Convert to Healthy Dessert Recipes
While there are no substitutions that will make these into low calorie dessert recipes, you can make any of these desserts healthy by using the following substitutions:- grain-sweetened chips in place of regular chips
- adding a heaping tablespoon of powdered greens (don't worry, it will be completely disguised by the chips)
- condensed milk sweetened with natural sweetener or Stevia-sweetened lo-fat cream cheese in place of sweetened condensed milk
- coconut oil in place of butter
- sugar-free peanut butter
- whole grain, refined-sugar-free cereal in place of regular cereal
- whole grain crackers in place of regular crackers
Check out these Quick & Easy Healthy Dessert Recipes for Kids That Kids Can Make with lots of ideas for healthy dessert recipes.
Tips
Chocolate chips will not puddle or lose their shape when melted in the microwave. When they turn shiny they are ready to stir -- if still not completely melted zap a few seconds more.You can vary almost any of these recipes by substituting butterscotch, peanut butter or white chocolate chips for the chocolate chips.
Some of these recipes are my own invention, some are old standbys. Once you get going you or your kids may come up with your own creations. If you do, please feel free to share them in the Comments section.
Cookies
Chocolate Mint Cookies
Ingredients- vanilla wafers
- 12 ounces chocolate chips
- peppermint hard candies
Line a cookie sheet with foil.
Melt chips and peppermints in microwave for one minute. Stir and continue microwaving in 30 second increments until fully melted. Dip wafers in chocolate mint sauce.
Set on foil to harden.
Variation
Substitute melt-in-your-mouth dessert mints for the hard candy. Don't melt them with the chocolate. Place them in a plastic bag, seal and roll over them with a rolling pin until crushed. After setting the cookies on the foil, sprinkle with the crushed mints.
Turtle Cookies
Ingredients- 14 ounce bag caramels
- 2 tablespoons water
- 5 & 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
- 12 ounce bag chocolate chips
- pecan halves
Instructions
Place caramels and water in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir.
Microwave for 30 seconds, stir. Continue cooking and stirring at 30 second intervals until the sauce is smooth.
Stir in cereal until well coated with the caramel sauce. Oil or butter your hands and form mixture into patties, about 2 inches round.
Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir and continue microwaving and stirring in 30 second intervals until chocolate is smooth. Place 1 teaspoon chocolate on top of each cereal pattie. Press a pecan half into the chocolate. Allow to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Tip
This tastes even better when you toast the pecans before pressing them into the chocolate. Place the pecans in a single layer on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for one minute. If the nuts have brown spots or are darker then they're done. If they look as pale as an uncooked pecan then microwave in 30 second increments, checking to see if darkened.
Chocolate Dipped Microwave Cookies
I love this microwave cookie recipe! Even though I came up with it while looking for a project to keep the kids busy on a rainy day, it's so easy and delicious that I often make it myself.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 30 to 40 crackers
Instructions
Place in a shallow bowl:
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons butter
Microwave in thirty second increments, stirring after each minute until chips are completely melted.
Spread peanut butter between two crackers, then dip into melted chocolate, making sure to coat well. Stand each cookie on its side on waxed or parchment paper until chocolate has hardened. Depending on how thickly you coat the cookies this recipe will make between 15 and 17 cookies.
Variations:
Dip any of the following into the melted chocolate:
- pretzels
- grapes
- banana slices
- dried cherries
- oreo cookies (this is absolutely incredible)
- your choice of cookie
- potato chips (use thick cut ones to reduce breakage)
- crackers
- whole strawberries (leave the stem uncoated)
Candy
Microwave Chocolate Chip Peanut Brittle
Ingredients1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup white corn syrup
1 Cup salted nuts
1 Teaspoon butter
1 Teaspoon vanilla
1 Teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
Grease a cookie sheet. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips. In microwave safe bowl add sugar and corn syrup. Microwave for 8 -11 minutes. Stir. Cook for 4 more minutes. Stir in nuts and cook until light brown about 2 minutes. Be careful not to allow the candy to burn. Stir in butter and vanilla. Microwave 1 to 2 minutes. Peanuts will be lightly browned and the candy syrup will be VERY hot. Gently stir in baking soda until light and foamy. Pour mixture onto prepared cookie sheet. Let cool 30 minutes to 1 hour. When cool break into pieces and store in airtight container.
Caramel Peanut Puffs
Ingredients
14 ounces caramels
3 tablespoons water
30 large marshmallows
1 & 1/2 cups chopped salted peanuts
Instructions
Place the peanuts in a shallow bowl or pie plate.
Place caramels and water in one quart glass measuring dish or casserole. Heat for one minute. Stir and heat in 30 second increments until melted.
Use toothpicks to dip marshmallows in caramel sauce, making sure to coat completely. Roll in peanuts. Place on waxed paper and allow to harden.
Tip
If syrup gets too thick while dipping marshmallows, stir in 1/2 teaspoon water and heat for 30 seconds or until softened.
Melt in Your Mouth Mints
Ingredients- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 15 ounce package white frosting mix (this is a dry mix)
- food coloring (red, green or color of your choice)
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
Place butter and milk in large microwave safe bowl.
Cook for 30 seconds, or until butter is melted. Stir in frosting mix. Cook for 1 minute. Stir. Cook one minute more or until mixture begins to bubble. Watch carefully as it can quickly boil over. Remove from microwave and stir in food coloring until the mixture is the color you like. Stir in the peppermint extract.
