3 Delicious Dessert Recipes for Diabetics
When you’re living with diabetes, indulging in dessert can be a complicated affair while you’re trying to keep your blood glucose levels stable.
A diet with limited sugar is best for your health with or without diabetes, but sometimes only something sweet will do – whether you’re baking for a special occasion or satisfying a long-held craving, these delicious reduced sugar recipes taste as good as the real thing.
Chocolate Brownies
Rich, decadent and chocolaty, this brownie recipe from Diabetes UK is perfect for afternoon tea.
Serves: 12 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes
You’ll need:
- 100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
- 25g low-fat margarine spread
- 250g cooked beetroot (not in vinegar)
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 1 tsp water
- 2 eggs beaten
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 100g ground almonds
- 50g plain flour
- 50g cocoa powder
- 10 tbsp granulated artificial sweetener
- ½ tsp baking powder
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Grease a 20 x 20cm baking tin and line with greaseproof paper.
- Melt the chocolate and low-fat spread in a bowl, set over a pan of simmering water or in the microwave, stirring often. Leave to cool a little.
- Pat away any excess liquid from the beetroot with kitchen paper. Place in a liquidiser with the dissolved coffee, eggs, vanilla extract and maple syrup. Blend until puréed.
- Add the ground almonds, flour, cocoa powder, sweetener and baking powder and blend until well combined.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth over the top with a spoon. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the top is firm and a skewer inserted into the middle of the brownie comes out with sticky crumbs attached, but isn’t liquid.
- Leave to cool for 15 minutes, cut into squares or rectangles and serve.
Find full nutritional information and the original recipe from Diabetes UK
Pavlova
Pavlova is a classic summer favourite and party showstopper – but the regular recipe is so high in sugar it’s no surprise most diabetics choose to steer clear. This lighter, guilt-free version is lower in sugar and fat. Top it with berries for plenty of nutritional goodness.
Serves: 6 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 45 minutes
You’ll need:
- 4 tbsp water
- 3 ½ tbsp granulated sweetener
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 6 egg whites
- 1tsp cream of tartar
- 4 tsp cornflour
- 400g fresh fruit (eg 160g strawberries, raspberries and blueberries)
- 200g 0% fat Greek yogurt
- Sweetener, to taste
- Few sprigs of mint, to serve
Method
- Put the water, granulated sweetener and lemon juice in a small pan over a low heat until the liquid has reduced and begins to look sticky.
- Meanwhile, put the egg whites and cream of tartar in a bowl, and slowly whisk together until they form soft peaks.
- Slowly pour the sweetener mixture into the beaten egg whites.
- Gently add the cornflour and continue to mix until the egg whites are stiff.
- On a parchment-lined baking tray, spread or pipe the meringue to form a bowl, about 20-25cm (10 ins) across.
- Bake in a cool oven, 100°C/gas ¼ for about 1 hour 20 minutes, until it is firm and just beginning to colour. Open the oven door and leave the meringue in the oven until it is cool.
- When cool, carefully place the meringue on your serving plate.
- Combine a third of the fruit with the yogurt, adding sweetener if needed. Pile into the meringue and top with the remaining berries and a few sprigs of mint.
Find full nutritional information and the original recipe from Diabetes UK
Apple and Cinnamon Cake
Made with artificial sweetener, this tasty cake is the perfect choice for a celebration or special occasion.
Serves: 8 Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes
You’ll need:
- 100g plain flour
- 1 heaped tbsp artificial granulated sweetener
- 1 level tsp ground cinnamon
- 6g baking powder
- 3 eggs
- 3 level tbsp skimmed milk
- 75g lower fat spread, melted
- 1kg apples
- 1 knob of unsaturated margarine eg olive-oil or sunflower spread, for greasing
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6.
- Sift the flour into a bowl, add the artificial sweetener, baking powder and cinnamon into the flour and mix.
- Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the eggs and the milk. Whisk and add in the melted butter.
- Peel and core the apples and remove the seeds. Cut them into large slices. Add the apple slices to the mixture and fold in gently.
- Grease a cake tin (around 23cm in diameter) with the knob of margarine. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake in the oven for 35 minutes.
- Turn out onto to cooling rack. Leave to cool and serve.
Find full nutritional information and the original recipe from Diabetes UK
Do you have any dessert recipes you love that are also suitable for diabetics? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclaimer
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Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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