Desserts - Double-Post Thursday

Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's Double-Post Thursday. Here are six dessert recipes to help you through the day, including S’mores Cake Rolls and Ginger-Blueberry Parfait. Enjoy!

RHUBARB ICE CREAM WITH A CARAMEL SWIRL

This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Melissa wrote, “This ice cream is chock-full of sweet bits, but with enough satiny frozen custard to savor between the chunks. To keep the rhubarb from freezing into tooth-breaking fruity ice cubes, stew it with plenty of sugar, which keeps the fruit soft. The technique works with any summer fruit, though it’s especially nice with rhubarb, or gooseberries for that matter, both of which need a lot of sugar to tame their squint-inducing acid content. But you can substitute strawberries, apricots, cherries, peaches or plums as the summer fruit season progresses, adjusting the sugar depending upon the sweetness of the fruit.”

Yield: One scant quart

This was featured in “Rhubarb, It Turns Out, Can Be a Sweetie”, and can be viewed online here.

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups whole milk

1 and 3/4 cup plus 6 tablespoons granulated sugar

Pinch fine sea salt

1 vanilla bean, split and scraped

4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten

1 and 1/2 cups sour cream

3/4 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1/2 cup heavy cream

Preparation

In a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, whisk together the milk, 3/4 cup sugar, the salt, the vanilla bean seeds and its pod. Simmer gently until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 30 minutes. Discard the vanilla pod and return mixture to a bare simmer.

Place the yolks in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in hot milk mixture. Scrape the custard back into the pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Whisk in sour cream. Chill at least 3 hours or overnight.

In a saucepan, combine the rhubarb with 1 cup sugar. Simmer until rhubarb is just tender and has begun releasing its juices, but has not started to fall apart, 4 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer rhubarb to a bowl. Continue to simmer the juices until syrupy, 5 to 10 minutes more. Pour the syrup over the rhubarb. Cool completely.

In a clean, dry and preferably nonstick skillet, sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over medium heat. When it begins to melt and lightly color, sprinkle in 2 more tablespoons and start swirling pan to help evenly distribute sugar. Add the final 2 tablespoons and cook, swirling pan until all the sugar has melted. Let cook, swirling occasionally, until the sugar syrup caramelizes and turns dark brown. Pour in the heavy cream and 2 tablespoons water (stand back; it may splatter). Simmer, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula until smooth. Cool completely.

Pour the custard base into an ice cream machine and churn. Add rhubarb compote for the last minute of churning.

Scrape a quarter of the caramel into the bottom of a freezer-proof quart container. Top with a quarter of the ice cream. Repeat layering until all of the caramel and ice cream has been used, ending with the ice cream. Freeze until firm for at least 2 hours and up to 1 week.

STRAWBERRY MANGO POPSICLES

This is from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Cold and flu season extends into late spring, so it's smart to keep making sure your immune system is ticking. I loaded up this pop with antioxidant and vitamin C-rich ingredients like strawberries, beets and mango. If you don't want to go the extra step of freezing the strawberry puree first, simply combine the strawberry mixture with the beet mixture and freeze for a total of 6 hours, or until completely frozen.”

Prep Time: 7 minutes; Yield: 6

To view this online, click here.

Notes: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks. You can typically find fresh beet juice in the refrigerated section with the fresh juices.

Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, is a nutrition expert, writer and best-selling author. Her books include Feed the Belly, The CarbLovers Diet and Eating in Color. Follow her @FrancesLRothRD.

Ingredients

10 ounces frozen unsweetened strawberries, thawed

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1/2 cup diced mango

10 ounces fresh beet juice, store-bought

1 tablespoon sugar

Preparation

In a blender, add the berries and maple syrup. Combine until pureed. Transfer the mixture to a measuring cup with a spout and stir in the mango. Pour 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each pop mold and transfer to the freezer; freeze for 1 hour.

In a bowl, add the beet juice and stir in the sugar. Remove the pop molds from the freezer and pour about 1.5 ounces of the beet mixture into each mold. Return to the freezer for another 5 to 6 hours, or until completely frozen.

To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.

BLUEBERRY, CHAMOMILE AND MINT YOGURT POPSICLES

This is also from Frances Bargeman-Roth, RD, on the Today website. Frances wrote, “Being plugged in and scheduled 24/7 can leave us feeling frazzled. When you're in need of some chill time, reach for this calm and cool pop instead. Chamomile has long been known to help settle nerves, and may also provide a boost to your immune system. Mint helps relieve gas and indigestion, a common symptom of stress. Blueberries are loaded with anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol antioxidant that may help women cut their risk of having a heart attack by a third. Anthocyanins also are quite promising for helping to reverse age-related declines in brain function. Did I also mention that this interesting combination tastes amazing?”

