet snack with only 6 grams of added sugar and a base of gluten free oats. Plus, I like that the individual package makes it easier to control portion sizes.
When I’m in the mood for something sweet, but still want a substantial snack, I reach for these bars, which have 12 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, but no added sugar. This is my all-time favorite flavor, but I’m also fond of Mixed Berry and Chocolate Sea Salt. When I want something a little less filling, but still satisfying, I reach for the kid bars, which are mini versions that supply 7 grams of protein. Among those, my favorites are the Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter & Jelly varieties.
Health Warrior Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein Bars
This is an example of another bar that I’d consider a healthy sweet snack. They have 7 grams of added sugar, 8 grams of protein and a very simple ingredient list that includes organic wildflower honey.
Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Granola
This lower sugar granola option can be sprinkled on banana or peach slices for a fun and healthy sweet snack. I also love reheating frozen fruit, such as sweet cherries and blueberries, and topping with a spoonful of granola for a healthy crumble hack.
Simple Mills Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you’re a cookie fan, it doesn’t get healthier than this version, which has 7 grams of sugar for a four-cookie serving. To make sure you savor every bite, try plating your cookies and sitting down with your snack instead of eating them straight from the box.
Biena Chickpea Snacks in Girl Scouts Thin Mints
If you adore Thin Mints, give this crunchy snack a try. I love that a serving is a satisfying 35 chickpeas, and that you’ll also get 4 grams of both fiber and protein in this amount. Added sugars are also tame at just 5 grams per serving.
Did I miss any of your favorite healthy sweet snacks? Send me a note and share them with me! I love learning about new healthy sweet snacks to buy! And if you need help taming your sweet tooth or dealing with stress and emotional snacking, please get in touch. I can help you come up with practical ways to manage these behaviors more healthfully. Schedule a 15 minute chat to learn how I can help.
Disclaimer: I'm using affiliate links for the products I vet for my readers. These are my genuine recommendations and represent my years of experience testing and vetting products. My readers and clients are my top priority and your trust means everything to me. My goal is to support your healthy habits by recommending excellent products that align with my philosophy of making it easier to eat well. It doesn't cost you anything to shop through these links, and you're under no obligation to shop or purchase through my site. When you do make a purchase through an affiliate link, I receive a nominal commission, which helps me provide this service to you. Thanks for supporting my site!