Cutting Back on Sugar? Try One of These 16 Delicious Dessert Recipes (2024)

FAQs

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

Adding spices can enhance the taste of food. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, mace, cardamom and star anise are commonly associated with sweetness. These spices are often used in baked goods and pair especially well with fruit dishes. Vanilla extract can also make food seem sweeter, perhaps due to its aroma.

In the summer months, many of the experts TODAY.com spoke to opt for grilled fruit as a post-dinner sweet. Try grilling pears, peaches or apples with cinnamon and serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt. Or eat them on their own with just a drizzle of honey.

The chemistry of sugar attracts water molecules, so cutting it out can make your baked goods too tough and dry. If you really want to cut back, sugar can usually be reduced by about a third without seeing a major difference in texture.

Nevertheless, the best types of desserts to eat would be those that already include these elements and are naturally lower in sugar, such as fruit with cream, yogurt-based desserts and desserts with nuts or nut butter.

Individuals with diabetes need foods that can help manage blood sugar and weight. Peanuts and peanut butter can be a powerful ally to reaching success. Peanuts and peanut butter have a low glycemic index, which means they don't cause blood sugar to rise sharply.

Stevia and monk fruit are both naturally derived from plants and some people feel they have a flavor very similar to regular sugar. The FDA says these sweeteners are “generally regarded as safe,” which means they are safe to use for their intended purpose.

What cancels too much sugar? ›

The Fix: Tone down an overly sweet dish by adding a sour, salty, or bitter ingredient to it. Sour fruit (such as blackberries or cherries), cooling herbs such as mint, and chopped nuts work well in sweets such as cakes, cookies, and pies.

If your food is too sweet...

Add an acid or seasonings such as lemon juice, lime juice, or vinegar; chopped fresh herbs, citrus zest, or a dash of cayenne for savory dishes, liqueur or instant espresso for sweet dishes.

Sugar alternatives. Try making cakes with ground almonds or grated vegetables. These add a more complex texture, keep cakes moist and boosting flavour with their natural sweetness. Natural sugars, such as honey or maple syrup.

All types of dessert foods can be incorporated into diets for people with diabetes. "Combining carbohydrates with protein and fat, as well as choosing higher fiber carbohydrate sources, can produce a more modest rise in glucose that is easier to match to the body's natural insulin or medications," says Kirptich.

The combination of flour, sugar, and dairy found in most high-carb desserts can contribute to blood sugar spikes, making diabetes harder to manage. For example, a single serving of strawberry cheesecake may contain more than 30 grams of carbohydrates.