Drop mixture by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. When cool, store in airtight container.
Variations
Substitute other extracts for the peppermint. Try coconut, vanilla, butterscotch, lemon, cherry, strawberry ...
Quick & Easy Microwave Fudge For Kids
Ingredients- 16 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
In a large microwave safe bowl microwave the following ingredients for one minute:
- 16 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
Stir in:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Tip
If the fudge is too hard to easily cut, leave the fudge at room temperature until it softens a bit, then try cutting it.
Variations
Stir in up to 2 cups or 4 handfuls of any of the following ingredients before pouring fudge into the pan that will go into the refrigerator:
- toasted nuts
- raisins or other dried fruit
- shredded coconut
- cereal (get creative with this one!)
- broken cookies
Now wasn't that just the quickest, easiest fudge you've ever made? And the best part is that you didn't make it, your kids did! Although, I imagine you'll be doing some cleaning up, so take an extra square of fudge for your efforts :)
Puppy Chow
Ingredients1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
9 cups Chex cereal
1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
In a large microwave-safe bowl place the following ingredients:
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons)
Microwave for one minute, stir and then microwave in 30 second increments until chips are completely melted. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and 9 cups Chex cereal.
Spread mixture on wax or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and let set until almost hardened - about 1 hour. Pour 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar into a large bag. Break apart Chex mix into bag. Shake until well coated. Store in air-tight container.
Rocky Road Chocolate Brittle
Ingredients- 12 ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 cups)
- 3/4 cup loosely packed mini marshmallows
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped coarsely or if the kids are doing it they can break them up with their hands directly into the bowl or placed in a plastic bag and pounded on with a wooden mallet.
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Put chocolate chips in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in thirty second increments, stirring in between until chips are melted. Stir in marshmallows and nuts. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls onto wax paper or parchment lined cookie sheet. Refrigerate about thirty minutes until firm. Store in an airtight container in a cool place with waxed or parchment paper in between each layer.
Bars
Coconut Squares
Ingredients- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate bits
Instructions
Place butter in an 8-inch square microwave safe dish.
Place butter in an 8-inch square microwave safe dish.
Cook for 1 minute or until the butter is completely melted. Stir in graham cracker crumbs and sugar and mix until well blended. Pat the crumb mixture firmly and evenly into bottom of dish being careful that everything is cool enough to handle before pressing your hands into it.
Cook for 2 minutes. Allow to sit for five to ten minutes until partially cool. In a medium bowl, mix coconut, milk and nuts. Spoon carefully over graham cracker crust.
Cook for 1 and 1/2 minutes. Rotate dish one half turn. Cook for another 1 and 1/2 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate bits.
Cook for 1 minute. Using the back of a spoon, spread melted chocolate evenly over coconut mixture.
Allow to cool. Cut into squares.
Marshmallow Treats
Ingredients1 ten ounce package marshmallows
1/4 cup butter
5 cups rice cereal such as Rice Krispies
Instructions
In large microwave safe bowl, heat marshmallows and butter 2 minutes. Remove from microwave, stir and heat for another minute or two, stopping and stirring after each minute. The final mixture should be perfectly smooth, with no lumps of unmelted marshmallow. Add the cereal and stir to coat well. Press into greased pan such as a rectangular cake pan or cookie sheet. When cool; cut into squares.
Caramel Chocolate Bars
Ingredients
1 package cream-filled sugar wafer cookies
34 vanilla caramels
2 tablespoons milk or water
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons butter
Instructions
Lightly oil an 8-inch square pan.
In a small microwave safe bowl melt the chocolate chips and butter in one minute increments until completely smooth. Pour enough chocolate sauce into the 8 inch pan to cover the bottom of the pan. Arrange a layer of wafer cookies, side by side, to cover the bottom of the pan.
In another small microwave safe bowl microwave caramels with milk, in one minute increments, stirring until caramels are melted and blended into the milk. Spread the caramel sauce over the layer of cookies in the pan. Arrange the rest of the cookies in a layer on top of caramel sauce.
Carefully spread the remaining chocolate sauce so that it evenly covers the cookies. Place the pan in the fridge until bars hard. Cut into squares. Can be stored lightly covered at room temperature.
Tip
If you run out of creme wafers you can use Rice Chex or other cereal or cookie broken to fit the remaining space in the pan.
Misc.
Chocolate Fondue
Ingredients- 1 pound chocolate (12 candy bars or a 16 ounce bag of chocolate chips)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup milk (you can use half & half, low-fat or whole milk)
If using chocolate bars break them into large pieces and put them into a microwave safe dish. Add sour cream and milk. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir until smooth or microwave in thirty second increments until chocolate is melted into a creamy dip. Use a fork or toothpicks to skewer any of the dippers below and dip into your chocolate fondue. Refrigerate leftover sauce and use any time you like - it won't harden.
Dippers:
- orange slices
- apples
- banana
- blueberries
- cherries
- pineapple
- strawberries
- raisins
- dried fruit
- fruit leather
- potato chips
- nuts
- pretzels
- marshmallows
- maraschino cherries
- graham crackers
- animal crackers
- cookies
- pound cake
- angel food cake
Stay tuned - I'll be adding more recipes over the next couple of days. I just hope my microwave doesn't blow up. But if my microwave doesn't blow up, I certainly will after taste tasting all these desserts!
If you'd like to expand your index of quick and easy dessert recipes check out Food Networks Quick and Easy Desserts Recipes Page.
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