Whole 30 desserts are supposed to be off limits, but let’s face it: we’re human. When you need a little something sweeter and you’re tempted to dive in to a bar of chocolate, don’t! Instead, try one of these whole 30 dessert options, all of which are compliant and will satisfy your craving without derailing your Whole30.
Yeah, I know. I’m currently standing on my front lawn holding my cross-crossed wrists in front of me and waiting for the Whole 30 police.
You’re not even supposed to use the word dessert when you’re on a Whole30 – or even talking about Whole30! Or THINKING about Whole 30! – let alone eat it.
What can I say? I’m not here to sabotage you. If anything, I’m here to help.
I promise.
Whole30, for those of you who have never had the pleasure, is a very strict 30-day diet designed to be free of all inflammatory foods (gluten, grains, added sugars, dairy, legumes, soy, alcohol, chemicals, additives, and anything artificial or processed). It’s intended to be a reset for your body, and/or a way to identify any food reactions or intolerances you may be experiencing. It’s not meant to be a lifestyle, by any means, and there’s no way I’d even talk here about a diet that forbids you from sweet treats FOREVER.
But, ok, admittedly, you’re not technically supposed to have anything even remotely dessert-y, even if its ingredients fall within the Whole 30 guidelines, but I’m here to tell you that you’re human, Whole 30 is hard, and it’s better to eat a technically-Whole 30-compliant-though-strongly-discouraged form of dessert than depriving yourself and ending up faceplanting into a whole cake or something. (But, for the record, I wouldn’t judge you if you wanted to do the cake thing instead.)
But, assuming you’re not going the faceplanting route I’ve included a few satisfying Whole 30 dessert recipes that even the Whole 30 police would consider acceptable last courses to a meal (don’t say the “d” word.). Ultimately, there is something here for everyone and, of course, it is all gluten free, grain free, dairy free, and refined sugar free as usual!
Jump to:
- 3 Ingredient Cookies
- Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
- Toasted Coconut Almond Butter
- Cinnamon Banana Pudding
- “Peanut” Butter and Jelly Chia Parfait
- Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
- Chocolate Grain Free Granola
- Slow Cooker Applesauce
- Chai Spiced Almond Butter
- More Ideas!
3 Ingredient Detox Cookies
These are one of the most popular recipes on my site, and certainly the most controversial since – for me – they are/were (I’m not on Whole30) a whole30 compliant dessert. That’s what works for me; if it doesn’t for you, just keep scrolling. But they are made from bananas, cocoa powder, and nut butter, with a sprinkle of salt, and that’s it. So it’s not too much of a stretch.
Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
I can hear your skepticism from here. Believe it or not, grapefruit and avocado salad is a simple and refreshing end to your meal and super satisfying. It’s fatty (satisfying) and tart, which resets your tastebuds when they may be leaning toward sweet. It is totally Whole 30 compliant, so this is the perfect “dessert”, if you’re being strict.
Toasted Coconut Almond Butter
When you’re craving sweets and can’t have them, fat always does a nice job replacing them. Coconut is naturally sort of sweet, and this coconut almond butter is genuinely addictive, Whole 30 or not. However, in the latter case, make sure you don’t use any of the optional sweetener called for in the recipe. You won’t miss it.
Cinnamon Banana Pudding
This banana pudding is flavored with cinnamon and sweetened entirely by the bananas – so make sure yours are as ripe as they can be. Since Whole 30 forbids alcohol, you can find alcohol-free vanilla extract at Trader Joe’s (and online). Also, it goes without saying, but the sprinkles are not compliant.
“Peanut” Butter and Jelly Chia Parfait
A couple of simple adjustments make this filling and good-for-you parfait Whole 30 compliant: first, omit the stevia. It’s optional, anyway, and your sweetness-adjusted taste buds shouldn’t miss it. Second, use almond, sunflower, or cashew butter in place of peanut butter, and make sure whatever you’re using is unsweetened and contains no additives.
Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
It may be drinkable, but it’s refreshing and naturally sweetened. If you’re doing a Whole30 in the spring or summer, this is the perfect option for you. Just make sure you omit the sweetener. If it’s not sweet enough for you without the stevia, try adding some fruit juice – like fresh orange juice – to taste.
