Sweets Archives -

Cherry Strudel

Rachel — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:51:48 +0000

This post is sponsored by BakeGood Pie Fillings. The opinions and text are all mine.

Guys, this recipe has to be one of the easiest, yet most impressive things you can make. Flaky puff pastry is stuffed with tart, bright cherries and baked until golden and crispy. The top is sprinkled with sliced almonds and then drizzled with a simple almond glaze — it’s totally irresistible. This easy Cherry Strudel makes a great dessert served as-is or with a scoop of ice cream OR serve it as a side at your next brunch! Either way, this simple recipe is a keeper.

The star of the show is the cherry filling. On my last trip to Walmart I came across a new-to-me pie filling. BakeGood Pie Filling is unlike any others – they have no added sugar or colors, and no artificial preservatives. Say what?! This product is seriously right up my alley!

I typically find the sweetness of fruit almost perfect on its own so I love that these pie fillings are totally customizable — just sweeten to suit your taste! Want a small amount of sweetness like me? Cool! Want extra sweetness? Easy! Maybe you want to use your favorite natural sugar alternative or a substitute sweetener that fits your lifestyle? Perfect! They give suggestions right on the jar for how much to add.

I love being able to control how sweet I want my dessert and with cherries, I love the extra tartness so I chose to use just a little brown sugar in the filling and add a sweet almond glaze to the top of the finished strudel — it’s just the right amount of sweet and tart!

My simple Cherry Strudel comes together so quickly and with just a few ingredients. You start by rolling out a sheet of thawed puff pastry and then you spoon the cherry pie filling down the center. Fold the edges over the top of the filling and add a quick egg wash to the top. You’ll want to make sure to cut a few slits in the dough to allow steam to escape and then sprinkle the top with plenty of sliced almonds. You bake the strudel for about 20 minutes, until flakey and perfectly golden brown. After it cools for a bit, it’s time to drizzle on your almond glaze and dig in. It’s seriously as simple as that, folks!

This is a great recipe to share with friends and family year-round but it would also be the perfect addition to your upcoming Easter menu! Add a jar of BakeGood Cherry Pie Filling to your next Walmart order and be sure to check out the Apple Pie Filling as well. I can think of so many great uses for these tasty fillings, I am sure you will to!

Click here to find these products in a store near you!

Cherry Strudel

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

1 sheet of frozen puff pastry
1 jar (15.5oz) BakeGood Cherry Pie Filling
¼ c brown sugar, packed
1 egg, lightly beaten
¼ cup sliced almonds
12 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp almond extract
½ - 1 tbsp water

Instructions

Thaw puff pastry according to package directions.
Preheat oven to 400F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Gently unfold the sheet of puff pastry and then using a rolling pin, gently roll the puff pastry into a large rectangle (see photos above).
In a small bowl, mix together the jar of cherry pie filling and the brown sugar. Spoon the mixture down the center of the rectangle, leaving about ½ inch of space at the edges.
Using the parchment paper for assistance, gently fold one side of the puff pastry over the center of the filling. Brush the flap of the pastry with the beaten egg. Fold the remaining flap over the center and brush the entire strudel with the egg wash. Use a fork to crimp the edges of the pastry at the ends.
Cut 5 slits across the top of the pastry to allow steam to escape and then sprinkle the top of the strudel with the sliced almonds.
Bake for about 17-20 minutes, until pastry is golden, crispy, and cooked through. (note: The top of the strudel is two layers of pastry so make sure the dough is cooked through by paying close attention to the very center of the pastry, ensuring that it looks completely done. If the edges and almonds start to become too brown, cover the strudel loosely with a piece of foil and continue cooking until the dough is cooked through.)
Allow the strudel to cool for at least 30 minutes. Make the almond glaze by mixing the powdered sugar, almond extract, and water in a small bowl. Add just enough water to create a thick but easily drizzled glaze. Spoon over the top of the strudel and cut into slices. Top with vanilla ice cream, if desired. Enjoy!

I am so excited you are making one of my recipes and I would love to see how it turns out! Make sure to share it on Instagram and tag me @rachelshealthyplate and use #rachelshealthyplate so I can see your creation!

