10 Go-To Diabetic Desserts
Updated September 03, 2013.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Especially when it is cold outside, a nice cup of hot chocolate can warm your bones - as well as satisfy your sweet tooth - for only 60 calories and 20 grams of carbohydrate.
For only about 80 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrate, you can enjoy a dessert a little more decadent than gelatin. Sugar-free pudding comes in a variety of rich flavors such as dark chocolate and pistachio. Topped with sugar-free whipped topping they can be a very satisfying dessert option!
Sugar-free gelatin topped with 2 tbsp light or sugar-free whipped topping can be considered a "free dessert." It's especially fun to make a few different flavors of gelatin, cube them, and make colorful parfaits out of your gelatin and whipped topping.
I like to thin yogurt slightly with 1-2 tsp of milk for a quick dip. You can skewer fruit for a fancy presentation, or serve fruit in a bowl with toothpicks for dipping. About 3/4 cup of fruit dipped in 2 ounces of fat-free yogurt will only be about 90 calories and 19 grams of carbohydrate.
Use two graham cracker squares as the "bread", and fill with 1/4 cup of light or sugar-free whipped topping. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. This "ice cream sandwich" will cost you around 80 calories and 10 carbs.
This is the only recipe I'm suggesting, because there are only a few ingredients and it is very quick to prepare. One cookie will provide 76 calories and only 3 grams of carbohydrates.
http://lowcarbdiets.D106/od/desserts/r/locarbmacaroons.htm">Low-Carb Coconut Macaroon Recipe
Try chunking angel food cake into bite-size pieces that you can pick up by hand and dip in the whipped topping. It makes this dessert more snack-like. One twelfth of an angel food cake plus 2 tbsp light or sugar-free whipped topping give about 90 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrate.
I've been making these treats for over 15 years. Frozen grapes end up having a very slushy texture. You can freeze them in an air-tight container or sandwich bag. Bananas should be sliced and layed out flat on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. One small banana or 17 grapes will give you 60 calories and 15 grams of carbs.
The cashier at my grocery store gave me this idea. I was trying out a new yogurt that came in dessert flavors. She suggested freezing them for a treat that would be more like ice cream. I tried it and especially liked the cheesecake-flavored yogurt frozen. You can find these yogurts for less than 100 calories and about 12 grams of carbs.
The flavor of fruit intensifies when it is grilled. You can grill it on an outdoor grill, or inside on an electric grill or grill pan. Make sure to grease the grill first with non-stick cooking spray to avoid sticking. Top the hot fruit with 2 tbsp light or sugar-free whipped topping. 2 small grilled halves or 1 large half and whipped topping will be about 15 grams of carbs and 60 calories.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
In addition to being relatively low-calorie and low-carb, the best diabetic desserts ought to meet 3 criteria:
quick and easy to prepare - to keep you from reaching for a quick less-healthy option.
made in small batches - keep the leftovers small to avoid the temptation to overindulge.
varied - I recommend having 5 to10 go-to dessert options: something with chocolate, something with fruit, something cold, something hot...an option for each type of dessert you crave. The variety should help to keep you from getting bored with your meal plan.
Here are ten suggestions for great diabetic desserts:
1. sugar-free hot chocolate topped with sugar-free whipped cream
Especially when it is cold outside, a nice cup of hot chocolate can warm your bones - as well as satisfy your sweet tooth - for only 60 calories and 20 grams of carbohydrate.
2. sugar-free pudding topped with sugar-free whipped topping
For only about 80 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrate, you can enjoy a dessert a little more decadent than gelatin. Sugar-free pudding comes in a variety of rich flavors such as dark chocolate and pistachio. Topped with sugar-free whipped topping they can be a very satisfying dessert option!
3. sugar-free gelatin topped with sugar-free whipped topping
Sugar-free gelatin topped with 2 tbsp light or sugar-free whipped topping can be considered a "free dessert." It's especially fun to make a few different flavors of gelatin, cube them, and make colorful parfaits out of your gelatin and whipped topping.
4. fresh, seasonal fruit dipped in yogurt
I like to thin yogurt slightly with 1-2 tsp of milk for a quick dip. You can skewer fruit for a fancy presentation, or serve fruit in a bowl with toothpicks for dipping. About 3/4 cup of fruit dipped in 2 ounces of fat-free yogurt will only be about 90 calories and 19 grams of carbohydrate.
5. “Ice Cream Sandwich” (made with graham crackers and whipped topping)
Use two graham cracker squares as the "bread", and fill with 1/4 cup of light or sugar-free whipped topping. Wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. This "ice cream sandwich" will cost you around 80 calories and 10 carbs.
6. coconut macaroons
This is the only recipe I'm suggesting, because there are only a few ingredients and it is very quick to prepare. One cookie will provide 76 calories and only 3 grams of carbohydrates.
http://lowcarbdiets.D106/od/desserts/r/locarbmacaroons.htm">Low-Carb Coconut Macaroon Recipe
7. chunks of angel food cake topped with sugar-free whipped topping
Try chunking angel food cake into bite-size pieces that you can pick up by hand and dip in the whipped topping. It makes this dessert more snack-like. One twelfth of an angel food cake plus 2 tbsp light or sugar-free whipped topping give about 90 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrate.
8. frozen grapes frozen banana slices
I've been making these treats for over 15 years. Frozen grapes end up having a very slushy texture. You can freeze them in an air-tight container or sandwich bag. Bananas should be sliced and layed out flat on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. One small banana or 17 grapes will give you 60 calories and 15 grams of carbs.
9. frozen dessert-flavored yogurt
The cashier at my grocery store gave me this idea. I was trying out a new yogurt that came in dessert flavors. She suggested freezing them for a treat that would be more like ice cream. I tried it and especially liked the cheesecake-flavored yogurt frozen. You can find these yogurts for less than 100 calories and about 12 grams of carbs.
10. grilled pear, peach or nectarine halves topped with sugar-free whipped topping
The flavor of fruit intensifies when it is grilled. You can grill it on an outdoor grill, or inside on an electric grill or grill pan. Make sure to grease the grill first with non-stick cooking spray to avoid sticking. Top the hot fruit with 2 tbsp light or sugar-free whipped topping. 2 small grilled halves or 1 large half and whipped topping will be about 15 grams of carbs and 60 calories.
