Low Gi Dessert Recipes for Guilt-Free Indulgence

A meal cannot be complete without a serving of your favorite dessert and you can definitely enjoy that every time with these low GI dessert recipes. GI refers to the glycemic index, or the rate by which a carbohydrate can be digested by the body and turned into sugar. The faster the rate, the higher the GI and vice versa. For optimum health, it is advised that you stick to foods with low glycemic index because they keep you feeling full longer, they provide sustained energy, and they do not spike up your blood sugar levels. Now, desserts are often associated with sugar because of their sweet taste, but not all have a high GI. It really depends on what you use as a sweetener. For your healthy indulgence, here are four low GI desserts that can also serve as your slow carb snacks.

Peanut Butter Banana Cookies (No Bake)

For some people, baking can be a very challenging task. If you are one of them yet you are very eager to make your own low glycemic desserts, here is the right low glycemic cookie for you. You will need the following ingredients: 2 ripe bananas, 4 tbsp. milled flaxseed, 2 ¾ cups natural oats, ¾ cup natural peanut butter, 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 4 tbsp. almond milk (unsweetened), 1 ½ tbsp. coconut oil, and a tablespoon of stevia powder.

Mash your bananas and mix it with the almond milk, cocoa powder, and peanut butter in a pan. Put in low heat while stirring constantly and continue mashing the banana until the mixture is well blended. Pour in the flaxseed, oats, coconut oil, and stevia. Mix until blended and remove from heat. Your mixture must be very thick.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and scoop spoonfuls of the mixture on it. Shape them with the back of your spoon to form circular cookies. Place them in the freezer until they have firmed up and enjoy.

Pears a la Mode

Fruits are not really recommended to be eaten regularly in a slow carb diet, but pears have a low glycemic index, so you can enjoy them every now and then. To prepare this slow carb dessert, all that you will need are the following: one medium pear, ¼ tsp. cinnamon powder, ¼ tbsp. honey, ½ tsp. nutmeg, and half a cup of frozen unsweetened yogurt.

Slice the pear and fry in a non-stick frying pan until it turns golden brown. Place in individual serving dishes then sprinkle with honey, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Top it off with the yogurt. This is so easy to make that you can whip this up for those surprise guests that you may have.

Carrot Cake

This low glycemic version of this favorite dessert will have you craving for more. This is so healthy that you will never feel guilty even if you grab your second slice. To make, prepare the following ingredients: 3 cups almond flour, a pinch of sea salt, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tbsp. cinnamon, ½ cup honey, 5 eggs, ¼ cup grapeseed oil, 3 cups grated carrots, a cup of walnuts, and a cup of raisins.

Preheat the oven at 325^oF. Mix separately the dry and wet ingredients. The carrots, walnuts, and raisins must go to the bowl containing the wet ingredients but added last. Combine both mixtures together and blend to make your batter. Pour in a 9-inch cake pan and bake for 40 minutes or until the center is no longer moist upon sticking with a toothpick. Let it cool and serve. You can serve this as is or you can opt to top this with coconut cream frosting.

Black Bean Pecan Brownies

For this amazing and unique recipe you will need these ingredients: 1 can of 15 oz. black beans, 1/3 cup egg substitute, ¼ cup non hydrogenated margarine, ½ cup skim milk, 1 tbsp. vanilla, ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ½ cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup honey, a pinch of salt, 1 tsp. baking powder, and half a cup of chopped pecans.

Preheat the oven at 350^oF. Drain the black beans and drain then place in a food processor and puree for a minute. Add in the margarine, vanilla, milk, and egg and continue processing until well blended. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Combine this with the pureed ingredients and mix well until you form your batter. Transfer everything in an 8-inch square baking pan then sprinkle with the toasted pecans. Bake for about 20 minutes and let it cool.

If you have noticed in most of these recipes, all-purpose flour is substituted with almond flour or whole wheat flour. Skim milk or almond milk is also used instead of regular milk. Most importantly, instead of using refined sugar, honey or stevia are preferred. All other ingredients are also unsweetened. This perfect substitutions and combinations make these low GI dessert recipes very healthy. They even include real fruits and vegetables for that added punch of nutrients. With these types of recipes, there really is no reason for you not to enjoy your desserts.