10 Cast Iron Skillet Desserts That Are Actually Pretty Healthy

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 the last few years.  Don’t ask me why I didn’t just spend the $30 myself in the last few years; I guess it was one of those things I kept putting off.  But my dad (who yes, still asks for my Christmas list at age 31 – which I secretly love) bought me a cast iron skillet this year for the holidays.  Since then, I’ve been using it like crazy.

My favorite thing to experiment with has got to be cast iron skillet desserts.  I just love how versatile it is and how many new things I can make.  Of course, not every recipe out there for cast iron skillet desserts is a healthy one.  I’d venture to say the large majority are not – chocolate chip skillet cookie topped with ice cream, anyone? 😉  {but oh, how delicious!}

I knew there had to be some better-for-you options out there.  I reached out to my fellow dietitian and food blogger friends to round up 10 awesome cast iron skillet desserts.  From chocolate to pumpkin to apple to peach, you can find desserts in all flavors and types here!  

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 (*affiliate links –>) for just $30-$40 for a large 12-inch size and $15-$25 for a smaller size one.  (Disclosure – These are Amazon affiliate links.  We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

10 Healthy Recipes for Cast Iron Skillet Desserts

1.  Pear Bread Pudding from Vine Ripe Nutrition

This better-for-you bread pudding is made with whole wheat bread and fresh pears.

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. 

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.  Healthy Chocolate Brownie Skillet from The Clean Eating Couple

Sweetened with honey and pumpkin puree, this brownie is a great alternative to those refined sugar boxed versions.

7.  Peach and 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!

8.  Baked Dutch Apple Pancake from Snacking in Sneakers

Yep, had to put one of my own in here!  This is the recipe though that gave me inspiration for this roundup.  I absolutely adore this gluten free and vegan baked dutch apple pancake.  You can have it for breakfast or dinner!  It’s so simple to make and is really quite good for you.

9.  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.

10.  Yogurt Cake with Roasted Strawberries and Rhubarb from Making Healthy Choices

I’ve only ever used rhubarb in a pie with strawberries, so I was intrigued by this yogurt cake!  I’m going to bet that the yogurt gives it a nice richness (and adds a little extra protein) to the cake.  And you can always try using whole wheat pastry flour rather than all purpose – I bet it would work just fine!

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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Chrissy Carroll

Chrissy Carroll is a Registered Dietitian and USAT Level I Triathlon Coach. She specializes in sharing nutrition and fitness tips, as well as recipes, for runners, triathletes, and active women.Chrissy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition, a Masters Degree in Public Health, and is also an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer.

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