7 Healthy Dessert-for-Breakfast Recipes

When scientists recently announced that the key to long-term weight loss might be having a little dessert as part of your healthy, balanced breakfast, sweet-toothed dieters around the world rejoiced.

The researchers, whose study was published in the journal Steroids, found that if you’re cutting calories and sugar, the best time to indulge in something sweet is in the morning because that’s when your metabolism is at its peak.

The authors noted that it’s also important to include healthy carbohydratesand protein as part of your morning meal, and stick to a low-calorie diet.

Inspired by this new data, we turned to vegan food blogger and chocoholic Katie Higgins of ChocolateCoveredKatie.com for her favorite dessert-inspired breakfast recipes.

(And since everything Katie does is dessert-inspired, it was hard to narrow it down!) Read on for delectable vegan recipes that taste sinful, but all still clock in at less than 350 calories.

Pumpkin Bread in a Bowl

This breakfast is only 180 calories, but it also packs 8 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein.

To make pumpkin bread in a bowl, just blend pumpkin puree, nondairy milk, cereal, and a few simple seasonings, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

When it’s ready, it will have the consistency of thick pudding.

 Top with nuts for an added boost of nutrients, fiber, and healthy monounsaturated fat.
Get the full Pumpkin Pumpkin Bread in a Bowl recipe.

 

Snickerdoodle Pancakes

Snickerdoodle cookies take on a new form in these spelt-flour pancakes that have only 223 calories in the whole recipe, which produces six thick pancakes.

 Sprinkle your flapjacks with cinnamon and sugar, and it will really taste like you’re eating a homemade cookie for breakfast — except this version has 7 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein per batch.
Get the full Snickerdoodle Pancakes recipe.

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie Larabars

Lower in calories than store-bought Larabars and completely added-sugar-free, these gluten-free bars are the perfect sweet breakfast on the run. Just combine raisins, quick oats, walnuts, vanilla, and a pinch of salt in a food processor for an easy 180-calorie treat.
Get the full Oatmeal-Raisin Larabars recipe.

Peanut Butter Breakfast Pudding

Blend peanut butter, banana, cooked oatmeal, and milk for a creamy pudding-like breakfast that contains 11 grams of protein and just 330 calories. Add some sliced banana on top (and a few chocolate chips if you wish) for a meal that will definitely keep you full until lunch.
Get the full Peanut Butter Breakfast Pudding recipe.

Cookie-Dough Oatmeal Cake

This cookie-inspired single-serving baked oatmeal has only 180 calories if you skip the optional nut butter.

The cookie-dough taste comes from a little sweetener of your choice (maple syrup or stevia is suggested), unsweetened applesauce, and a small handful of chocolate chips.

 Each recipe makes one oatmeal cake, or you can split it into two 1/2-cup ramekins for two mini treats.
Get the full Cookie Dough Oatmeal Cake recipe.

Five-Minute Chocolate Oatmeal

This dish might look like a chocolate overload, but if you skip the chocolate chips, it has only 1 1/2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (a mere 18 calories), so it’s not overpoweringly sweet. Combine the cocoa powder, regular rolled oats, nondairy milk, vanilla, and banana and cook for a 300-calorie breakfast that’s full of fiber from the banana and whole grains from the oats. In you crave a little more sweetness, add one packet of zero-calorie stevia sweetener.
Get the full Five-Minute Chocolate Oatmeal recipe.