Dessert

I want something snacky!

We've all thought that from time to time. Today's post has six diabetic-friendly desserts, including a Chocolate-Cherry Parfait and Mocha Cheesecake Bars. Enjoy!

GRANNY SMITH APPLE TART

Recipe Yield: Yield: 1 tart (8 servings)

Source: The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes

To view this online, go to 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

MOCHA CHEESECAKE BARS

Recipe Yield: 20 Servings

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/mocha-cheesecake-bars.

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs

1/4 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/3 cup light butter, melted

12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese

2/3 cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1-1/4 teaspoons instant espresso granules

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup white chocolate chunks

Directions

Crust Directions: preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray an 8-inch x 8-inch square baking pan with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.

Combine chocolate wafer crumbs, Splenda Granulated Sweetener and butter in a mixing bowl, stirring until blended.

Press mixture into prepared pan. Bake 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Filling Directions: beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

Combine Splenda Granulated Sweetener, espresso granules, and cocoa powder; add to cream cheese, beating until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating, just until blended.

Stir in chocolate chunks. Pour filling over prepared crust.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm; cool.

Chill until firm. Cut into bars.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 120; Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 4.5 g; Sodium: 120 mg; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Protein: 4 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g; Sugars: 4 g

CHRISTMAS GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 30 servings; Serving Size: 1 (4-inch) gingerbread cookie

Source: Splenda

Recipe and image appear courtesy of Splenda.

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/christmas-gingerbread-men-cookies.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

Directions

Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and allspice into a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cream butter and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend in a large bowl until smooth. Beat in egg and egg yolk. Stir in dry ingredients and mix until dough forms. Shape dough into a disc, wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Using a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut dough and place on cookie sheet.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for 2 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely on rack.

If you want to decorate with icing, use this sugarfree glaze recipe.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 110; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 65 mg; Cholesterol: 25 mg; Protein: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Sugars: 7 g

NOT SO GUILTY BROWNIES

Recipe Yield: Servings: 24

Source: Cinnamon Hearts

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/not-so-guilty-brownies.

Ingredients

Brownie Ingredients:

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

2 tsp chocolate extract or flavor

2 eggs

Frosting Ingredients:

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 T unsweetened cocoa

1 T skim or 2% milk

1/2 tsp chocolate extract or flavor

1/8 tsp butter flavor

Directions

Heat oven to 350F.

Grease bottom only of 8-inch square pan.

Combine all brownie ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Spread in greased pan.

Bake at 350 F. for 13-18 minutes, or until top is dry and springs back when touched lightly in center.

Cool for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine all frosting ingredients in a small bowl & mix well.

Spread over top of slightly cooled brownies or cut brownies into squares and drizzle with frosting (as shown, adjust milk to get the right consistency).

Cool completely.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 80; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 50 mg; Cholesterol: 18 mg; Carbohydrates: 13 g

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

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY PARFAIT

Recipe Yield: Servings: 6

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

Ingredients

3 oz Neufchatel cream cheese

2 cup cold skim milk

3 oz package Jell-o sugar-free instant chocolate pudding

1 pound fresh bing cherries, pitted, cut in half

Directions

Blend cream cheese with 1/4 cup skim milk, on low speed of electric mixer, until smooth. Add remaining milk and pudding mix. Mix 1 or 2 minutes until smooth and well blended.

Add to 75% of the fresh cherries to 1/2 cup water, and cook until it boils for 1 minute. Remove from heat, drain well.

Alternately spoon pudding and cherries into parfait dishes, ending with pudding.

Garnish the top of each parfait with the remaining cherries.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 116; Fat: 3.5 g; Sodium: 305 mg; Cholesterol: 14.5 mg; Carbohydrates: 16 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Bread; 1/2 Fruit; 1 Fat

SWEET POTATO – RAISIN COOKIES

Recipe Yield: Yield: 24 cookies; Serving Size: 2 cookies

Source: Magic Menus for People with Diabetes

Book Title: Magic Menus for People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/sweet-potato-raisin-cookies.

Ingredients

1 cup raisins

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups whole-wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup unprocessed bran flakes.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Soak raisins in hot water to cover for 5 minutes, then drain.

Cream margarine, then add sweet potatoes, egg, and vanilla; beat until creamy.

Mix flour, allspice, salt, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Add raisins, nuts, and bran. Drop onto cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 12 minutes or until done.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 186; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 256 mg; Cholesterol: 28 mg; Protein: 5 g; Carbohydrates: 31 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Carbohydrate, 1 Fat