by Lisa Lillien
*
mini microwave triple chocolate cake
*
PER SERVING (entire dessert): 130 calories, 1.5g fat, 202mg sodium, 27g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 16.5g sugars, 1.5g protein
*
Don’t like making huge cakes for fear you’ll devour several servings at once? This little chocolate cake dessert is PERFECT of you!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons devil’s food cake mix
2 tablespoons Cool Whip Free, thawed
1 tablespoon fat-free vanilla yogurt
1 tablespoon Hershey’s Lite chocolate syrup, divided
Directions
In a small dish, stir together Cool Whip and half of the chocolate syrup. Place chocolatey whipped topping in the freezer to firm up while you prep the rest of your dessert.
In a very small microwave-safe dish (like a ramekin), combine cake mix and yogurt. Stir until smooth and blended. Don’t worry if it seems like a small amount. Your cake will puff up as it cooks—we promise!
Microwave for 1 minute. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Remove chocolatey whipped topping from the freezer and spoon it over your cake. Drizzle the remaining chocolate syrup on top. Enjoy!
MAKES 1 SERVING
*
HG Trivia Tidbit:
Back in 1946, smarty-pants scientist Dr. Percy Spencer came up with the idea for the microwave oven. When the first one hit the market in ’47, it was 5½ feet tall, weighed more than 750 pounds, and cost about $5,000. Not exactly a household staple…
*
cran-tastic baked pear slices
*
PER SERVING (¼th of recipe): 98 calories, 0g fat, 20mg sodium, 26g carbs, 5g fiber, 17g sugars, 0.5g protein
*
These are crazy-simple to make and can be served as a dessert or tasty side dish.
Ingredients
4 medium pears, sliced
1½ cups Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Spray
Dash cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Spray a large baking dish lightly with nonstick spray. Lay pear slices flat in the dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and pour cranberry drink on top.
Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until pear slices are soft.
Remove from the oven and let pears sit in the “juice” for at least 30 minutes.
Drain any excess liquid from pears. Enjoy hot, cold, or anywhere in between!
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
*
Chew on This
Of all fruits, pears are one of the least allergenic. Verrrry interesting!
*
“it’s a snap!” ginger cookie ’n peach parfait
*
PER SERVING (entire parfait): 158 calories, 2.5g fat, 285mg sodium, 33.5g carbs, 1.25g fiber, 13.5g sugars, 2g protein
*
Gingersnaps, peaches, pudding, and whipped cream?! No need for any more info here, people.
Ingredients
1 Jell-O Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Snack
2 gingersnaps, crushed
½ cup diced peaches
2 tablespoons Fat Free Reddi-wip
Directions
Spoon half of the pudding into a parfait glass or small bowl. Top with half of the peaches.
Sprinkle half of the crushed cookies over the peaches. Top with remaining pudding.
Add the rest of the peaches to your parfait. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Finish off with Reddi-wip and enjoy!
MAKES 1 SERVING
*
Chew on This
Ginger gets its name from the Sanskrit word “stringa-vera,” which means “with a body like a horn.” In other words, this herb looks like antlers. Attractive!
*
pb & j cocoa-nana snack mix
*
PER SERVING (¾ cup): 110 calories, 2g fat, 132mg sodium, 22g carbs, 1g fiber, 12g sugars, 2g protein
*
You’ll go cuckoo for this peanut-buttery, strawberry-licious, chocolate-banana mix. Weeeee!
Ingredients
2 Nature Valley Peanut Butter Crunchy Granola Bars (1 pack)
¾ cup Cocoa Puffs cereal (original)
2 servings (about 1 cup) Gerber Finger Foods Banana Fruit Puffs
1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
Directions
Break granola bars into small bite-sized pieces.
Place granola pieces along with all of the other ingredients in a sealable plastic bag or an airtight container with a lid. Secure, shake well to mix, and enjoy!
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
*
Chew on This
Trail mixes were created for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and mountain-climbing—and a typical serving is just 3 to 4 tablespoons. Our snack mixes were created for hungry people who love to eat fun food combos by the handful.
*
so-good chocolate chip softies
*
PER SERVING (1 softie): 88 calories, 1.5g fat, 93mg sodium, 17g carbs, 2g fiber, 6g sugars, 3g protein
*
There’s a big debate going on at the HG HQ about these. Are they big soft cookies or muffin tops? We decided to call ’em “softies” and just accept them. We’re still not sure exactly what they are, other than delicious!
