Desserts!

I want something snacky!

Most of us have said (or thought) that occasionally.

But throw in a diagnosis of diabetes, and one of our thoughts, early on, is that any snacks are a thing of the past.

These dessert recipes prove otherwise, that, done in moderation, yummy desserts don't have to be a thing of the past. Check out the Chocolate Chip Fudgie Cups and Frozen Berry Ice Cream, as well as the rest of today's offerings. Enjoy!

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.

BAKED APPLES BURNETTE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

Source: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

Book Title: Light and Easy Diabetes Cuisine

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/baked-apples-burnette.

Ingredients

4 MacIntosh or Rome apples

2 tablespoons raisins

1 tablespoon sunflower seeds

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Few drops pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Core apples and peel away about 1/2 inch of skin from top of each. Prick each a few times with a fork.

Fill each core with raisins, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg and a drop of vanilla.

Place apples in a baking dish and add water mixed with orange juice.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes until apples are soft, basting occasionally with liquid. Serve warm or chilled with syrup.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 96; Fat: 1 g; Sodium: 2 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Fruit

FROZEN BERRY ICE CREAM

This is from Diabetes Self-Management, and can be viewed online here.

Yield: 8 servings. Serving size: 1/2 cup.

Ingredients

8 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries, partially thawed

8 ounces frozen unsweetened peaches, partially thawed

4 ounces frozen unsweetened blueberries, partially thawed

6 packets sugar substitute

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 cups sugar-free, low-fat vanilla ice cream

16 blueberries (optional)

4 small strawberries, halved (optional)

8 peach slices (optional)

Directions

Combine partially thawed strawberries, peaches, blueberries, sugar substitute, and vanilla in food processor. Process until coarsely chopped.

Add ice cream; process until well blended.

Serve immediately for semi-soft texture or freeze until ready to serve. (If frozen, let stand 10 minutes to soften slightly.) Garnish each serving with 2 blueberries for “eyes,” 1 strawberry half for “nose,” and 1 peach slice for “smile.”

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 69 calories, Carbohydrates: 15 g, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 1 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 23 mg, Fiber: 1 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 Bread/Starch.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/double-chocolate-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.

Notes:

Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?

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

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat

CHOCOLATE CHIP FUDGIE CUPS

Recipe Yield: Yield: makes 2 dozen

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-chip-fudgie-cups

Ingredients

Chocolate Chip Dough:

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:

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.

Notes:

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.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 106 mg; Cholesterol: 41 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 14 g

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

NECTARINE AND BERRY TART

Yield: 8 servings

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/nectarine-and-berry-tart

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

5 cups sliced nectarines

1 cup raspberries or sliced strawberries

1 cup fresh or frozen unsweetened blueberries, partially thawed

2 teaspoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup Equal ® Spoonful*

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Roll pastry on floured surface into 12-inch circle. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet.

Toss nectarines and berries with lemon juice in large bowl. Sprinkle fruit with combined cornstarch, Equal®, lemon peel and allspice. Toss to coat.

Arrange fruit mixture over pastry, leaving 2-inch border around edge of pastry. Bring edge of pastry toward center, overlapping as necessary.

Bake tart in preheated 425° F oven 35 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden and fruit is tender. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

A seasonal dessert that looks as great as it tastes. Fresh blueberries, strawberries and nectarines fill a prepared pie pastry. This bakery-like tart is easy to make and tastes great.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 188; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 101 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 29 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 starch, 1 fat