Take The Guilt Out Of Dessert With These Tasty Recipes

Students of the baking and pastry arts will discover how to prepare all kinds of amazing desserts, from a red velvet cake to the French specialty, the floating island. As satisfying as a decadent treat can be, health-conscious diners should be able to enjoy digging into something sweet. Fortunately, with a few smart substitutions and the right techniques, there are endless possibilities for crafting a great dessert that isn’t loaded with calories.

Try these recipes to start making tasty items without the guilt:

Bake an awesome angel food cake

“Angel food cake is one classic that never goes out of style.”

A light, flavorful angel food cake is one classic that never goes out of style. Alton Brown provided directions, starting by spinning 1.75 cups of sugar in a food processor until it’s very fine. Reserve half the sugar and sift the rest with a cup of cake flour and a quarter teaspoon of salt.

In a bowl, whisk 12 egg whites with water, orange extract and cream of tartar for two minutes. Then, continue to combine the ingredients with a hand mixer at medium speed, sifting in the reserved sugar. When you reach medium peaks, slowly sift in the flour mixture, using a spatula to fold it in.

Move the batter into a tube pan and bake in an oven set to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. After 35 minutes, use a wooden skewer to check the cake. When the skewer comes away clean, remove the cake from the oven and cool upside down on a rack for an hour.

Bring more flavor to oat cookies

For another time-honored favorite, bake a batch of oat cookies. Country Living suggested a hearty recipe featuring nuts and dried fruit.

First, use a whisk to combine all-purpose and whole-wheat flour, plus granulated sugar and salt. Toss in quick-cooking oats and shredded coconut before folding in walnuts, golden raisins, dried cranberries and pepitas.

Heat butter and honey in a saucepan. Pour boiling water into a bowl with baking soda, and then add this mixture to the saucepan. Form a well in the oats and and transfer the butter mixture, stirring to combine.

Moisten your hands, and then form balls. Set them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, pressing down until each is about half-inch thick. Place the sheets in an oven at 350 degrees for up to 17 minutes. Allow time to cool before serving.

Relax with the perfect parfait

A parfait is a simple dessert that can double as breakfast. With the fresh ingredients you have on hand, you can discover the ideal combination of flavors and textures. Center Cut Cook suggested a few variations that take advantage of the seasonal splendor of berries.

A strawberry-centered option begins with placing two tablespoons of vanilla yogurt in a mason jar. Layer on two tablespoons of the chopped fruit, before adding three tablespoons of strawberry-flavored yogurt. Next comes two tablespoons of honey almond granola, followed by another tablespoon of vanilla yogurt and one more tablespoon of strawberries. Finish off the parfait with a topping of granola.

Combining bananas with chocolate and nuts makes the ultimate fruity dessert.Combining bananas with chocolate and nuts makes the ultimate fruity dessert.

Turn fruit into a chocolate delight

A banana is a fantastic snack when you’re on the go, and it can become an excellent dessert by adding chocolate. Rachel Ray’s recipe calls for cutting four peeled bananas in half and placing them on popsicle sticks. Set the bananas on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and move to the freezer for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Warm three cups of a chocolate bar and three tablespoons of butter in a double boiler on low heat. When the chocolate melts and incorporates the butter, dip the bananas and roll them in toppings like chopped nuts, sprinkles or coconut. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

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