3 Diabetic-Friendly Fall Dessert Recipes.

3 Diabetic-Friendly Fall Dessert Recipes

It’s sweets and treats season (well, our favourite one anyways). We know that at least a few of you have been steering clear on the doctor’s order, which is why we sourced a few indulgent autumn desserts that you don’t have to feel guilty eating, courtesy of EatingWell.com.

Chocolate-Swirled Pumpkin Loaf

16 Servings, 1 Loaf

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar (we do not recommend a substitute)
• 2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• 2 teaspoons chilled butter
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ¾ cup canned pumpkin
• ⅓ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• ¼ cup canola oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In a small saucepan cook and stir chocolate and the water over low until melted and smooth; cool.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together brown sugar and pecans. Using a fork, cut in butter until crumbly.

Step 3

In a large bowl stir together flour, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt. In a medium bowl combine the remaining ingredients. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moistened.

Step 4

Spread half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Drizzle with half of the melted chocolate; swirl chocolate into batter with a narrow metal spatula. Repeat with the remaining batter and chocolate. Sprinkle with pecan mixture.

Step 5

Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool bread in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove; cool completely on wire rack.

Caramelized Spiced Pears

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 3 ripe but firm pears (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons granulated or light brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch of salt

Directions

Step 1

Toss pears with lemon juice in a medium bowl. Melt butter in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat; stir in the pears. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring once halfway through, for 10 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile combine sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt in a small bowl. After 10 minutes, stir the sugar mixture into the pears. Increase the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until the pears are tender and glazed, 4 to 6 minutes, depending on the type and firmness of the pears. Serve warm.

Fresh Apple Squares

Serves 16

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• ¼ cup apple juice concentrate, thawed
• 2 medium tart apples, such as Granny Smith, peeled and thinly sliced
• ¼ cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Directions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray.

Step 2

Combine flour, oats, brown sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl. Work in oil and apple juice concentrate with your fingers until coarse crumbs form.

Step 3

Firmly press 2 cups of the oat mixture into the prepared pan. Arrange apples over the crust in three rows. Mix walnuts into the remaining oat mixture. Sprinkle the walnut mixture evenly over the apples and pat firmly into an even layer.

Step 4

Bake until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender when pierced with a sharp knife, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

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At Sorrento Retirement Residence, we take pride in the lifestyle we’re able to offer our residents: from nutrition, to medical care and social life. To learn more about our European-inspired retirement residence, visit sorrentoretirement.com.