If you’re like me and trying to maintain your weight—or maybe even drop a few pounds—don’t feel like you need to banish dessert altogether. Indulge guiltlessly with these 100-calorie (or less!) desserts.
1. Indoor S’Mores: No fire required here! This delicious dessert takes 5 minutes, or less, to whip up. Delish!
Ingredients:
2 whole graham crackers, broken in half
4 marshmallows
2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips, melted (see Tip)
Preparation:
1. Position oven rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat
broiler.
2. Place graham cracker halves on a baking sheet; top each with 1
marshmallow. Broil, with the oven door ajar and watching carefully,
until the marshmallows are golden brown, 45 to 75 seconds. Remove
from the oven and drizzle each S’more with a little melted
chocolate.
Tip: To melt chocolate: Microwave on Medium for 45 seconds. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium in 20-second intervals until melted, stirring after each interval. Or place in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.
Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: 98 calories; 3 g fat (1 g sat); 18 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 70 mg sodium; 33 mg potassium.
2. Almond & Honey-Butter Cookies: When they were testing these in the EatingWell Test Kitchen I couldn’t stay away! This thumbprint cookie uses honey as the only sweetener and tender ground almonds to replace much of the butter found in similar cookies.
3. Italian Hazelnut Cookies: These crispy cookies are made with hazelnuts and eggs, which packs them with a powerful, sweet, nutty burst of flavor.
4. Boot Tracks: This quick, no-fuss, chewy chocolate cookie is made on your waffle iron. Making it even easier, there’s no need to haul out the big mixer: you can mix the batter with a small hand mixer or even by hand.
5. Vanilla-Orange Freezer Pops: These creamy vanilla-flavored orange juice pops transport me back to the days of standing in line at the ice cream truck.
6. Chocolate & Nut Butter Bites: Another sweet satisfaction ready in seconds! I like to keep these ingredients on hand at the office.
Ingredients:
8 1/4-ounce squares bittersweet chocolate
4 teaspoons almond, cashew or pistachio butter
Preparation:
Top each chocolate square with 1/2 teaspoon nut butter of your
choice (almond, cashew, pistachio).
Makes 4 servings.
Per serving: 79 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 1 g mono); 9 g carbohydrates; 1 g protein; 1 g fiber; 12 mg sodium; 20 mg potassium.
By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.
Brierley’s interest in nutrition and food come together in her position as an associate editor at EatingWell. Brierley holds a master’s degree in Nutrition Communication from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. A Registered Dietitian, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont.
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