Living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or other forms of heart disease often means working with your doctor to make lifestyle adjustments. For some people, this involves changing what they eat — and that may include reducing sugar.

Over time, eating or drinking too much sugar may increase the risk of dying from heart disease, so cardiologists (doctors who specialize in treating conditions of the heart and blood vessels) often advise cutting back on added sugar as part of an overall healthy way of living. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop having dessert because you’re living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Instead, you may be able to enjoy sweet treats with less sugar by preparing heart-healthy recipes along with your balanced meals. “I found a simple recipe to use for dessert with banana ingredients and no additional sweetener,” one MyHeartDiseaseTeam member wrote.

If you have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or another heart condition and you’re interested in reducing sugar, check out these four low-sugar dessert recipes.

1. Smoothie With a Tropical Flair

You may not typically think of avocado as a dessert ingredient, but it adds a creamy quality to the American Heart Association’s Avocado and Coconut Refresher Smoothie. Combined with coconut milk and mango, this rich dessert offers a taste of the tropics without added sweetener.

Avocados contain monounsaturated fats, which are heart-healthy because they may reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol.” Avocados are also rich in potassium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and contributes to heart health. The fiber in avocados also helps boost cardiac health. You can whip up this recipe in just a few minutes.

2. Easy, Very Berry, Whole-Grain Muffins

Getting plenty of whole grains and fresh produce contributes to a heart-healthy diet, and this recipe includes both. Using just three ingredients plus water, you can have these muffins on the table in only about 20 minutes, making them a simple addition to your dessert rotation.

3. A Twist on Frozen Chocolate Pops

Dark Chocolate Banana Bites from Cleveland Clinic offer a decadent way to work more fruit into your diet while satisfying your chocolate craving. This recipe calls for dark chocolate, which typically has less sugar than milk chocolate and is rich in flavonoids — an ingredient that may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Plus, bananas pack nearly as much potassium as avocados, giving you another heart-healthy bonus by helping to regulate blood pressure.

4. A Naturally Sweet Treat

You can make fruit the star of your dessert by enhancing its natural sweetness. This recipe for poached pears from Mayo Clinic combines natural fruit juice, whole fruit, and a few spices to deliver a wonderfully flavorful dessert. The pears’ fiber helps slow the absorption of the natural sugars, helping to regulate blood sugar and benefit heart health. The slow simmering method of cooking may help retain some of the vitamins naturally found in produce.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyHeartDiseaseTeam is the social network for people with heart disease and their loved ones. On MyHeartDiseaseTeam, more than 61,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with heart disease.

What’s your favorite heart-healthy dessert recipe? How do you reach your healthy eating goals? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.