6 Slimmed-Down Desserts to Enjoy Without Turning on Your Oven

Break a sweat at the gym, not in the kitchen.
By: Emily Lee
FNK HEALTHY BANANA SPLIT PARFAITS, Food Network Kitchen, Semisweet Chocolate
Chips, Bananas, Walnuts, Pineapple, Strawberry Ice Cream, Cherries

FNK HEALTHY BANANA SPLIT PARFAITS, Food Network Kitchen, Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Bananas, Walnuts, Pineapple, Strawberry Ice Cream, Cherries

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Here at Food Network, we believe you should break a sweat during your workout, not in the kitchen. Next time you're in the mood for a sweet reward, treat yourself to one of our lighter-than-usual desserts that mercifully don't require an oven. From no-bake cookies to lemony icebox bars that set up in the refrigerator, here are a few of our best summertime sweets.

Banana splits are an obvious choice for a summer dessert, because you won’t break a sweat while preparing them. For that reason, they’re ideal in our book. Although these are carefully portioned, Food Network Kitchen’s mini splits pack in all of the essentials: ice cream, bananas, walnuts, chocolate sauce and the crown jewel, a sweet cherry.

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

If you tend to view fruit salad for dessert as a total cop-out, you clearly haven’t tried Ina Garten’s combination of seasonal berries topped with sweet, rich and citrusy yogurt. Ina amplifies the flavor of limoncello with a combination of Greek yogurt, lemon curd, honey and vanilla.

FNK HEALTHY NOBAKE
PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BARS, Food Network Kitchen,
Semisweet Chocolate, Unsalted Butter, Graham Crackers, Unflavored Powdered Gelatin,
LowFat
Cream Cheese, Buttermilk, Peanut Butter, Light Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract,
HoneyRoasted
Peanuts

FNK HEALTHY NOBAKE PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE BARS, Food Network Kitchen, Semisweet Chocolate, Unsalted Butter, Graham Crackers, Unflavored Powdered Gelatin, LowFat Cream Cheese, Buttermilk, Peanut Butter, Light Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract, HoneyRoasted Peanuts

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Loaded with protein and healthy fats, peanut butter is always a welcome addition to dessert in our book. These creamy bars contain natural peanut butter, tangy Greek yogurt and reduced-fat cream cheese, plus a chocolate-cookie crust. No baking is necessary; the dessert sets in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies: Helen Ostrosky

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies: Helen Ostrosky

Photo by: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Tara Donne, Tara Donne

Craving the comforting chew of chocolate and oats in the summertime but can’t fathom turning on your oven? With Food Network Kitchen’s easy no-bake cookie recipe, there’s no need to. The recipe requires just five minutes of prep; the rest of the time is spent waiting for the cookies to harden into the rich, nutty, chocolatey delights that they are.

With a buttery graham cracker crust and a creamy lemony layer to sink your teeth into, it's easy to see why Ellie Krieger's no-bake icebox bars are a fan favorite. They do require a few hours to firm up in the refrigerator, so be sure to prepare them the night before you plan to cut and serve the squares.

FNK HEALTHY BLUEBERRYRICOTTA
TARTLETS, Food Network Kitchen, Ricotta Cheese,
Apricot Jam, Lemon, Vanilla Extract, Blueberries, Phyllo Cups, Pine Nuts or Sliced Almonds

FNK HEALTHY BLUEBERRYRICOTTA TARTLETS, Food Network Kitchen, Ricotta Cheese, Apricot Jam, Lemon, Vanilla Extract, Blueberries, Phyllo Cups, Pine Nuts or Sliced Almonds

Photo by: Matt Armendariz ©2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

Matt Armendariz, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved

These delicate tartlets filled with ricotta and sweet-tart blueberries are perfectly portioned to satisfy your sweet tooth without inducing a sugar coma. There’s no need to bake any dough if you use convenient store-bought tartlet shells. We certainly won’t judge you for it.

For more ways to get your sweets fix without turning on your oven, check out these recipes from our friends:

Dishin & Dishes: Nutella No Bake Cookies
The Lemon Bowl: Frozen Banana Pops
In Jennie's Kitchen: Black Raspberry Bruschetta

The Wimpy Vegetarian: Grilled Ginger Peaches a la Mode

Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Arrowroot Milk Pudding with Dragon Fruit

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