Do you like to have a sweet treat while watching the Super Bowl? Why not try a healthier dessert, so that you can enjoy something sweet without a lot of calories and fat! Lower calorie desserts can be quite tasty and satisfy a sweet tooth!
We commonly bring finger foods to a party such as cookies, cupcakes, brownies, etc. How does a healthier cupcake sound? Try this recipe for Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes from The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The recipe utilizes applesauce in substitution for the fat, as well as includes such healthy additions like zucchini and ground flaxseed!
1 cup grated zucchini
1 cup applesauce, unsweetened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup agave nectar, divided
¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup whole-wheat flour
½ cup all-purpose, unbleached flour
¼ cup flaxseed, ground
½ teaspoon baking powder, low sodium
1 teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line muffin cups with paper or silicone liners.
2. Put grated zucchini in paper towels or a clean cloth and squeeze out as much water as possible. Set aside.
3. In large mixing bowl, combine applesauce, vanilla extract, ¼ cup agave and stir thoroughly.
4. Add flours, baking soda, baking powder, flaxseed, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and other spices, and mix well. Add cocoa and mix thoroughly.
5. Add zucchini and stir thoroughly.
6. Fill paper liners with chocolate zucchini batter to ¾ full. Bake for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of cupcake.
7. Mix ¼ cup agave with ½ teaspoon cinnamon in small bowl. Before serving, drizzle agave mixture over cupcakes as icing and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 cupcake
Serves 12
Calories: 150; Total fat: 1.5g; Saturated fat: 0g; Trans fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 105mg; Total carbohydrate: 31g; Dietary fiber: 3g; Sugars 17g; Protein: 3g
Fitting right into the finger foods category, dips make for great items to bring to parties as well. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip that would pair wonderfully with fruit or graham crackers. It even has 6 grams of protein per serving!
5 ounces silken tofu
3 ounces light cream cheese
2 tablespoons rolled oats
2 tablespoons unsalted peanut butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon unsweetened vanilla almond milk
¼ cup chocolate chips
Directions
1. Remove tofu from packaging and rinse in cool water to remove excess moisture from packaging.
2. Place tofu on a plate between two paper towels and place a heavy object — like a 15-ounce can — on top.
3. After approximately 5 minutes, remove the paper towels. Use a new, clean paper towel to pat the tofu dry. The goal of compressing tofu is to remove excess water.
4. Put tofu in the base of a food processor or blender along with the cream cheese, rolled oats, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and almond milk. Puree until creamy and smooth, scraping down sides as you go.
5. The dip's texture should be similar to pudding. Depending on the power of your food processor or blender, you may need to add an additional tablespoon of vanilla almond milk.
6. Add in the chocolate chips and pulse three or four times to combine.
7. Remove dip and place in a serving bowl. Enjoy with fresh fruit, graham cracker squares, or lightly salted pretzels for a sweet and savory treat!
Cooking Tip
• Use your favorite type of milk in place of vanilla almond milk.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¼ cup
Serves 5
Calories: 174; Total fat: 9g; Sat. fat: 3.5g; Chol.: 10mg; Sodium: 406mg; Carb.: 18g; Fiber 2g; Sugars: 15g; Protein 6g
Lastly, if you are looking for a very simple, yet delicious finger food to take to your Super Bowl party, try the Chocolate Covered Figs recipe from The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Dark Chocolate Covered Figs Recipe
(https://www.eatright.org/resource/food/planning-and-prep/recipes/dark-chocolate-covered-figs-recipe)
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that come from extracts of the cocoa bean. Choosing dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa gives your family more of these healthy antioxidants.
Some studies report small portions of dark chocolate can maintain heart health and the health of blood vessels.
Ingredients
½ cup dark chocolate chips (without milk fat as ingredient)
12 fresh Black Mission figs
¼ cup finely chopped raw walnuts
Directions
1. Melt chocolate in double boiler or microwave.
2. Dip figs into melted chocolate, sprinkle with nuts and place on parchment-lined pan.
3. Refrigerate about 30 minutes, until chocolate and nuts are set and figs are cold.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 fig
Serves 12
Calories: 80; Total fat: 4g; Saturated fat: 1.5g; Trans fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Total carbohydrate: 13g; Dietary fiber: 2g; Sugars: 10g; Protein: 1g