Chocolate Grain Free Granola (Paleola)
This is great with a little bit of homemade almond milk, or straight out of the jar. For snacking or dessert, I like to cook it in a thick layer, so that it produces larger, snackable clumps. Just make sure, when you’re making it, to omit the maple syrup and replace it with an equal amount of nut butter. It won’t stick together quite as well, but it will still work fine.
Slow Cooker Apple Sauce
One ingredient, and practically no hands on time make this basically the best recipe ever. You don’t have to peel the apples, if you don’t want to, but a very quick shortcut when you’re prepping the apples is to use your corer/peeler/slicer that you bought that one time for apple pie, and haven’t used since.
I make this all the time in huge batches and freeze it. If you want, you can swap out up to half of the apples for pears, prepped the same way as the apples.
Chai Spiced Almond Butter
As always, you’ll need to omit the sweetener, but the nice thing about almonds + spices is that the combination provides enough flavor and richness to make up for the lack of added sweetness. Keep a batch on hand to eat with apple slices, and you’ll never miss “real” dessert.
So those are my favorite 9, but I have a few more bonus suggestions for you!
More Whole30 Dessert Ideas…
- Stuff a pitted medjool date with unsweetened almond butter. Eat. Repeat.
- Spiced butternut squash puree. You could use sweet potato instead, if you prefer. Just make sure your coconut milk contains no additives or preservatives.
- Chop peeled ripe bananas into pieces and freeze. Puree frozen chunks in the blender or food processor to make banana ice cream. Mix it up by adding other frozen fruits, like mango or strawberries, too. Top with unsweetened shredded coconut, if you want.
- Sautee sliced apples in coconut oil until tender, and toss with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Top sauteed apples with a dollop of whipped (unsweetened) coconut cream and a handful of crushed pecans.
- Almond butter banana bites: top a slice of ripe banana with a dollop of almond butter. Sandwich together with another sliced of banana. Freeze if you want (like this recipe, but without the chocolate). You can use coconut butter instead of almond butter, for some variety.
Dayle says
hahaha Nora – I’m laughing at the image of you on the lawn.
so far I’m ok with half an orange and tea, but I will look these over and maybe get some bananas to set on the counter. Haven’t enjoyed a banana or orange for awhile, hence moving over to WHole30. I feel more sane!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Yes! I’ve found bananas (or apples) with nut butter to be so satisfying. Another one I forgot to mention: Unsweetened coconut chips or flakes. Coconut is so naturally sweet, you don’t even need added sugar 🙂 Good luck with your Whole30! I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better on it!
Lmk says
Dessert is never compliant on whole30! These would work well for food freedom AFTER a round on W30
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Yes, that is addressed in the article. Whole30 is hard and people are only human. As I said clearly, these are intended to be placeholders in case the temptation strikes to eat a sugary dessert. Please read the article fully before you criticize.
Qbj says
Again, the whole purpose is not to feed the sugar dragon which these will do. So… Again… No.. these are not compliant at all. If you want something sweet push through, take a walk, have water and don’t give into your craving or you are NOT doing Whole30. ????
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Glad to hear that works for you! Not everyone is so lucky. Good luck with your Whole30.
Carissa says
Ugh so NOT whole 30.
Perhaps you mean something someone post- whole 30 and in their food freedom might enjoy?
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
I believe in 24/7 food freedom, and as I said in the article, these are intended to keep someone from deviating too far from the Whole30 plan if they need a treat. Please read the article fully before you criticize.
Rachel says
Some of these comments have me snickering. Are these *not* Whole30 because the word “dessert” is used? What if I had homemade applesauce for breakfast; does that make it compliant? I’m on my second Whole30 (the first was 100% fully compliant, whether I agreed with the rules or not) and this time around, I don’t see anything wrong with eating a banana with cinnamon sprinkled on top before going to bed. Is it because I’m addicted to dessert? No, it’s because I’m hungry and I don’t feel like having baked chicken at 11pm. The primary purpose of the Whole30 is to determine if certain foods are having a negative impact on your health, due to allergy or reaction – that’s why I’m completing the program for a second time, not to say “I didn’t eat dessert for 30 days!” I understand that another purpose of the program is to change your attitude toward food, and I think that’s important, as well. However, when you think about it, having half of a grapefruit and a few slices of avocado rather than a pint of Ben&Jerry’s is a pretty drastic change. I’d also like to hear why home-made chips, made with compliant ingredients, are okay but home-made cookies, made with compliant ingredients, are not. Store-bought chips, made with compliant ingredients, are *not* okay, on the program, and I imagine they’re just as much of a food-with-no-brakes for some people. The Whole30 rules can be fairly ambivalent and seem to change, depending on the person asking. For example, the rule page clearly states that recreating pizza crust, in any way, is against the rules – yet on the forums, a moderator says cauliflower pizza crust is a-okay. But, no wraps! They have something against wraps… unless it’s lettuce. A lettuce wrap is fine, but not a cauliflower wrap. Like I said, these rules don’t at all make sense. At any rate, I appreciate these recipes and look forward to trying them.
