Let fruits take center stage this holiday season. Seasonal apples, pears and cranberries are flavorful, high fiber and a good source of flavonoids.
For an easy dessert, toss 1 cup apple and pear slices and fresh cranberries with sugar or sugar substitute. Spread the fruit evenly in the bottom of an oiled 9-inch round cake pan. Top with desired vanilla cake or gingerbread batter – enough for a small cake. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool in the pan on a cake rack for 10 minutes. Then place the cake upside down onto a holiday serving plate.
The cooked fruit will be on the top. Each slice can be served with a warm cooked fruit compote of apples, pears and cranberries, stewed with a small amount of sugar.
Remember,when making the cake batter, you can use 1/4 egg substitiutes to replace each egg. You save 5 grams of fat and 200 milligrams of cholesterol. You can also use 1/2 cup natural applesauce to replace 1/2 cup vegetable oil and save more than 800 calories.