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Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino

Rachel — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:27:33 +0000

This post is sponsored by Calphalon. All opinions and recipe are mine alone. #EspressoWithCalphalon

Rise and shine, friends! I recently added a new appliance to my kitchen and let me tell you, it’s been a game changer. Christmas came early when Calphalon reached out and asked if I wanted to try their Temp iQ Espresso Machine – yes please! When I worked in the city I used to make multiple trips to the coffee shop for specialty drinks each week. Now that I work from home and live 30 minutes from the nearest coffee shop, my fancy coffee drinks are sorely missed…. VERY sorely missed. I’ve had an espresso machine on my wish list for a long time and, you guys, this baby does not disappoint.

I’ve been using the Temp iQ Espresso Machine in my kitchen for several weeks now and drink after drink, I am amazed at the high quality espresso. Tony and I have had so much fun experimenting with different creations – we like to make one for each other each morning! We’ve been whipping up lattes, cappuccinos, protein coffees, iced americanos, and London fog steamers to start our day. I seriously can’t get enough so I even picked up some decaf beans so that I can enjoy drinks at night!

The espresso maker is simple to use right out of the box. It uses precise temperature for an even extraction throughout the brew cycle and is pre-programmed for single and double shots. The 15-bar Italian pump allows for maximum flavor extraction and let me tell you, when this thing is running it smells deeeevine – you’d swear you were sitting in your favorite coffee joint!

I also love the built in steam wand which produces a dry steam for creamy froth with microfoam milk – it quickly steams the milk and creates the perfect foamy texture to create lattes and cappuccinos. I plan to add latte art to my list of hobbies very soon!

If you are in the market for a true coffee shop experience in your own home look no further – the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine is your answer. Head to your local Bed Bath & Beyond to find one! Also makes an incredible gift for the holidays – tis the season!

Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino

Today I’m sharing a simple and delicious Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino recipe with you guys. The drink is perfect for this time of year – sweet, spicy, and topped with the fluffiest foam you can imagine. One serving is 70 calories or 2 SmartPoints on all three MyWW plans. Enjoy!

Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 1 cappuccino

Ingredients

1 shot freshly brewed espresso
6 oz skim milk (can sub other milks)
¼ tsp cinnamon + more to garnish
1 tbsp maple syrup, to taste (I used sugar free)

Instructions

Using the Calphalon Temp iQ Espresso Machine, brew one shot of espresso into a medium mug.
Stir in cinnamon and maple syrup.
Place milk into the stainless pitcher and use the attached steam wand to heat and froth the milk. Create as much foam as you'd like.
Pour the steamed milk into the espresso and top with foam. Garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 1 Maple Cinnamon Cappuccino.

2 Blue SmartPoints/2 Green SmartPoints/ 2 Purple SmartPoints on MyWW

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 serving | Calories: 70 Fat: 0 Saturated fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 12 Sugar: 9 Fiber: 0 Protein: 6

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Apple Crisp

Rachel — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 13:09:41 +0000

If you haven’t noticed by now, I have a thing for apples. Two of my most popular recipes, my Ooey Gooey Apples and Zero Point Apple Butter, are apple recipes! This year I wanted to make a new apple dish so I created this delicious Apple Crisp. Ya’ll, it’s SO GOOD. The ingredients are minimal and the recipe is simple to make – it’s perfect to serve any day of the week! My Apple Crisp recipe makes 6 servings at 6 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans or 230 calories per serving.

One thing I’ve learned about creating apple recipes is that if you use the right apple, you really don’t need to add much sugar, if any at all. Some apples are perfectly sweet on their own! The filling of this apple crisp doesn’t have any added sugar – just apples, cinnamon, lemon juice, corn starch and water. The apples get just enough gooey goodness from the cornstarch and they’re cooked until just tender- I still like them to have a little bite. They’re delicious on their own but the topping is just the icing on the cake.. eeer the crisp!

The crumble is a simple combination of oatmeal, a little brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and melted butter. It goes perfectly with our apples and gets super crunchy while baking! I like to top my crisp with a little vanilla ice cream or whipped topping. And to be honest, I may or may not have eaten the leftovers for breakfast on more than one occasion.

Can’t wait for you to give this recipe a try! My Apple Crisp recipe makes 6 servings at 6 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plan or 230 calories per serving. Enjoy!

