If you're following the Slimming World plan, or are just watching the calories and hoping to lose weight, you'll be happy to know that you can have your cake and eat it too with these simple, guilt-free Slimming World cakes and dessert recipes
These Slimming World versions of your favourite puddings are brilliant because they cut down on as much of the naughty stuff as possible without losing the flavour. From brownies and chocolate pots to Mississippi mud pies and banoffee cheesecakes, there are loads of scrumptious recipes to choose from.
“Having worked on the health and lifestyle pages of magazines for nearly two decades I've tried a lot of diets, from the Dukan to the baby food plan, and the 5:2 to the lemon detox. Slimming World is my favourite, and still my go to if I want to shave off a few pounds before a holiday,” says health and food writer Octavia Lillywhite, who lost 16 lbs and went from a size 16 to a 12 following the plan. “With limitless amounts of fruit and veg, I never feel hungry, and I find it's the easiest plan to incorporate into my lifestyle. I can serve up healthy meals to my family and they don't even notice.”
Octavia says these recipes are ideal for dealing with a sweet tooth. “If you're trying to follow a diet, it can be hard to even think about puddings without feeling the cravings coming on. In general, I'm happy to just have a sugar-free jelly or fruit juice ice lolly, but there are times when you really need something special – whether you're serving up to guests or it's a big family meal. These recipes are perfect for those occasions, when you want a treat that won't ruin your weigh-in. They're special enough to feel like a treat, but smart enough not to wreck your diet.”
Slimming World cakes and dessert recipes
1. Slimming World's Spanish orange cake
Serves: 10 | Total time: 1 hour
This light and delicious orange cake is infused with the zest and juice of two oranges and is smothered in a sticky sweet orange syrup which gives it an impressive shine that makes it more than good enough to serve to guests for afternoon tea, diet or no diet. Inspired by the oranges of Seville, this version is butter-free and swaps sugar for sweeteners to lower the calories and fat. You could also swap your citruses and make this cake with lemons.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's Spanish orange cake
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2. Slimming World's banoffee pie
Serves: 10 | Total time: 30 mins
“This banoffee pie is a great pudding to serve up if you're having guests over for dinner. It's a bit like a banana-toffee cheesecake and, if you've ever made your own cheesecake, you'll know there's nothing slimmer-friendly about it – acres of cream, cream cheese and butter, but this version is a great compromise,” says Octavia Lillywhite. “Muller Light yoghurts and quark are two absolutely key ingredients for Slimming World fans. Toffee Muller Lights only have 99 calories (half a syn each) and quark is a fat free curd cheese. Combined, they give a great, cheesecake-y texture.”
Get the recipe: Slimming World's banoffee pie
3. Slimming World's chocolate and apricot brownies
Serves: 24 | Total time: 55 mins
These brownies are soft, squidgy and studded with apricots that look like small orange jewels in the chocolatey mix. Made with low-fat choc powder, low-fat spread and a lower quantity of sugar than your average cake, the dried apricots also bring a naturally sweet flavour. If you have any leftovers (doubtful) you can pop them into the freezer for next time you’re hankering after a sweet treat.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's chocolate and apricot brownies
4. Slimming World's chocolate vanilla cheesecake
Serves: 8 | Total time: 1 hour
This smooth, creamy cheesecake has a Bourbon chocolate biscuit base, a dark chocolate drizzle and is dusted with cocoa powder to finish. The secret ingredients that make this low fat and calorie include Quark, sugar free jelly crystals and Muller Light vanilla yoghurt. An ideal one if you’re partial to a Bourbon of a mid afternoon – and who isn’t, frankly?