Ingredients
¾ cup whole-wheat flour
½ cup Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
6 tablespoons no-sugar-added applesauce
¼ cup canned pure pumpkin
¼ cup fat-free liquid egg substitute
2½ tablespoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons brown sugar (not packed)
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients except for the chocolate chips (flour, Splenda, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt). Mix well.
In a medium mixing bowl, stir together all of the wet ingredients (applesauce, pumpkin, egg substitute, and vanilla extract).
Add wet mixture to the dry ingredients in the large bowl. Stir until completely blended. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Spoon batter into eight evenly spaced circles. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes, until softies appear fully cooked and feel firm.
Allow to cool slightly. But for best results, enjoy while still warm!
MAKES 8 SERVINGS
*
HG Trivia Tidbit:
Chocolate had been enjoyed as a drink for centuries in ancient civilizations before Spanish explorers brought it back to Europe. No big surprise that it caught on! But it wasn’t until the early 1800s that companies started producing the solid chocolate we know and love today.
*
*
For Weight Watchers POINTS® values and photos of all the recipes in this book, check out hungry-girl.com/book.
*
funky monkey squares
*
PER SERVING (1 square): 73 calories, 1.5g fat, 153mg sodium, 13g carbs, 1g fiber, 7.5g sugars, 1.5g protein
*
These treats aren’t cookies…they aren’t brownies…they’re just insanely delicious baked squares of chocolate-banana fun.
Ingredients
One 25-calorie packet diet hot cocoa mix
1 medium banana, mashed
¼ cup (about 2) egg whites
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1/3 cup brown sugar (not packed)
3 tablespoons Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated)
2 tablespoons light whipped butter or light butt
ery spread
1 tablespoon mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
In a glass, add cocoa mix to ¼ cup hot water. Stir until dissolved, then set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the remaining dry ingredients except for the mini chocolate chips (flour, brown sugar, Splenda, salt, and baking powder). Mix well and set aside.
Microwave butter in a small dish until melted, then set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use a fork to lightly beat egg whites for 1 minute. Add melted butter, vanilla extract, and cocoa mixture, and mix thoroughly.
Slowly stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in the large bowl. Mix in mashed banana.
Spray an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Pour batter into the dish and top evenly with mini chocolate chips.
Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let cool slightly, then cut into nine squares. Dig in!
MAKES 9 SERVINGS
*
HG Fast Fact:
Bananas are packed to the peel with potassium, making them super-effective at helping to lower or prevent high blood pressure. A banana a day keeps the cardiologist away.
*
hungry girl-nola
*
PER SERVING (about 1 cup): 165 calories, 1.25g fat, 70mg sodium, 35.5g carbs, 4g fiber, 10g sugars, 4g protein
*
Guilt-free granola—where have you been all my life???
Ingredients
½ cup bite-sized freeze-dried apples
¼ cup regular oats (not instant)
¼ cup puffed wheat cereal
¼ cup puffed rice cereal
1½ tablespoons sugar-free pancake syrup
Directions
Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats, puffed wheat, puffed rice, and pancake syrup, stirring gently to coat the oats and cereal with the syrup.
Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray and spread the cereal mixture out on the sheet.
Bake in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, rearranging mixture with a spatula about halfway through. Granola is done when crispy and lightly browned.
Allow to cool completely, then stir in the apples. Dig in!
MAKES 1 SERVING
*
Chew on This
Many granola recipes call for oil, honey, and lots of shriveled, sugar-coated dried fruit. Ours calls for sugar-free syrup and light, crispy freeze-dried fruit. All those extra calories are REALLY unnecessary.
*
marshmallow fudge mania!
*
PER SERVING (1 piece): 66 calories, 0.5g fat, 51mg sodium, 14.5g carbs, 0.75g fiber, 9.5g sugars, 0.5g protein
*
If you love our Dreamy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge (see the first HG book), you’ll dig this marshmallow-y version, too. It’s even more chocolatey than the first recipe!
Ingredients
One 18.3-ounce box Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies Traditional Chewy Brownie Mix
2 cups canned pure pumpkin
½ cup Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme, room temperature, divided
2 tablespoons Hershey’s Lite chocolate syrup
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin with brownie mix and stir until smooth. Add chocolate syrup and stir until blended. Batter will be very thick, but don’t add anything else!
Spray a square baking pan (9-inch by 9-inch works best) with nonstick spray. Spread half the batter into the pan. Spoon half of the marshmallow creme on top and use a knife to swirl it around the top of the batter.
Spread the remaining brownie batter evenly over the top. Then spoon the rest of the marshmallow creme on top and again use a knife to swirl it around.
