I get it. You’re trying to cut down on sugar (aren’t we all!) but you still want to satisfy your sweet tooth once in a while and enjoy a delicious cake with family and friends.

Well, you’re in luck! I’ve gathered together 28 cakes that are lower in sugar than average – so you can (quite literally) have your cake and eat it too! From lower sugar birthday cake ideas to afternoon tea cakes and even ’emergency’ mug cakes, I’ve got you covered with this list of delicious, moist, and healthier low sugar cake recipes.

In recent years, whenever I create a new cake recipe, I reduce the amount of added sugar as much as I can. I don’t skip it altogether, because I still want it to taste like a treat.

But I’ve discovered that there are various ways of making a cake naturally low in sugar without it tasting any less delicious. These include:

• using unrefined sugar (still in relatively small amounts) such as maple syrup or honey.

• adding fruits and vegetables as a natural sweetener, such as mashed ripe bananas, mashed sweet potato or pumpkin, or apples or pears. Mmmm!

• adding just a few sneaky dark chocolate chips (or white, or milk – why not?)

I don’t usually create cake recipes using sugar substitutes such as stevia, but this is just a personal choice – many of these recipes would work with sugar alternatives such as this!

Almost by default, a reduced sugar cake is often a healthier cake all-round, as it contains more wholesome ingredients with natural sweetness from fresh fruit, vegetables, dark chocolate, yogurt and more.

Next time you need a cake for an afternoon tea, special occasion, or perhaps just a healthier family dessert, I hope I can help you out with one of these super delicious low sugar cakes.

1. Greek Yogurt Blueberry Muffins

What can I say? These low sugar blueberry muffins have been described as the fluffiest and all-round best blueberry muffins ever! I’ve been making these for years and years, and they have hundreds of 5 star reviews… for good reason.

Not only are these muffins low in sugar, with just half a cup in the whole batch, you can adapt them with endless substitutions and variations to make them completely your own. They also have the BEST golden and lightly crunchy muffin tops!

These muffins are most definitely our family’s go-to for afternoon teas, school lunch boxes and more. I hope they become yours too!

2. 30-Minute Healthy Chocolate Cake

It’s hard to find the words to describe how incredibly ooey, gooey and delicious this healthy chocolate cake is! I’ve made it for friends trying to follow a healthy low sugar diet, for my son’s birthday party when he was a toddler (I turned it into a ‘construction cake’ with diggers etc.!) and ‘just because’.

The overriding reaction I get when people first try it is absolute amazement that it’s a healthier cake. Not only is it low in refined sugar, it contains TWO hidden vegetables!

This one is great for ANY occasion, but especially for birthdays and special occasions when you need the cake to taste INCREDIBLE – but you’d prefer it to be a little on the healthier side.

3. Air Fryer Mini Banana Bread

Ridiculously easy to make, this cute little banana bread is perfect for when you’re in the mood for banana bread, but you don’t want a huge loaf of it hanging around to tempt you all week.

If you’ve got an air fryer, this recipe is perfectly adapted for it. If not, don’t worry, you can bake it in your regular oven.

4. Greek Yogurt Chocolate Chip Muffins

The ‘little brother’ of my famous Greek yogurt blueberry muffins, these low sugar chocolate chip muffins are just as fluffy and moist. They too receive rave reviews, and are one of our go-to afternoon tea recipes.

Quick and easy to make and packed with chocolate chips, but definitely not overly sweet.

5. Healthier Vanilla Cupcakes

These might just be the party cupcakes of your dreams! If you’ve ever wished there was a way to make classic vanilla cupcakes a little lower in sugar, you’re in luck with these.

They’re low in sugar and butter, but also high in protein as they contain Greek yogurt and cream cheese in the simple 2-ingredient frosting.

6. Chocolate Self-Saucing Pudding

This is another gooey chocolaty dessert that DOESN’T taste low in sugar… but it is! This super easy and yummy dessert also doesn’t contain any eggs.

You’re just a few simple pantry ingredients away from yet another low sugar dessert that doesn’t compromise on deliciousness.

7. Easy Italian Apple Cake

This delicious and good looking Italian apple cake can easily be a show-stopper! And yet it’s SO easy to make with just 6 ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time. Otherwise known as ‘torta di mele’, it’s a classic Italian recipe that’s relatively low in sugar.

It’s moist, light and fluffy, packed full of apple slices and has a subtle lemony kick.

There’s no separating of eggs or beating of butter and sugar necessary – just melt the butter, then mix all the ingredients together.

8. 2-Minute Peanut Butter Healthy Mug Cake

Need an ’emergency’ cake? This is a great option when you need to satisfy your sweet tooth RIGHT NOW! Make this gooey peanut butter mug cake with just a few healthy ingredients, and just a little maple syrup.

And yes, in just 2 minutes!

9. Greek Yogurt Banana Muffins

More Greek yogurt muffins? Yep, because muffins with yogurt are incredibly easy to make and always seem to turn out moist, fluffy and altogether delicious – without using a lot of sugar.

