Nutritious and healthy oat desserts for those conscious of calories Make desserts a guilt-free indulgence with these nutritious and fiber-packed healthy oat desserts. Make some or all of these healthy desserts for that friend or loved one who shies away at the mention of desserts. All of these are low calorie desserts, as low as they can go given they have some amount of sweetness in them. For diabetic folks, it’s best to consult your doctor before trying any of these.
1. Oats Kheer
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 90 gm rolled oats
- 240ml water
- 480 ml milk
- 45 gm sugar, adjust to taste
- ½ tsp cardamom powder
- A pinch of saffron
For garnish:
- Pistachios, sliced
- Almonds, roasted and sliced
- Raisins
- Saffron strands
Instructions
- Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the ghee and let it melt.
- Add the rolled oats to the melted ghee and sauté them well until you get the aroma of roasted oats.
- Pour in the water and whole milk, stirring well to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer, cooking until the oats become soft and mushy. Stir regularly to prevent sticking.
- Once the oats have reached your desired consistency, add the sugar, cardamom powder, and a pinch of saffron. Stir to combine.
- Simmer for two more minutes, then remove from the heat.
- Serve the healthy oats Kheer warm or chilled, garnished with sliced pistachios, roasted almond slices, raisins, and a few strands of saffron.
2. Chunky Oats Bars
(Makes 16 bars)
Ingredients
- 330 gm oats
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 60 ml maple syrup or honey
- 120 ml milk
- 1 medium ripe banana, mashed
- 30 ml coconut oil, softened
- 1 egg
- ½ tbsp vanilla extract
- 60 gm chocolate chips, some extra for sprinkling
- 80 gm crushed Oreo crumbs (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
- Take a big bowl, and mix 300 grams of oats, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk together maple syrup, milk, mashed banana, softened coconut oil, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until a thick batter forms.
- Fold in the remaining oats, chocolate chips, and crushed Oreo crumbs with a spatula.
- Pour batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely before slicing into 12-16 equal-sized bars.
3. Chocolate Oats Pudding
(Serves 4)
Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks
- 170 gm pitted sweet dates (about 10-12 dates)
- 400 ml unsweetened thick coconut milk
- 45 gm Cadbury Cocoa Powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates and finely chop them, then transfer to a bowl and mash them with a fork until you get a paste.
- Take a medium-sized pot, and add the date paste and coconut milk. Whisk vigorously to mix as much as possible. Add cocoa powder and salt next and whisk thoroughly to break up lumps.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it's warm but not boiling.
- Take a medium-sized bowl, and whisk the egg yolks until smooth.
- Once the coconut milk mixture is warm, slowly add about 80 ml (1/3 cup) to the whisked egg yolks, stirring constantly to keep the eggs from cooking.
- Gradually pour the tempered egg yolk mixture back into the pot with the remaining coconut milk mixture, whisking constantly.
- Cook on medium-low heat and keep stirring, until it thickens, for about 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the pure vanilla extract.
- Transfer the pudding to a bowl or individual serving dishes.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours before serving.
4. Oatmeal Apple Cake
(Serves 8)
Ingredients
- 120 gm oats
- 1 large apple, peeled and finely chopped
- 45 ml honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 45 ml yogurt
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp butter or coconut oil, melted
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Take a big bowl, and mix ¾ of the oats with the baking soda and baking powder.
- In another bowl, add honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, yogurt, eggs, and melted butter or coconut oil, and whisk until well combined.
- Add the contents of the egg bowl to the oat mixture and stir well with a spoon. Fold in the chopped apple and the remaining oats.
- Line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and pour the mixture inside, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Take out the cake from the oven and let it cool completely.
- Once cooled, slice the cake and store the slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. The cake tastes better, the longer it's chilled.