Are you having a super craving for desserts? Relax, cravings are normal during pregnancy.
Most women often feel cravings for sweets. Whether it is a midnight ice cream or a bowl of cheesecake, desserts can make people happy.
However, our pregnancy days do not allow us to have all kinds of foods. Keeping the restrictions in mind, we need to prepare pregnancy desserts recipes with healthy nutrients.
Our nutritionists have shared with us a long chart of healthy foods to be eaten during our pregnancy days. The good news, is that we can include them in our pregnancy desserts.
Although the nutrition chart is different for every individual, we can list down some general ingredients. Read on to find the list below:
Foods to Add to Pregnancy Desserts:
- Fruits: Undoubtedly, fruits are essential during pregnancy days. Most of the fruits available in our Malaysian markets are enriched with fibre, vitamins, and other nutrients. So, it is a healthy element to be added to your pregnancy desserts recipes.
- Yoghurt: Whether for breakfast or lunch, yoghurt is always beneficial for would-be mummies. You can also add it to prepare delicious desserts easily at home.
- Honey: With a plethora of nutrients within it, honey can be added as a sweetener in your desserts during pregnancy days. But make sure not to add too much as it may cause diabetes and other health issues.
- Maple Syrup: Another sweetener option is maple syrup. Imagine your motherhood days with a plate of pancakes with maple syrup on it. Mouth-watering, isn’t it?
- Oats: It is a healthy option for regular breakfast. Nonetheless, you can use it in the recipes for pregnancy desserts. Use milk or any other ingredients with it to make it tastier.
- Dark Chocolate: We can include dark chocolate in our dessert recipes for pregnancy days, as dark chocolate is also good for heart health.
Check out this link for more pregnancy-friendly foods. Now, let’s talk healthy desserts!
These are the ingredients that can make your dessert recipes healthy. Here, we will be sharing some delicious sweet dish recipes where we have used these ingredients.
However, fret not as all of the recipes are easy to prepare and healthy to eat. So, you can satisfy your sweet tooth cravings without any worries. Your baby will love the treat, too!
With that said, shall we proceed on with the recipes for tasty tit-bits? Here we go!
Healthy Greek Yoghurt Cheesecake
Is there any dessert lover who does not love cheesecakes? Indeed, it is rare to find. And our craving for a tasty cheesecake can grow to its extreme heights during pregnancy days. But how healthy is it for our babies? Well, here we are with a healthy version of the cheesecake. We have reduced the calorie intake of the dish. Find the detailed recipe for a healthy Greek Yoghurt Cheesecake below.
Servings 5 people
Calories 290kcal
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese low-fat, if not available try the regular one
- 8 ounces plain Greek yoghurt 2% or 0%
- 2 eggs large
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup flour all-purpose
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp lemon zest
- kosher salt as per requirement
- 1 cup blueberries keep them in freeze before use
- 1/2 tsp gelatin unflavoured
- 2 tbsp butter unsalted
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice low-sugar
for Crest
- 1 cup cinnamon pita chips sweetened with sugar
Instructions
- Grind the pita chips until it looks fine. Then, add butter to moisten it.
- Place an oven rack at the center of the oven. Pre-heat it at 325 degrees F.
- Wrap the bottom of the rack well, spreading a baking sheet.
- Bake the pita chips crust until it becomes dry.
- Once fragrance starts coming out, turn off the oven.
- Let it cool.
To prepare the cream cheese
- Mix flour, yoghurt, cream, vanilla, lemon zest, etc.
- You can add 1/4 tsp salt if you want.
- Blend all of them until it looks smooth.
- Pour over the crust and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.
- Make sure that the center is all set.
- Let it cool. You can serve it after keeping it in freeze for 30 minutes. And if you want it to be more chilled, keep it for 3 hours or overnight. A delicious breakfast will be on the table.
- Serve it with blueberry sauce.
To prepare blueberry sauce
- Mix the frozen blueberries and pineapple juice.
- Heat them at medium flame.
- Sprinkle gelatin into a small bowl of water.
- Keep it aside for 5 minutes.
- Add it into the hot cake mix. Once it is mixed well, put it into freeze.