Lower in both refined sugar and oil than an average banana muffin, they contain a whole cup of protein-packed yogurt. But you’ll also get a little surprise – caramel chips for extra flavor and pizzazz!

10. Healthy Pumpkin Cake with Pear

Soft and moist on the inside and lightly crisp on the top, this is a healthy twist on a classic Fall cake.

There’s no refined sugar as the sweetness comes from just half a cup of maple syrup or honey AND the natural sweetness of both the pumpkin and pear. Which, by the way, go wonderfully well together!

11. Lower Sugar Hummingbird Cake (Pineapple Banana Cake)

Maybe this one’s cheating a little. There’s only half a cup of sugar in this moist and delicious banana cake with tropical vibes. There’s also a super easy and sweet 2-ingredient cream cheese frosting on top. It makes this cake impressive on a special occasion, but don’t worry about the extra sweetness on top – you only need a small piece!

Delicious enough to serve with or without the frosting on top!

12. Gooey Strawberry Brownies

These brownies aren’t saintly (they’re still brownies!) but I thought I’d include them in this list since they ARE lower in sugar than your average fudgy brownie. The best way to serve them is warm with a scoop of ice cream (or nice cream!) on top and extra strawberries.

13. Ricotta Orange Cake

It’ll be hard to find a lighter, more delicately crumbed cake than this one. It’s ridiculously easy to make in one bowl, and yet looks so classy.

This one will melt in your mouth!

14. Healthier Avocado Brownies

The ‘miracle’ of these double chocolate brownies with avocado is that they’re healthier than you’d expect. There’s no refined sugar, oil or butter and there are two healthy ingredients- avocado and banana!

15. Healthy Oat Slice

Perfect for late night sweet snack cravings, lunch boxes and more. These healthy oat slices with rhubarb and ginger are like a cross between a rhubarb crumble and an English flapjack.

And you only need 7-ingredients!

16. Banana Mug Cake for Two

This delicious banana mug cake can be ready in only 5 minutes and tastes yummy eaten straight out of the mug (while curled up on the sofa with a good movie, of course!). You need one small ripe banana and just 6 pantry ingredients to make this yummy cake for two (or one generous portion if you’re feeling hungry!).

Add a scoop of ice cream and you’ll be in quick and easy banana bread heaven!

17. Low Sugar Anzac Biscuits

While not strictly speaking a cake, these classic Australian treats deserve a mention as they’re another perfect low-sugar bake for parties, picnics, lunch boxes and more.

This version gets full marks for sweetness, taste, crunch and chew factor. The best part? They’re ready in just 30 minutes!

18. Sugar-Free Whole Wheat Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcakes made with whole wheat flour and stevia to make them healthier and less loaded with sugar than your average chocolate cupcake!

Wow everyone at your next party with these healthier delicious treats.

19. Perfect Swiss Roll

This recipe for a perfect Swiss roll cake yields a light and fluffy cake that’s not too sweet.

20. Chocolate Espresso Hazelnut Cake

A Chocolate Espresso Hazelnut Cake that’s insanely flavourful, rich and super moist.

21. Pear and Chocolate Cake

An easy (and low sugar) Pear and Chocolate cake topped with fresh pears and chocolate chunks. This is perfect for afternoon tea, or just as an everyday dessert.

22. Fig Cake

This fig cake has a beautiful orange flavor and is topped with a delicious orange and brown sugar glaze. But once again, it isn’t sickly sweet.

23. Almond Flour Carrot Cake

Looking for a cake that’s low in sugar AND gluten free? This almond flour carrot cake is moist and fluffy but is also naturally grain free and gluten free.

24. Cranberry Apple Pie

Need a low-sugar cake recipe for Thanksgiving or other celebration? This cranberry apple pie from Pint Sized Baker could be perfect! It’s made with fresh fruit and has half the sugar of a traditional cran-apple pie!

25. Almond Cake with Berries

This lower sugar almond cake with berries is fluffy, light, and very moist!

26. Sugar Free Chocolate Birthday Cake

This fluffy and moist low carb chocolate layer cake has a luscious ganache frosting and is a perfect option if you’re looking for a tasty birthday treat that isn’t loaded with sugar.

27. Moist Tea Loaf

Low in sugar AND fat free! Soaking fruit overnight in tea makes this tea loaf moist so added fat isn’t needed.

28. Healthy Plum Cake

Coconut sugar combined with fresh seasonal plums makes this fruit cake moist and naturally sweet tasting.

How can I reduce the sugar in these recipes even more?

While many of these sweet treats contain a lot less sugar than classic versions, you might want to reduce the sweetness even more. Start by reducing the sugar by about 1/3 and see how you go.

Another little ‘trick’ is to replace around half of the sugar in the cake with unsweetened applesauce. If it turns out well, you can try substituting even more of the sugar next time.

I’d love to know which of these low sugar bakes you try!

Check out more healthier dessert ideas!

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