23 Deliciously Light Desserts That Won't Weigh You Down

If you want a break from the heavily indulgent desserts from the holidays, this collection of deliciously light desserts is what you need! Enjoy sweetness in every bite without the heaviness. These delicious options are perfect when you want a lighter indulgence that is as heavy on flavor!

Panna Cotta

Panna cotta means "cooked cream" in Italian, and this European dessert is incredibly versatile. It is a molded dessert of sweetened cream thickened and set with gelatin to make the texture stable yet still jiggly.  It can be flavored in so many ways, from coffee, coconut, vanilla, or other fruit. This particular Panna cotta recipe is made with coconut milk, so it is, in fact, a dairy-free European dessert.

Go to the recipe: Panna Cotta

Strawberry Mousse

This light and creamy strawberry mousse is one of the best things to arrive at your spring or summer dessert table! Made with fresh strawberries and topped with a delightful vanilla chantilly cream, this easy strawberry mousse recipe has just the right sweetness and fruity flavor for a mid-day snack or post-dinner dessert.

Go to the recipe: Strawberry Mousse

Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

This delicious, easy Italian Lemon ricotta cake is by far one of the best lemon desserts you will ever try. Made with fresh lemons, creamy ricotta cheese, and a hint of vanilla extract, it has a gently sweet, citrusy flavor and an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture that resembles a moist sponge cake. Whether you enjoy it for breakfast, brunch, or as a dessert with a side of ice cream, it will be hard not to run back for seconds!

Go to the recipe: Italian Lemon Ricotta Cake

Limoncello Tiramisu

This bright and refreshing limoncello tiramisu puts a citrusy twist on the classic Italian dessert! Made with limoncello lemon curd, sweet ladyfingers, and creamy mascarpone cream between each layer, it will surely leave an impression.

Go to the recipe: Limoncello Tiramisu

Coconut Muffins

These moist and fluffy coconut muffins are the perfect tropical touch to your breakfast, brunch, or dessert table. Made with shredded coconut, a hint of vanilla, and just the right amount of sweetness, they are packed with flavor and just the right texture to keep your mouth watering for more!

Go to the recipe: Coconut Muffins

Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Danish

This easy Philadelphia cream cheese puff pastry Danish tart recipe will be the talk of the table at your next fancy breakfast party or brunch! Made with flaky puff pastry, cream cheese filling, and fresh berries, they aren't just tasty but absolutely beautiful. If you have been looking for the perfect puff pastry with cream cheese filling recipe to turn heads and satisfy the taste buds, look no further!

Go to the recipe: Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Danish

Mango Mousse

This light and creamy mango mousse is the perfect way to sweeten your day! Made with fresh, pureed mangoes and topped with delicious chantilly cream, it will satisfy your sweet tooth without weighing you down.

Go to the recipe: Mango Mousse

Mini Blueberry Muffins

Moist mini blueberry muffins are the ultimate cute small dessert or perfect portable breakfast, the best blueberry desserts in my view. Furthermore, this easy mini muffin recipe is made from only a few easy-to-find ingredients, and a full batch takes less than 15 minutes to bake. The only issue is how many of them you'll want to eat.

Go to the recipe: Mini Blueberry Muffins

Pear Puff Pastry Tarts

Made with fresh pears and a flaky, sweet puff pastry crust, these pear puff pastry tarts will undoubtedly be the talk among your family and friends! Using just six basic ingredients, this 10-step easy pear tart recipe is the perfect go-to when you need a simple yet eye-catching treat to impress your guests. Serve them warm with a bowl of vanilla ice cream for the perfect puff pastry dessert!

Go to the recipe: Pear Puff Pastry Tarts

Strawberry Tiramisu

Take the traditional classic Italian dessert to the next level with this scrumptious no bake strawberry tiramisu recipe! Sweet, crunchy ladyfingers are topped with silky mascarpone cream and fresh strawberry jam between each layer for a blast of berry flavor!

