9 High-Fiber Desserts That Can Help You Feel Full Longer

Consumers in the know regarding the benefits of a high-fiber diet – better gut and bowel health, longer lifespan, and less chance of heart disease and certain cancers — understand that many adults don't get enough. What if we told you that there are a number of delicious foods — desserts, even — that could help you meet your fiber goals?

One of the benefits of fiber is that it can help you feel satiated (or full) for longer. This happens because fiber slows down the movement, or motility, of your digestive system. It's the function of fiber that helps keep your blood sugar in check. Feeling fuller from your food is great for weight management, should that be a goal of yours. Imagine the benefits of greater satiety ... with dessert! These fiber-filled sweets will contribute to your goals and keep your tummy feeling satisfied, all while satisfying your sweet tooth at the same time. 

Using black beans in lieu of flour in a brownie recipe may sound nutty, but you surprisingly don't really taste the difference. And, yet, your gut benefits with four grams of fulfilling fiber per serving! Depending on the recipe you use, they may be gluten-free as an additional perk. Maybe take a hint from Paul Hollywood's ingredients for chocolate brownies and add cocoa nibs to your batter! 

Dates aren't just an inclusion on the list of fruits with more potassium than a banana (bonus!), but they are also high in fiber. Turn a Medjool date into a better version of a bonbon by stuffing it with your favorite nut butter and dipping it in melted chocolate! You can really amp the nutritional factor by coating the chocolate shell in chopped nuts, or by slipping a whole almond into the filling. Even with just the nut butter, you get 2.5 grams of fiber per snackable date. 

Zucchini is one of those stealth veggies that can "disappear" into sweet preparations, like oaty chocolate chip cookies that are just as enjoyable as Chips Ahoy!, but pack 3 grams of fiber apiece! The only thing better than dunking a chocolate chip cookie in milk is feeling virtuous while doing so, courtesy of a cookie that eases your digestion and helps you feel full for longer.

Avocados are a surprising type of fruit that also pack an impressive fiber content. Bring out the sweet side of avos with a chocolate pudding that requires only a handful of pantry ingredients! The creaminess of the avocado flesh does the heavy lifting on consistency, while cocoa powder and vanilla extract add the signature richness and sweet savor you expect. Unlike "normal" pudding, however, one serving of this sweet treat has eight grams of fiber! You can up that number even more by stirring in some chia seeds.

Baking up apple slices with warming spices and brown sugar results in all the sweetness and comforting savor of apple pie, with maybe one-fifth of the work. Take a look at the list of the best apples for baking and go to town! One serving contains six grams of satiating fiber. Of course, we have to eat a scoop of our favorite vanilla bean ice cream alongside these apples ... it's meant to be an indulgent dessert, after all! 

There's a technical difference between ice cream and gelato, and, in fairness, banana "ice cream" is technically neither. That doesn't make it less delicious! All you need are a couple of ripe bananas and a blender for this dessert, which shapes up in the freezer. The texture is more like a granita when frozen solid, but softens to creaminess if you thaw it a bit. Mix with cocoa powder or peanut butter for extra deliciousness. In its base form, it has six grams of fiber per serving! It's also vegan.

Simple blender crepes are effortless to make, but feel surprisingly luxe in presentation. For maximum fiber-loading, you could use whole wheat flour, but one serving of crepes already has five grams. The secret fiber-riffic star of this dish is the blend of blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries used to fill the crepes. A bit of homemade whipped cream would take things over the top! 

There's a whole list of the best vegetables that belong in a smoothie, but this sweet treat in a glass requires nothing but some roasted (!) strawberries blended with cottage cheese and chia seeds for a thick, indulgent sip that skirts the savory/sweet line that the best desserts always do. Roasting the strawberries adds about 10 minutes of prep, but really brings out their innate sweetness. One smoothie packs 7.5 grams of fiber ... and 16 grams of protein as a plus! 

The internet is replete with recipes for energy balls, all of which require no oven time. We like a kid-friendly chocolate chip version with flax seeds, chia seeds, and rolled oats that will keep both children's and adults' tummies full during long weeknights of sports practices. These energy balls pack 1.3 grams of fiber apiece, which is impressive when you figure that you'll eat a few at a time.