Tag Archives: parfait

Desserts, Recipes

Tastes of the Season: Cranberry Cream Parfait

Last month, I was all about the pumpkin, but this month my passion is cranberries. They really are a wonderful fruit that keeps for weeks in the refrigerator and even longer when frozen. I buy at least a dozen bags when they’re available in late Fall. They can be made into so many things.

This is a variation of the pumpkin parfait I posted last month and it is sooooo good. It makes a light, creamy-tasting dessert to follow up a heavy meal like prime rib and turkey. And it is so easy to make. You can put it into dessert dishes or just leave it in the bowl and spoon it out into a little bowl or plate to serve.

Cranberry Parfait served with a half-slice of pumpkin bread.

Cranberry Orange Cream Parfait

Cranberry Topping
1 cup whole Cranberries
2/3 cups Sugar Substitute
1/2 cup Water

For the Cream cheese filling
8 oz . Cream Cheese, softened
2 tablespoons Ricotta Cheese
3/4 cup Sugar Substitute
1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 cup Cranberries, chopped
1/2 package Orange Drink Mix
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Prepare the Cranberry topping first. Put a small pan on the stove with the water and bring to a boil. Stir in sugar substitute and reduce heat to a low boil. Add the cranberries and stir. Wait for the berries to pop, then stir well and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook another 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from the heat and let cool. Cover and chill.

In a large bowl, add the cream cheese and ricotta cheese and mix with a hand mixer until they are smoothly blended. Add 1/2 cup sugar substitute, the orange drink mix, and the chopped cranberries and mix together.

In a small bowl or blender, add the cup of heavy cream and beat until it begins to thicken. Add 1/4 cup sugar substitute and the vanilla and continue beating until the cream is thick enough to spoon out with it holding its shape.

Reserve 1/4 cup whipped cream and stir the rest into the cream cheese mixture. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

To serve, spoon 1 teaspoon of the cranberry sauce into the bottom of a 1/2 cup dessert glass, add 1/6th of the mixture (about 3 tablespoons), then add another teaspoon of the cranberry sauce on top. Add a dollop of whipped cream and serve.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutrition information per serving:
Calories: 285 Fat: 28.4 g Net Carbs: 4.3 g Protein: 4.3 g

Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts, Product Review, Recipes

Delicious Pomegranate & Yogurt Parfait

Copyright 2015 R. Averett

I tried this wonderful parfait for the first time over the weekend and it is so refreshing and delicious that I had to share it. The recipe came from Ocean Spray Cranberries and I’ve made the adaptations to low carb. It does require a low carb granola and I use Sensato’s Nut and Flax Granola or make my own.

Let me take a moment to praise the granola from Sensato. They have three flavors, that I know of, to choose from: Plain, Apple, and Cranberry-flavored. They are all tasty, although the chunks are a little big. They can be broken into smaller pieces when you’re cooking with them. They’re high in fiber, a good source of protein and are only 2 net carbs per 1/2 cup serving. You can eat them for a cereal or as an out-of-the-bag snack or put them in your cooking where a recipe calls for granola or oatmeal. I’ve used them in coffee cakes and in cookies. Try your health food store to see if they stock this product or ask them to order it. Or you can order online from my favorite health food supplier, Netrition.com. I am sure there are other online sources, so just Google it.

Now, on to the recipe, which is delicious for breakfast, lunch or dessert. I use Carbmasters low carb yogurt product, which is a Kroger Foods brand, but you can use Greek yogurt in place of it. However, the carbs will be about 1/2 carb higher if you use a brand that is about 5 net carbs per 6 oz. For reference, Carbmasters is 4 net carbs per 6 oz. By the way, Pomegranate arils (the fruit covered seed) are okay to eat in their entirety. You might get a bit of seed stuck in your teeth, but that’s it.

Pomegranate Yogurt Parfait

2 tablespoons Pomegranate Arils
1 container CarbMasters Vanilla or other flavor yogurt
1/4 cup low carb Granola

In two serving glasses (I use ice cream glasses or you could use brandy glasses or tall flutes), put in 1 teaspoon of granola, 2 tablespoons of yogurt, 2 teaspoons of pomegranate arils, two teaspoons of granola, then the next layer of 2 tablespoons of yogurt, 2 teaspoons of pomegranate arils and top with the remaining yogurt, granola and pomegranate arils.

You can add a little whipped cream topping if you wish, but it isn’t necessary.

Serves 2.

Nutrition Info per serving:
Calories:79.8 Fat: 3.9 g Net Carbs: 4.2 g Protein: 5.6 g

Will you give this treat a try and let me know if you like it or not? I’d love to hear from you.