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Many of us have a sweet tooth but are reticent to give into it for a variety of health reasons, from high cholesterol to weight gain.  All too often, desserts contain empty calories – calories for calories sake without the added dietary benefits.  Wellness magazine has compiled a list of savory dessert recipes that are chock-full of vitamins, antioxidants – and most of all, taste!  Next time you want to indulge, make one of these delectable desserts from fresh ingredients in simple recipes.

Real Fruit Juice Popsicles

Ingredients

Popsicle Molds

Orange juice, Carrot juice  or Mango juices

Directions

Pour your favorite  juice into the popsicle molds, insert the tops with the stems, and freeze.  When fully frozen, take out of the mold, and voila – a healthy and incredibly refreshing snack!

Healthy Homemade “Jello” Parfaits with Real Fruit Juice and Yogurt

Think of the rainbow of gorgeous and healthy possibilities you can create with juices and this recipe! Try folding in fresh berries or mango slices if you like.

Ingredients

Serves 6

6 dessert cups

2 Tbs unflavored gelatin

3 1/2 cups fruit juice of your choice

1 cup vanilla yogurt

Directions

Pour 2-1/2 cups juice into a saucepan and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Let sit for one minute and then heat the mixture over low heat.  Stir occasionally until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Let cool for 15-20 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the yogurt with 1 cup of the gelatin mixture and set aside. Stir the remaining juice into the remaining gelatin mixture.

Pour about 1/3 cup of the fruit juice mixture into each of the 6 glasses and chill until lightly set, about one hour. Divide the yogurt mixture between the glasses and chill for one more hour. Top with the remaining fruit juice mixture and chill until set. Garnish with yogurt and fresh fruit.

Note: You may combine the remaining fruit juice and yogurt with the gelatin mixture and divide between the 6 glasses for a creamy healthy dessert. (Recipe based on Knox Gelatine recipe)

Sarah's Savory *parfaits

Who says parfaits always have to be sweet?

We used Nuts About Granola®  Sarah's Savory Snacks to create a savory parfait you won't be able to get enough of. This is the perfect summertime lunch, desserts or snack.

Ingredients

Serves 1

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup chopped cucumbers

1/4 cup Spicy Thai Peanut Snacks

1 TBS   Pepperelly

Directions

Layer the yogurt, cucumber, snacks and Pepperelly. ENJOY!

*Sarah’s Savory Snacks™, named after founder, Sarah Lanphier is a Nuts About Granola® new savory snack line. The new line emphasizes bold, international flavors, clean ingredients and spectacular taste. Gluten free, higher protein and Non-GMO ingredients were a must when formulating the new line, but above all, the focus was always on flavor.

“I personally believe that when your taste buds are satisfied, you feel fuller. Working in a framework of only using simple ingredients, you really have to be good at your craft to make it taste good. I am really proud of this new line as it challenged me to push the boundaries on new combinations to achieve the taste and nutritional profile I was looking to achieve.” – Sarah Lanphier, Founder & CEO of Nuts About Granola, LLC

 

Flavorful and Fantastic Fruit Salad as You’ve Never Tasted Before

Ingredients

Serves 12

1 ripe pineapple, cored and prepped

1 ripe cantaloupe

2 oranges or 4 Clementine

1 cup ripe watermelon

1 qt. blueberries

1 ct. strawberries

1 or 2 bananas

1 handful of dates, optional

1/2 cup orange juice

Topping

1 - 2 tbsp honey, optional

1 cup low fat lemon/plain yogurt

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup Nuts About Granola  of your choice

1 ct. raspberries

1 ct. blackberries

3 kiwi, sliced

Directions

Dice the pineapple, watermelon, and dates.  Use a melon baller for the cantaloupe and honeydew.  Section the oranges/Clementine and slice the bananas.  Add all to a large bowl and then the blueberries and strawberries.  Drizzle with orange juice and stir.   

For topping, mix honey, yogurt and lemon juice in small bowl.  Spread this yogurt mixture on top of the fruit.  Be sure to leave room along the border and line it with sliced kiwi.  Cover the top of the fruit salad with granola.  Sprinkle with raspberries and blackberries.  Serve chilled and enjoy! 

 

Fruit Crumble

Just as tasty as an American Apple Pie without the guilt

Ingredients

4 - 6 apples, peeled and sliced

1 qt. blueberry

1 qt. berry of your choice

1 lemon

1 pinch of cinnamon

1 pinch nutmeg

Sugar  to taste

Topping

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup Nuts About Granola of your choice

2 tbsp sweet cream light butter

1/3 – 1/2 cup brown sugar, for taste

1 tbsp whole-wheat flour

1 tbsp white flour

Directions

Grease a 13 x 9 x 2- inch pan.  Line the baking sheet with the sliced apples and berries of choice.  Squeeze the juice of the lemon over the fruit and then with cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar. 

For topping, mix all the ingredients.  For a crunchier fruit crumble, add granola to the mixture.  Sprinkle crumb mixture onto fruit.  Bake the pan at 350^o for approximately 30 minutes or until the fruit is soft.  Serve warm, with nonfat whipped cream or vanilla frozen yogurt.  

Try all of these scrumptious sweets that can satisfy any sweet tooth, guilt-free.  A refreshing fruit salad hits the spot on even the hottest of days.  Its beautiful presentation is a treat for any luncheon or dinner party!  Sarah's Savory partafait  is easy to make and delicoiuse . You can pick your own flavor. Sarah’s Savory Snacks™ are available in three flavors: Sweet Balsamic & Olive, Coconut Currant Curry and Spicy Thai Peanut.

Packages come in 4oz bags that retail for $4.99 and are available for sale online and  in their retail store. The Fruit Crumble is the perfect end to the perfect BBQ.  This healthy substitute for America’s favorite dessert, the apple pie, is lighter, healthier, and just as delicious.  Without a crust, it has less carbs with just as much taste!  Make your summer a healthy one, shoot for fruit! 

About company

Nuts About Granola®  was created by a mother and daughter who shared a passion for cooking together. Gayle and Sarah’s love for the kitchen along with a deep understanding of the importance of nutrition, motivated them to developed a treat to help refuel during various athletic events. As both a student at Elizabethtown College and captain of the school’s triathlon team, Sarah decided to package and sell their granola on campus as a team fundraiser. Sarah’s entrepreneurial spirit combined with the tremendous success of the granola sales during this fundraiser led Gayle and Sarah to begin taking steps toward building a legitimate business. Nuts About Granola, LLC was incorporated in the spring of 2008 built on the foundation of providing the freshest products, from local ingredients, for all to enjoy.

Photo credits: Nuts about Granola Photo credits; Freedigitalphotos.net; BP stock photo