Desserts

There was a time, years ago, when I thought desserts were not diabetic friendly. But that's so not true. Granted, like everything else, you have to approach desserts with the idea of moderation in mind. We're talking one piece of pie (and no, that one piece of pie should not be the entire 9-inch pie!), etc.

With that in mind, here are six yummy dessert recipes to add a little nice to your week, including Peach Melba and Old-Fashioned Baked Custard. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE COFFEE TIRAMISU

Recipe Yield: Makes: 16 Servings

Source: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

Book Title: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/chocolate-coffee-tiramisu.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups 5% ricotta cheese

1/2 cup light cream cheese

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 egg whites

1/3 cup granulated sugar

3/4 strong, prepared coffee

3 tablespoon chocolate or coffee-flavored liqueur

16 lady finger cookies

Directions

Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with vegetable spray.

In a food processor, combine ricotta cheese, cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, cocoa, egg yolk and vanilla until smooth; transfer to a bowl.

In bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whites into the ricotta mixture.

Combine coffee and liqueur in a small bowl.

Put half of lady fingers in bottom of dish. Sprinkle with half of coffee-liqueur mixture. Spread half of ricotta mixture on top. Repeat layers. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours, or overnight.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 150; Fat: 5 g; Sodium: 102 mg; Cholesterol: 66 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 21 g

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

GRANNY SMITH APPLE TART

Recipe Yield: Yield: 1 tart (8 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/granny-smith-apple-tart.

Ingredients

1 refrigerated fill-and-bake pie crust (7 to 7-1/2 ounces)

3 large Granny Smith apples (about 1-1/2 pounds total), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup sour half-and-half, or 1/4 cup nonfat sour cream

1 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Put the pie crust into a 9-inch-diameter tart pan with a removable bottom; press the crust against the fluted edge and trim off any pastry that extends over the top. Roll the trimmed dough into a ball; flatten to 1/4 inch and cut 2 or 3 shapes with a cookie cutter. Prick the tart shell in several places with the tines of a fork.

Put the sliced apples in a large bowl; drizzle them with lemon juice and toss to mix.

In a small bowl, blend the brown sugar, sour half-and-half, tapioca, and cinnamon.

Fold the brown sugar mixture into the apples until all the fruit is coated. Spoon the apples into the tart shell; arrange the dough shapes on top of the apples. Sprinkle granulated sugar over the top.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until the apples are tender. Cut in 8 equal slices. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 200; Fat: 8 g; Sodium: 146 mg; Cholesterol: 8 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 34 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

MERINGUE COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 3-1/2 dozen cookies (14 Servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

Book Title: The New Family Cookbook For People with Diabetes

You can view this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/meringue-cookies.

Ingredients

2 large egg whites

1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Pinch of salt

1/3 cup finely chopped pecans or almonds

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or non-stick oven liner film.

Put the egg whites and lemon juice in a chilled bowl. Beat with an electric mixer to a soft foam. Slowly beat in the sugar, mixing well after each addition. Continue beating at medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Add the vanilla and salt. Gently fold in the nuts.

Drop the batter by heaping teaspoons onto the cookie sheets.Shape with the back of a spoon onto 1-inch circles. Bake until set and firm, about 1 hour. Turn off the oven but leave the cookies there until the oven is completely cool. Remove the cookies from the oven and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: Calories: 46; Fat: 2 g; Sodium: 18 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Sugars: 6 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate

PEACH MELBA

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/peach-melba.

Ingredients

4 large ripe peaches

2 cup plus 2 tablespoons raspberries

1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

2 tablespoons non-fat dry milk powder plus water to make 1/4 cup

1 tablespoon unsweetened grape juice

Directions

Blanch peaches by dropping them in boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove, run under cold water and peel off skins. Cut in half, discard pits and place 2 peach halves on each of 4 individual dessert dishes.

Puree raspberries with remaining ingredients, reserving 2 tablespoons of berries for garnish.

Spoon puree over peaches, top with berries and serve cold.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 112; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 10 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Fruit, 1 Milk

STRAWBERRY PANNA COTTAS

This recipe begins, “Reduced-carb panna cotta that everyone will love!”

Recipe Yield: Servings Per Recipe: 4; Serving Size: 1 (6-ounce) panna cotta

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/strawberry-panna-cottas

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups whole milk

1-1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin

1-1/2 pints strawberries, halved

2 tablespoons Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pint strawberries, sliced

Directions

Sprinkle gelatin over milk in a small saucepan; let stand 1 minute. Cook over low heat, stirring until gelatin dissolves (do not boil). Set aside to cool.

Process 1-1/2 pints strawberries in a food processor, or until pureed, stopping to scrape down sides. Press strawberries through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a bowl, discarding solids. Stir cooled milk mixture into strawberry puree. Add Splenda Granulated Sweetener and vanilla, stirring until Splenda Granulated Sweetener dissolves.

Coat 4 (6-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray. Divide strawberry mixture evenly among ramekins. Cover each ramekin with plastic wrap; refrigerate 4 hours or overnight until panna cottas are set.

Run a knife around the edge of each panna cotta and unmold onto serving plates. Serve with sliced strawberries.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 130; Fat: 4 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 5 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 21 g; Sugars: 5 g

OLD-FASHIONED BAKED CUSTARD

Recipe Yield: Makes: 3 cups (6 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

View this inline 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