Well the first day of fall has come and gone so I’m ready to announce the official start of baking season. That’s right: it’s all about cookies, cakes, and we must not forget the pies! I must say, I love a good pie, with a nice flaky crust; and I thought I’d celebrate the kick off to the fall season with some decidedly seasonal fruits that just scream AUTUMN to me. That’s right, pears and apples. I just love these two flavors together, when the pears are just slightly sweeter than the apple, yet not quite as crisp. With a bit of a milder flavor, then combined with the crisp tartness of a beautiful green granny smith apple. It’s a flavor combo I will never tire of, and I decided to switch things up a bit by making a few tweaks to this recipe by making it low calorie. I get a lot of emails asking for healthier desserts; low calorie, reduced sugar but still full of richness and flavor.
I know I had a tough task in front of me with this one, because pies are technically flour, butter, sugar, maybe some fruit or cream and possibly even some shortening. That’s not exactly a low calorie type of indulgence, but I did some homework and found Born Sweet® Zing™ Baking Blend – a combination of stevia leaf extract and cane sugar made with only real ingredients – nothing artificial – that bakes and browns just like sugar, with only 5 calories per serving. Sounds great, right? It’s an easy supplement; just replace the sugar ingredient for half as much of this sweetener. So if a recipe calls for two tablespoons of sugar, you just need one tablespoon of Zing™ Baking Blend. Depending on the ingredients or type of dessert you are baking, sometimes you may need to make minor adjustments to compensate for the difference, but you can find some great baking tips on the ZingStevia.com website!
I love that it comes in this 20 oz. Easy-Pour canister, which makes it so simple to measure out the amount I need and then snap the lid closed for easy storage and no fuss. What’s even better is that one 20 oz. container sweetens just like 2.5 lbs. of sugar! There’s only 5 calories and 2 grams of carbohydrates per serving. I knew I was up for a task with pies, but I just couldn’t contain my excitement for the season. I love baking season, I love challenges, I love making people smile. With the low calorie mini pear apple pies I could accomplish all of this. Yay!
Most apple pies call for a mixture of brown and white sugar. I just used the Zing™ Baking Blend along with typical spices and it came out amazing. I loved the flavor and texture of the filling, and it didn’t even have the low calorie taste that some desserts have when you start replacing ingredients. To help keep this a low calorie dessert, I decided to make mini pear apple pie in small ramekins, using a crust only on the top in a rustic lattice pattern. Instead of butter or shortening (or a combination of the two) I discovered a way to make the crust using coconut oil. Since we just need a few strips to cover each ramekin it helped cut down calories and fat, but the texture of the crust is so flaky and tasty you would never know. They end up only being 111 calories per serving, so you even have a little wiggle room to add a small dollop of homemade whipped cream or vanilla frozen yogurt on top!
Since they are mini pies, the baking time is cut down significantly as well. Your kitchen, however, will smell amazing and these little treats will satisfy any sweet craving for sure!
Filling Ingredients for Mini Pear Apple Pie:
- 1 red pear, peeled, cored and diced
- 1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
- 1.5 tablespoon Zing™ Baking Blend
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Ingredients for Crust:
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- dash of salt
- 1/3 cup coconut oil (solid, not melted)
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Directions:
Begin by adding diced pears and apples to a medium bowl. Add Zing™ Baking Blend, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg to the bowl.
Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
In a separate mixing bowl add flour and salt together. Spoon in the coconut oil, and combine with a pastry blender. Carefully add water one tablespoon at a time, continuing to use the pastry blender until dough becomes just wet enough to come together. Form into a ball, then place on a floured surface.
With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about the size of a 5-6 inch round. Cut into strips using a pastry cutter.
Place four ramekins on a small cookie sheet, and lightly spray the insides of the ramekins with non stick baking spray. Spoon 1/4 of the mixture into each ramekin.
Carefully place the pie crust strips on top of the fruit mixture, forming a weave pattern. Lightly sprinkle with Zing Baking Blend and place in lowest position in oven. Bake at 425 degrees for about 8 minutes, then turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 22 minutes, until golden.