Apple Crisp

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

60 mins

Total time

1 hour 10 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

2 lbs fuji apples (about 4 large)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp water
1.5 Tbsp corn starch
2 tsp cinnamon, divided
¼ tsp nutmeg
⅔ c rolled oats
¼ c all purpose flour
¼ c brown sugar
4 tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F and spray a pie dish or 9x9 baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
Peel and slice apples into very thin slices, ¼ inch or thinner.
Mix apple slices with lemon juice, water, cornstarch, 1 tsp of the cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour into baking dish.
In the same bowl mix together oats, flour, brown sugar, and the remaining 1 tsp of cinnamon. Pour in melted butter and stir until well blended and crumbly. Using your fingers, crumble the mixture over the top of the apples.
Bake for 60 minutes. Allow to sit at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 6 servings of Apple Crisp at 6 WW SmartPoint each.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: ⅙ of the crisp | Calories: 230 Fat: 8 Saturated fat: 5 Carbohydrates: 42 Sugar: 26 Fiber: 5 Protein: 2

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Hard Seltzers with Frozen Fruit Ice Cubes

Rachel — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 23:30:50 +0000

Things I am on board with this summer: sun, warmth, and fruity drinks. I’ll say it – the amount of drinks I consume definitely increases in the summertime which is why I am always on the lookout for a more healthful alternative. Standing in the aisle of my local grocery, White Claws® Hard Seltzers variety pack caught my eye. Their drinks are made using a blend of seltzer water, a gluten free alcohol base, and a hint of fruit flavor. Umm… sounds good to me! I served the seltzers over some fun fruit-filled ice cubes for a perfectly refreshing summer drink that doesn’t break the calorie bank.

Seriously, y’all, how fun are these drinks?! Frozen fruit ice cubes are simple to make – you can use whatever fruit you already have on hand and it will instantly turn your drink into a festive summery beverage. I made a mixture of ice cubes to pair with my White Claw variety pack. The pack comes with Black Cherry, Natural Lime, Raspberry and Ruby Grapefruit.

The best part about these fruit flavored seltzers? Each one is 100 calories, 4 WW SmartPoints (for both the Blue and Green WW plan), 2 g of carbs, gluten free, and I love that the ingredients list is super short. They are light, crisp, and just slightly sweet – they don’t make you feel weighed down when you’re sipping away in the sun!

How To Make Fruit Ice Cubes

You’re absolutely going to want to make these fun ice cubes – aren’t they gorgeous?! The best part: they’re insanely simple to make and will mostly definitely impress your friends.

You need three things for the recipe: ice cube trays (I prefer silicon), filtered water, and fruit. You can use whatever fruit you already have hanging out in the fridge. These are actually great to prep at the end of the week because you can use up fruit that didn’t get eaten!

To make the fruity ice cubes just wash and chop the fruit in small enough pieces to fit in the ice tray. Fill each mold with fruit and then add enough water to fill the mold about 2/3 of the way full. Place in the freezer until the water has frozen.

I like to mix and match my fruit and today I used:

strawberries
blueberries
lime
mint
raspberries

I love they way they turned out – time to serve!

Fill a glass with your beautiful, fruit-filled ice cubes and top it off with a White Claw Hard Seltzer for the most perfect, refreshing summer beverage. Enjoy!

Click here to locate White Claw near you!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #SipOnSummer #CollectiveBias

Hard Seltzers with Frozen Fruit Ice Cubes

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Ingredients

White Claw Hard Seltzers
Ice Cube Trays
Fresh Fruit, your choice
Fresh Mint, optional
filtered water

Instructions

Wash fruit and cut into pieces that are small enough to fit into an ice cube tray.
Fill ice cube trays with cut fruit and mint.
Pour water into trays so that each mold is ⅔ full.
Freeze until ice cubes are hard.
To serve: Fill a glass with fruit ice cubes and top with a White Claw Hard Seltzer. Enjoy!

Notes

Fruit Ice Cubes: 0 WW SmartPoints
Each 12oz White Claw Hard Seltzer: 4 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 12 oz fruit flavored White Claw Hard Seltzer | Calories: 100 Fat: 0 Saturated fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 2 Sugar: 2 Fiber: 0 Protein: 0

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Cranberry Bliss Sugar Cookies

Rachel — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 00:23:10 +0000

Oh boy, do I have a fun recipe for you! This cookie is the PERFECT cookie to add to your holiday baking list. I know that’s a bold claim but ya gotta trust me here. Why are they perfect you may be wondering? Well, for starters they’re insanely easy to make – they start with a base of premade dough but no one will ever know after we add our delicious frosting and toppings. An impressive cookie that’s less work? Okay, sign me up! They’re also crazy good – a soft sugar cookie topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting with a hint of orange, chewy cranberries, and a drizzle of white chocolate. Yes, please! Plus just look at how gorgeous and festive they are! Like I said, put them on your holiday baking list ASAP… you’ll thank me later! Each cookie is 7 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plan & 166 calories.

