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SPLENDA*'s Happiest Endings
Here it is! The final installment of our SPLENDA* Sweet Recipe Creations Contest. It's time for the category you've all been waiting for. Those sweet sweet revamped desserts. Thanks to the use of SPLENDA* No Calorie Sweetener, all three of our prize-winning dessert recipes are made healthier without any compromise to their taste.
Our grand-prize winner in the dessert category is Kimberly from Ontario. She's created a dazzling recipe for Marble Bailey's Cheesecake. Prepare it once, and we guarantee you'll be compelled to make it again and again. It's just that good!
Marble Bailey's Cheesecake
Servings: 12
POINTS® Value: 4
Ingredients:
1/2 cup calorie reduced margarine, melted
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup SPLENDA* Granular
2 cups graham crumbs
2 pkgs (250g each) cream cheese, 1 light and 1 fat free, softened
2 eggs
2/3 cup SPLENDA* Granular
1/4 cup fat free sour cram
2 squares (2 oz) semi-sweet chocolate, melted
2 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
Instructions:
- For crust, combine margarine, SPLENDA*, cocoa powder in a mixing bowl. Stir in crumbs. Press evenly over bottom and 1" up sides of greased 9" pan.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in SPLENDA*. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then sour cream, at low speed of mixer.
- Pour 1/3 mixture into smaller bowl and stir in melted chocolate until well blended.
- Add Bailey's Irish Cream to remaining mixture in the large bowl.
- Pour half of Bailey's mixture into crust. Drizzle with half the chocolate mixture. Pour in remaining Bailey's mixture and then drizzle remaining chocolate mixture on top. Make a marble design by gently (don't touch the crust) swirling batter with a small knife.
- Bake at 325 F fro 50 to 55 min or until set. Loosen cake from rim of pan. Cool on rack, then refrigerate then serve.
We asked Kimberly how she developed the recipe for this irresistible cheesecake. Here's what she told us:
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"I use SPLENDA* in my coffee daily, but was inspired to use it in baking when I found out earlier this year that my Dad is diabetic. With his 60th birthday coming up, I wanted to make him his favourite...cheesecake. It was also another excuse to experiment in the kitchen!
Using my cheesecake recipe, which keeps evolving over time, I replaced the sugar with SPLENDA*. I was very pleased with the results, and so was my Dad! I then told my sister-in-law how well the cheesecake came out with using SPLENDA*, and she asked if I would make it again for her birthday. Knowing her love for Bailey's, I wanted to add it to the cake to make it special just for her. Everyone raved about how good it was! Being a Weight Watchers Online subscriber, I received an email about this contest shortly after making the cake and I immediately thought to enter this recipe!"
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We're also pleased to announce our two equally delectable dessert recipe runner-ups. The first comes to us from Louise from British Colombia. She created a chocolate brownie variation packed with exquisite flavour. See for yourself!
Chocolate Brownies
Servings: 16
POINTS Value: 2
Ingredients:
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 cup SPLENDA* Granular
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoon margarine softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine flour, SPLENDA*, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder and salt.
- Beat butter, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour mixture until blended.
- Spread batter in 8 inch square baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bake in a 350 oven for 18-20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched.
- Cool completely on wire rack.
We had the chance to ask Louise how she came across the idea of adding SPLENDA* to this chocolaty delight normally filled with sugar.
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"This recipe is one of my favourites. Of course any thing with chocolate is my favourite. I'm always looking for ways to cut back the calories and finding a better way to enjoy the dessert without guilt. I started to add SPLENDA* instead of sugar a few years ago and my family didn't even notice the change."
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Our other second-prize winning dessert recipe is a uniquely innovative Oatmeal Bannock, which comes us from Dave from Ontario.
Dave's Oatmeal Bannock
Servings: 8
POINTS Value: 2
Ingredients:
4 Tbsp low-fat margarine
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup SPLENDA* Granular
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Oatmeal (regular or instant)
1/2 cup Oat Bran (or Corn Meal)
1/2 cup Dried cranberries or raisins
3 Tbsp Skim milk powder
3/4 - 1 cup Water
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees and spray a pizza pan or cookie sheet lightly with cooking spray.
- Cut margarine into flour, baking powder, skim milk powder, SPLENDA* and salt in a large bowl until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
- Stir in oats, oat bran and cranberries, adding just enough water so dough leaves side of bowl and forms a ball.
- Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and gently roll in flour to coat. Knead lightly 10 times.
- Press dough into an 8 inch circle on pizza pan.
- With a floured knife cut in to wedges but do not separate.
- Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from pizza pan separate wedges and serve warm.
We recently asked Dave to comment on his prize-winning bannock creation and also inquired as to how he came to start using SPLENDA* in the kitchen.
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"I have been using SPLENDA* in my baking for quite some time now. My wife and four young children have chronic health problems and I have tried to incorporate healthy alternatives to the usual ingredients such as white or brown sugar wherever possible to help foster healthier eating habits. Most of my cooking starts from a plain bare bones recipe and I will add and take away and retry until I get the results I am satisfied with."
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Thank you all so much for your exceptional contributions to all four of our SPLENDA* Sweet Recipe Creations Contest categories!
© McNeil Consumer Healthcare 2005
* Trademark
Looking for other ways to enjoy sweet after dinner flavours while staying on plan? Take a peek at our Sticky-Sticky Sweet suggestions using butterscotch, toffee, and caramel!
Ready to start losing weight?
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