Allow to cool, then serve while still warm.
Serve with some whipped cream, or even vanilla ice cream. Both are optional as this pie is pretty tasty on its own!
Mini pear apple pie made with Zing Baking Blend for a low calorie treat!
Ingredients
- 1 red pear, peeled, cored and diced
- 1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
- 1.5 tablespoon ZING baking blend
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- dash of salt
- 1/3 cup coconut oil (solid, not melted)
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Instructions
- Begin by adding diced pears and apples to a medium bowl. Add Zing baking blend, cornstarch, cinnamon and nutmeg to the bowl.
- Mix until all ingredients are well combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl add flour and salt together. Spoon in the coconut oil, and combine with a pastry blender. Carefully add water one tablespoon at a time, continuing to use the pastry blender until dough becomes just wet enough to come together. Form into a ball, then place on a floured surface.
- With a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about the size of a 5-6 inch round. Cut into strips using a pastry cutter.
- Place four ramekins on a small cookie sheet, and lightly spray the insides of the ramekins with non stick baking spray. Spoon 1/4 of the mixture into each ramekin.
- Carefully place the pie crust strips on top of the fruit mixture, forming a weave pattern. Lightly sprinkle with Zing Baking Blend and place in lowest position in oven. Bake at 425 degrees for about 8 minutes, then turn oven down to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 22 minutes, until golden.
- Allow to cool, then serve while still warm.
- Serve with some whipped cream, or even vanilla ice cream. Both are optional as this pie is pretty tasty on its own!
- All you need is a dallop.
- Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite low calorie dessert?
Dish with me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Walmart gift card!
Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/6/2015 – 10/31/2015
Be sure to visit the Zing™ Baking Blend brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
My favorite low calorie dessert is baked apples
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/651524631124307969
Oh my goodness those are adorable! My favorite is simply fresh sliced peaches with a dab of light Cool Whip. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
Tweet:
https://twitter.com/ErinLoves2Run/status/651536092353593344
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
I like cashews and yogurt
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/651539541787078656
I love fruit salad.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/651542948073619456
I would make a low calorie banana bread.
My favorite low calorie dessert is frozen yogurt.
My Dad has Diabetes and it runs in my family so I am always looking for healthier dessert recipes and I like the Born Sweet Zing Baking blend to make my Red Velvet Cupcakes and Cinnamon Apple Muffins.
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/651554229144780800
My favorite low calorie dessert is Jello with cool whip.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/651556565410054144
I make a low calorie carrot cake w/ cream cheese frosting
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
My favorite low calorie dessert is apple cinnamon muffins
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/651569460357275648
Sadly I do not have a favorite low calorie dessert so I try to not have dessert very often.
https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/651586887627448320
My favorite low calorie desert is taking a cup of Greek yogurt and adding fresh berries. Yum!!
https://twitter.com/RachelGriesmer/status/651604899675836417
apple pie is my low cal dessert
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/651678629991088128
I would make my pumpkin roll cake
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/651847631858110464
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/651847285316395008
My favorite low calorie dessert is vanilla frozen yogurt topped with strawberries.
I love pumpkin pie without the crust for a low-calorie dessert.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/652450468107386880
My favorite low calorie dessert is fresh strawberries with a dollop of whipped cream.
https://twitter.com/mgoss123/status/652603804765044736
apple pie is my fav
Baked apples aremy low calorie dessert, until I add the ice cream
https://mobile.twitter.com/SandyHeadtke/status/652605078293975041
I like fruit salad.
https://twitter.com/mitadav/status/652611801939603456
I make a lighter version of bread pudding and forget the sauce.
thank you
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/652665487478788096
I like jello and fruit cocktail as a low calorie dessert.
My favorite low calorie dessert is the oatmeal no-bake bar.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/653032505658871808
I like baking oatmeal and have different twists on desserts like apple pie, carrot cake and cherry cobbler.
I posted a tweet: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/653240139855077376.
My favorite low calories dessert is apple chip. can’t wait to use this Zing baking blend to make my favorite pound cake and turn it into low cal. as well.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/653431679353143296
amy [at] utry [dot] it
my fav low cal dessert is angel food cake!!