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal
Sri Lankan Watalapam: A South Asian Delicacy
Sri Lanka is a place for tourism. With all its aura, it can always mesmerise you anytime. Alongside the scenic beauty and cultural legacy, traditional Sri Lankan foods are also delicious in their own way. Here, we mention a traditional dish of theirs, the watalapam. It is one of the most popular desserts in Sri Lanka. However, we have modified it here to make it pregnancy-friendly.
Servings 2 people
Calories 290kcal
Equipment
- pudding bowl
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup jaggery grated,
- 1/2 cup coconut milk thick
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg powder
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tbsp cashew nuts roasted, chopped
Instructions
- Mix the jaggery in coconut milk. Let it dissolve evenly.
- Beat the egg and mix it with the jaggery-flavoured coconut milk.
- Pass the mixture through a piece of thin cloth.
- Then, add the nutmeg and cardamom powder. Stir well.
- Pour the mix into a pudding bowl.
- Close it with a lid and place it into water.
- Water should be in the simmering position.
- Cook the pudding in it for around 25-30 minutes.
- Open the lid and see if the fragrance of cardamom is coming out or not.
- When it becomes fragrant, add the cashew nuts to it.
- Cook it for 10 minutes more.
- Serve it warm. If you like it to be chilled, let it cool. Then, put it in freeze for 1 hour or 2, before serving.
Notes
We have added jaggery instead of brown sugar in this recipe. Jaggery is good for both the mother and baby.
Nutrition
Calories: 290kcal
Almond and Black Sesame Chikki (Brittle)
What if you get a sudden craving for sweets at an odd hour? But you are not feeling up to cooking anything at that moment. How do you satisfy your craving then? Don't worry, we have a plan to share with you: Prepare tasty brittle with nutritious almonds and black sesame! And store it for days. This Indian sweet is an instant, no-cooking serving ideal for your cravings in the second and third trimesters.
Servings 10 pieces
Calories 75kcal
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup black sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/3 cup jaggery finely grated
- 1 tsp ghee
Instructions
- Roast the almonds and sesame at medium heat. Do not mix them.
- Take them out from the pan when they are golden in colour.
- Keep them aside.
- Heat the ghee in a pan.
- Add the jaggery to it.
- Simmer it in a low flame and let the jaggery melt.
- Turn off the flame when it seems to be caramelised.
- Add the roasted sesame seeds and sliced almonds to it.
- Brush ghee on a flat surface.
- Mix everything well and pour the melted jaggery mix on the greased flat surface.
- Roll it and spread it smoothly.
- Let it cool. And then cut into square pieces.
- Store in an air-tight container and enjoy when you feel like having a sweet dish.
Notes
Avoid this if you are in your first trimester. Black sesame is not so good for early pregnancy days.
Nutrition
Calories: 75kcal
Pisang Goreng
If you are addicted to traditional Malay cuisines, pisang goreng is the best pregnancy dessert recipe for you. Pisang goreng needs no introduction to Malaysians, it is a simple a recipe involving bananas and flour. Not only in Malaysia, but it is also popular in many other Asian countries - only with different names. Now, here's the good news: This delicious snack can be eaten as a casual dessert in the last trimesters of your pregnancy days! As we know, Malaysia is well-known for having a variety of local bananas. So, you do not have to go a long way looking for the recipe ingredients. Let's have a look at how it is prepared, shall we?
Servings 2 people
Calories 516kcal
Ingredients
- 2-3 bananas regular, for mini bananas take 4-5 pieces
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- rice flour take as needed
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tbsp coconut shredded, unsweetened
- 1/4 tsp salt
- cold water as needed
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 egg large
- 5-6 drops vanilla
Instructions
- Peel the bananas and slice them into two halves diagonally.
- Then, divide them into two halves horizontally. You will find 4 slices out of one whole banana.
- Take all-purpose flour, rice flour, and coconut and mix them well. Keep some rice flour and coconut aside for coating the bananas later on.
- Sprinkle salt into the mix.
- Then, add cold water and mix it well.
- Add some pinches of baking soda to it.
- Add egg into it. Stir well.
- Then, mix vanilla with it.
- In another bowl, pour the remaining rice flour and coconut.
- Now, heat oil in a wok. Keep the oil at 1 -1.5 inches deep.
- Dip each piece of the bananas into the batter. And then, coat it with the coconut-rice flour mix.
- Fry the bananas with oil. Keep them in the oil for up to 1 minute until they turn golden-brown.
- Make sure you do not place them over-crowded in the pan.
