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30 Healthy Sweet Snacks That'll Still Taste Absolutely Scrumptious

Yes, I have a sweet tooth. I refuse to apologize.

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We at Cosmo love our snacks (so much, in fact, that we even have a whole award series devoted to them!!). If you're like me and can polish off an entire box of PopTarts without blinking, you may also want some healthier (but still yummy) alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth. Finding that perfect snack to fulfill every sweet craving without heading straight to your stash of gummy bears is tough, though. The good news is that, in an effort to cut back on super sugary treats, I stumbled upon some of the most ~delightful~ healthy replacements for my go-to sweet snacks of choice—things I actually look forward to eating just as much.

Luckily, there is hope for all of us who have a raging sweet tooth. Of course, not every single thing on this list falls into the super-healthy category (yes, there is homemade ice cream on here, don't be mad). But making some of these items yourself will result in fewer and more natural ingredients and way less sugar or preservatives. As food author Michael Pollan has explained, you can have all the junk food you want...you just need to make it yourself. (Sneaky healthy tip for ya!)

So enjoy these 30 healthy snack ideas for a fresh take on some of your faves alongside some new recipes to try. Have 'em all by themselves (especially after you've had a long day at work). Or load up a bento box with the yummiest (and less perishable) options for a rainbow-colored, nutritionist-approved snack box. Bon appetit!!

1

Homemade Fruit Pops

homemade ice cream popsicles in a bowl with ice, made with watermelon and peach, under hard light
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Homemade fruit pops usually have fewer than five ingredients and they're a cinch to make. The hardest part is waiting for them to freeze, tbh. Just make sure you have the molds and wooden sticks before you start.

2

Or Just the Berries

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Frozen fruit is...a surprisingly delicious treat, whether you're just throwing some grapes in the freezer or freezing them as a bar. Also, it's lower in sugar than a more processed bar.

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3

Better Bark

homemade healthy frozen muesli yogurt bark with orange and apple, top view
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This yogurt "bark"consists of fruit and sweets mixed in, then the whole concoction is frozen for a crunchy cold snack. Like chocolate bark, only cold (and way better for you, so long as you don't add too much sugar).

4

Fruit Sushi Pls

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There are a couple ways to make this, but one recipe calls for making sweet, coconut milk-infused rice, wrapping fruit in it, and topping with mango or coconut flakes. Yummmmm.

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5

Homemade Caramel Popcorn

popcorn bowl on the purplebeige background  healthy sweet snacks
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If you've never had sweet popcorn, you are missing tf out. This is also so easy to make: melt butter, sugar, and baking soda together and drizzle over your popped kernels.

6

DIY Trail Mix

trail mix in a jar on wooden background
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What's great about this snack idea is that you basically take the nuts, dried fruit, and granola you love the most (maybe skip the super sugary candy) and make yourself a custom snack. Never not snackable.

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7

Get That Granola

granola bars healthy sweet snacks
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Basically trail mix in bar form, you can similarly customize your granola bars with whatever goodies you like (including dark chocolate morsels!). It doesn't last as long as the store variety, but it's way better for you.

8

Sweet, Sweet Salsa

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Never had peach salsa? I was skeptical until I tried it, and now I want to make it every other week. This (and other fruit salsas) perfectly balance the spice and tanginess of peppers, tomatoes, and onions with a jolt of fresh sweetness.

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9

Upgrade the Smoothie

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Yes, yes, a smoothie isn't the most ~original~ idea in the world. So mix it up—put real fruit bits in it for a surprise treat. Introduce new ingredients, like chia seeds. Use another liquid than milk or water. Really go for it, creatively speaking.

10

Just the Cutest Charcuterie Board

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If you like ~presentation~, charcuterie boards don't just have to be for having guests over (and they don't just have to be cheese and meat!). Add cereal, fruit, nuts, and granola for a DIY snack alternative.

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11

A Fruit Sandwich

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Basically, take a cracker or bread, add whipped cream, then top with your fave fruit. You can also sub out the whipped cream with jam or coconut whipped cream, if you prefer (and want something a smidge healthier).

12

Syrups and Sauces, Oh My

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Or, if you wanna branch out even more, make your own syrups and sauces. Boom: Now you have condiments you can drizzle over all kinds of food without worrying about a ton of added sugar.

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13

Ice Cream From Your Own Kitchen

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It can be a lil bit of a commitment, but making your own thick, creamy ice cream (using real fruit and flavoring, natch) is the best. Plus, you'll have worked off a bunch of calories before you treat yourself.

14

Go for Fruit Leather

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This will not taste like Fruit Roll Ups or the store-bought versions (which have a bunch of sugar). But (with some patience waiting for it to dry), your own fruit leather will taste quite scrumptious.

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15

Or Upgrade With Fruit Bruschetta

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A slightly fancier, dinner party-worthy pick is to combine thick bread, fruit, and cream cheese (these are sometimes called canapes, if you wanna get fancy).

16

Alternative Pancakes

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Getting a gluten-free or multigrain pancake mix (or, even better, starting from scratch), then loading up on real fruit instead of just dousing it in syrup? You've got yourself a healthier alternative to IHOP.

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17

Spice Up Your (Fruit Bowl)

fruits salad in a glass container with wooden fork in the office
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Freshly cut fruit doesn't sound like a wild time, but you can take the opportunity to eliminate all the fruits you hate (honeydew melon is my enemy) and drizzle on a little syrup, sugar, or even chocolate sauce.

18

Have a (Nut) Ball

chocolate walnut energy balls in bowl healthy sweet snacks
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This no-bake recipe comes together in exactly 10 minutes and includes nuts, dates, and peanut butter. Also, tell me their shape isn't perfect for throwing a few into your mouth when you have a craving.

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19

When in Doubt...Chocolate

chocolate fondue with strawberries
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I am of course referring to dark chocolate sauce, which (when homemade) isn't bad for you. Also, you dip healthier things into it, so it's not like you're housing the entire thing in one sitting!

20

Get on the Fruit Boat

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Take some big fruit. Put fruit and yogurt inside that fruit. Boom. I just blew your mind. This one is a papaya bowl, but experiment with different big fruits to see what makes your dream snack.

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