Healthy Options for Dessert

A dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal usually consisting of sweet food. While dessert can be considered the crowning touch of a meal, the dessert may be high in fat and/or sugar as well as having significant calorie content. Rather than eliminating dessert, there are healthy options available. With a little attention and creativity, you can make delicious light treats which taste great and are healthy as well.

Begin by substituting less healthy ingredients for more healthy ingredients. Replace white all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour in dessert recipes. Whole wheat flour has more fiber and nutritional value than all-purpose flour. Check out these great tasting cookies made with whole wheat flour that are easy to make.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cookies:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 ¼ cups quick oatmeal
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup butter
¾ cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
¼ cup milk
½ cup raisins
½ cup nuts (optional)

Combine dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs and milk. Add dry ingredients to butter and sugar mixture and stir well. Add raisins and nuts. Drop by teaspoon on cookie sheet. Bake 10 to 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Try substituting applesauce for oil in recipes for quick breads and cakes i.e. carrot, spice. I usually replace half the fat with applesauce. I find sometimes I need to bake the product a little longer.

This yogurt pie is so easy to make and tastes great while being healthy.

Yogurt Pie:
1 (3-oz.) pkg. sugar free lemon jello
2 (6-oz.) containers fat free lemon flavored yogurt
1 (8-oz.) container light whipped topping
1 prepared pie shell

Boil one cup of water and add to sugar free jello. Stir until jello is dissolved. Add yogurt and blend with jello. Fold half of container whipped topping into yogurt mixture. Pour mixture into pie shell. Chill until firm. Spread remaining whipped topping on top of pie.

**Note other flavors of jello and yogurt can be used to make this pie.

Angel food cake is a heart healthy option. I have made the Rainbow Angel Food Cake a number of times. It looks and tastes great.

Rainbow Angel Food Cake:
1 package angel food cake mix
6-8 drops green food coloring
6-8 drops red food coloring

Prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Divide the batter evenly among three bowls. Fold one food color into each of two bowls. In one bowl no food coloring will be added. Pour green batter into ungreased tube pan and spread evenly. Pour uncolored batter on top and spread evenly. Pour pink/red batter into pan and spread this layer evenly. Bake and cool as directed on package. Drizzle with glaze, or garnish with decorators’ sugar if desired.

Please share your suggestions for healthy desserts that taste great.