Get the recipe: Slimming World's chocolate vanilla cheesecake
5. Slimming World's orange and raspberry bites
Serves: 16 | Total time: 1 hour 5 mins
With an orange-infused sponge and heaps of raspberries on top, these fruity bites are moist and delicious. “Every so often my office does a charity bake sale and these are my secret weapon. Label them up as being Slimming World and they sell like, well, like hot cakes because more people than you ever realise are following a diet. In winter when I can't get the best tasting British raspberries, I use segments of satsuma on the top instead,” says Octavia Lillywhite.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's orange and raspberry bites
6. Slimming World's raspberry meringues
Serves: 4 | Total time: 20 mins
If you're looking for a quick, sweet fix these raspberry meringues are ideal. You only need a mere four ingredients: sponge fingers, raspberries, sweetner and egg whites. Serve them in individual ramekins and they’re posh enough for dinner party guests, if you ask us. Guests can add fresh, whipped cream should they wish, while those on the plan can have a dollop of low-fat creme fraiche. And everyone's a winner.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's raspberry meringues
7. Slimming World's spiced pears
Serves: 4 | Total time: 30 mins
Ideal for the autumn months, this delicious dessert is a great way to transform your pears into a show stopping dessert. Infused with cinnamon, cloves, red wine and blackcurrant cordial, it is the ideal dinner party pudding for when you don't even want people to realise you're on a diet. “They're beautiful, simple and taste delicious. I'd serve these to guests with a jug of single cream and a pot of fat free crème fraîche, then people could add their own topping (and I'd add a restrained dollop of the creme fraiche). I know I'd be strong enough to resist the cream because the pudding already feels like a fancy treat,” says Octavia Lillywhite.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's spiced pears
8. Slimming World's Mississippi mud pie
Serves: 10 | Total time: 30 mins
A lower fat version of an iconic dessert, beloved of America’s Deep South, this pie (that we would really call a kinda chocolate cheesecake around these parts) looks impressive and you’d never know the difference from the more indulgent versions. Sweet and rich flavours come from vanilla yoghurt, sweetener and coffee granules, and it’s all topped with a layer of grated chocolate. Serve on your best cake plate, as it’s worth showing off.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's Mississippi mud pie
9. Slimming World’s whisky orange trifle
Serves: 4 | Total time: 20 mins
This trifle is layered with kumquats, oranges, fromage frais and sponge fingers and infused with whisky. It's the perfect showstopper. “I can't think of any occasion when trifle wouldn't be a perfect pudding to serve up. I have a glass, stemmed trifle bowl and this looks just amazing in it,” says Octavia Lillywhite. “Kumquats can be pretty hard to come by – they're in season from December to March, so this is a good treat to have at Christmas or New Year.”
Get the recipe: Slimming World's whisky orange trifle
10. Slimming World's iced raspberry and orange parfait
Serves: 8 | Total time: 40 mins
A delight for wrapping up a summer barbecue, this creamy, yet icey, parfait can be made in advance of any gathering. Made with citrus orange and tangy raspberries (if you fancy it in winter then you can alway use frozen), this refreshing dessert is a real treat, and contains just five ingredients. Decorate with sprigs of mint and serve, sliced, from a platter.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's iced raspberry and orange parfait
11. Slimming World's chocolate pots
Serves: 4 | Total time: 40 mins
There isn’t much that a splash of rum doesn’t make taste better. Each pot is made with dark chocolate, a hint of rum and topped with plenty of fromage frais, sweetened up. Serve in glass dessert bowls to show off the layers and top with grated chocolate (a little goes a long way!). You could also add some fresh or glace cherries, depending on the time of year, or some raspberries, or even orange segments. A delight.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's chocolate pots
12. Slimming World's mulled wine trifle
Serves: 8 | Total time: 1 hour
As if you could get more festive than mulled wine or trifle – oh, you can, with actual mulled wine trifle. You would never know that this dessert is actually low fat, and you can totally serve it up to all the family to fill their boots with over the festive season. Chances are they'll be back for seconds, and thirds. Merry Christmas to you, too (and yes, if you want to make it in May, or September, you have our blessing, because there are no rules).
