Reduced Fat Chocolate Cheesecake Food

LOW-FAT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with foil to prevent leaks. Coat the inside of the pan with cooking spray.
• Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until crumbled. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water and the butter; pulse until moistened. Press the crumbs onto the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until browned, about 8 minutes. Let cool, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat both cream cheeses and the sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 5 minutes. Beat in the sour cream on low. Lightly whisk the 3 egg whites in a bowl, then add to the cheese mixture along with the 2 whole eggs, flour, vanilla and lemon zest. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Pour over the crust.
• Place the cheesecake in a roasting pan and add enough warm water to come one-quarter of the way up the sides of the springform. Bake until the cake is set but the center still jiggles, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Turn off the oven; keep the cheesecake inside with the door closed for 20 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the water bath and transfer to a rack. Run a knife around the edge, then cool completely. Chill until firm, at least 8 hours. Top as desired.

LOW-FAT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F Spray a 12-cup muffin pan with vegetable spray.
• In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, yogurt, oil, vanilla and egg.
• In another bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. Stir the mixture into the cocoa mixture just until everything is combined. Divide half of the batter among the prepared muffin cups.
• In a food processor or using electric beaters, beat cream cheese, ricotta cheese and icing sugar until the mixture is smooth. Divide the cheese among the muffin cups. Top with the remaining batter.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a tester inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out dry.

LOW FAT CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Combine crumbs and melted butter. Pat evenly over bottom and about 3/4 inch up the side of a removable-rim 8-inch cheesecake or cake pan (at least 1 3/4 inches deep).
• In a food processor or bowl, whirl or beat cream cheese, milk, egg whites, and vanilla until very smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup chocolate chips.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan. Evenly sprinkle batter with remaining chocolate chips.
• Bake in a 350° oven until cake jiggles only slightly in the center when gently shaken, about 30 minutes.
• Run a thin-bladed knife between cake and pan rim. Refrigerate cake, uncovered, until cool, at least 2 1/2 hours. Serve, or if making ahead, wrap airtight when cool and chill up to 2 days. Remove pan rim and cut cake into wedges.

SKINNY MINI CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Place foil baking cup in each of 12 regular-size muffin cups. With back of spoon, firmly press slightly less than 1 tablespoon cookie crumbs in bottom of each foil cup.
• In large bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Beat in sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat in cocoa. Beat in whole egg and egg white until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate. Divide cheese mixture evenly among crumb-lined foil cups.
• Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until set. Cool in pan on cooling rack 15 minutes. Remove cheesecakes from pan; cool 15 minutes longer. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until chilled.
• To serve, carefully remove foil baking cups. Spread fudge topping on cheesecakes. Garnish with raspberries. Store cheesecakes covered in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE WITH LOW-FAT CREME ANGLAISE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Puree cottage cheese in food processor until very smooth. Add the cream cheese and sugar and cream together. Combine egg, egg whites, vanilla, lemon juice, and salt in a separate bowl. Slowly add to the cheese mixture and continue processing, being careful not to over mix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Mix together the graham cracker crumbs and butter in a bowl. Press crumb mixture into a 10-inch springform pan. Carefully spoon the batter on top of the crust and place the pan in a water bath. Bake until the cheesecake has set and is firm to the touch, about 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until chilled through, at least 4 hours.
• Once the cake cools, slice into 20 wedges and top each wedge with a dollop of low-fat crème anglaise.
• Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl. Heat a small saucepan filled halfway with water over medium heat. Place the bowl with the ingredients on top of the pan to create a double boiler. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until thickened, whisking occasionally. When the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon without running off, then it is finished. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer and cool quickly in an ice bath. Refrigerate if not serving immediately. Serve on top of chocolate chip cheesecake.
• Per serving: Calories: 144; Total Fat: 5 grams; Saturated Fat: 3 grams; Protein: 11 grams; Total carbohydrates: 14 grams; Sugar: 10 grams; Fiber: 1 gram; Cholesterol: 35 milligrams; Sodium: 378 milligrams