When I was testing this recipe my husband, Tony, came home and found a plate of cookies sitting on the counter. He’s normally not one to go for desserts with “unique flavors” (aka anything not chocolate or vanilla) but he popped one in his mouth…. and then another….. and another. That’s when I knew these were a winner. He quickly mumbled, “Oh my god these are the best cookies I’ve ever had…these are insane!” If it gets Tony’s seal of approval you can bet that eeeevvvveryone will like it. #PickyEater #TonyApproved

Make these cookies for your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and anyone else you can think of. And then be prepared to hand over the recipe because they’re going to want it! While these are perfect for the holidays they’re a great seasonal dessert to make all fall and winter long! Cranberry and orange is a classic combo so don’t be tempted to leave out the orange zest- it adds the perfect touch to make the cream cheese frosting extra tasty.

Inspired by Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars, my Cranberry Bliss Sugar Cookie recipe makes 16 cookies at 7 WW SmartPoints each & 166 calories (see recipe points about points info) – enjoy!

Cranberry Bliss Sugar Cookies

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

20 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 16 cookies

Ingredients

1 16oz roll of premade refrigerated sugar cookie dough (makes 16 cookies)
4 oz ⅓ less fat cream cheese, room temperature
¼ c powdered sugar
½ tsp orange zest
½ tsp vanilla extract
⅓ c reduced sugar dried cranberries, roughly chopped (if needed, you can sub ¼ c regular dried cranberries w/o altering points value)
¼ c white chocolate chips

Instructions

Divide sugar cookie dough into 16 cookies and bake as directed on the package. Allow to cool.
In a small bowl stir together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and orange zest. Stir until smooth, creamy, and well combined.
Frost the top of each cookie with the cream cheese frosting. You should have enough to use 1½ tsp of frosting per cookie.
Sprinkle the top of the cookies with the chopped cranberries.
Place white chocolate chips in a small bowl and microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir and continue to microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Drizzle the tops of the cookies with the melted white chocolate and allow to sit until chocolate has hardened. (Place in fridge for a few minutes if you are in a hurry!) Enjoy - store leftovers in the fridge due to the cream cheese frosting.

Notes

Makes 16 Cranberry Bliss Sugar Cookies at 7 WW SmartPoints for both the Blue and Green WW plans.

Points Info: 1 cookie (5 points) + frosting and toppings (2 points) = 7 points

To save a point you can divide the cookie dough into 19 cookies instead of 16. This will make each cookie 4 points instead of 5 points. You should still have enough frosting for the extra cookies.

Nutritional info below is for the recipe divided into 16 cookies.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 cookie Calories: 166 Fat: 7 Saturated fat: 3 Carbohydrates: 24 Sugar: 16 Fiber: 1 Protein: 1

I am so excited you are making one of my recipes and I would love to see how it turns out! Make sure to share it on Instagram and tag me @rachelshealtyplate and use #rachelshealthyplate so I can see your creation!

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Apple Spice Cake Muffins

Rachel — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:21:50 +0000

I can’t decide if these muffins are better for breakfast or dessert but either way, they’re a fun treat to make this fall and winter! I have a lot of events on the horizon so I wanted to come up with a super easy and low point sweet treat that I can bring with me just to ensure that I have something healthy to enjoy. I’ve got all things apple on the brain right now so I decided on some apple spice cakes. Love how these turned out – kinda rustic looking and just sweet enough. I used the good ol’ low fat two ingredient cake mix hack for these. You just need a box of cake mix and some unsweetened applesauce plus a few batches of my easy microwave Ooey Gooey Apples! Each of my Apple Spice Cake Muffins is just 3 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans.

These little muffins make a fabulous dessert – you can serve them at holiday gatherings and potlucks or even drop off a basket to your neighbor just because. Serve one warmed up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel for the ultimate sundae. They’re also fantastic for breakfast served with a side of scrambled eggs and bacon. And of course, you can always top them with some of my zero point Crockpot Apple Butter.

