Desserts!

If you're like many of us, when you or a loved one were diagnosed with diabetes, you figured that everything that tasted good was going to be off limits, especially desserts.

Thank goodness, that's not true, as these six desserts prove, including Custard Peach Tart and Individual Miniature Cheesecakes.

Note: Yes, there are many more delicious snack foods to try. Just check through this blog, or go to Diabetic Gourmet, Diabetes Self Management, or Diabetic Connect, for starters.

Enjoy!

PINEAPPLE CAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 18 servings

Source: The Diabetic Four Ingredient Cookbook

Book Title: The Diabetic Four Ingredient Cookbook

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/pineapple-cake.

Ingredients

5 egg whites

1 can (20 oz. ) water packed pineapple (crushed, drained)

1 yellow reduced fat cake mix

1 tablespoon sugar or equivalent alternative sweetener

Directions

Beat egg whites with electric mixer until foamy. Add drained pineapple then cake mix.

Spread mix in a floured 9x13 inch pan with nonstick spray. Sprinkle with sugar or sweetener.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 71; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 100 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch

ALMOST SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 dozen cookies (24 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes; photo by Tamara Manning

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/almost-shortbread-cookies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup corn or canola oil

1 large egg

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a cookie sheet with non-stick pan spray.

Combine all the ingredients and 1/4 cup water in a large bowl to form a soft dough. Refrigerate the dough 1 hour to chill. Roll or pat out 1/4 inch thick on a floured board.

Cut 2-inch rounds and place them 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges are a light golden brown. Cool and store in an airtight container.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 90; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 26 mg; Cholesterol: 9 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1 Fat

INDIVIDUAL MINIATURE CHEESECAKES

Recipe Yield: Makes: 10 servings

Source: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

Book Title: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/individual-miniature-cheesecakes

Ingredients

1 cup 5% ricotta cheese

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 medium egg

1/4 cup light sour cream

1/2 teaspoon cornstarch

1/8 vanilla extract

Fruit Puree (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 10 muffin cups with muffin paper cups.

In a food processor, combine ricotta cheese, cottage cheese and sugar; puree until smooth. Beat in egg. Blend in sour cream, cornstarch and vanilla until well mixed. Divide batter among muffin cups.

Set muffin tin in larger pan; pour in enough hot water to come half way up sides. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until tester inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from water bath; cool on wire rack. Chill.

Serve with fruit puree, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 127; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 268 mg; Cholesterol: 42 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2/3 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Lean Meat, 1 Fat

ORANGE AND ALMOND CAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 10 slicesServing Size: 1 slice

Source: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

Book Title: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/orange-and-almond-cake.

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

Pinch of salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 large eggs

1/2 cup reduced-fat margarine, at room temperature

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/3 cup ground almonds

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly grease the base of an 8-inch non-stick baking pan and line with parchment paper.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together. Beat the eggs until they are light and frothy.

Beat the margarine and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the beaten eggs gradually, beating well between each addition. If the mixture shows any signs of curdling, beat in a little of the flour mixture.

Stir in the flour mixture together with the ground almonds, almond extract and orange zest and mix lightly to a thick, fluid (but not runny) consistency, adding a little orange juice or water if necessary.

Pour into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake in the center of the oven for about 45-50 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the center.

Strip off the parchment paper and leave the cake to cool on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 122; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 99 mg; Cholesterol: 32 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 16 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 2/3 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

OLD-FASHIONED BAKED CUSTARD

Recipe Yield: Makes: 3 cups (6 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/old-fashioned-baked-custard

Ingredients

3 large eggs, slightly beaten, or 3/4 cup egg substitute

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 cups fat-free milk

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Pinch of ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, salt, and nutmeg. Slowly stir in the milk and vanilla.

Pour 1/2 cup of custard into each of six 5-ounce custard cups. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Set the filled custard cups in a shallow pan. Pour about 1 inch of hot water in the pan around the custard cups.

Bake on the center rack of the oven for 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the custard comes out clean. Serve hot, warm, or chilled.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 82; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 171 mg; Cholesterol: 108 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Sugars: 8 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat

CUSTARD PEACH TART

This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online at https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/recipes/desserts-sweets/custard-peach-tart/. Yield: 8 servings.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt, divided

4 tablespoons cold margarine, cut into pieces

2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

1 egg, separated

2 eggs

3 tablespoons sugar substitute*

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup fat-free (skim) milk

Fat-free whipped topping (optional)

Caramel syrup (optional)

3/4 package (12 ounces) frozen unsweetened peach slices, thawed and drained

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 2 tablespoons water just until moistened, adding additional water if necessary. Shape dough into disc.

Roll out dough into 11-inch circle on lightly floured surface. Place dough in 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Turn under edge of dough. Pierce bottom and side of dough with fork. Beat egg white with fork; lightly brush egg white onto bottom and side of crust. Discard remaining egg white. Place tart pan on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Meanwhile, whisk egg yolk, 2 eggs, sugar substitute, vanilla, nutmeg, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in large bowl until blended. Microwave milk 1 minute on HIGH or until hot. (Do not boil.) Whisk milk into egg mixture until blended. Arrange peach slices in crust; pour egg mixture over peaches.

Bake 25 to 27 minutes or until set. Remove to wire rack; cool to room temperature. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or until chilled. Serve with whipped topping and caramel sauce, if desired.

*Note: This recipe was tested with sucralose-based sugar substitute.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 130 calories, Carbohydrates: 14 g, Protein: 4 g, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 80 mg, Sodium: 165 mg, Fiber: 1 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 Bread/Starch, 1 Fat.