Super low-cal and quick summer desserts
Diet-friendly sweetness

Banana ice cream (100 calories in 2 scoops)

Tipsy cherries (78 calories per serving)

Fruit granita (160 calories per serving)

Granitas are light, thirst-quenching and refreshing (and, best of all, don't require any churning). You could use any sweet fruit to blitz and freeze but we particularly love mango granita, especially when the recipe advises adding a splash of rum. It makes a perfect dinner party dessert.
Fresh fruit popsicles: watermelon (23 calories per serving)

Fresh fruit popsicles: pineapple and coconut (40 calories per serving)

Fresh fruit popsicles: kiwi (43 calories per serving)

Sorbet (77 calories for 2 scoops)

Sorbet can be sugary but it’s fairly light on the calorie front, due to the absence of fat. As a sweet treat now and again it’s fine. Shop-bought sorbet is good if you’re in a rush but you can’t beat homemade. Give this classic lemon sorbet recipe a go.
Mango drizzled with lime juice (40 calories per half mango)

Lower-cal chocolate mousse (233 calories per serving)

Jelly (100 calories per serving)

Lighter apple pie (220 calories per average portion)

Greek yogurt and berries in a watermelon bowl (156 calories)

Summer berry gazpacho (200 calories per serving)

If you have a glut of summer berries, a sweet gazpacho is the perfect way to use them up. Berries are packed with anthocyanins which give them their vibrant colours. These plant chemicals also reportedly have anti-inflammatory effects and help keep blood vessels flexible.
Fluffy lime pudding (290 calories per serving)

This lighter take on a sponge pudding combines a layer of lime sponge sitting on top of a pool of hot lime curd. The summery citrus flavours result in a pudding that’s better for your waistline with less than 300 calories per serving (sticky toffee pudding can have upwards of 500 calories).
Barbecued fruit: nectarines (70 calories)

Barbecued fruit: bananas (114 calories)

Barbecued fruit: pineapple (69 calories)

Strawberry lassi (190 calories per serving)

Need a sweet afternoon pick-me-up? This cooling healthy drink has got you covered. Whizz 500g (18oz) of hulled ripe strawberries with 250g (9oz) whole milk natural yogurt, only adding a tablespoon or two of sugar if you really need to. Add ice cubes (optional) and serve. This recipe will make three glasses.
Baked grapefruit (80 calories per half)

Strawberries in balsamic vinegar (75 calories per serving)

A good-quality balsamic vinegar makes strawberries taste even sweeter and adds some extra complexity to the fruit. Mix 330g (11.5oz) of chopped strawberries in 1tbsp each of balsamic vinegar and caster sugar. Leave for a few minutes at room temperature, then serve. Discover more hero ingredients that can bring out the best in dishes here.
Chocolate-dipped strawberries (130 calories per serving)

Greek yogurt Eton mess (191 calories per bowl)

Halo Top/Breyer’s (70 calories for 2 scoops)

The latest breed of lower-calorie ice creams taste amazing and they aren’t bad for you either. Fat and sugar content are usually lower and, through the addition of ingredients like chicory and inulin, they may be a source of fibre.
Read more: 27 low-carb cheats to get your diet back on track
Mini cones and sticks (around 100 calories each)

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