Healthified Tiramisu Mini-Parfaits

My friend Margaret gave me the cutest little mini-parfait glasses for Christmas.  They are so cute and came with cute little spoons! Immediately I started researching dessert recipes to serve in the cute little parfait glasses.  New year’s eve was just around the corner and I surely wanted to show off my new glassware.  Dinner centered around lasagna and so Tiramisu was high on my short list. I decided to serve a variety of mini-parfaits.  Choices! Choices!  I just love dessert choices!

Since I wanted to give our guests choices in desserts,  I also decided to serve in a couple different sizes so that everyone could eat the most of their favorite and yet give the other parfaits a try!  I chose a healthified version for my tiramisu.  This simply means some ingredients were replaced with great-tasting alternatives to create a better-for-you recipe that is equally as yummy as the original.

I have four grocery shopping choices within my immediate vicinity. One – two – three – four and I couldn’t find even one little ladyfinger for my tiramisu. I went to my Baking With Julia cookbook and there I found the recipe for a sponge sheet cake, perfect for the ladyfinger replacements.  While making the Sheet Genoise was good practice, I hope you will be able to buy your ladyfingers! After making the sponge cake I cut half of it into little cubes to use for the tiramisu.  The rest of the cake I made into a little jelly-roll for another day.
While the cake was cooling I put together the healthified cheese mixture, combining cream cheese, reduced-fat ricotta cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.  After the cheese mixture was good and creamy the yogurt was beat in until well blended.  In a separate bowl I mixed together the espresso, Kahlua and a couple of tablespoons of Baileys Irish Cream.  It was for New Year’s eve after all!  Then the fun part — layering Ladyfingers, espresso mixture and cream cheese mixture until each glass is filled.  Grated chocolate is sprinkled between the layers.

The other fun part — eating this delicious dessert of course!
Soon I will share a healthified Key Lime & Strawberry Parfait that will steal the dessert show on New Year’s eve and any other day of the year!

~ Blessings and Happy Cooking! Catherine

Healthified Tiramisu Mini-Parfaits

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Prep time

30 mins

Total time

1 hour 30 mins

70% less saturated fat, 65% less fat, 37% fewer calories than the original recipe. This favorite dessert is loaded with all the taste minus the high fat and calories! Rich and delicious with a hint of the coffee and chocolate flavorings.

Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 4 ounce Neufchatel cream cheese softened, (1/3 less-fat)
• ¾ cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 container (6 oz.) Yoplait Original 99% Fat-free French Vanilla yogurt
• ⅓ cup cold brewed espresso or strong coffee
• 2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur (i.e. Kahlua)
• 2 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream (optional)
• 1 package (3 oz.) soft ladyfingers, cut into ½ inch cubes
• 1 oz. semisweet baking chocolate, grated (1/4 cup)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in ricotta cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until creamy. Beat in yogurt until well blended.
2. In a small bowl, mix espresso, liqueur, and Baileys Irish Creme.
3. In 8 small parfait glasses or small dessert dishes, layer half of the ladyfingers, half of the espresso mixture and half of the cheese mixture. Sprinkle each with about ¾ teaspoon grated chocolate. Repeat layers.
4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Top with a dollop of whip cream to serve.
5. Store covered in refrigerator.

Notes

*Baileys Irish Cream is an optional ingredient adding richness to the parfait.

Instead of ladyfingers, you can use 4 cups of angel food cake cubes.

A sprinkle of baking cocoa in place of the chocolate on each layer is a nice substitute.

Recipe adapted from www.livebetteramerica.com

3.5.3251