Craving a sweet treat? These 10 healthy(ish) cast iron skillet dessert recipes are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
A cast-iron skillet had been on my “kitchen wants” list for years. Don’t ask me why I didn’t just spend the $30 myself; I guess it was one of those things I kept putting off (plus I can be cheap, haha). But my dad (who yes, still asks for my Christmas list as a grown adult – which I secretly love) bought me a cast iron skillet one year for the holidays and since then, I’ve been using it like crazy.
My favorite thing to experiment with has got to be cast iron skillet desserts. And I’ve found some great better-for-you options out there, from my own stash as well as fellow dietitian and food blogger friends. From chocolate to pumpkin to apple to peach, you can find desserts in all flavors and types below!
And if you don’t have a cast iron skillet yet, don’t make the mistake I did and wait forever to get one – you can grab one of the Lodge skillets on Amazon. You can get one in either a large 12-inch size, a medium 10.25-inch size, or a small 6.5-inch size (affiliate links; I earn a commission). The right size will vary based on the recipe.
Note: This post was originally published in 2017. It has been updated in 2026.
10 Healthy Recipes for Cast Iron Skillet Desserts
1. Peach Blueberry Crisp from Snacking in Sneakers
This crisp recipe is jammed packed with the fruits of summer – peaches and blueberries. It’s only lightly sweetened with maple syrup, reducing the amount of added sugar in the recipe. This has got to be one of my favorites from all these cast iron skillet dessert recipes!
2. Pumpkin Skillet Cake from The Lean Green Bean
I love that you don’t even need a mixing bowl for this recipe. You melt butter in the skillet, mix in the wet and dry ingredients, and pop it in the oven. This recipe is a nice option for those resistant to healthier baked goods; it has ample butter and sugar but uses whole wheat flour for a slight nutrition twist.
3. Cast Iron Skillet Banana Bread from Snacking in Sneakers
This nutritious banana bread is made with rolled oats instead of flour, and is lightly sweetened with just a few tablespoons of maple syrup and applesauce. I love it drizzled with a little extra maple syrup!
4. Chocolate Strawberry German Pancakes from Your Choice Nutrition
You can’t find too many tasty chocolate desserts that have minimal added sugar, but this is totally one of them. Only 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of honey are used in the whole dish! The fresh strawberries add a natural sweetness that combine well with the chocolate.
5. Chocolate Fudge Banana Skillet Cake from Happy Healthy Mama
This rich, fudgy dessert is made with less than 10 common ingredients and doesn’t contain any flour. It’s both paleo and vegan, so it’s a great treat for anyone following those dietary patterns. {PS – if you don’t have almond butter, I betcha peanut butter would work fine too.}
6. Baked Apple Pancake from Snacking in Sneakers
Yes, technically a pancake is usually at breakfast, but this one doubles as dessert too. It’s gluten free and dairy free, making it a nice option for those with dietary restrictions. Simple and delish!
7. Skillet Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding from Athletic Avocado
Does anyone else use bread pudding as a way to not waste stale bread? (I legit made bread pudding with stale donuts once, lol). I love this recipe because it uses just a few simple ingredients and can be modified according to any dietary needs. I like to use lite coconut milk for a lighter dessert option when making this.
8. Fresh Cherry Crisp from The Oregon Dietitian
If it’s summer when you’re reading this post, you’ll definitely want to make this recipe! (Or, make it year round using frozen pitted cherries, which is definitely my style for cutting down time). This recipe contains 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein – a definite win for a dessert. If you want to cut down the sugar in this recipe, you can always use slightly less in the topping or use a sugar alternative.
9. Candy Cane Skillet Cookie from Abbey’s Kitchen
How fun is this recipe for the holidays?! I love that this is both plant-based and gluten-free, making it a nice option for kids or guests with dietary restrictions. Made with almond flour for a filling and delicious dessert.
10. Oat, Fruit, & Nut Skillet Cookie from Craving Something Healthy
Yes, this has sugar in it – but it also has wholesome ingredients like oats, dried fruit, coconut, nuts, and whole wheat flour for a better-for-you option. I love the variety of ingredients in this skillet dessert. Plus, it’s made with olive oil instead of butter for a healthier fat profile.
Share with me: Do you own a cast iron skillet? What’s your favorite thing to make in it? Which of these cast iron skillet dessert recipes do you want to try out?
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YES PLEASE to the pumpkin skillet cake! ANYthing pumpkin really turns this girl ONNN! haha!
Haha, glad to hear that one caught your eye! 🙂
The brownie skillet looks amazing! It’s hard to go wrong with chocolate.
Right?! Chocolate anything is pretty much a win in my book.
That yogurt cake!!! Yum. I love the idea of using this pan as well.
I know, that yogurt cake looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it.
yogurt cake/??? love this! I bought one of these skillets a while back but I don’t think I’ve used it to its potential!
I’m discovering do many uses for it. With desserts in particular 😉
Cast iron desserts are the best! These all look amazing!
Thanks Jessica! 🙂
This roundup is everythinggg!! It all looks sooo good
Yay, glad you liked it Abbey!
I want to make every single dish in this post! Ueber-yummy- cast iron deliciousness!
Haha, that’s the problem I have too with dessert roundups – wanting to make everything!
Those sound amazing.
I have a very productive rhubarb. I ended up leaving a lot of it to die last fall because I still have a bunch of rhubarb I canned the year before. I came across a website devoted to rhubarb recipes. It’s pretty diverse.
Thanks Kim! I admittedly have not done much cooking with rhubarb aside from strawberry rhubarb pie. I’d love to see the website with rhubarb recipes that you came across – that sounds awesome for expanding my palate!