Desserts

Many of us, when faced with a diabetes diagnosis, figure that dessert is a thing of the past. (Yes, there are hundreds of other questions, but this is definitely one of them!)

But dessert doesn't have to be something you have to forego, as these recipes prove. Just remember the word moderation when going for dessert.

In the meantime, check out these yummy diabetic-friendly desserts, including Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Strawberry Cheesecake. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE SWIRL CHEESECAKE

New York-style cheesecake swirled with a rich chocolate mixture. Serve with fresh raspberries.

Yield: 16 servings

View online with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/990.shtml

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

4 tablespoons stick butter or margarine, melted

2 tablespoons Equal Spoonful or Granulated*

Cheesecake Ingredients:

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

3/4 cup Equal Spoonful or Granulated**

2 eggs

2 egg whites

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 cup reduced fat sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted, slightly cooled

1 tablespoon fat-free milk

Chocolate curls (optional)

* May substitute 3 packets Equal sweetener

* May substitute 3 packets Equal sweetener

** May substitute 18 packets Equal sweetener

Directions

For Crust, mix vanilla wafer crumbs, butter and 2 tablespoons Equal. Press onto bottom and 1/2-inch up side of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake in preheated 325F oven 10 minutes. Cool on wire rack while preparing cheesecake.

For Cheesecake, beat cream cheese and 3/4 cup Equal in mixing bowl on medium speed of mixer until smooth and well combined. Mix in eggs, egg whites and cornstarch. Fold in sour cream and vanilla until combined.

Remove 1/2 cup cheesecake batter. Pour remaining batter over baked crust.

Add melted chocolate and fat-free milk to 1/2 cup reserved cheesecake batter; mix well. Place spoonfuls of chocolate mixture on top of cheesecake. Using tip of knife or spatula, gently swirl chocolate batter into cheesecake.

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 chocolate curls, if desired. Cut cake into wedges.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 164; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 11 g; Sodium: 235 mg; Cholesterol: 57 mg; Carbohydrates: 8 g; Exchanges: 1 milk, 2 fat

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

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!

Yield: 16 servings

View online with photo: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/989.shtml

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.

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.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 197; Protein: 7 g; Fat: 16 g; Sodium: 231 mg; Cholesterol: 67 mg; Carbohydrates: 7 g; Exchanges: 1/2 milk, 3 fat

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Yield: 40 cookies

Source: The Best Diabetes Cookbook

Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/25.shtml

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup 2% milk

1/4 cup soft margarine

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray baking sheets with nonstick vegetable spray.

In large bowl or food processor, beat together brown and granulated sugars, peanut butter, milk, margarine, egg and vanilla until well blended.

Combine all-purpose and whole what flours and baking soda; add to bowl and mix just until incorporated. Do not overmix. Stir in chocolate chips and raisins.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until browned.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 70, Carbohydrate: 10 g, Fiber: 1 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 3 g, Sodium: 51 mg, Cholesterol: 6 mg; Diabetic Exchanges: 2/3 Other Carbohydrate, 1/2 Fat

LEMON PUDDING CAKE

Yield: 4 servings

Source: "1,001 Delicious Desserts for People with Diabetes"

To View Book: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/21.shtml

Ingredients

3 tablespoons flour

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

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 pinches ground nutmeg

1 cup fat-free milk

2 egg yolks

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 egg whites, beaten to stiff peaks

Directions

Combine flour, Equal for Recipes, salt, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Beat milk, egg yolks, and lemon juice in small bowl until well blended; add to dry ingredients, beating well. Fold in egg whites.

Pour mixture into lightly greased 1-quart souffle dish or casserole. Place in small roasting pan on middle oven rack and pour 1 inch hot water into pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. until top is set and sharp knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.

Remove souffle dish from hot water; cool on wire rack. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories: 95, Fat: 2.7 g, Cholesterol: 107.6 mg, Sodium: 209 mg, Protein: 8.7 g, Carbohydrate: 8.7 g

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Serves: 12

View Online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/957.shtml

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; Protein: 3 g; Fat: 12 g; Sodium: 116 mg; Cholesterol: 36 mg; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 2 fat

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE

Servings: 10

To view online, click here.

Ingredients

24 ounces cream cheese

4 eggs

1 cup strawberry pourable fruit

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

Strawberries, sliced

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Beat softened cream cheese in large bowl until creamy.

Blend in pourable fruit, vanilla, and salt. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Pour into greased 9" springform pan. Bake for 50 minutes.

Combine sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Carefully spoon over warm cheesecake. Bake another 10 minutes, or until just set. Turn oven off and leave cheesecake in oven, with door closed for 30 minutes.

Transfer to wire rack and loosen cheesecake from rim of pan. Cool overnight.

Just before serving, garnish with sliced strawberries.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 379; Protein: 8 g; Fat: 31 g; Sodium: 313 mg; Cholesterol: 170 mg; Carbohydrates: 18 g; Exchanges: 1 medium-fat meat; 5 fat; 1-1/4 fruit