Desserts!

It's a common misconception among those newly diagnosed with diabetes that one can no longer eat desserts. But that is far from the truth. As with most things, moderation is the key.

Here are six dessert recipes that are diabetic-approved, including Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake and Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake Cups. Enjoy!

MOCHA SWIRL CHEESECAKE

This recipe begins, “Eye catching dessert of cheesecake with a coffee-chocolate mixture swirled throughout.”

Recipe Yield: 16 servings

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/mocha-swirl-cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs

1/2 cup chopped pecans or almonds

3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

Cheesecake Ingredients:

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

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

2 eggs

2 egg whites

1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated***

1-1/4 teaspoons instant coffee crystals

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

* May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, combine chocolate crumbs, pecans, butter and 3 tablespoons Equal. Press onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup Equal in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in eggs, egg whites, cornstarch and salt. Fold in sour cream and vanilla until combined.

Remove 1/2 cup cheesecake batter. Stir in 3 tablespoons Equal, instant coffee crystals and cocoa until well combined.

Pour half of plain batter over crust. Top with 5 spoonfuls of coffee batter. Using tip of knife or spatula, gently swirl coffee batter into cheesecake. Repeat with remaining batters.

Bake in preheated 325F oven 45 to 50 minutes or until center of cake is almost set.

Cool on wire rack. Gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Let cheesecake cool completely.

Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.

To serve, remove side of pan. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 171; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 283 mg; Cholesterol: 56 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 milk, 2 fat

COCONUT CUSTARD PIE

This recipe begins, “A baked custard pie with less carbs and calories.”

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

View online: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/coconut-custard-pie

Print version: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/coconut-custard-pie/print/

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9 inch pie

4 eggs

2 cups 2% milk

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup toasted flaked coconut

1 teaspoon coconut extract (optional**)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

** For added coconut flavor use the optional coconut extract.

Directions

Roll pastry on floured surface into circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate; trim and flute edge. Set aside.

Beat eggs in large bowl about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Whisk in milk and remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into pastry shell.

Bake pie in preheated 375F oven 30 to 35 minutes or until sharp knife inserted halfway between center and edge of pie comes out clean.

Cool on wire rack. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 194; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 301 mg; Cholesterol: 115 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 1/2 starch, 2 fat

CHOCOLATE SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 servings

This recipe begins, “New York-style cheesecake swirled with a rich chocolate mixture. Serve with fresh raspberries.”

View online: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-swirl-cheesecake

Print version: https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-swirl-cheesecake/print/

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

4 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

Cheesecake Ingredients:

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

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup reduced fat sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted, slightly cooled

1 tablespoon fat-free milk

Chocolate curls (optional)

* May substitute 3 packets Equal sweetener

* May substitute 3 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, mix vanilla wafer crumbs, butter and 2 tablespoons Equal. Press onto bottom and 1/2-inch up side of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated 325F oven 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup Equal in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in eggs, egg whites and cornstarch. Fold in sour cream and vanilla until combined. Remove 1/2 cup cheesecake batter. Pour remaining batter over baked crust.

Add melted chocolate and fat-free milk to 1/2 cup reserved cheesecake batter; mix well. Place spoonfuls of chocolate mixture on top of cheesecake. Using tip of knife or spatula, gently swirl chocolate batter into cheesecake.

Bake in preheated oven 45 to 50 minutes or until center of cake is almost set. Cool on wire rack. Gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Let cheesecake cool completely. Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving. To serve, remove side of pan. Garnish top of cheesecake with chocolate curls, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 164; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 235 mg; Cholesterol: 57 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 milk, 2 fat

CHOCOLATE FILLED CAKE ROLL

Recipe Yield: 12 one-inch slice servings

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-filled-cake-roll

Ingredients

Cake:

5 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

3 packets of Sweet'n Low

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon baking powder

Filling:

2 cups skim milk

1 package sugar-free chocolate instant pudding mix

Topping:

2 teaspoons sugar-free cocoa mix

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.

Grease and line the bottom of a 10x15" jelly roll pan with waxed paper.

Beat eggs in a large bowl with electric mixer until fluffy.

Sprinkle sugar, Sweet'n Low and vanilla over eggs; continue beating for 2 minutes.

Sift flour, cornstarch, and baking powder together.

