Ricotta Cheesecake with Apple Topper

Sweet apples coated in honey and cinnamon add a special touch to this creamy dessert. Sugar substitutes and unsweetened applesauce keep sugar low for a treat that fits well into your diabetes meal plan. Light ricotta cheese and reduced-fat cream cheese help make this cheesecake a smart choice for a diabetes meal plan.

SERVINGS: 12 servings
CARB GRAMS PER SERVING: 26

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 15-ounce cartonlight or part-skim ricotta cheese
1-1/2 8-ounce packages reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute blend* equivalent to 1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 egg yolks
4 egg whites
Apple Topper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl, beat ricotta cheese, cream cheese, sugar, honey, applesauce, and flour with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until smooth. Add egg yolks all at once. Beat on low speed just until combined. In a clean large mixing bowl with clean beaters, beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Fold about one-fourth of the egg whites into the ricotta mixture. Fold in remaining egg whites.

3. Spoon filling into prepared pan, spreading evenly. Place in shallow baking pan. Bake 1 hour or until center appears nearly set when gently shaken.

4. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes. (Cheesecake will crack.) Using a thin metal spatula, loosen cheesecake from side of pan; cool for 30 minutes more. Remove side of pan; cool completely. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours. To serve, top sliced cheesecake with Apple Topper.** Makes 12 servings (1 slice each).

Apple Topper: Core and thinly slice 3 Jonagold or 4 McIntosh apples (about 6 cups). In a large skillet, toss apple slices with 1 teaspoon apple pie spice or ground cinnamon. Add 1/4 cup water; heat to boiling. Cover and cook over medium-high heat about 5 minutes or until apple slices are just tender, stirring occasionally. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons honey; toss gently to coat. Cool to room temperature.

*Sugar Substitutes: Choose from Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking or Equal Sugar Lite. Follow package directions to use product amount equivalent to 1/3 cup sugar.

PER SERVING WITH SUGAR SUBSTITUTE: same as above, except 201 cal., 23 g carb.
Carb Choices: 1 1/2

**Test Kitchen Tip: If not serving the whole cheesecake at one time, do not spoon Apple Topper over whole cheesecake, Simply spoon some of the topper over individual servings.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Servings: 12 servings
Calories212
Total Fat (g)9
Saturated Fat (g)5
Cholesterol (mg)65
Sodium (mg)165
Carbohydrate (g)26
Fiber (g)1
Protein (g)8
Diabetic Exchanges
Fruit (d.e.).5
Other Carbohydrates (d.e.)1
Medium-fat Meat (d.e.)1
Fat (d.e.)1