Desserts

Shortly after a diabetic diagnosis (whether our own or a family member's diagnosis), many of us figured that desserts were now a thing of the past.

However, that's not so. True, as with most other things, it depends on how it's made, and then done in moderation.

With that in mind, here are six yummy (and diabetic-friendly) desserts, including Chocolate Cheesecake and Angel Pecan Cupcakes. Enjoy!

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

View this inline at 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

BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE

Recipe Yield: Yield: 9 to 12 Servings

Source: 1,001 Delicious Desserts For People with Diabetes

Book Title: 1,001 Delicious Desserts For People with Diabetes

You can view this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/blueberry-crumb-cake.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons margarine

1 egg

5-1/2 teaspoons "Equal for Recipes" or 18 packets Equal sweetener

1 cup all-purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup reduced-fat buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Blueberry Crumb Topping (recipe follows)

Blueberry Crumb Topping Ingredients

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3-1/2 teaspoons Equal for Recipes or 12 packets Equal sweetener

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon maple extract

4 tablespoons cold margarine, cut into pieces

1 cup fresh, or frozen, blueberries

Directions

Beat margarine, egg, and Equal for Recipes in medium bowl until smooth. Mix in combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon alternately with combined buttermilk and vanilla, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.

Pour batter into greased and floured 8-inch square cake pan; sprinkle Blueberry Crumb Topping evenly over batter.

Bake at 350 degrees F. until toothpick inserted in cakes comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve warm.

Blueberry Crumb Topping Directions: Combine flour, Equal for Recipes, and cinnamon in small bowl; sprinkle with maple extract. Cut in margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add blueberries and toss.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 196; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 358 mg; Cholesterol: 24 mg; Protein: 6 g; Carbohydrates: 18 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Bread/Starch, 2-1/2 Fat

DIRT DESSERT PUDDING BOWLS

This is from Old El Paso, and begins, "Dessert has never been so much fun to create or enjoy than with this classic dirt dessert—now in an easy-to-hold, edible tortilla bowl! Sweetened and oven-baked Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls make sure you don't miss a single dirt crumb. Layers of chocolate pudding, crushed sandwich cookies and gummy worm candies will delight your kids (and adults!). It's perfect for birthdays, and easy enough for an anytime dessert."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Makes 12

To view this online, go to https://www.oldelpaso.com/recipes/dirt-dessert-pudding-bowls.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 package (12 count) Old El Paso™ Mini Soft Tortilla Bowls

1 tablespoon sugar

1 package (4-serving size) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix

1 1/2 cups cold milk

1/2 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping

8 creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed (about 3/4 cup)

12 gummy worm candies

Preparation

Heat oven to 375°F. Line rimmed cookie sheet with foil. Lightly brush melted butter on all sides of tortilla bowls. Sprinkle sugar on all sides of bowls. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned on edges and firm to the touch. Bowls will crisp as they cool. Remove to cooling rack to cool completely, about 10 minutes.

When ready to serve, in medium bowl, beat pudding mix and milk 2 minutes, using whisk. Fold in whipped topping. Divide pudding mixture among cooled tortilla bowls, spreading evenly.

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon crushed cookies over top of each; lightly press into pudding layer. Cut gummy worm candies in half, and insert the two ends into top of each tortilla bowl. Serve immediately. Store any remaining bowls in refrigerator.

Expert Tips

For more fun, try sprinkling green candy sprinkles or flower-shaped candy decors on tops of crushed cookies in dirt pudding.

To easily crush cookies in this dirt dessert recipe, place in resealable food-storage plastic bag, and go over with rolling pin.

Gummy worm candies can vary in size. There’s no need to cut them in half if you buy minis!

Nutrition: 1 Mini Tortilla Bowl: Calories: 180 (Calories from Fat: 45); Total Fat: 5g (Saturated Fat 2.5g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 5mg; Sodium 270mg; Total Carbohydrate 29g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 17g); Protein 3g

% Daily Value:Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 6%; Iron 8%;

Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat

Carbohydrate Choices: 2

ANGEL PECAN CUPCAKES

Yield: 12 servings

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/746.shtml

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

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/76.shtml

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

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Recipe Yield: Servings: 8

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

Ingredients

Crust:

3/4 cup graham crackers crumbs

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons canola or olive oil

Filling:

3 large egg whites

1/3 cup sugar

2 cups nonfat ricotta cheese

1/4 cup cocoa

1/3 cup yogurt cheese **

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

** Place plain, nonfat yogurt into cheese cloth or a coffee filter. Place in strainer over a small bowl or cup. Allow to drain 2 to 24 hours, covered and refrigerated, until cheese reached desired consistency. Discard the whey (liquid). Store in covered container in refrigerator.

Directions

Part 1:

Preheat oven TO 350F. Spray 8-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Fill a 13x9x2-inch pan halfway with hot water.

Place in oven on shelf below where chocolate cheesecake will be placed. This will prevent the top of cheesecake from cracking.

In small bowl, combine all crust ingredients. Press onto bottom and part-way up sides of pan. Set aside.

Part 2:

In food processor or blender, combine egg whites, sugar, ricotta, cocoa, yogurt cheese and vanilla; process, scraping sides occasionally, for 1 minute until smooth and thick. Pour into crust.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes until filling is just set (center will jiggle slightly). Turn off oven and leave cake in closed oven 5 minutes longer.

Remove from oven and cool about an hour on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 176; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 140 m; Protein: 11 g; Carbohydrates: 22 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch; 1/2 skim milk

NO-BAKE ORANGE CREAM CHEESECAKE

Light fluffy textured cheesecake filled with chopped oranges, reduced-fat cream cheese and ricotta cheese.

Yield: 16 servings

See the recipe here: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/946.shtml

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

3 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

Cheesecake Ingredients:

1 cup orange juice

1 envelope (1/4 ounce) unflavored gelatin

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

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

1 teaspoon orange extract (optional)

2 cups light whipped topping, thawed, if frozen

1 can (11 ounces) Mandarin oranges, drained, coarsely chopped

Oranges sections (optional)

Whipped topping (optional)

* May substitute 4-1/2 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, combine graham cracker crumbs, butter and 3 tablespoons Equal.

Press mixture onto bottom of a 9-inch springform pan.

Bake in preheated 350F oven 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, pour orange juice into small saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over orange juice and let soften 1 minute.

Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin dissolves.

Beat cream cheese and ricotta cheese in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup Equal and orange extract. Add gelatin mixture to cheese mixture; blend until smooth.

Refrigerate cheese mixture, or place in freezer, 20 to 30 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened.

Fold in whipped topping and chopped oranges. Spoon over baked crust.

Cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

To serve, gently run metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake. Remove side of pan. Garnish top of cheesecake with orange sections and whipped topping, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 152; Protein: 6 g; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 158 mg; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Carbohydrates: 11 g; Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 1 starch, 2 fat