Healthier Desserts

If you are having trouble controlling your sugar levels, but love to eat desserts, one of these recipes will be sure to help you balance the sugars.

CRUNCHY PEANUT SQUARES

1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup honey
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups plain air-popped popcorn
2 cups crisp rice cereal
2 cups oat circle cereal
1/3 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped
1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Line a 13x9x2 inch baking an with foil, extending the foil at the ends.  Coat the foil with cooking spray.  In a large nonstick saucepan, melt the butter, honey, and brown sugar over low heat, stirring frequently.  Remove the saucepan from the heat.  Add the peanut butter and vanilla.  Return  the saucepan to the heat and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes, until the mixture is well blended and melts.

Remove the pan from the heat and add the popcorn, rice and oat cereals, and peanuts.  Stir until evenly coated with the peanut butter mixture.  Turn into the prepared pan.  Spray hands with cooking spray and press the mixture firmly into the pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Cool completely on a rack.  Remove from the pan using the foil.  Discard the foil.  Cut into squares to serve.  YIELD:  24 squares  DIETARY EXCHANGE:  ½ bread, ½ fat

CHOCOLATE MALTED MILKSHAKE

¼ cup vanilla frozen yogurt
3 tablespoons malted milk powder
1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
½ teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder
1 cup soymilk or 1% milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a blender, combine the frozen yogurt, malted milk powder, cocoa, coffee powder, milk, and vanilla.  Process until smooth.  Pour into tall glasses and serve immediately.  YIELD:  2 servings (1 cup each)  DIETARY EXCHANGE:  3 bread, ½ meat, 1 fat