What Desserts Can I Eat on the Daniel Fast?

Desserts on the Daniel Fast?? The whole idea may seem like a contradiction since the fast avoids processed sugars and carbs while focusing on whole plant foods. When we think “desserts” we picture unhealthy sugary foods and feel guilty. As we discussed in a past article about Stevia, processed sugars and sweeteners are harmful to our health, and that’s one reason they aren’t permitted on the Daniel Fast. But other desserts are.

The fruit, the WHOLE fruit and nothing but the fruit

Chef AJ

Less Processed Food, Less Stress

Desserts spelled backwards is stressed. Ironic—but it makes sense for traditional desserts packed with processed sugars because those sugars do promote stress in our bodies. They perpetuate inflammation, which leads to weight gain and other chronic health issues. The good news here is that you don’t have to be stressed when deciding what dessert to eat on the Daniel Fast. Also, your body won’t be stressed when eating Daniel Fast-friendly desserts because fruits are health-promoting. They are very high in the antioxidants and phytochemicals that reduce inflammation and stop free radicals from harming our bodies. Check out What the Daniel Fast Does to Your Body.

Nobody Said No Sugar, Though

But the Daniel Fast isn’t about throwing the baby out with the bath water. Even though processed sugars are inherently unhealthy, natural sugars like the ones found in fruit are not. Making the transition from processed sugar to WHOLE fruit is the key to having dessert on the Daniel Fast. The best “dessert” is to just eat fruit. I know this may sound too simplistic but once your palate has adjusted to the natural flavors of whole plant foods, you will find that fruit is sweet and satisfying enough. Here is a list of all the wonderful foods included in the Daniel Fast. Cutting off your sweet tooth is hard at first, and that’s why we recommend weaning yourself of sugary snacks a few days before starting the fast.

Leave Room for Desserts on the Daniel Fast

So the short answer is: Eat the fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit! You can go all-fruit by making a batch of Guilt Free Banana Nice Cream, eating a bowl of berries, a mango, or grilling a piece of pineapple. Or if you want to get a little fancy you can combine fruits with a whole grain, like with these Perfect Little Peach Cobblers, and Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. You can also combine dates and chickpeas to make this Best Chocolate Hummus. Dates are a great way to replace sugar while still gaining nutritional benefits like fiber, potassium, and magnesium. Or just bake a sweet potato to create a yummy dish, while getting your beta carotene and Vitamin A for the day.

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Ending on a Sweet Note

Even though we’ve lost our way when it comes to desserts, and our culture has become addicted to processed sugar and refined carbs, our innate desire for sweet flavors has always been in God’s design. We can see that in nature: fruit is God’s candy.

Check out these Daniel Fast compliant desserts