Sprinkle half the mixture over batter; fold in with spatula.

Repeat with remaining flour mixture.

Spread batter evenly in pan.

Bake on center rack in oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until cake is golden and springs back when lightly touched.

Arrange a towel on work surface and cover with aluminum foil.

Loosen edges of cake; unmold on foil.

Roll cake jelly roll style, using towel as a guide.

Leave cake rolled until it cools into jelly roll shape.

To make filling, blend milk with pudding mix according to package directions.

Refrigerate pudding until it thickens.

Unroll cake, spread evenly with pudding, and reroll.

Lightly sprinkle sugar-free cocoa over the top to decorate.

Cut into 1" slices and serve.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 257; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 377 mg; Cholesterol: 89 mg; Protein: 34 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 4 Low-Fat Meat; 1 Vegetable

PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE CUPS

This recipe begins, “A chocolate wafer crust forms the base for this peanut butter filled chocolate cheesecake cup.”

Recipe Yield: Yield: 24 servings

Serving size: 1 cheesecake cup

View this at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/peanut-butter-and-chocolate-cheesecake-cups

Ingredients

Crust

36 Reduced-Fat Chocolate Wafers

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

5 tablespoons light butter, melted

Peanut Butter Center

1/2 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

3 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter

3 tablespoons reduced fat cream cheese

Chocolate Filling

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

8 ounces reduced fat cream cheese

1 3/4 cups Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup egg substitute

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ounces sugar-free chocolate, melted
Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Make Crust. Crush cookies into fine crumbs. Blend all crust ingredients together in a small bowl. Stir until well blended. Set aside.

Make Peanut Butter Center. Place all center ingredients in a small bowl. Mix until well blended. Set aside.

Make Chocolate Filling. Melt chocolate in small saucepan over low heat. Set aside. Place cream cheese and Splenda Granulated Sweetener in a small mixing bowl. Beat until soft. Slowly add skim milk. Mix, using a wire whisk, until smooth. Add melted chocolate. Stir well. Add egg substitute and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Set aside.

Assemble cups. Place 24 mini size foil baking cups on a sheet pan. Evenly divide crust between the 24 baking cups. Firmly press crusts into the bottom of the cups. Place approx. 1/2 tsp of the peanut butter center in the center of each crust-lined baking cup. Spoon chocolate filling into each baking cup. Firmly tap sheet pan on countertop to remove any air bubbles.

Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven 10-15 minutes, or until slightly firm to the touch.

Chill for approximately 2 hours before serving. Drizzle optional melted chocolate over the top for a garnish.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 95 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Sugars: 5 g

CRUMB TOPPED CHERRY PIE DESSERT

Source: Sweet Inspirations

Book Title: Sweet Inspirations

Recipe Yield: Servings: 12

View this online here.

Ingredients

Pastry for a one-crust pie

2 (1lb) cans red tart cherries (packed in water)

1/2 cup fruit sweetener** (1/4 cup frozen apple juice concentrate plus 1/4 cup granulated fructose)

3 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 cup water

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

2 tbsp lemon juice

A few drops of red food coloring (optional)

2 tbsp almond flavoring

Topping:

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup instant mashed potato or buds

1/4 cup fruit sweetener** (1/8 cup frozen apple juice concentrate plus 1/8 cup granulated fructose)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 cup margarine

**You can find commercial fruit sweeteners, ordinarily a combination of concentrated peach & pear juices and unsweetened pineapple syrup, in health food stores, gourmet food stores and large grocery outlets. It tastes 1-1/2 to 2 times sweeter than refined sugar. You can also make your own fruit sweetener. For example, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup fruit sweetener, you can substitute 1/4 cup concentrated apple juice + 1/4 cup granulated fructose.

Directions

Line 9-inch pie pan with prepared pastry. Set aside.

Drain cherries, reserving one cup of the liquid. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and 1/4 cup water, stirring until smooth. Add cherry liquid, fruit sweetener and salt. Simmer mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. Remove from heat and add cherries, peel, lemon juice, food coloring and almond flavoring. Pour into prepared pie shell.

Combine last six ingredients and blend to crumbly consistency. Sprinkle over pie filling. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into 12 pieces.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 178; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 128 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 2/3 Fruit, 1-1/2 Fat