Let’s be creative together! The idea is to decrease the calories in our diets that have little or nothing to offer (sugar, high fructose corn syrup and the like). Our brains may have a powerful built-in preference for sweets, and it may have gotten worse through habits. Despite this, we can get around it by using fruit extracts to get the sweetening job done without adding empty calories. Sending my best wishes in keeping your sweet-seeking brain cells happy and for an enjoyable dessert or even breakfast.

Ingredients:

1 packet of Dr. Grandma's Whole Wheat Muffins Your Way
1 packet extra virgin olive oil (included in package)
2 eggs or ½ cup egg substitute
1 cup applesauce
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Cinnamon sugar mixture to sprinkle on top of muffins, optional

Fruit

1 cup blackberries
1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup sliced banana
1 cup chopped kiwi

Glaze

1 cup of Delight (zero-calorie, all-natural sweetener)
1 cup water
1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
½ teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions

• First make the ‘shortcake.’
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Coat muffin pans with vegetable spray.
• Mix applesauce, water, oil, and eggs.
• Mix cinnamon into the Muffins Your Way packet.
• Mix egg mixture into packet of Muffins Your Way mix; until just moist (do not over mix).
• Fill 12 standard muffin tins.
• Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, if desired.
• Bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the muffin; about 16 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from muffin tin to wire rack immediately, before cooling.
• Makes 12 muffins.
• Left over muffins can be kept in the fridge for several days, or frozen for many weeks.

• Second, prepare the fruit.
• Cut kiwi and bananas; gently toss together to coat bananas with kiwi juice. Cut strawberries and stir all fruit together. Set aside.

• Third, make the glaze
• Stir cornstarch and Delight together. Stir in the water, zest, and extract. Cook and stir over direct heat until thickened – a couple of minutes.
• Spoon fruit over muffins that have been cut in half; then ladle the glaze over the fruit – serve.

Options:

• If you don’t want to put glaze on the fruit, you may want to consider serving a dollop of zero-fat Greek yogurt. Stir a little Delight sweetener, to taste, into the zero-fat Greek yogurt (good source of protein – no fat.)

• Ordinary strawberry shortcake is always a treat – no need for the mixed fruit, just make the muffins exactly as above; and top with sliced strawberries.

Bake 'shortcake' muffins until golden and clean toothpick.

Remove muffins from tin.

Add cornstarch to Delight.

Mix cornstarch and Delight.

Mix in water, lemon zest, and almond extract.

Heat and stir until thickened.

Serve fruit on sliced muffin.

Sugarless is Not Tasteless - Ladle on the Glaze