We love fruit crisps..especially Apple, raisin, walnut with oats topping.
It is not only low cal but the healthy side with the fruit, oats, and nuts..very little butter and no flour..all natural products without un healthy processed junk.
Thanks
I like Apple Oatmeal Cookies.
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/654850740972732416
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/654861171204464640
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
My favorite is probably a summer fruit cocktail.
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/655067260315418624
I love fresh pineapples and other fresh fruit. Thank you
I like fruit with yogurt!
https://twitter.com/MommyPowers/status/655127465539473408
I love a piece of apple pie, guess I could leave off the ice cream to make it low cal 🙂
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/655884817339392000
I would make a lightened version of my favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
I have a low calorie oatmeal raisin bar that I love to make for us! Your pie looks so yummy!
My Tweet
https://twitter.com/ilovemybeagle22/status/656582651562733568
just apples is my fav
I honestly do not have a favorite low calorie dessert. I admit I have no restraint when it comes to sweet treats. 😀
Tweet: https://twitter.com/normawatson/status/657720071696072704
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/658008967075905536
I make no sugar pudding as a low calorie desert.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/658023739079045121
I love vanilla greek yogurt and fresh berries. Yum!
A low cal fruit tart with with Zing would be delicious
I make a lower fat version of banana nut bread by using applesauce for some of the fat.
My favorite low-cal dessert is fresh cut fruit salad with no-fat yogurt.
tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/658609751924867073
Yes – angel food cake with strawberries!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/658700107710377984
My favorite low calorie dessert is greek yogurt topped with blueberries and strawberries.
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
Those look so good!
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/659113459037016064
Well, I hope this counts lol but I say no to low-calorie desserts. It’s dessert! Go for it. If I’m going to try to lessen calories, my go to is fresh fruit. 🙂
Here is my tweet: https://twitter.com/alifewelldone/status/659441348706193408
Actually, not sure the hashtag appeared just by clicking tweet from your post. So here’s my new tweet: https://twitter.com/alifewelldone/status/659442063725993985
I like frozen yogurt.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/659460800554340352
I love jello!
I am apple crazy! One of my favorites is apple crisp but a lower calorie favorite is baked apples.
https://mobile.twitter.com/dawnmonroe83/status/659535088930131968
I like yogurt and fruit for a low cal dessert.
Nope. hahahah! When I have dessert, I go all out using real, whole ingredients like cane sugar and butter and the like. But this Zing is interesting for sure. Love that it is a whole food but low calorie.
I like these chocolate cherry oatmeal cookies I found on Cooking Light.
I’m terrible – fruit is about the only low calorie dessert I can think of! Dessert for me is usually a calorie-laden affair.
If I need low-cal dessert, I’d probably go for fruit. But usually I enjoy a good muffin. 🙂
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/660311695290560512
Frozen yogurt is my favorite low calorie dessert
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/660344290581737472
Yes it would be low fat muffins
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
My favorite low fat dessert is usually some type of sherbet or yogurt.
i love greek yogurt ice cream with fresh berries
my twitter is down https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155866837081106994/
I don’t have a favorite low cal dessert although I do eat a lot of fruit for dessert.
My favorite low calorie dessert has always got to be Angel Food Cake.
#SweepstakesEntry
one of my favorite low calorie desserts is angel food cake with strawberries
KC
Lo cal dessert? I like Skinny Cow ice cream 🙂
My favorite low calorie treat is plain yogurt with honey and nuts.
https://twitter.com/Esham4life/status/660722507360505857
NOT SURE IF TWEET WENT THROUGH (WAS KICKED OFF NET FOR A SEC), SO HERE IT IS AGAIN… https://twitter.com/Esham4life/status/660722507360505857A
THE VANILLA BISCUIT COOKIES OFF WEIGHT WATCHERS! HERES THE LINK IF INTERESTED … http://australian.food.com/recipe/ww-vanilla-biscuits-cookies-311570
Honestly, I’m a strawberries and whip cream kinda girl!
https://mobile.twitter.com/kytah00/status/660727255761608704