So let’s talk about the shortcuts. I’m sure you’ve seen those recipes where you mix a box of cake mix with a can of pumpkin or some applesauce, yeah? Welp, that’s exactly what we’re doing here! This was actually my first time trying out this hack and I was surprised how moist the cake turned out! We just need a box of spice cake mix, 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened applesauce, and 1/2 cup of water – too easy.

Once we make the batter we’ll top it with my Ooey Gooey Microwave Apples. I added a big spoonful to the top of each muffin. The cake and apples bake together to form the perfect Apple Spice Cake Muffin. They’re perfectly sweet and spiced – I love the texture the apples add and I told ya, they seriously couldn’t be easier to make!

These healthy little cakes are going to be a hit! Makes 24 Apple Spice Cake Muffins at 3 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans. Enjoy!

Here’s the link for the Ooey Gooey Apples you’ll need for the topping.

Apple Spice Cake Muffins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 24 Muffins

Ingredients

1 box of spice cake mix
1½ c unsweetened applesauce
½ c water
4-6 batches of my Ooey Gooey Microwave Apples, prepared (linked above) - depending on apple size, we want a heaping tbsp on the top of each cake

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.
Prepare the Ooey Gooey Apples in a large bowl - Cut the apple pieces small for this recipe, about ⅓ inch dice. I prefer peeled apples for this recipe. Microwave in two minute increments until the apples are soft and gooey, stirring between each round. It took me about 6 minutes total for my large bowl of apples.
In a large bowl mix together the cake mix, applesauce, and water. Stir until well combined.
Divide cake batter between 24 prepared muffin tins. (I used cupcake liners)
Top each muffin with a heaping tablespoon of the ooey gooey apple mixture.
Bake according to the cupcake recipe listed on the back of your particular cake mix box. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 24 Apple Spice Cake Muffins at 3 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green WW plans.

Nutritional Information is calculated assuming the use of 4 apples.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used or produce size. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 spice cake muffin | Calories: 88 Fat: 1 Saturated fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 20 Sugar: 12 Fiber: 1 Protein: 1

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Peanut Butter Banana Parfaits

Rachel — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 15:09:45 +0000

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ReddiForNonDairy #CollectiveBias

How cute are these little Peanut Butter Banana Parfaits?! Individual desserts always feel extra special to me and they’re great to serve guests if you’re having a party or get together. This easy dessert has three layers of deliciousness: a smooth and creamy peanut butter banana base that’s topped with crunchy chocolate cookies and then finished with the new almond milk Reddi-wip®. Sounds delicious like a delicious combo, right?! These little guys are perfect to serve all year round and because they’re dairy free, they’ll please just about anyone! One of my Peanut Butter Banana Parfaits is 2 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green plans.

I’m telling you, folks, this recipe could not be easier to make – it takes just a few ingredients and literally comes together in minutes. Here’s the lineup: frozen bananas, powdered peanut butter, almond milk, chocolate graham crackers, and Reddi-wip Almond Non-dairy Whipped Topping.

Because I wanted to keep my dessert dairy free I picked up the new Reddi-wip® Almond Non-dairy whipped topping which I was able to find in the refrigerated section of my local Walmart. I’m hardcore crushing on this can of goodness because A) No dairy, gluten, artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners, B) 10 calories per serving* (0 WW points), and C) I’m blown away by the delicious almond flavor. Hands down, this is the most flavorful whipped topping I’ve tried! Since discovering this flavor I’ve been whippin’ up (hah, get it?!) my coffees, ice cream, and ooey gooey apples every chance I get. To be honest, I’d never know this was non-dairy if the can didn’t tell me…. #CanOfMagic! They also have a coconut flavor that I’ll most definitely be trying next. *Not a low-calorie food

Alright, back to the recipe, shall we? Into a food processor goes our frozen bananas, powdered peanut butter, and almond milk. Blend everything together until it’s a nice smooth mixture. That’s it? Yup, seriously, that’s it! Now time for the fun part – assembly!

I divided mine into three small glasses. Start by filling the bottom with the peanut butter banana mixture.

Add a layer of crushed chocolate cookies and then top everything off with a serving of Reddi-wip Almond Non-dairy Whipped Topping. Oooooh yeah!

I decided to add a drizzle of peanut butter and a few extra chocolate crumbles to make them look extra fancy. Gotta love a good finishing touch!

