Low-calorie Christmas treats?

Question

Does anyone have any recipes for LOW-CALORIE Christmas treats, whether they be cookies or candy that we would be able to take to a relative's house for their teenage, health-conscious kids?

Answer 1

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

3/4 cup applesauce
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
2 egg whites
1/3 cup skim milk or soy milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine applesauce, sugar, egg whites, milk and vanilla in a mixing bowl; whisk until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves and zest; stir just to mix. Stir in oats and raisins.
2. Coat three cookie sheets with cooking spray. (This is unnecessary with nonstick pans.) Spoon the batter onto the cookie sheets, 2 heaping tablespoons at a time, leaving 3 inches between cookies. Gently flatten each cookie with a wet spatula.
3. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until firm and lightly browned on the bottom. (Watch closely; they burn faster than butter-based cookies.)Let cool on the cookie sheet 1 minute, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.Store in an airtight container.
4. This is not going to be an overly sweet cookie.

Answer 2

How about colored popcorn balls? In red or green food coloring, and corn syrup? Years and years ago, people made them for the kids along with cookies or Christmas tarts. Chocolate covered cherries are good. But maybe too expensive to make. How about some ribbon candy or taffy after pulling it yourself and breaking it into pieces when it's laid out to harden? There are Rice Krispie Treats, made with the cereal and marshmellows, and there's always fudge you make in a sheet cake pan. And gingerbread squares too. A combination of any of these I'm sure would be very well accepted. Just stack them in some colored cellophane and tie with some ribbon. You can use a small paper plate to stack them on. Use toothpicks to stick them all together so that none fall over if you find that easier. Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Answer 3

LOW CALORIE OATMEAL COOKIES

1 1/2 c. quick cooking oatmeal
2/3 c. butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 tbsp. liquid sweetener
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. skim or lowfat milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. raisins

Measure oatmeal into mixing bowl. Stir in melted shortening, mixing well. Blend in combined eggs and sweetener. Add sifted dry ingredients alternating with combined milk and vanilla. Mix in raisins. Drop by level teaspoon onto oiled baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.


LOW CALORIE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 c. sifted flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. butter
4 tsp. sugar substitute
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips (3 oz.)

Sift together the dry ingredients. Cream butter, add sugar substitute, vanilla and eggs, blending well. Add flour mixture and beat well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by level teaspoons on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake in a moderate oven, 375 degrees, for 10 minutes. Makes 36 cookies, each 48 calories.


LOW CALORIE FROZEN CHOCOLATE KISSES
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
6 ounces soft cream cheese
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/8 cup cream and 1/8 cup water
1 package sugar-free, fat-free instant chocolate pudding

Whip 1 cup cream, set aside.
In separate bowl, cream cream cheese, add sour cream and cream and water. Mix well.
Stir in pudding powder and blend well.
Fold into the whipped cream.
Using a pastry bag with a star tip, pipe hershey size kisses onto a sheet pan covered with wax paper.
Place in freezer until solid, and store in freezer.
Makes 150.

Answer 4

Go to Culinary Chef at http://www.culinarychef.com for recipes and special occasions menus.