Desserts

Who doesn't love an occasional yummy dessert to finish up a meal?

I think most of us love having something a little decadent now and then.

Here are six yummy diabetic-friendly desserts to try out, including Cranberry Orange Cheesecake and Almond Cheesecake Bars. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 servings

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chocolate-cheesecake-2

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1/2 cup finely ground almonds

Cheesecake Ingredients:

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

1-1/4 cups Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

2 eggs

2 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup reduced fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 ounces (4 squares) semi-sweet chocolate, melted and cooled

Fresh raspberries, optional

Fresh mint, optional

* May substitute 30 packets Equal sweetener.

Note: The crust in the original post from Diabetic Gourmet is pictured made with chocolate wafer crumbs.

Directions

For Crust, spray bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Sprinkle almonds over bottom, patting gently onto pan; set aside.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese and Equal in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in eggs, egg whites and salt. Fold in sour cream and vanilla until combined. Gently mix in chocolate until blended. Pour batter over crust.

Bake in preheated 325F oven 40 to 45 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. To serve, remove side of pan. Garnish top of cheesecake with fresh raspberries and mint, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Notes:

This delicious chocolate cheesecake is not only greatly reduced in fat, but also has 76% less carbohydrates than the traditional recipe. It will become a favorite!

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 197; Fat: 16 g; Sodium: 231 mg; Cholesterol: 67 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 3 fat

CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

Source: Equal®

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

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

1-1/2 cups Equal® Spoonful or Granulated*

1/2 cup cornstarch

1/3 cup European or Dutch-process cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups 2% milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

Light whipped topping (optional)

Chocolate curls (optional)

* May substitute 36 packets Equal sweetener

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. Pierce bottom and side of pastry with fork. Bake in preheated 375F oven 10 to 12 minutes or until crust is golden. Cool on wire rack.

Combine Equal®, cornstarch, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Boil and stir until thickened, about 1 minute.

Beat eggs in small bowl; whisk about 1 cup chocolate mixture into eggs. Whisk egg mixture into chocolate mixture in saucepan. Cook over very low heat, whisking constantly, 30 to 60 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

Spread hot filling in baked crust. Refrigerate until chilled and set, about 6 hours. Garnish top of pie with dollops of whipped topping and chocolate curls, if desired. Cut pie into wedges.

Notes:

A rich chocolate pie that has 43% less calories than a traditional recipe, because it is flavored with Equal, unsweetened cocoa and lower fat milk. Indulge without the guilt!

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 235; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 463 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 27 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 milk, 1 starch, 2 fat

COCONUT CUSTARD PIE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

Source: Equal

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

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

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.

Notes:

A baked custard pie with less calories because it’s sweetened with Equal and made with 2% milk. For added coconut flavor use the optional coconut extract.

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

CRANBERRY ORANGE CHEESECAKE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 16

Source: Equal®

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/cranberry-orange-cheesecake.

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1-1/3 cups gingersnap crumbs

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

Cheesecake Ingredients:

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

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel

Additional grated orange peel (optional)

*May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May Substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, combine gingersnap crumbs, 3 tablespoons Equal® and melted butter. Reserve 2 tablespoons crumb mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated 325° F oven 8 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese and 1 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. Gently stir in cranberries and orange peel.

Pour batter over baked crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. 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 grated orange peel, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Notes:

Chopped fresh cranberries, grated orange peel and the tang of gingersnaps make this a festive looking and delicious cheesecake variation.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 196; Fat: 13 g; Sodium: 268 mg; Cholesterol: 62 mg; Protein: 7 g;Carbohydrates: 13 g

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

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 12

Source: Equal

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

Ingredients

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; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 116 mg; Cholesterol: 36 mg; Protein: 3 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 fat

ALMOND CHEESECAKE BARS

Recipe Yield: Serves: 20Serving Size: 1 bar

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/almond-cheesecake-bars.

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.

Notes:

Light and creamy cheesecake bars topped with toasted almonds.

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