Time to dig in! How easy was that?! This yummy combo is seriously the perfect simple sweet treat. I pretty much always have ingredients on hand to make these and it’s good to always have a healthful dessert recipe in your back pocket.

If you want to make these for a party you can do one of two things: 1) Make the peanut butter banana mixture and store in the freezer in a large container. Pull it out about 15-20 minutes before it’s time to eat and once it has slightly thawed you can assemble the parfaits. 2) Make the peanut butter banana mixture and go ahead and divide into the serving glasses. Place a tray of the glasses into the freezer and pull them out about 15 minutes before it’s time to serve. Add the rest of the toppings and enjoy!

My Peanut Butter Banana Parfait recipe makes 3 servings at 2 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green plans. See recipe notes for more details on points.

Peanut Butter Banana Parfaits

Prep time

5 mins

Total time

5 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 3 parfaits

Ingredients

2 bananas, frozen
6 tbsp powdered peanut butter, 2 tbsp reserved for the topping
2 tbsp unsweetened almond milk, or other non-dairy milk
6 chocolate graham crackers, crushed, a few crumbs reserved for the topping if desired
Reddi-wip Almond Non-dairy Whipped Topping

Instructions

Place the frozen bananas, 4 tbsp of powdered peanut butter, and 2 tbsp almond milk into a food processor. Blend until everything is a smooth and creamy consistency. Scrape down the sides if needed.
Into three small glasses, add ⅓ of the peanut butter banana mixture.
Top each glass with two chocolate graham crackers, crushed.
Finish each glass with a serving of Reddi-wip Almond Non-dairy Whipped Topping.
If desired you can garnish with the reserved peanut butter and crushed cookies. Mix the remaining 2 tbsp of powdered peanut butter with enough water to make it a smooth, drizzlable consistency. Drizzle over the top of the parfait and add a few extra cookie pieces.

Notes

I divided my recipe into 3 servings at 2 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green plans.

Points breakdown per serving: ⅔ banana (0), 2 chocolate graham crackers (1), 2 tbsp powdered peanut butter (1), Reddi-wip® (0), almond milk (0) = 2 sp / serving.

If you'd like to divide the recipe into 2 servings each serving will be 4 WW smart points each.

Points breakdown per serving for half: 1 banana (0), 3 chocolate graham crackers (2), 3 tbsp powdered peanut butter (2), Reddi-wip® (0), almond milk (0) = 4 sp/serving.

*Note: Blended fruit is only counted as points when it is blended and made into a drink. If you eat fruit that has been blended (i.e. with a spoon, in a baked dish, etc) it is counted as 0 points. Please consult the WW website if you have questions regarding this rule. I did receive specific verification about this from WW.

The nutritional info posted is for ⅓ of the recipe.

If you are making this for a party and need several servings simply multiply the according to the desired number of servings you need.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: ⅓ of the recipe | 1 parfait | Calories: 169 Fat: 3 Saturated fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 31 Sugar: 15 Fiber: 5 Protein: 6

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Brown Sugar & Pumpkin Spice Swirls

Rachel — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 13:12:42 +0000

How fun do these little pastries look?! I had a roll of Pillsbury crescent sheets hanging out in the fridge and thought it would be fun to whip up a little treat with them. These Brown Sugar & Pumpkin Spice Swirls add a special touch to breakfast or make a yummy afternoon snack when served with a cup of coffee or tea! One swirl is 2 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green plans or 61 calories.

To make these you just need a few ingredients: a roll of crescent roll sheets (make sure to get the sheet and not the pre-cut crescents), an egg white, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice — that’s it!

Simply remove the dough from the tube and while it’s still rolled up you’ll slice it into 12 even pieces. I find the easiest way to ensure even slices it to cut the whole thing in half and then cut each of those sections in half. Now you should have four even sections which makes eye balling the rest of the cuts much easier. Finally, you cut each of the four sections into three slices and lay them out on a baking sheet.

Using your fingers you’ll need to give each slice a little smoosh to flatten it out into a bigger circle, until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. After that we brush on our egg white and top them off with a sprinkle of brown sugar and pumpkin spice. They only need to bake about 7-10 minutes – so quick and easy!

These are delicious served for breakfast with a side of scrambled eggs, bacon, and fruit. We also enjoyed snacking on these in the afternoon and of course, we had to slather some with my 0 point apple butter. Delicious! These little pastries aren’t too sweet – just right! Is it weird that I prefer to eat them upside down so the brown sugar topping is the first thing I taste?! I’m weird, it’s fine.

