Are you looking to serve up some light desserts after a heavy meal?

Here’s a list of 21 of the easiest light desserts that will satisfy your sweet tooth without making you feel overly full.

If you’ve just finished a large, hearty meal, it can be nice to have a light dessert to finish the dinner off on a good note. These 21 recipes are all quick and easy, and they’ll leave you feeling satisfied without making you feel too weighed down and are the perfect end to a great dinner.

From fruity desserts such as chocolate-covered strawberries and fruit salad to light and fluffy cakes such as angel food cake, these delicious recipes are sure to be a hit.

21+ Light Desserts After a Heavy Meal:

Name: 21+ Light Desserts After a Heavy Meal
Prep time: 5 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: Strawberry Shortcake Fruit Salad; Lemon Mousse With Lemon Curd; Mini Tiramisu Cups; Chocolate-Covered Cheesecake Bites; Berries and Cream Angel Food Cake; Raspberry Fool; Lemon Curd Layer Cake; Fresas Con Crema (Strawberries and Cream); Passionfruit Panna Cotta; No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake; Vanilla Bean Meringue Cookies; Keto Flan; Cheesecake Mousse; Snowdrop Cookies; Lemon Cranberry Bars; Black Bean Brownies; Strawberry and Mint Fruit Salad; Fresh Fruit Cocktail Salad; Air Fryer Peaches; No Churn Mango Sorbet; Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

The best light desserts after a heavy meal are light cakes with lots of fresh fruit, mini dessert cups, a small slice of creamy cheesecake, homemade sorbet, and custard pudding. For more delicious healthy dessert recipes keep on reading!

1. Strawberry Shortcake Fruit Salad

This strawberry shortcake fruit salad is the perfect sweet treat after a heavy meal. The light and airy dessert is made with fresh strawberries and a strawberry crunch crumble topping.

Recipe: Two Pink Peonies

2. Lemon Mousse With Lemon Curd

These lemon mousse cups are refreshing, light, and perfect for a summer dessert! The tart lemon flavor is balanced out by the creamy texture of the mousse and the bright lemon curd on top.

Recipe: A Baking Journey

Related Post: 13 Light Appetizers Before a Heavy Meal

3. Mini Tiramisu Cups

If you’re looking for some individual dinner party desserts that look super fancy but are actually simple to make, try these mini tiramisu cups.

They come together in just 15 minutes using a few simple ingredients, and they’re light and airy with a delicious mascarpone cream filling. The espresso gives them a rich flavor, and the touch of cocoa on top makes them extra special. Best of all, there’s no need to share!

Recipe: Spatula Desserts

4. Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Bites

Recipe: The Forked Spoon

5. Berries and Cream Angel Food Cake

This dessert is light and fluffy with layers of cream cheese and whipped topping. It’s topped with glazed blueberries and strawberries for a sweet and tart finish. The light angel food cake is one of the best desserts after roast dinner.

Recipe: Bitz n Giggles

Related: 25 Best Memorial Day Desserts

6. Raspberry Fool

This gluten-free and dairy-free dessert is easy to make and even easier to eat! Fresh raspberries are folded together with coconut whipped cream for a dreamy combination.

Recipe: Salted Plains

7. Healthy Chocolate Cake

This super moist and healthy chocolate cake is made with just 3 simple ingredients, including a secret ingredient that makes this cake extra healthy and delicious!

3 Ingredient Chocolate Cake Recipe

8. Lemon Curd Layer Cake

The tangy lemon curd in this 3-ingredient cake is the perfect contrast to the sweet, luscious whipped frosting. It’s easy to make by using a box cake mix shortcut, but it looks like it came from a bakery!

Recipe: The Soccer Mom Blog

Related: 50 Easy Summer Dessert Recipes

9. Fresas Con Crema (Strawberries and Cream)

This delicious Mexican dessert is the perfect treat for a Taco night! It’s made with sour cream, condensed milk, and fresh berries and only takes 10 minutes to make.

Recipe: Lemon Blossoms

10. Passionfruit Panna Cotta

With tart passion fruit puree and a creamy panna cotta, this decadent dessert is perfect for a summer party. The vibrant color and flavor will light up any table.

Recipe: Keep Calm and Eat Ice Cream

11. No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake

This no-bake cheesecake is too good not to share. You may think cheesecake would be too heavy after a big dinner but this cheesecake can be cut into small slices and doesn’t have the regular heaviness of a cheesecake.

