Healthier Birthday Treats with Little or No Refined Sugar

What’s a birthday party without the sugar overload, right? Well, thanks to healthier eating trends, you can have your birthday cake—and cookies and donuts and bars—and eat them, too! Minus the usual refined sugar and other processed and artificial ingredients. These 12 delicious baked goodies include gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free options featuring whole wheat flour, fresh fruits, homemade jam, nuts, and natural syrup. Have a happy and healthy birthday with these treats!

12 Healthier Birthday Treats: Sweet the Natural Way!

Whole Wheat Banana Cake with Blueberry Whipped Cream Frosting – from Kristine’s Kitchen

Such a cute and scrumptious “smash cake” idea for a kiddie celebrant! It’s 100% whole grain using white whole wheat flour; with ripe bananas and applesauce for moisture without needing butter, and pure maple syrup for a little more sweetness. The sugar-free frosting is made with unsweetened, freshly whipped cream tinted with homemade blueberry sauce.

No Sugar Added Peanut Butter Date Bars – from Greens and Grains Nutrition

This flavor- and nutrient-packed treat is made with gluten-free oats, combined with natural peanut butter and flavored with cinnamon. The dates add that fruity sweetness while providing fiber, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus.

Gluten-Free Banana Walnut Brownies – from Pillsbury Baking

This one is yummy-made-easy. It uses Pillsbury’s gluten-free brownie mix as a base, with mashed fresh banana and chopped walnuts added for sweetness and crunch.

No Sugar Added Banana Muffins – from Mama Papa Bubba

Here, the ever-popular banana muffins go healthy made with whole wheat flour, very ripe bananas, a dash of cinnamon, chopped walnuts—and okay, chocolate chips (these are for a birthday after all)!

Vegan Maple Cupcakes with Pure Maple Buttercream Frosting – from Go Dairy Free

Perfect for a fall-time birthday, these whole grain, vegan maple cupcakes are topped with a rich, buttery frosting without any butter or refined sugars. Both the cakes and the buttercream are sweetened exclusively with pure maple syrup.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies – from Eat Yourself Skinny

This healthier alternative to the classic chocolate chip cookie is made without butter, refined sugar or white flour. The sweetness is thanks to honey, vanilla, and dark chocolate chips. Yum!

Chocolate Sweet Potato Donuts – from Further Food

Don’t these look too good to be gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo donuts? Well, they’re made with blanched almond flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, organic sweet potato, raw honey, and coconut oil. While the glaze features 70% chocolate chunks, unsweetened almond milk, and freeze-dried fruits crushed to sprinkle-size pieces.

Blueberry Baked Donuts, Refined Sugar Free – from Chocolate Covered Katie

No granulated white sugar in these tempting treats! Instead, the sweetness comes from your choice of pure maple syrup, honey or agave, and the option of applesauce in place of oil. And of course, those pretty blueberries fresh or frozen.

Apple, Oat, and Raisin Cookies – from My Kids Lick the Bowl

These hearty, healthy cookies are made with applesauce (or apple puree), peanut butter, rolled oats, raisins—and pumpkin seeds (optional, but nice if you’re celebrating in the fall). For a tad of sweetness, honey or maple syrup can be added. And for a nut-free option, the peanut butter can be replaced with almond butter.

No-Bake Dark Chocolate Nut Bars – from Baked Ambrosia

Another amazing vegan, gluten free, and paleo recipe, these chunky bars are made with layers of goodness! The base layer features cashews, the filling is a mixture of peanut butter and dates, and the top layer is made of roasted hazelnuts. Want to make them party-special? Partially dip them in dark chocolate.

Healthy Coconut Cake with Coconut Frosting – from Desserts with Benefits

This pretty treat is actually tweaked to be good for you! It has no refined sugar or butter. Instead, it is made with coconut flour, unsweetened applesauce, organic sweetener, light coconut milk, and non-fat Green yogurt. The result is sweet, moist, flavorful, and healthy!

Healthified Carrot Cake – from Unconventional Baker

Yet another gluten free, vegan, refined sugar free baked goodie! Made with a mix of brown rice flour, tapioca starch, and glutinous rice flour, flavored with maple syrup and applesauce, with crushed walnuts and your choice of raisins or dried fruit. The frosting features non-dairy milk, pre-soaked cashews, and maple syrup.

“How sweet it is” indeed—but in a healthy way—with these dessert and snack ideas to serve at a birthday party!