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Thanks, Rachel! I appreciate your input!
PS: I can’t do baked chicken at 11pm either 😉
Sasha says
They may not be Whole30, but I like that they are healthy and compliant. I’m in the beginning stages of starting whole30. I, by no means, need desserts. But I would like, as was said, a snack that isn’t vegetable and boiled eggs nor do I want a half baked chicken.
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Thanks, Sasha! I feel the same way, and even though Whole30 is supposed to be a limited diet, it shouldn’t feel restrictive or uncomfortable.
Karina says
The uncomfortableness and pushing through it is part of the experience. That’s why people who are following the program have a hard time with articles like this. Giving in to a sugar craving with something compliant is technically going against the “rules”. If you don’t want to challenge yourself, then don’t bother in the first place. These ideas are great for healthier eating outside those 30 days.
Linda says
I’m on my 3rd Whole 30, and it doesn’t get any more fun. I am a dessert addict which is my greatest struggle. I thoroughly enjoyed your article, discussing the “D” word just makes me feel happier! I say go for it! It’s compliant, so whose to say what you call Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner? It truly does help if it allows you to stay sane (at least clinically) while suffering through quite possibly the toughest 30 days of your life, (excluding childbirth). I know I’m not alone in taking my hat off to you for some great “stay compliant” suggestions. Your a rockstar! Thanks much!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Thank you SO much for saying that!! Good luck on your Whole30 – you’re right, it never gets easier!
Jennifer says
These are great – I am on day 14 of my first Whole30 and I have been by the book. However, as a treat for making a Whole30 Thanksgiving for a group of friends (thankfully 3 of us are all doing Whole30) I am going to also bring a compliant dessert. I know, I know…you will always have the purists who poo-poo it…but I see nothing wrong with having a compliant dessert 1 day out of 30! So thanks for putting some recipes together for us rebels 🙂
P.S. I roll my eyes at some of those comments since you clearly disclosed your intent about Whole30 and desserts from the beginning.
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Yes! Thank you!!! I’m certainly not here to sabotage anyone’s Whole30 – quite the opposite in fact! I hope you found something that made for an amazing Whole30 Friendsgiving!
Trish Ireland says
I am on third week of my first Whole 30. It has been very successful for me. Now I’ve turned my whole fam onto it. Teenagers and all. I’m looking to take these guidelines and put them into use for a lifetime. I dont need diet coke nor splenda in my coffee for the rest of my life, nor do chikdren, but I sure am searching for some poser treats. Whether you give that the title of desserts or treats using major ingredients from compliant whole 30 items. I thank you so much for trying these out and sharing! My fam is going to love them and maybe one day their children will too!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
You’re welcome Trish! I have to say how impressed I am to hear that you’ve converted the whole family!! Well done!
Katy says
These look awesome! I did a totally compliant whole 30 the first time, and lost 18 lbs.! Surprisingly I had grace for that one, and didn’t crave off plan stuff. This time around I’m doing a “whole 7”, for the strictly vain purpose of fitting into a certain dress for an event!? Okay, not totally vain, because its the nicest thing I have to wear, and I refuse to waste money on something new when I already have something suitable to wear! Ok, thanks for letting me ramble.❤
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Amazing!! 18 lbs is a huge accomplishment!
Courtney Lott says
These look SO awesome for Food Freedom!!! I’m in reintro right now, and might have to make one for dessert tonight! Thank you!
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
Enjoy!!
Barb says
The 3 ingredient brownies were disgusting.
Nora (A Clean Bake) says
There are no 3 ingredient brownies on this list so I’m not sure what you’re talking about.