Pies

I want something snacky!

If you've ever heard this (or said this...or thought it), you probably have a favorite snack item.

My favorite thing to make happens to be pies. And today's post includes six pie recipes, including Chocolate Cream Pie and Tropical Banana-Pineapple Pie. Enjoy!

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/lemon-meringue-pie

Ingredients

For Pie Filling:

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

2-1/4 cups water

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice or frozen lemon juice concentrate*

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 eggs

2 egg whites

1-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

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

2 tablespoons stick butter or margarine

1 to 2 drops yellow food coloring (optional)

For Meringue:

3 egg whites

1/4 teaspoon cream tartar

2/3 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated***

* Such as Minute Maid Premium Lemon juice (frozen) 100% Pure Lemon Juice from Concentrate

** May substitute 36 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Pie Filling, 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 425F oven 10 to 12 minutes or until pastry is golden. Cool on wire rack.

Combine water, lemon juice and cornstarch in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Beat eggs, 2 egg whites and lemon peel in medium bowl. Mix in 1-1/2 cups Equal. Stir about half of hot cornstarch mixture into egg mixture.

Return all to saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in butter until melted. Stir in food coloring, if desired. Pour mixture over baked pie shell.

For Meringue, beat 3 egg whites in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until foamy. Add cream of tartar. Beat to soft peaks. Gradually beat in 2/3 cup Equal, beating to stiff peaks. Spread meringue over hot lemon filling, carefully sealing to edge of crust to prevent shrinking or weeping.

Bake pie in 425F oven about 5 minutes or until meringue is lightly browned.

Cool completely on wire rack. Cut pie into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 178; Fat: 9 g; Sodium: 133 mg; Cholesterol: 65 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 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

SWEET POTATO PIE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings

Source: Equal

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/sweet-potato-pie-3.

Ingredients

Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie

2 cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes (about 2 Pastry for single-crust 9-inch pie pounds)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated fat-free milk

Light whipped topping (optional)

Grated nutmeg (optional)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

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

Blend sweet potatoes in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth. Stir in eggs, Equal, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, spices, salt and evaporated milk. Pour mixture over pastry shell.

Bake in preheated 400F oven 40 to 45 minutes or until filling is set and sharp knife inserted into center comes out clean.

Cool pie completely on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate. Garnish top of pie with whipped topping and grated nutmeg, if desired. Cut pie into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 197; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 316 mg; Cholesterol: 58 mg; Protein: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 28 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat

APPLE PIE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings

Source: Equal

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

Ingredients

Pastry for double-crust 9-inch pie

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

8 cups peeled, cored, sliced Granny Smith or other baking apples (about 8 medium)

* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Roll 1/2 the pastry on floured surface into circle 1 inch larger than inverted 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into plate.

Combine cornstarch, Equal, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Sprinkle over apples in large bowl and toss to coat. Arrange apples in pie crust.

Roll remaining pastry into circle large enough to fit top of pie. Place over apples. Seal edges, trim and flute. Cut a few slits in top of pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake in preheated 400F oven 40 to 50 minutes or until crust is golden and apples are tender.

Cool on wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 253; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 224 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 42 g

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

HAPPY HOLIDAY PUMPKIN PIE

Recipe Yield: Serves: 8

Source: Splenda

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/happy-holiday-pumpkin-pie.

Ingredients

1 prepared pie crust

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree

3/4 cup SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fat free half-and-half

1/2 cup egg substitute

3 tablespoons heavy cream

1 tablespoon vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Blend pumpkin puree, SPLENDA Granulated Sweetener, cornstarch, spices, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until all ingredients are well blended. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Pour into prepared piecrust. Bake in preheated 400 degrees F oven for 35-40 minutes or until set in the center and the crust is golden brown.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 190; Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 3.5 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 330 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g; Sugars: 3 g

TROPICAL BANANA-PINEAPPLE PIE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 10 servings

Source: Equal

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tropical-banana-pineapple-pie.

Ingredients

Pastry for single crust 9-inch pie

2 packages (8 oz. each) reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

1 container (8 oz.) light whipped topping, thawed if frozen

1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, well drained

1/4 cup flaked coconut, divided

1/2 teaspoon rum extract

2 medium ripe bananas, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices

1 tablespoon chopped pecans

* May substitute 12 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F.

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 side and bottom of pastry with tines of a fork.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely on wire rack.

Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and Equal in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Gradually mix in whipped topping, pineapple, 3 tablespoons coconut and rum extract.

Place half of cream cheese mixture over pie crust. Arrange banana slices in single layer. Top with remaining cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle top of pie with remaining 1 tablespoon coconut and chopped pecans.

Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 272; Fat: 16 g; Sodium: 199 mg; Cholesterol: 29 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fruit, 3 fat