If you don’t have any pumpkin use pie spice on hand you could just use cinnamon in it’s place. I’ve been loving Dak’s Pumpkin Pie Spice this season as well as all of their other seasoning blends! I’m not sure what pumpkin magic they add to their blend but it seems to have a lil’ something special compared to others. #secretrecipe?!

This recipe makes 12 Brown Sugar & Pumpkin Spice Swirls at 2 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green plans and 61 calories – enjoy!

Brown Sugar & Pumpkin Spice Swirls

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

15 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 12 swirls

Ingredients

1 roll of Pillsbury crescent dough seamless sheets
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.
Remove the crescent dough from the package but do not unroll it. Cut the dough into 12 even slices (cuts easiest using a serrated knife and when the dough is cold).
Place the slices onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Using your fingers, press the dough into a larger circle, until its' about ¼ inch thick or twice the size of the original slice.
Mix together the brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
Brush the top of the dough well with the egg white and then sprinkle the tops with the brown sugar and spice mixture.
Bake for 7-10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

Makes 12 Brown Sugar & Pumpkin Spice Swirls at 2 WW SmartPoints on both the Blue and Green plans.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 swirl | Calories: 61 Fat: 2 Saturated fat: 1 Carbohydrates: 10 Sugar: 3 Fiber: 1 Protein: 1

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Pumpkin Bread Muffins

Rachel — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 13:50:47 +0000

You guys, I did it! I finally made a WW-friendly muffin that tastes deeeelicious! I’ve tried making healthy muffins a bazillion times over the years and I’m never really a fan of the texture or taste … I’d rather just have the full-sugar, full-fat version, ya know?! Today I decided to give it another whirl and experimented with using greek yogurt in the batter. I’m seriously impressed with how these babies turned out! I’m kind of a pumpkin pastry snob but these muffins checked all the boxes for me! These Pumpkin Bread Muffins are deliciously spiced with a hearty texture and the perfect amount of sweetness – not too much, not too little. Each muffin is 3 Blue WW SmartPoints/4 Green WW SmartPoints and 128 calories.

The recipe couldn’t be simpler – if you have a can of pumpkin on hand I bet you have all the ingredients to make them right now! You just need one bowl, some pantry staples, and you’re ready to go. The batter comes together so fast you’ll probably be standing around waiting for the oven to finish preheating.

You simply whisk together your wet ingredients, sift in your dry ingredients, and fold everything until it just comes together. The batter is thick, giving the muffins a hearty, bread-like texture. To be honest I prefer this texture over super light and cakey muffins because it’s hard to be satisfied after just one….. (you know it’s true).

One batch makes 9 full sized muffins. They’re great for breakfast, especially slathered with some of my zero point apple butter or served with scrambled eggs and a piece of bacon. They also make a great afternoon snack paired with coffee or a before bed treat alongside a mug of sleepy time tea.

I made two batches of these muffins while testing out the recipe so I’ll be freezing half so that I can have quick treats all throughout the fall!

Makes 9 Pumpkin Bread Muffins at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints/4 Green WW SmartPoints – enjoy!

Pumpkin Bread Muffins

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 9 muffins

Ingredients

1¼ c all purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
pinch of salt
2 eggs
¼ c plain, fat free greek yogurt
½ c canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 tsp vanilla
¼ c + 2 tbsp brown sugar (6 tbsp)
2 tbsp pepitas*

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F and line a muffin tin with 9 non-stick muffin liners or spray with cooking spray (my preferred method)
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, yogurt, pumpkin, vanilla, and brown sugar until well combined.
Mix in the pumpkin pie spice, salt, and baking soda.
Gently fold in the sifted flour and stir until just combined. The batter will be thick. Do not over mix.
Divide the batter between the 9 muffin liners, filling each about halfway full.
Top the muffins with the pepitas, if using.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. (start checking at 15 minutes and don't over bake)

Notes

Makes 9 muffins at 3 Blue WW SmartPoints/4 Green WW SmartPoints per muffin.

*You can chose to omit the pepitas, it won't change the points value either way.

