If you love Key lime pie, you are certain to love these creamy cakes in a cup. Aromatic Key limes are in season from June through August, but bottled Key lime juice (found next to the lemon juice in your market), or even regular lime juice, works just fine. These luscious individually portioned, “cupcakes” are perfect for entertaining.
Makes 12 servings
Ingredients
¾ cup graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted
2 tablespoons plus ¾ cup no-calorie granulated sweetener, divided*
1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
8 ounces light tub-style cream cheese
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons Key lime juice
Zest of 2 Key limes or 1 regular lime
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg white
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick baking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the graham cracker crumbs, margarine, and 2 tablespoons of the sweetener until well combined. Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of crust mixture into each muffin cup. Press gently to form a crust on the bottom of each cup. Set aside.
3. Using a food processor, blend the cottage cheese until very smooth and creamy. Spoon the cottage cheese into a large bowl. Add the cream cheese, the remaining ¾ cup sweetener, the cornstarch, lime juice, zest, and vanilla and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Add the egg and the egg white and beat until just blended.
4. Spoon ¾ cup of cheesecake filling into each muffin cup.
5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the cheesecakes are set, but centers jiggle slightly. Cool to room temperature. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours.
Dare to Compare
Substituting a combination of cottage cheese and light cream cheese for full fat cream cheese and no-calorie sweetener for granulated sugar reduces the calories in this recipe by 50 percent, the fat by 68 percent, the sugar by 75 percent, and the flavor by 0!
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Nutrition Information Per Serving:
Calories 140 : Carbohydrate 12g (Sugars 6g) : Total Fat 7g (Sat Fat 4g) : Protein 7g : Fiber 0g : Cholesterol 35mg : Sodium 270mg
Food Exchanges: 1 Lean Meat, 1 Carbohydrate, ½ Fat : Carbohydrate Choices: 1
Weight Watcher Point Comparison: 3 | Smart Points 5
Recipe courtesy of Eat What You Love: More than 300 Recipes Low in Sugar, Fat, and Calories