Bake in the oven for 35 minutes. Batter will remain very thick and fudgy and it should look undercooked.
Allow fudge to cool, then cover pan with foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut into thirty-six squares. Then get ready for a fudge frenzy!
MAKES 36 SERVINGS
*
HG Trivia Tidbit:
The true fudge fanatics flock to northern Michigan each year for the annual Mackinac Island Fudge Festival. “Fudgies”—local slang for the treat-happy tourists—enjoy the Fudge Festival Dance Series, meals Under the Influence (of fudge!), and of course, enough fudge to last ’til next year’s festival. Craziness!
*
fruity vanilla snack mix
*
PER SERVING (1 cup): 103 calories, 1.5g fat, 70mg sodium, 21.5g carbs, 1.5g fiber, 16.5g sugars, 1g protein
*
OMG! This snack mix is really fantastic. It’s chewy, crunchy, fruity, and vanilla-licious all at once!
Ingredients
3 cups popped 94 percent fat-free kettle corn microwave popcorn
1 cup bite-sized freeze-dried apples
4 full-sized (or 13 mini) vanilla meringue cookies
¼ cup dried apricots, chopped
2 tablespoons All Natural Almond Accents in Butter Toffee Glazed or Honey Roasted
Directions
Break meringues into small pieces
In a sealable plastic bag or an airtight container with a lid, combine meringue pieces with all of the other ingredients. Secure bag or container and shake thoroughly. Now go nuts!
MAKES 4 SERVINGS
*
HG Trivia Tidbit:
This recipe uses meringues, which are sometimes called “forgotten cookies,” simply because you bake them for an hour and then let them sit in the cooling oven for at least another hour—or until you remember that you have fresh crispy cookies waiting for you.
*
chewy s’mores snack mix
*
PER SERVING (¾ cup): 109 calories, 1.25g fat, 103mg sodium, 23.5g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 13.5g sugars, 0.5g protein
*
The Tootsie Rolls ROCK in this fun recipe! Try it and see.
Ingredients
2 cups popped 94 percent fat-free kettle corn microwave popcorn
1 cup Golden Grahams cereal
¾ cup Cocoa Puffs cereal (original)
¾ cup mini marshmallows
10 Tootsie Roll Midges
Directions
Chop Tootsie Roll Midgees into very small pieces.
In a sealable plastic bag or an airtight container with a lid, combine Tootsie Roll pieces with all of the other ingredients. Secure bag or container and shake thoroughly.
MAKES 6 SERVINGS
*
HG Trivia Tidbit:
The first mention of s’mores showed up in a Girl Scouts handbook in 1927. The recipe is credited to Loretta Scott Crew, who made them for a legion of hungry Girl Scouts by the campfire. Loretta TOTALLY earned her patch for cooking!
*
chapter eleven
fun with cool whip free
A Fluffy Good Time
*
Yes, there’s an entire chapter dedicated to recipes made with Cool Whip Free. If you’re opposed to the stuff in any way, shape, or form, and you don’t want to take part in the celebration of its fluffy fat-free goodness, feel free to move on. If, however, you’re bold enough to appreciate Cool Whip Free in moderation and in various states (I mean frozen or thawed—not Montana or New Jersey!), you’ll FLIP over this chapter and its glorious recipes. Love it or leave it!
*
mmmm! miracle mousse
*
PER SERVING (entire dessert): 100 calories, 2.5g fat, 195mg sodium, 21g car
bs, 0.5g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 1.5g protein
*
This two-ingredients mousse can be made in a bazillion flavors. Just pick your pudding of choice and have fun!
Ingredients
1 Jell-O Sugar Free Pudding Snack (any flavor)
1/3 cup Cool Whip Free, thawed
Directions
Simply combine the pudding and Cool Whip in your favorite dessert bowl and mix well.
Enjoy your fantastically fluffy 100-calorie dessert. Woohoo!
MAKES 1 SERVING
*
HG Fast Fact:
The plural form of the word “moose” is “moose.” The plural form of the word “mouse” is “mice.” The plural form of the word “mousse” is “mousses.” Discuss.
*
toffee almond caramel cream cakes
*
PER SERVING (6 cream cakes): 96 calories, 3.5g fat, 121mg sodium, 12.5g carbs, 0.25g fiber, 4g sugars, 2.5g protein
*
Here’s a simple little recipe that’ll kick a craving for crunch, sweets, and ice cream, too. And you get to eat SIX of these babies…
