I’m usually an all-or-nothing kind of girl when it comes to dessert. I’d rather have a small slice of rich, chocolate cake with thick, fudgey icing or a creamy slab of cheesecake than a big slice of reduced-fat dry, crumbly something or other.

Except when it comes to the holidays. In a season in which Christmas cookies abound and diet-busting dinners take place practically every weekend, I’ll take all the help I can get to keep my jeans size firmly in place.

Whenever I’m heading to a party or get-together, I like to whip up quick and easy Cheesecake Bites to take with me. These two-bite delights have all the taste of a rich and indulgent cheesecake, but are actually figure-friendly, thanks to their mini size and lighter ingredients. They’re deliciously healthy snacks.

Start by crushing oat cereal in a food processor or with a rolling pin, then combine the crumbs with a little sugar and melted butter. Place a teaspoon of the mixture into each cup of a mini muffin tin, and press to create a crust. I find that the bottom of a shot glass works perfectly for this step.

Next, cream light or reduced-fat cream cheese together with high flavor, low-calorie ingredients such as sweet vanilla and orange peel, then spoon on top of the crusts and bake at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Top the cooled bites with berries for a burst of fresh flavor or, as I do, with warm sugar-free preserves.

What are your favorite holiday treats? Do you prefer to have a little bit of the real thing, or a more of a low-calorie dessert?

Try these sweet and healthy snacks:

• Carrot Snack Cake

• Heart-Healthy Sweet Tarts

Categories: Holidays & Parties | Tags: Cheesecake, Christmas, Healthy Snacks, Quick and Easy Dessert
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