10 Low-Calorie Desserts For Your 4th Of July Cookout

After an indulgent day of feasting on barbecued ribs, ooey-gooey mac and cheese, burgers, and baked beans, there's only one way to conclude the classic Fourth of July cookout: With flutes of bubbly and a low-calorie treat. This year, skip thecreamy flag cakes, and sweet, buttery pies, and let dessert be your chance to cut back a little and exercise some portion control.

Nothing says summer like ice pops, and the flavor possibilities are limitless. If you can freeze it, it can become an ice pop! Applesauce ice pops are especially great snacks for both children and adults. Puréed applesauce works best — it can be thinned out with water, making for a consistency more suitable for freezing. Children love this snack because it puts the familiar — applesauce — on a stick! Adults will love it, too, particularly with the addition of chopped herbs like mint or rosemary for a grown-up spin on a childhood favorite.

For the Applesauce Ice Pops recipe, click here.

These delicious ice pops are as satisfying to eat as they are to look at — they're a refreshing way to beat the summer heat. Even better, this recipe comes in at under 100 calories a pop. 

For the Blackberry Ice Pops recipe, click here.

The great thing about this tart and refreshing sorbet is that you don't need an ice cream machine to make it. Just freeze the sorbet in a bowl, whisking it every hour for four hours until it's smooth and creamy.

For the Fat-Free Key Lime Sorbet recipe, click here.

This fresh fruit cake is far from the classic Christmastime iteration: it's made entirely of fresh fruit. Use a large round piece of watermelon as the base and decorate with your other favorite fruits.

For the Fresh Fruit Cake recipe, click here.

This blueberry-peach cobbler is healthy thanks to almond milk and granola. This sweet dish makes the most of summer's best fruits — and you'll be able to bare your midriff after enjoying it.

For the Healthy Blueberry-Peach Cobbler recipe, click here.

This sweet and creamy ice pop has a fragrant twist: ground cardamom. If you love mango lassi, then this frozen dessert is a summertime must-try.

For the Mango Lassi Pops recipe, click here.

Line a mini muffin pan with small liners. Fill the pan with chopped mixed berries and drizzle each portion with melted dark chocolate. Place in the freezer and allow to harden completely. Suddenly, you'll have a quick and low-calorie snack that will cool you down without bringing up your weight. You can even mix up a berry smoothie and divide into bite-sized portions before freezing!

This take on a classic frozen treat is both refreshing and bursting with bright orange flavor. Made with yogurt and fresh orange juice, it's a healthy choice for a summer sweet tooth.

For the Orange Cream Ice Pops recipe, click here.

Talk about an all-American dessert. Apple pie has been acknowledged for years as the quintessential patriotic indulgence, best shared among family and friends. Just bake or grill apples in a mixture of honey, fresh oats, and cinnamon. Combine with a scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream and you're good to go. By eliminating the pie crust and adding cinnamon and oats, you're cutting the calories in half and doubling nutritional value.

Cool watermelon and mint combine in this refreshing, hands-off recipe for the perfect hot weather treat.

For the Watermelon and Mint Granita recipe, click here.