Note: You will need six (3-ounce) ice pop molds with sticks.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 chamomile tea bags

8 ounces boiling water

1/2 cup blueberries, divided

2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves

2 tablespoons honey

4 ounces cold water

1/4 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt

Preparation


Place about 1 tablespoon of blueberries into each pop molds and set aside.

In a blender, add the cooled tea, mint leaves, honey, water and yogurt. Blend until frothy. Pour the chamomile mixture into the pop molds and place in the freezer for 6 hours or overnight. The tea and yogurt will separate during the freezing process, but this won't affect the flavor.

To unmold, run the pop briefly under warm water, remove and enjoy.

BLUEBERRY SAUCE

This recipe and the next one (Ginger-Blueberry Parfait) are from an article on Prevention, titled “11 Recipes with Fresh Blueberries.” Click here to see the article and all twelve recipes.

This sauce would go well over ice cream. Yum!

SERVINGS: 4 – 6

1 pt fresh blueberries (2 C)

1/4 C + 1 Tbsp confectioners' sugar

1/4 C water

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp butter

Put blueberries, sugar, water, and cinnamon in medium saucepan.

Cover and cook over medium heat until blueberries have broken down a bit and mixture becomes soupy, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and swirl in butter. Serve warm or at room temperature over waffles, pancakes, ice cream, or pound cake.

NUTRITION (per serving) 140 cal, 1 g pro, 22 g carb, 2 g fiber, 6 g fat, 3.5 g sat fat, 50 mg sodium

GINGER-BLUEBERRY PARFAIT

SERVINGS: 4

1 C blueberries

1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger

4 Tbsp maple syrup, divided

1 Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped

1 C part-skim ricotta cheese

4 sprigs fresh mint

Combine the blueberries, ginger, and 1 Tbsp of the maple syrup in a small bowl until well mixed. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the avocado, ricotta, and the remaining 3 Tbsp maple syrup. Puree the mixture.

Layer the blueberry mixture with the ricotta mixture alternately in 4 parfait glasses or dessert dishes, ending with the berries. Garnish with the mint sprigs.

NUTRITION (per serving) 217 cal, 8 g pro, 25 g carb, 10 g fat, 4 g sat fat,3 g fiber, 83 mg sodium

S’MORES CAKE ROLLS

This is from Tablespoon (tbsp.), and begins, “First things first: Yes, this cake roll tastes as good as it looks. We rolled chocolate cake around a marshmallow buttercream filling, and topped it all with melted chocolate, Golden Grahams™ cereal and marshmallows. It’s a grown-up take on s’mores that your inner child is guaranteed to love.”

Prep Time: 60 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes; Servings: 16

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

Cake

6 eggs

1 box Betty Crocker™ SuperMoist™ chocolate fudge cake mix

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Filling

1 jar (7 oz) Kraft™ Jet-Puffed™ marshmallow creme

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Glaze

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Decorations

3/4 cup Golden Grahams™ cereal, coarsely crushed

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

Directions

Heat oven to 375°F. Line bottom only of two 15x10x1-inch pans with cooking parchment paper. Spray parchment paper with baking spray with flour.

In large bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 6 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Add cake mix, water and oil; beat on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 1 minute. Pour 2 1/4 cups batter into each pan; spread evenly.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in center.

Meanwhile, sprinkle 1/2 cup powdered sugar over two clean kitchen towels. Remove cakes from oven. Run metal spatula around edges of pans; carefully turn one on to each kitchen towel. Peel away parchment paper. Immediately roll up cake and towel from narrow end. Let rolled cakes cool with seam centered on bottom of cake. Allow cakes to cool 30 minutes on cooling rack.

In large bowl, beat marshmallow crème, softened butter and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, scraping bowl occasionally. On low speed, beat in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.

Carefully unroll cakes. Allow narrow end to remain slightly curled. Drop 1 cup of the filling by spoonfuls over each cake, and spread evenly to within 1/2 inch of edges. Reroll filled cake, using kitchen towel to help roll up cake. Wrap in plastic wrap, making sure seam is centered on bottom. Repeat rolling with second cake. Place both wrapped cakes on cookie sheet; refrigerate 30 minutes.

In small microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips and heavy cream uncovered on High 60 to 90 seconds; stir. Continue to microwave in 15-second increments, until chips can be stirred smooth. Remove plastic wrap from cakes. Place cakes on cooling rack placed over waxed paper. Pour chocolate mixture over each cake to cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle tops of cakes with cereal and marshmallows. Return cakes to refrigerator about 30 minutes or until chocolate is set. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

Set a timer to be sure you beat the eggs for a full 6 minutes. This will help ensure a spongy cake texture and will help keep the cake from breaking when you roll it.

You must roll the cake into the kitchen towel immediately after turning it out. The cake is most malleable while still hot.

For best results, work quickly when assembling cake rolls to prevent cracking.