It doesn’t matter how dedicated you are to a healthy, Paleo lifestyle, there are times when you’re in need of something sweet. Unless you’ve got an arsenal of nutritious and tasty Paleo-friendly treats at your disposal, you are going to stray into forbidden territory.

In this article, we provide you with a baker’s dozen paleo of alternatives to allow you to indulge your sweet cravings without compromising your Paleo lifestyle. These goodies have been given boosted with protein and healthy fats to ramp up the nutritional fat burning and hunger-busting effect. Rather than sugar, you’ll notice that fruits have been used as the main sweeteners.

QUICK TIPS TO BEAT SUGAR CRAVINGS

The craving for sugar is one of the most common side effects that people experience when they switch to Paleo.  Often this craving is manifesting in different forms, such as lack of sleep, hunger, stress, a desire for caffeine or even dehydration.

To help overcome your craving make sure that you are getting 7-8 hours sleep each night, that you are eating every few hours, keeping up a regular water intake and avoiding stress as much as possible. Fruit can also help to satisfy your sweet tooth, especially after exercise.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemon can also help to beat off your sugar desire.

In addition to the above suggestions, there are a whole lot of delicious, sugar-free Paleo-friendly treats that will satisfy your sweet tooth without putting poison into your body. Here are thirteen of the best.

THE RECIPES

Avocado Coconut Chocolate Mousse 

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time:  Nil

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

2 large and ripe organic avocados

1/4 cup of pure unsweetened and organic cocoa powder

2 organic tablespoons of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of organic coconut cream (use the cream that is on the top)

some pure and raw organic honey

some organic chocolate nibs or shavings for the decoration

some organic berries

Steps:

1. Blend your avocados, the organic cocoa, the organic coconut cream, and the organic vanilla extract in your food processor or with a handheld mixer in a mixing bowl

2. Add your raw organic honey as a sweetener and to your taste

3. Distribute the mixture into your favorite dishes, silicone molds, martini or wine glasses

4. Make sure to layer the mousse and the berries (one layer of berries and one layer of mousse)

Macadamia Biscuits

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 12 biscuits

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup raw macadamia nuts, broken into bits

• 2 eggs

• 5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted

• 3 tablespoons honey

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 5oz (150g) almond meal

• 2.5 tablespoons tapioca flour

• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon powder

• Pinch of salt

• 1/3 teaspoon gluten-free flour

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 355 F (180 C)

• Whisk eggs, oil, honey, and vanilla extract in a bowl

• Add almond meal, tapioca, cinnamon powder, salt, and baking powder.

• Add ¾ of the macadamias and to the mix and combine well. Put in the fridge for 5 minutes

• Using a tablespoon, drop dollops of the mixture onto a lined baking tray. Sprinkle with the remaining macadamia nuts.

• Bake for 15 minutes; wait for biscuits to cool before eating.

Orange and Strawberry Granita

Such a great summer treat, this little delight can be made whenever and stored in the freezer until you are ready to use.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: A couple of hours

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• Juice of 3 oranges, including zest from one of them

• 10 strawberries

• 1 ¼ cup of water

• 1 tablespoon of lime juice

• ¼ tablespoon vanilla extract

• Extra strawberries, to garnish

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, remove from the heat and allow to cool.

• Blend the mixture and place it in a shallow tray, cover with clear wrap and remove to the freezer to solidify.

• Once you are ready to serve, remove from the freezer and let it thaw slightly before scraping the ice with a fork. Serve ice shavings in glasses and top with strawberries.

Paleo Chocolate

Just because you are on Paleo doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a chocolate treat every once in a while. You can make these in advance and store them in the fridge. When your sweet cravings kick in, pull them out and enjoy – guilt-free!

Prep Time: Less than 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Serves: 10 chocolates 

Ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons coconut oil

• 2 tablespoons almond butter

• 1 tablespoon raw honey

• 2 tablespoons dark natural cocoa

Steps:

1. Melt the coconut oil in microwave safe container.

2. Add the almond butter and raw honey. Stir to combine

3. Add cocoa, stir to combine

4. Pour into silicone ice cube mold and pop in the freezer

Cinnamon Pancakes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Makes: 2 servings of 2 pancakes each

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs                                                  

• 3 Tablespoon light coconut cream

• 1 small mashed banana

• .5 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

• .5 teaspoon pure vanilla essence

• 1.5 Tablespoons coconut flour

• .5 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• .25 teaspoon baking soda

• Pinch of salt

• Coconut oil for frying

Steps:

1. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, coconut cream, banana, vinegar, and vanilla until light in color and frothy.

2. In another bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together.

3. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir to combine. The mix should be quite runny.

