Cake!

Is there any dessert more festive than cake?

Maybe not. And while pies might be a go-to dessert for holidays, few of us think of parties (especially birthdays) without cake.

Today's six yummy (and festive) cakes include Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Angel Pecan Cupcakes. Enjoy!

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

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

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Recipe Yield: Yield: Makes 12 slices Serving Size: 1 slice

Source: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

Book Title: Great Healthy Food - Diabetes

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

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups whole wheat flour

Pinch of salt

2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3/4 cup raisins, soaked overnight (see note if you leave out raisins)

in 1/2 cup unsweetened orange juice

4 medium carrots, peeled and finely grated

1 tablespoon sunflower oil

2 medium egg whites, at room temperature

3-1/2 ounces low-fat cream cheese beaten with 2 teaspoons sifted confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.

Sift the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and ginger into a large bowl, tipping in any bran left in the sifter.

Stir in the sugar, raisins with their juice, carrots and oil and mix well.

Beat the egg whites until they stand up in soft peaks, then fold lightly but thoroughly into the carrot mixture, using a large spoon or spatula.

Pour into the pan and bake in the center of the oven for about 1-1/4 hours, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and peel off the lining paper. When completely cool, cut in half horizontally and fill with the sweetened cream cheese.

Notes:

Some people do not like raisins in their carrot cake. If you choose to leave out the raisins, as pictured, it will reduce the amount of carbohydrate by 7g, calories by 27, sugars by 5.4g, fiber by 0.3g and protein by 0.3g per serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 137; Fat: 3 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 3 g; Sodium: 154 mg; Cholesterol: 5 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 26 g

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

APPLESAUCE CAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 8 servings Serving size: 1 slice.

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/applesauce-cake.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 cup reduced-calorie margarine

1/4 cup molasses

1/2 cup egg substitute

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 inch metal cake pan with vegetable cooking spray. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat margarine and molasses with an electric mixer on high speed for approximately 1 minute.

Add egg substitute and vanilla and blend on high speed for 30 seconds. Mixture will be liquid.

Add Splenda Granulated Sweetener and beat on medium speed until very smooth, approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Add flour mixture and applesauce and beat on low speed until mixed, approximately 45 seconds.

Spread batter evenly into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 170; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 260 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 24 g; Sugars: 10 g

ANGEL PECAN CUPCAKES

Yield: 12 servings

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=746

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/746.shtml

Source: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Terrific Diabetic Meals

Ingredients

2 eggs, separated

1/4 cup hot tap water

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup fructose

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup cake flour

3/4 teaspoon low-salt baking powder

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, with an electric mixer, beat egg yolks, hot water, and vanilla together until very thick and pale.

Slowly beat in 1/2 cup fructose and set aside. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add salt, and continue beating until whites hold soft peaks.

Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup fructose to egg whites, beating until stiff but not dry. Stir 1/3 of whites into yolks, and sift flour and baking powder over egg mixture.

Add pecans and remaining whites, and gently fold until blended.

Place 12 paper liners in a 12-cup muffin pan.

Spoon batter evenly into cups, and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 112; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 27 mg; Cholesterol: 35 mg; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Glycemic Index: 30, Glycemic Load: 6; Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch

LIGHT LEMON CAKE

Yield: 20 servings

Print version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=840

Online version: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/840.shtml

Source: Diabetic Dream Desserts

Ingredients

1 box (1 pound, 2.25 ounces) white or lemon cake mix

1 cup water

1/2 cup nonfat or light sour cream

1/2 cup fat-free egg substitute

2 packages (4-serving size each) sugar-free lemon gelatin mix

1 cup boiling water

1 cup cold tap water

Frosting:

2 cups nonfat or light whipped topping

3/4 cup light lemon yogurt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the cake mix, water, sour cream, and egg substitute in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 2 minutes.

Coat a 9-by-13 inch pan with cooking spray and spread the mixture evenly in the pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or just until the top springs back when lightly touched and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

Let the cake cool to room temperature. Then, using a fork, poke holes in the cake at 1/2-inch intervals.

Place the gelatin mix in a medium bowl and add the boiling water. Whisk for 2 minutes or until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in the cold water.

Slowly pour the gelatin mixture over the cake, allowing it to be absorbed.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

To make the frosting, place the whipped topping in a small bowl and fold in the yogurt. Spread the frosting over the cake and chill for an additional hour before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 138; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 218 mg; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Carbohydrates: 26 g; Exchanges: 2 Carbohydrate, 1/2 Fat