Go to the recipe: Strawberry Tiramisu

Lemon Crinkle Cookies

These lemon crinkle cookies have a naturally sweet lemon flavor and a beautiful appearance that will brighten your dessert table any time of the year! Made with fresh lemon juice and lemon zest and coated in two layers of sugar, they are a hit for all ages and all seasons!

Go to the recipe: Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Blueberry Ricotta Cake

This moist blueberry ricotta cake will be the highlight of your dessert table this summer! Made with fresh blueberries and creamy ricotta cheese, then topped with a bright, flavorful lemon glaze, it will melt in your mouth and make your taste buds explode.

Go to the recipe: Blueberry Ricotta Cake

Coconut Cookies

If you love the tropical flavor of coconut, you will drool over these chewy, crunchy coconut cookies! Made with tasty coconut, dipped in rich chocolate, and sprinkled with even more flaked coconut, these mouthwatering, old-fashioned coconut cookies are soft and tender on the inside with the perfect amount of crunch on the outside.

Go to the recipe: Coconut Cookies

Lemon Brownies

If you love lemon, you will want to try these easy lemon brownies with lemon glaze! Made with fresh lemon, white chocolate, and a hint of vanilla, these delicious brownies are baked to gooey perfection and then topped with a tangy, finger-licking lemon glaze. They are like a chewy, fudgy cross between brownies and lemonade!

Go to the recipe: Lemon Brownies

Lemon Cookies

These tangy, glazed lemon cookies are just what you lemon lovers need to add some brightness and citrusy flavor to your Spring dessert table! In this homemade, old-fashioned lemon cookies recipe, I use fresh lemon zest and juice to create delicious lemon sugar cookies. I then top them with a zesty lemon glaze made entirely from scratch.

Go to the recipe: Lemon Cookies

Charlotte Cake

Layers of fluffy ladyfingers, vanilla-flavored créme mousseline, and Spring berries. This Charlotte cake is very easy to make, but it certainly looks very impressive. Sort of a strawberry tiramisu with creamy vanilla filling!

Go to the recipe: Charlotte cake

Mango Yogurt Mousse

Sweet meets nutritious in this healthy mango mousse recipe, which is bursting with flavor in every mouthful. You only need three ingredients plus a couple of optional ones and garnishes for a perfect mango yogurt mousse. This is a great healthy dessert for kids and adults!

Go to the recipe: Mango Yogurt Mousse

Strawberry Pecan Salad

Bite into the perfect bite of fresh strawberries and cream. This no-bake strawberry pecan salad will be your summertime go-to because it is light and easy to make with the right amount of sweetness. It's ideal for entertaining!

Go to the recipe: Strawberry Pecan Salad

Limoncello Panna Cotta

Mix two classic Italian flavors - panna cotta and limoncello - into one delicious fusion of a dessert. Limoncello panna cotta is an impressive dessert that packs elegance using only a few ingredients, such as heavy cream, gelatin, lemon zest, and sugar.

Go to the recipe: Limoncello Panna Cotta

Blueberry Granita with Coconut Whipped Cream

Blueberry granita is the best way to beat the summer heat. It features refreshing blueberries that are filled with nutrients, making this one of the best ways to cool off and stay hydrated!

Go to the recipe: Blueberry Granita with Coconut Whipped Cream

Mango Shrikhand [Indian Mango Dessert]

This creamy, luscious dessert is a classic Indian treat. Mango shrikhand is perfect for summer with the refreshing mango flavors, along with Greek yogurt, mango pulp, and exotic Indian spices. You'll want to reach out to this dessert on a hot summer day!

Go to the recipe: Mango Shrikhand [Indian Mango Dessert]

Cream Cheese Cookies

Cream cheese cookies are the most heavenly little bites of sweetness! They’re an addictively good soft, moist, chewy cookie that feels like you’re eating a cloud.

Go to the recipe: Cream Cheese Cookies

French-Style Lemon Tart

This is the traditional French-style lemon tart with creamy lemon filling and a buttery crust. You will need just a small piece to fall in love with this delicate French pastry!

Go to the recipe: French-Style Lemon Tart