Made with heavy cream, sugar, cream cheese, fresh blueberries, and a graham cracker crust.

Recipe: Delicious on a Dime

11. Vanilla Bean Meringue Cookies

If you have some egg whites to use up, make these super light meringue cookies!

Recipe: Kits Kitchen

12. Keto Flan

Make this easy low-carb flan recipe with leftover egg yolks. It’s got a super creamy flan base with a browned caramel top. No one will even know it’s a sugar-free dessert!

Recipe: Wholesome Yum

13. Cheesecake Mousse

Cheesecake mousse is a healthier version of the traditional cheesecake and it’s super airy and light.

Recipe: What The Fork Food Blog

14. Snowdrop Cookies

The traditional snowdrop cookies are one of the lightest cookies out there and will just melt in your mouth. They go especially well with Italian dinners or Holiday dinner parties.

Recipe: Tiny Vintage Kitchen

15. Lemon Cranberry Bars

The best thing about these lemon bars is that they are a make-ahead recipe that can be easily frozen and defrosted on the day of your dinner party.

Filled with layers of sweet and tart cranberry and lemon atop a buttery shortbread crust, these lemon cranberry bars are a unique take on a classic lemon bar recipe.

Recipe: Everyday Family Cooking

Super Healthy Light Desserts (Low Calorie)

If you’re looking for some super low-calorie desserts that are fancy enough to serve to your guests, try one of these dinner party dessert recipes.

All of these desserts are around 100 calories per serve so you can indulge in a healthy snack totally guilt-free!

16. Black Bean Brownies

The perfect light dessert for all chocolate lovers!

Who knew chocolate brownies could be healthy? These incredible brownies are made with black beans and contain no flour and no added sugar. They are instead sweetened with vanilla extract, applesauce, chocolate chips, and dates. It’s one of the best healthy chocolate desserts that I have ever tried!

Per 1 brownie: 120 calories, 2 g fat, 22 g carbs, 2 g protein, 17 g sugar

Recipe: I Food Real

Related Post: 17 Super Low-Calorie Desserts To Try

17. Strawberry and Mint Fruit Salad

This 3-ingredient delicious dessert contains only fresh berries, lemon juice, and mint and is fancy enough to be served on special occasions.

Per serve: 73 calories, 1 g fat, 18 g carbs, 1 g protein, 12 g sugar

Recipe: Go Healthy With Bea

18. Fresh Fruit Cocktail Salad

Pick your favorite fruit and make this super simple fruit salad. It’s a great way to use up in season fresh berries and fruit but you can also add canned fruit to this tasty salad.

Per serve: 91 calories, 0 g fat, 23 g carbs, 1 g protein, 17 g sugar

Recipe: Recipes for Men

19. Air Fryer Peaches

Skip the oven or grill and fire up your air fryer for some sweet, juicy peaches. These perfect little healthy snacks are cooked up in just under 15 minutes. Just toss in a few peach slices, tahini, maple syrup, and cinnamon, and set the timer, and you’re good to go!

These would be perfect for serving up with some vanilla ice cream.

Per serve: 127 calories, 4 g fat, 22 g carbs, 3 g protein

Recipe: My Quiet Kitchen

20. No Churn Mango Sorbet

Mango sorbet is the perfect summertime treat! This easy recipe only requires two ingredients – frozen mango and maple syrup. It’s vegan and gluten-free, and kids will love it too!

Per serve: 101 calories, 0.5 g fat, 25 g carbs, 1 g protein, 23 g sugar

Recipe: Through The Fibro Fog

21. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Chocolate-covered strawberries are the perfect light dessert after a heavy meal. The sweet, juicy strawberries are coated in rich, creamy chocolate.

You can choose to coat them in white chocolate or dark chocolate and you can even add various sprinkles to make them look fancier. They’re delicious and indulgent, but not so heavy that you’ll feel weighed down after eating them.

Per strawberry: 30 calories, 2 g fat, 3 g carbs

Recipe

22. Upside Down Peach Puff Pastry

Flaky puff pastry combined with juicy peaches. This 4 ingredient dessert recipe is light, airy, and juicy with caramelized peaches. And you only need 4 simple ingredient to make this delicious summer desserts!

Recipe

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Yield: 4