Get the recipe: Slimming World's mulled wine trifle
13. Slimming World’s cherry and vanilla brûlées
Serves: 4 | Total time: 20 mins
This Slimming World version of a brûlée is far easier than those Bake Off technical challenge-style recipes you often come across. Made with only six ingredients, these mini desserts taste just like the real thing. Bejewelled with juicy cherries, they’re topped with a sugar crust (because creme brulée means burnt cream for the uninitiated) and cracking the topping to reveal the creamy underlayer is one of life’s best pleasures when it comes to pudding.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's cherry and vanilla brûlées
13. Slimming World's pear and rhubarb crumble
Serves: 4 | Total time: 40 mins
“Crumble is my absolute favourite dessert – I even had it on my wedding day. And when you look at the ingredients, it's actually quite simple to slim-ify it – more fruit, less topping and low fat spread as the binding agent in the crumble. This is perfect for after Sunday lunch,” says Octavia Lillywhite. “I'd serve this with fat free crème fraîche.”
Get the recipe: Slimming World's pear and rhubarb crumble
14. Slimming World's tropical Eton mess
Serves: 4 | Total time: 30 mins
Eton mess is really simple to make, just being a big jumble of cream, meringue and fruit as it is. This one swaps the classic English summer fruits for a taste of the tropics. The banana, passion fruit and pineapple works wonders together along with the crisp meringues and vanilla yoghurt that replaces the thick cream and a lot of the extra calories. You could also throw in some papaya and mango for even more exotic ways to get your daily vits.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's tropical Eton mess
15. Slimming World's mince pies
Serves: 32 | Total time: 40 mins
If you don’t want your penchant for mince pies to see you crashing off the Slimming World rails at the most challenging rime of the year for anyone trying to be healthy, these pies are here at your rescue. Perfect as a foodie gift for your Slimming World chums, too, you could box them and wrap them with festive ribbon. They can also be made way in advance before the Christmas rush (and yes, go on, you can treat yourself to one nice and early too).
Get the recipe: Slimming World's mince pies
16. Slimming World's classic chocolate mousse
Serves: 4 | Total time: 35 mins
Not just any old chocolate mousse, this is a chocolate orange mousse – and one with a cheeky, boozy flavour, at that. Made with dark chocolate, egg, a dash of brandy and yogurt, this recipe makes four pots and is so rich and delicious that you might not even need a whole one. Which means more for later, which is always going to be a good thing.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's classic chocolate mousse
17. Slimming World's blueberry lime and prosecco jellies
Serves: 4 | Total time: 25 mins
Just the thing for a summer dinner party in the garden, these jellies are a bit special, as well as being low fat, and full of superfood goodness with the blueberries, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Packed with flavour from the Prosecco (and we think you’d better have a glass to go with your dessert, it would be rude not to) and the lime, don’t forget to chop a bit of mint from the garden to decorate and add a pep of freshness. Lovely.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's blueberry, lime and Prosecco jellies
18. Slimming World’s chocolate log
Serves: 8 | Total time: 30 mins
Nothing says Christmas better than a chocolate log, but it doesn’t have to just be for that most wonderful time of the year. And what makes this recipe even better is that it'll taste good and be guilt-free too. Serve on Christmas Day, with an offering of double cream or brandy cream for those who want more of a treat.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's chocolate log
19. Slimming World's apple posset
Serves: 4 | Total time: 20 mins
“Recipes like this are one of the reasons I love Slimming World. I'd never thought to make an apple posset before, but now I have and I know just how quick and easy it is. This is something I'll whip up if I've got a few minutes spare while I'm cooking dinner for me and my husband, especially if I've got apples in the fruit bowl that are starting to look a bit tired,” says Octavia Lillywhite. “My top tip here is do not skimp on the garnish. I know it can be annoying buying mint just so you can pop some on the top of a pudding, but here it adds such a pop of freshness to the simple apple flavours, it's really quite essential.”
Get the recipe: Slimming World's apple posset
20. Honey and yoghurt cheesecake
Serves: 10 | Total time: 1 hour 10 mins
Yoghurt and honey is one of food’s greatest partnerships and this cheesecake is one of our most favourite desserts in the SW collection. Made with extra-light spread, fat-free fromage frais and sweetener, this cheesecake is infused with honey and topped with orange segments – which could be perfectly replaced with raspberries in season, or even some sliced banana (popped on just prior to eating to avoid it browning). Cinamon is a key ingredient to give it some sweet spice – and don’t forget to save some to dust over the top, too.
Get the recipe: Slimming World's honey and yoghurt cheesecake