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 muffin Calories: 128 Fat: 2 Saturated fat: 1 Carbohydrates: 22 Sugar: 9 Fiber: 1 Protein: 4

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Maple Glazed Apple Hand Pies

Rachel — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 13:20:51 +0000

Ooooookay, friends, do I have a delicious recipe for you! I have been dreaming up these hand pies for a couple of months now and finally got around to making them. Oh. My. Yum. They did not disappoint! I simply used the oh-so-versatile two ingredient dough but added a little spice to make a delicious base for these pastries. I stuffed the inside full of my zero point Ooey Gooey Microwave Apples and topped them off with a simple maple glaze. HELLO, heavenly combo! These are a really good size and they’re 2 Blue WW SmartPoints/3 Green WW SmartPoints, 139 calories, and fat free! #MindBlown

To start you’ll want to make a triple batch of my Ooey Gooey Apples. I diced them a little smaller than normal so I could fit as much as possible into these delicious pies.

Next up I made the dough with Greek yogurt, self-rising flour, and some cinnamon.

After about 25 minutes in the oven they will be golden brown and oozing with apple filling. I decided to make a simple maple glaze using a little sugar free syrup (I like Joseph’s Sugar Free syrup) and powdered sugar. If you don’t want maple flavor feel free to make a traditional glaze with powdered sugar and water OR skip the glaze entirely and sprinkle on a little sugar/brown sugar and cinnamon just before baking. Whatever you decide will be delicious!

These would great to make for a special weekend brunch or to meal prep for a week of breakfasts! Serve them with some scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage for a filling meal. They’d also be a wonderful dessert served hot and topped with a scoop of ice cream!

Each hand pie is 2 Blue WW SmartPoints/3 Green WW SmartPoints. Enjoy!

Click here for the Ooey Gooey Apples needed for this recipe.

Maple Glazed Apple Handpies

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

35 mins

Author: Rachel's Healthy Plate

Serves: 6 pies

Ingredients

1 cup Gold Medal Self-Rising Flour, 2 tbsp reserved and set aside for dusting
¾ cup plain fat free Greek yogurt (pour off any liquid that's on top before measuring)
½ tsp cinnamon
1 egg white, lightly beaten
3 batches of my Ooey Gooey Microwave Apples, prepared (linked above)
1 tbsp sugar free maple syrup
2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix together Greek yogurt, flour, and ½ tsp cinnamon- stir until well combined.
Sprinkle a work surface with a little bit of the reserved flour and turn the dough out onto the surface. Knead well until the dough comes together into a nice ball. If the dough is sticky dust with flour and continue to knead.
Cut the dough ball in half. Cut each half into three equal sections so that you have a total of six dough balls.
Assemble pies: Dust surface with a little flour and press one of the dough balls into a flat circle. Flip the dough and dust with more flour, continue working the dough until you have formed a large flat circle, about 5-6 inches across. Use a small roller to help, if needed.
On one half of the surface place a large scoop of the cooked apples. (I was able to get a heaping ¼ cup of apples per pie). Fold the top over the apples and carefully transfer to the payment paper.
Dip the end of a fork into flour and crimp edges of the pie with the fork by pressing down on the seam and working your way around the pie. Use the fork to poke a couple of holes into the top of the pie.
Repeat with remaining dough and apples until you have a total of 6 pies.
Brush the top of the pies with the egg white.
Bake for 23-25 minutes until golden brown.
While the pies are cooling make the glaze by combining the syrup and powdered sugar. Drizzle glaze over the top of the pies (add a tiny splash of water if the consistency is too thick to drizzle). Enjoy!

Notes

Makes 6 handpies at 2 Blue WW SmartPoints/3 Green WW SmartPoints each.

NOTES:

The key to working with two ingredient dough is adding a dusting of flour anytime the dough starts to stick to your hands.

The dough is not sweet but the apples and glaze add the perfect amount of sweetness for me. If you'd like a sweeter dough you can try adding a packet of stevia (or sweetener of choice) but I'm not sure if this will affect the texture.

I'm sure you could cook these pies in an airfryer but I haven't tried it yet. I also think they would freeze well. (I'll update the recipe notes once I try these methods!)

Nutritional information is calculated with MyFitnessPal and may vary based on brands used. Smart Points information is calculated with the Weight Watchers app and may also vary based on brands used.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1 hand pie Calories: 139 Fat: 0 Saturated fat: 0 Carbohydrates: 31 Sugar: 11 Fiber: 3 Protein: 5

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