Try these fruit-based recipes if you are looking to start or maintain a healthy diet. These recipes are easy to make, and shouldn’t take you long to prepare.

Berry White Ice Pops

Preparation Time: 10 minutes, plus freezing time

Serves: 10 pops

Ingredients:

• 1-3/4 cups of whole milk, divided
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups of fresh raspberries
• 1 cup of fresh blueberries
• 10 freezer pop molds or 10 paper cups (3 ounces each) & wooden pop sticks

Instructions:

1. In a microwave, warm 1/4 cup of milk. Afterwards, stir in honey until the two are blended. Stir in the remaining amount of milk and the vanilla.
2. Divide your berries among the molds and cover them with the milk mixture. Top molds with holders. If you are using cups, top with foil and insert sticks through foil. Freeze until firm.

Crunchy Peanut Butter Apple Dip

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2-1/2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 carton (8 ounces) of reduced-fat spreadable cream cheese
• 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of fat-free milk
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup of chopped unsalted peanuts
• Apple slices

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, milk, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until all are blended. Stir in the peanuts. Serve with apple slices.
2. Refrigerate leftovers for later use.

Healthy Prune Truffles

Preparation Time: 51 minutes

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 12 smoked almonds
• 12 pitted prunes
• 24 freeze-dried raspberries
• 2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Instructions:

1. Stuff a whole almond into each prune in the place where the pit would have been. Fold and press the prunes around the almonds (it’s fine if the almonds peek through a bit). Put the prunes on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Put the raspberries into a sealable plastic bag and crush them into a fine powder. Place the powder in a small shallow bowl.
3. Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at 70% power for 1 minute. Remove from the microwave; the chocolate will still look solid but will be much softer. Stir until smooth.
4. Dip one end of a prune in the chocolate. Let any excess drip back in the bowl, and then dip the chocolate end into the crushed raspberries to coat. Put the prune back on the baking sheet, almond-side down, and repeat with the remaining prunes. Let the prunes stand until the chocolate hardens enough to come away cleanly from the paper; this takes about 15 minutes.

Healthy Fruit Tarts

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Serves: 3 tarts

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups of cashew halves and pieces
• 1 cup of raisins
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt (more or less to taste)
• 3/4 to 1 cup of vanilla honey Greek yogurt
• 2 (6 oz.) packages raspberries

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, pulse together cashews, raisins, vanilla, and salt. You are ready once the cashews have broken down and the dough sticks together when you squeeze it together in your hands.
2. Grease 3 (4.75 inch) round tart pans and press the dough evenly into the bottom and sides of each tin.
3. Freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Freezing for more than an hour can make it difficult to remove.
4. Remove the tarts from the freezer and place about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt into each tin.
5. Top with raspberries and optional toppings, and serve immediately!

Inspirations:

• Taste of Home (Ice Pops)
• Taste of Home (Apple Dip)
• Food Network Kitchen
• Show Me The Yummy

Sponsored by: