14 Sweet Snack Recipes for Better Blood Sugar

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Photographer: Ali Redmond. 

Photographer: Ali Redmond. 

Achieve healthy blood sugar levels and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time with these delicious snack recipes. Whether you’re in the mood for a cold and refreshing bite like our Lemon-Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bites or a satisfying, chocolatey morsel like our Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters, these snack recipes are all low in sodium and saturated fat to help meet our parameters for a diabetes-friendly eating pattern.

01 of 14

Lemon Drop Energy Balls

Photographer: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.

Photographer: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.

These no-sugar-added lemon drop energy balls are a zesty little pick-me-up you’ll actually look forward to snacking on. Naturally sweetened with Medjool dates and packed with oats, cashews and hemp seeds, they deliver fiber and plant-based protein in every bite. They’re perfect for stashing in the fridge for a quick grab-and-go snack.

View Recipe

02 of 14

Crispy Peanut Butter–Quinoa Balls

Photographer: Ali Redmond. 

Photographer: Ali Redmond. 

These no-bake Crispy Peanut Butter–Quinoa Balls come together in minutes and deliver a perfect mix of salty, sweet and crunchy flavors. The puffed quinoa gives them a light, crispy texture that’s held together with peanut butter and drizzle of chocolate on top. Look for puffed quinoa in the cereal or natural-foods aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, or order it online. If you can’t find it, try puffed brown rice cereal instead for a similar crunch.

View Recipe

03 of 14

Lemon-Strawberry Frozen Yogurt Bites

Photographer: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.

Photographer: Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley.

These lemon-strawberry yogurt bites are the ultimate frozen snack, and they’re made without added sugar. Juicy strawberries are coated in tangy yogurt kissed with vanilla, lemon zest and a hint of warm spice before being dusted with a powdery layer of crushed freeze-dried strawberries.

View Recipe

04 of 14

Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

These bite-size dark chocolate almond clusters combine dark chocolate with nutty almonds for an easy snack or dessert. Stick to the three ingredients we list here, or add your own twist by including dried cherries or toasted coconut for a little variety.

View Recipe

05 of 14

Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark

Greek yogurt gets studded with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips and then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack is perfect for kids and adults alike.

View Recipe

06 of 14

Breakfast Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cakes

Alexandra Shytsman

Alexandra Shytsman

Peanut butter is the star ingredient in these oatmeal cakes, providing not only flavor, but a boost of plant-based protein too. Hiding a bit in the center of each muffin is a fun way to ensure that peanut butter makes it into every bite.

View Recipe

07 of 14

Dark Chocolate Cashew Clusters

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Sue Mitchell, Prop stylist: Skylar Myers,

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Sue Mitchell, Prop stylist: Skylar Myers,

These 3-ingredient sweet treats are a breeze to make and, because dark chocolate clusters take just 15 minutes to prepare, they can be made on short notice to feed a crowd. While cashews contribute a sweet and mild flavor, don’t hesitate to swap them out for an alternative like almonds or peanuts, or try adding dried cranberries or cherries for a delightfully tangy twist.

View Recipe

08 of 14

Banana-Blueberry Protein Muffins

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss

These super-moist and tender muffins get a protein boost with the addition of cottage cheese and peanut butter. The banana, which adds natural sweetness, doesn't overpower the flavor of the blueberries. Frozen blueberries work just as well as fresh. For a different twist, try raspberries or chopped apple.

View Recipe

09 of 14

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

All you need are four simple ingredients to make healthier crispy peanut butter balls that kids and grownups will love. Make this easy recipe for a bite-size treat, on-the-go snack or easy homemade gift. You can swap the peanut butter for almond butter or even sunflower seed butter if you need a nut-free snack for school.

View Recipe

10 of 14

Blueberry Cobbler Energy Balls

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

These energy balls combine dried blueberries, oats and pecans for a bite-size taste of blueberry cobbler. You can use almond butter for a nuttier taste or sunflower butter for something mellower to bind them together. These portable snacks are ready in just 30 minutes and can be stored in your fridge or freezer for a quick grab-and-go snack.

View Recipe

11 of 14

Chocolate Nut Bark

Use your favorite combination of nuts to make this quick and easy chocolate nut bark.

View Recipe

12 of 14

Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

These healthy peanut butter and chocolate energy balls deliver a mixture of simple and complex carbohydrates to help fuel you up whenever you need a little boost.

View Recipe

13 of 14

Cottage Cheese–Berry Bowl

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

This no-sugar-added berry bowl highlights the natural sweetness of thawed mixed berries, with a hint of vanilla for extra flavor. It’s a simple snack you can prepare in advance, but add the cereal just before serving so it stays crunchy.

View Recipe

14 of 14

Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas

Roasting canned chickpeas until crispy makes a simple and healthy snack. In this riff on candied nuts, chickpeas are coated with cinnamon sugar to make them irresistible! This snack is best enjoyed the day it is made.

View Recipe

Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/sweet-diabetes-friendly-snack-recipes-11910871