- Once done, you may serve it with vanilla ice-cream. With the optional sprinkle of shredded coconut and grounded sugar on them.
Nutrition
Calories: 516kcal
Ragi Laddoos - Millet balls
If you go to the Northern parts of India, you will see this dessert in most households. Especially if there is any pregnant lady in the house, then millet balls are must. With a wide range of nutrient-enriched ingredients, the balls can help you to enjoy your motherhood moments well. No matter if you are in your first trimester or third, you can have it at any time.
Servings 12 pieces
Calories 118kcal
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup millet flour
- 5 tbsp sugar ground
- 5-6 tbsp ghee
- 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
Instructions
- Heat the ghee in a pan.
- Add the millet flour and cook it on a medium flame for 4-5 minutes
- It will become brown after some time.
- Turn off the flame and mix sugar with it.
- Add cardamom powder.
- Spread the mix on a flat surface evenly. Before spreading the mix, brush oil on it.
- Let it cool. Keep it at room temperature for 5 minutes.
- Take small amount of millet mix and shape round balls out of it.
- Once all of the balls are shaped, keep them in an air-tight container and store.
Nutrition
Calories: 118kcal
Kuih Seri Muka
Another delicious healthy Malaysian dessert is here. If you have glutinous rice and coconut milk at home, it's all you will need to prepare this classic kuih. We assure you that your unborn will feel satisfied. Such a finger-licking moment, it can be created with creamy, tasty coconut milk custard! You can have it as breakfast on any of your pregnancy trimester days.
Servings 10 pieces
Calories 171kcal
Ingredients
- 200 gms glutinous rice
- 50 ml coconut milk
- 1/2 pandan leaf
- 2 tbsp water
For pandan extract
- 4 pandan leaves
- 35 ml water
- 75 gms sugar
- 200 gms coconut milk
- 3.5 gms corn starch
- 20 gms rice flour
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Soak the rice for approximately 4 hours before use. You can soak it overnight before preparing the breakfast.
- Mix coconut milk and water with the rice.
- Take a half piece of a pandan leaf and place it into the rice.
- Close the lid and steam it for 40-45 minutes.
To prepare pandan leaves extract
- Cut the whole pandan leaves into small pieces. Mix them with water.
- In another bowl, mix sugar, coconut milk, corn flour, rice flour and eggs.
- Stir mix in a bowl on low heat until it becomes semi-solid.
- Turn off the flame and stir properly.
Final preparation
- Pour the cooked glutinous rice into a cake pan. Brush oil on the pan before pouring the rice.
- Add pandan mix to the rice.
- Steam it for around 1 hour.
- Remove it from gas and let it cool.
- After keeping it for around 15 minutes at room temperature, cut it into small pieces.
- You can serve them instantly or store them for future servings.
Notes
The dish can be stored in the freezer for 3-5 days in air-tight container.
Nutrition
Calories: 171kcal
Apple-Walnut Pancake with Millet Flour
When it comes to choosing healthy foods for pregnancy, apples and nuts are usually the first things that comes to our minds. If the apple is rich in fibre, nuts provide necessary nutrients including iron. So, here we are with a pregnancy dessert recipe prepared with exactly these items. It is a healthy variation of regular pancakes. Try it and let us know how you find it. This dish is perfect for your third-trimester pregnancy cravings.
Calories 56kcal
Equipment
- Pan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup white millet flour
- 1/4 cup apple peeled or unpeeled, grated
- 1 tbsp walnut chopped
- 1 tbsp almonds chopped
- 1.5 tbsp jaggery grated
- 3 tsp ghee for cooking and brushing
Instructions
- Take all of the items in a large bowl and mix well.
- Brush ghee on a pan and heat it.
- Take one spoon of batter into each mould. Fill all of the moulds in this way.
- Cook them until one side becomes golden brown.
- Flip them and let the other side be cooked in the same way.
- Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
Nutrition
Calories: 56kcal
The Takeaway
Dessert is a cherry on the top of every meal.
So, it must be tasty enough to satisfy our souls completely. Especially for pregnant ladies, we must prepare desserts in the best possible way.
Hence, we have shared here some recipes for pregnancy desserts. The best part? All of them are nutrient-enriched and enough to fill your mind with joy.
Enjoy your motherhood with these sweet delicacies! Want to try some more pregnancy recipes? Try out these.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!