4. Add some coconut oil to a pan on medium heat. Once the oil starts to sizzle, add some of the mixtures to the pan. Flip the pancake over once it starts to bubble in the middle. Cook for one minute on the other side.

5. Keep repeating step four until all the mixture has been cooked. Flip onto a plate and enjoy!

 Tip – cook mini sized pancakes to pop into your lunch box for a healthy afternoon pick me up!

Mushroom and Egg Cups

Prep Time: Less than 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Makes: 1 serving

Ingredients: 

• 1 large Portobello mushroom cap

• 1 egg

• 1 slice streaky bacon

• Thyme, to garnish

Steps:

1. Place a large mushroom cap on a baking sheet

2. Crack on egg on top of the mushroom, try to get it to sit inside the outer rim of the mushroom

3. Place a piece of streaky bacon on top of the raw egg

4. Place in a preheated oven (400 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes

5. Garnish with some thyme and tuck in!

On The Go Breakie Muffins

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Makes: 6 muffins

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs

• 3 tablespoons honey

• 2 tablespoons coconut milk

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon natural vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ cup coconut flour

• 1 mashed banana

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Fill a muffin tin with 6 paper muffin liners

3. Mix the eggs, honey, coconut oil, coconut milk, salt, and vanilla until combined.

4. In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder with the coconut flour and then add in the wet ingredients. Stir till good combines.

5. Gently mix in the mashed banana

6. Pour the mixture out between the 6 muffin liners and bake for 15 minutes

Tip – I like to cook a double batch and then pop them in the freezer. They are great to pull out a nuke when you are in a rush!

Apple Crumble

Prep Time: Less than 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Makes: 1 serving 

• Ingredients:

• 2 large green apples, peeled and sliced

• 1/4 cup of maple syrup

• Splash of water

• ¼ cup almond meal

• ¼ shredded coconut

• Knob of butter

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Mix the apple, maple syrup and water in an oven dish and cook for 10 minutes or until the apples become tender

3. Rub together the almond meal, coconut, and butter. Sprinkle on top of the apples and put back in the oven for another 10 minutes or until the crumble is golden brown.

 Tip – I like cooking this the night before and having it for breakfast the following morning. It gives the flavors time to intensify = yum!

The Banana Smoothie

Sometimes the best things are the simplest, as this smoothie can definitely attest to.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup coconut water

• 1 small ripe banana

• 4 tablespoons shredded coconut

• 1 tablespoon pure honey

• Blitz and enjoy!

Avocado Coconut Chocolate Mousse

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time:  Nil

Serves: 4 

Ingredients:

• 2 large and ripe organic avocados

• 1/4 cup of pure unsweetened and organic cocoa powder

• 2 organic tablespoons of vanilla extract

• 1/4 cup of organic coconut cream (use the cream that is on the top)

• some pure and raw organic honey

• some organic chocolate nibs or shavings for the decoration

• some organic berries

Steps

1. Blend your avocados, the organic cocoa, the organic coconut cream, and the organic vanilla extract in your food processor or with a handheld mixer in a mixing bowl

2. Add your raw organic honey as a sweetener and to your taste

3. Distribute the mixture into your favorite dishes, silicone molds, martini or wine glasses

4. Make sure to layer the mousse and the berries (one layer of berries and one layer of mousse)

Coconut Date Mousse

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time:  Nil

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 can of organic coconut milk (pick an unsweetened brand which is gluten-free)

• 7 organic dates (big size)

• 1 tablespoon of gelatin

• 1/2 cup of fresh source water

•  

Steps

1. First, dissolve 1 tablespoon of gelatin in the source water

2. Slowly add the gelatin into the water with a fork or other baking supply and thoroughly do this until the mixtures become a gel consistency

3. Next, add the gelatin mix to a saucepan with organic coconut milk

4. Heat it up until you see some steam that starts rising

5. Under any circumstances do not boil that mixture or you will ruin your gelatin

6. This procedure above will make sure that your gelatin is dissolved properly

7. Next, add the liquid and the organic dates to your blender

8. Go ahead and taste if you like the flavor and you can add some extra organic dates if you desire

9. Chill the mousse in your fridge for 4 up to six hours and until the mousse is very firm

Mud Cakes with Hot Fudge Sauce

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cooking Time:  2 minutes

Serves: 2

• 3 tablespoons of raw and organic cocoa powder

• 3 tablespoons of organic almond flour

• 2 tablespoons of raw and organic honey

• 1 fresh farm egg

• dash of salt

• a bit of organic cinnamon spice

• 1 teaspoon of organic vanilla extract

Steps

1. Add all the ingredients in a mug that is microwave safe

2. Microwave for 3 minutes and you’re done!

Learn More About Other Healthy Ingredients in Our High Protein Nut Butters or Read Our Ultimate Guide to Nuts.