sweet tooth

I tend to get cravings for a little sugar in my tummy, but why does that one sliver of cake, bite of a cookie, or scoop of ice cream have to contain so many calories? If only the things I really enjoyed were healthy. I can either keep dreaming of the day sweets won't go directly to my thighs, or I can learn how to make my favorite treats on the lighter side. Luckily, Cooking Light is the perfect teacher.

Here are some I just have to try. The best part about it is that I can indulge guilt free!

Ingredients for cake:

• 10 1/10 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups grated carrot
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• Cooking spray

 Ingredients for frosting:

• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 ounce fromage blanc
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cake, weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add 2 cups grated carrot, tossing to combine.
3. Place granulated sugar, brown sugar, and 6 tablespoons butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spread batter into a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 28 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake completely on a wire rack.
4. To prepare frosting, place softened cream cheese and next 4 ingredients (through 1/8 teaspoon salt) in a medium bowl. Beat with a mixer at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at medium speed until combined (don't overbeat). Spread frosting evenly over top of cake. Sprinkle evenly with toasted pecans.
Calories? 284 calories per slice

Ingredients for Ricotta:

• Ricotta:
• 1 gallon 1% low-fat milk
• 4 cups low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 6 ounces fromage blanc   

Ingredients for shells:

• Cooking spray
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 6 (18 x 14–inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• Remaining ingredients:
• 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, divided
• 2 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar 

Preparation:

1. To prepare ricotta, line a large colander or sieve with 3 layers of dampened cheesecloth, allowing cheesecloth to extend over outside edges of colander, and place colander in a large bowl.
2. Combine milk and buttermilk in a large, heavy stockpot. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reaches 170°, gently stirring constantly. As soon as the milk mixture reaches 170°, stop stirring (whey and curds will separate at this point). Continue to cook, without stirring, until the thermometer reaches 190°. (Be sure not to stir, or curds that have formed will break apart.) Immediately remove pan from heat. (Bottom of pan may be slightly scorched.) Pour milk mixture into cheesecloth-lined colander. Drain over bowl for 5 minutes, and discard liquid (whey). Gather edges of cheesecloth together; tie securely. Hang cheesecloth bundle from kitchen faucet, and drain 12 minutes or just until whey stops dripping. Scrape ricotta into a medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt, and toss gently with a fork to combine. Cool to room temperature.
3. Add 2/3 cup of granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and fromage blanc to ricotta; beat with a mixer at medium speed until combined. Cover mixture, and refrigerate.
4. To prepare shells, preheat oven to 375°.
5. Cut out 12 (12 x 4–inch) pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Using your index fingers as a guide, loosely roll up each foil piece jelly-roll fashion to form a cylinder with a 1-inch opening. Lightly coat outside of each cylinder with cooking spray. Combine 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a small bowl.
6. Place 1 phyllo sheet on a large cutting board or work surface (cover the remaining dough to prevent drying); lightly brush with butter. Sprinkle evenly with 2 teaspoons sugar mixture. Repeat layers once. Cut phyllo stack lengthwise into 4 equal strips. Place a foil cylinder at bottom of 1 phyllo strip; roll up jelly-roll fashion around cylinder. Lightly coat with cooking spray. Place on a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Repeat procedure with the remaining phyllo, butter, sugar mixture, and foil cylinders. Bake at 375° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned; cool completely on a wire rack. Carefully remove foil cylinders from phyllo shells by twisting ends of foil in opposite directions and gently pulling foil from shells.
7. Finely chop 1 1/2 ounces chocolate. Combine ricotta mixture and chopped chocolate in a bowl. Transfer mixture to a large zip-top plastic bag; snip off 1/2-inch of 1 corner of bag. Pipe ricotta mixture evenly into each of 12 prepared shells (about 1/3 cup). Grate remaining 1/2 ounce chocolate. Dust cannoli evenly with powdered sugar and grated chocolate; serve immediately.

Calories? 340 calories per cannoli. 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (about 6 3/4 ounces)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup egg substitute
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate minichips

 Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Place butter, bittersweet chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl; microwave at HIGH 1 minute or until chocolate is almost melted. Stir until smooth. Combine coffee granules and 1 tablespoon hot water, stirring until granules dissolve. Stir coffee and vanilla into chocolate mixture.
3. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Combine sugar, egg substitute, and eggs in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed 6 minutes or until thick and pale. Gently stir 1/4 of egg mixture into chocolate mixture; stir chocolate mixture into remaining egg mixture. Stir in flour mixture, nuts, and chocolate chips.
4. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets; with moist hands, gently press dough into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.
Note: When the cookies are done, they'll be cracked on top and still moist in the center.

Calories? 142 calories per cookie.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie dough (such as Pillsbury)
• Cooking spray
• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 1/2 cups flaked sweetened coconut
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 large egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut, toasted 

 Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray. Fold edges under; flute. Line dough with foil; arrange pie weights or dried beans on foil. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes; remove weights and foil, and bake an additional 10 minutes or until golden. Cool completely on a wire rack.
3. Combine milk and half-and-half in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 1/2 cups coconut. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; stir seeds and pod into milk mixture. Bring milk mixture to a simmer; immediately remove from heat. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Strain through a cheesecloth-lined sieve into a bowl. Gather edges of cheesecloth; squeeze over bowl to release moisture. Discard solids.
4. Combine 2/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add milk mixture to egg yolk mixture, stirring constantly. Return milk mixture to pan; bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Add butter; whisk until smooth. Place pan in a large ice-filled bowl for 6 minutes, stirring to cool. Pour into prepared crust. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
5. Place 3 egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until soft peaks form. Combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook, without stirring, until candy thermometer registers 250°. Pour hot sugar syrup in a thin stream over egg whites, beating at high speed until thick. Spread meringue over pie. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Top with toasted coconut before serving.

Calories? 266 calories per slice.