Desserts!

Think that just because you or a loved one is diabetic, you'll have to forgo yummy desserts? Guess again!

These yummy treats are among many of the diabetic-safe desserts you'll come back to time and again. The idea is to have these in moderation, which is the safe way to do many things.

And now, here are six dessert recipes to try out. Enjoy!

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

This recipe begins, “Light and creamy cheesecake bars topped with toasted almonds.”

Serves: 20

Serving Size: 1 bar

Source: Splenda

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1229.shtml

Ingredients

Crust:

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 1/4 cups graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs

1/3 cup light butter, melted

1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, finely ground

Filling:

12 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 large eggs

1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream

2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/4 cup toasted, sliced almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray an 8x8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Mix crust ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Mix well. Press into prepared pan. Bake 10-12 minutes or until firm.

Mix cream cheese and Splenda Granulated Sweetener together until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping the sides of the bowl, and mixing well after each addition. Add sour cream and extracts; mix well. Pour over prepared crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 47 minutes, or until firm.

Top with toasted almonds.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Protein: 4 g; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 105 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g

GINGER SPICE BISCOTTI

Makes 40 biscotti

Source: AICR

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/433.shtml

Ingredients

Canola oil spray

1-1/4 cups unbleached, all purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

4 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. cinnamon

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/4 tsp. salt

2 large eggs

1/3 cup canola oil

1/4 cup unsweetened apple butter or applesauce

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup dried cranberries or other chopped dried fruit

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat a large cookie sheet with oil spray. Set aside.

Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl. Use a food processor or hand mix eggs with oil and apple butter until blended. Blend in the sugar. Add half of the dry mixture and blend until smooth. Add remaining dry (The dough will be soft and sticky but easy to handle.) Transfer dough to a large bowl. Fold in the dried fruit.

Place one-half of the dough at each end of the cookie sheet. With damp hands, form each piece of dough into a log 3 inches wide and about 3/4-inch high. Place logs about 4 inches apart. (Logs will spread during baking.) Bake 25-30 minutes, or until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. (Leave heat on.)

With a serrated knife, cut each log into 1/2-inch cookies cut on the diagonal. Bake 10 minutes. Turn each cookie over and bake 10 more minutes. Turn off heat and leave biscotti in the oven 10 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 63; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 38 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch. 1/2 Fat

CHOCOLATE MOCHA CHEESECAKE

Yield: 16 servings

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

Source: Splenda

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1193.shtml

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

44 Reduced-Fat Chocolate Wafers, crushed

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

Batter Ingredients

3 (8 ounce) packages reduced-fat cream cheese

3/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 eggs

2 egg whites

1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

1-1/4 teaspoons instant espresso crystals

2 (.55 ounce) packages Sugar-Free Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa Mix

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 and Splenda Granulated Sweetener together until well mixed and smooth. Add eggs, egg whites, cornstarch and salt. Mix until smooth. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix until well blended.

Measure 1/2 cup of the cheesecake batter and pour into a small bowl. Add instant espresso crystals and cocoa mix. Stir until well combined.

Pour half of plain batter over crust. Top with half of the coffee batter by placing rounded spoonfuls over the cheesecake batter. Gently swirl the coffee batter into plain batter with the tip of knife or spatula. Repeat with remaining batters.

Bake 45-50 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: 200; Calories from Fat: 120; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 270 mg; Cholesterol: 65 mg; Saturated Fat: 8 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

RASPBERRY-ALMOND COOKIES

This recipe begins, “A bar-style cookie that's easy to make. Filled with rich, flavorful raspberry spreadable fruit, this is sure to become a favorite.”

Yield: 24 servings

Source: Equal

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1127.shtml

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1/8 teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons cold stick butter or margarine, cut into pieces

1 egg

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 jar (10 ounces) seedless raspberry spreadable fruit

3 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds

* May substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Combine flour, Equal and salt in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Stir in egg, water and lemon peel. Mixture will be crumbly.

Press mixture evenly onto bottom of well-sprayed 8 x 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 12 to 15 minutes or until edges of crust are lightly browned.

Remove pan from oven and spread raspberry fruit over top. Sprinkle with almonds. Return to oven, and bake an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until raspberry fruit is bubbly. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Store in airtight containers at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 86; Protein: 2 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 16 mg; Cholesterol: 19 mg; Carbohydrates: 12 g; Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fat

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Serves: 12

Source: Equal

Ingredients

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/957.shtml

Torte Ingredients

6 tablespoons stick butter or margarine

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/3 cup fat-free milk

1/3 cup sugar-free apricot preserves or apricot spreadable fruit

2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1-1/2 cups Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

3 egg whites

1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

Rich Chocolate Glaze Ingredients:

1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate

1 tablespoon stick butter or margarine

Whipped topping, fresh raspberries, and/or fresh mint (optional)

* May substitute 36 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Torte, heat 6 tablespoons butter, 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, milk, preserves and coffee crystals in small saucepan, whisking frequently until chocolate is almost melted.

Remove pan from heat; continue whisking until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Whisk in egg yolk and vanilla. Add Equal, whisking until smooth.

Lightly grease bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment or waxed paper. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar to stiff peaks in large bowl. Fold chocolate mixture into egg whites; fold in combined flour and salt. Pour cake batter into pan.

Bake in preheated 350 F oven 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Do not over bake. Carefully loosen side of cake from pan with small sharp knife, which will keep cake from cracking as it cools. Cool cake completely in pan on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or until chilled.

For Rich Chocolate Glaze, melt 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter in small saucepan, stirring frequently.

Remove cake from pan and place on serving plate. Pour Rich Chocolate Glaze over top of cake, letting it run down sides. Let cake stand about 1 hour or until glaze is set. Garnish top of cake with prepared whipped topping, fresh raspberries and fresh mint, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 145; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 116 mg; Cholesterol: 36 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 fat

MINI CHOCOLATE MINT CHEESECAKES

This recipe begins, “Serve a decadent cheesecake to each of your guests at your next dinner party. They'll be calling you the Host of the Year.”

Makes 24 servings

Source: Jennie-O

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1337.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 cup crushed gluten-free chocolate wafer cookies

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg or 1/4 cup egg substitute

1/3 cup chocolate chips, melted

1/3 cup chopped crème de menthe mint candy wafers

1/3 cup sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sweetened whipped cream

Directions

Heat oven to 325F.

In small bowl, combine crushed cookie crumbs and melted butter.

Press cookie crumb mixture into bottom of individual small tart dishes custard cups or mini muffin cups.

In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until blended.

Add egg. Blend in melted chocolate, chopped candy, sour cream and vanilla.

Pour evenly over crumbs.

Bake 20 minutes.

Cool. Refrigerate until serving.

Before serving, top with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 100; Protein: 1 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 55 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Dietary Fiber: 0 g; Sugars: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g