Desserts - New Year's Eve

I know, I've posted here the past couple of weekends - something I seldom do. This will probably be the last weekend post, for a while, anyway.

Here are six dessert recipes you can make if you're having anyone over for New Year's Eve - or if it's just you and family. Of course, you could fix these any time you want something yummy! Enjoy!

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE IN GINGERSNAP CRUST

Yield: 16 servings

View at http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/878.shtml

Ingredients

Crust:

1-1/4 cups gingersnap crumbs

3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful*

Cheesecake:

3 packages (8 ounces each) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1-1/4 cups Equal Spoonful**

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup pumpkin puree (canned or homemade)

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons vanilla

Topping:

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 tablespoons Equal Spoonful***

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

* May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 30 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, combine gingersnap crumbs, 3 tablespoons Equal and butter. Press onto bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan. Bake in preheated 325F oven 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese, 1-1/4 cups Equal, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in pumpkin. Mix in eggs and egg whites. Mix in cornstarch and vanilla until blended.

Pour cheesecake mixture over baked crust. Bake in preheated oven 40 to 45 minutes or until center of cake is almost set. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine sour cream, 2 tablespoons Equal and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Gently spread over top of cheesecake. Return to oven and bake 3 to 4 minutes until sour cream mixture is set. Remove cheesecake to wire rack. Gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Let cheesecake cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. To serve, remove side of pan. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 196; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 271 mg; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Carbohydrates: 13 g;Exchanges: 1 milk, 2-1/2 fat

CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGIE CUPS

This recipe begins, “This cookie has something for everyone. The crust is chocolate chip cookie dough; the filling is a rich brownie. They are a little more involved to make, but well worth the effort.”

Yield: makes 2 dozen

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=881

View recipe with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=881

Chocolate Chip Dough Ingredients:

1/3 cup stick butter, softened

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup Equal Spoonful*

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Fudge Nut Filling Ingredients:

1 cup Equal Spoonful**

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1/3 cup chopped nuts

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

6 tablespoons stick butter, softened

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

* May substitute 8 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Chocolate Chip Dough, beat 1/3 cup butter with electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Mix in 1/3 cup Equal* and brown sugar until combined.

Combine 1 cup flour, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix into butter mixture.

Stir in chocolate chips. Form dough into circle about 1/2-inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze while preparing Fudge Nut Filling.

For Fudge Nut Filling, combine 1 cup Equal**, 3/4 cup flour, cocoa, nuts, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Beat applesauce, 6 tablespoons butter, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour mixture until well blended.

Remove Chocolate Chip Dough from freezer. Spread approximately 1 rounded tablespoonful of dough in each of 24 mini-muffin pans. Fill each with Fudge Nut Filling to top of cup.

Bake in preheated 350F oven 15 to 18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in muffin pans about 5 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 138; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 106 mg; Cholesterol: 41 mg; Carbohydrates: 14 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1-1/2 fat

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

This begins, “Applesauce replaces part of the fat plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips - so who can resist these delicious brownies?”

Yield: 16 brownies

Ingredients

6 tablespoons stick butter, softened

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup Equal Spoonful*

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional: Chopped Walnuts

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.

Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan.

Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.

Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat

CRANBERRY COBBLER

I'm not sure where this is from. It was from a long-since-forgotten emailing list.

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

2 1/4 cups fresh cranberries

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup chopped pecans

4 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted and divided in half

1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute, beaten

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 9-inch pie pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread cranberries evenly over bottom of pan. In large mixing bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, pecans, & 2 tablespoons of melted margarine. Pour mixture over the cranberries. Then combine the egg, vanilla, 1/3 cup sugar, flour & remaining 2 tablespoons of melted margarine in bowl & mix until the flour is moistened. Spread mixture over cranberries. Bake for 45 minutes & serve warm.

Per serving: Calories: 182, Carbohydrate: 25 g, Protein: 2 g, Fat: 8 g, Saturated fat: 2 g Sodium: 75 mg, Fiber: 2 g

LEMON CHIFFON PIE

Servings: 8

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/157.shtml

Ingredients

3 tbsp margarine

3 tbsp sugar

3/4 cup graham wafer crumbs

1/2 tsp lemon peel, grated

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/8 tsp allspice

1/2 cup sweetener equivalent to sugar

1 tbsp unflavored gelatine (1 pkg)

1/3 cup powdered skim milk

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup ice water

2 eggs, separated

1 tbsp lemon juice

Directions

Melt margarine in a pie plate at high for 30-45 seconds. Combine graham crumbs and spices. Add to pie plate and combine well with a fork. Spread evenly over bottom of pie plate. Microwave at high for 3-5 min, watching carefully to prevent scorching. Allow to cool before filling.

In a large measure, sprinkle gelatin on 1/2 cup water. Allow to soften. In a separate bowl, combine egg yolks, sugar, lemon peel, salt and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Microwave at medium for 5-8 min until mixture comes to a boil stirring every 2 minutes. Add gelatin and sweetener and mix well. Refrigerate until slightly thickened.

Beat egg whites, powdered milk, ice water and 1 tbsp lemon juice until stiff. Carefully fold gelatin mixture into egg whites. Pour into crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 115; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 15 g; Exchanges: 1 Starch/Bread, 1 Fat

DULCE DE LECHE CHEESECAKE

Yield: 16 servings

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/16 of cheesecake)

Source: Splenda

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1095.shtml

Ingredients

Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons butter, melted

Filling:

3 (8 ounce) packages reduced-fat cream cheese

1 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 eggs

1/3 cup reduced fat milk

1/2 cup dulce de leche

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Mix crust ingredients together, and press into a 9-inch springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool to room temperature.

Reset oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

Beat cream cheese, SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener and flour together until well mixed and smooth. Add vanilla and mix until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix until smooth. Add milk and mix until well blended.

Measure 1/2 cup of the cheesecake batter and pour into a small bowl. Add dulce de leche and stir until well combined.

Pour plain batter over crust. Top with dulce de leche batter by placing rounded spoonfuls over the cheesecake batter and gently swirl into plain batter with the tip of knife or spatula.

Bake 45-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from oven and gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cheesecake (this helps prevent cracking).

Let cool 20-25 minutes before covering and placing in the refrigerator. Refrigerate 4- 6 hours or overnight before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 210; Calories from Fat: 110; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 210 mg; Cholesterol: 70 mg; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g