RECIPE: Pumpkin Stuffed Apple Dessert

Are you a fan of dessert? Who isn't right? The problem with desserts is that most are high in calories and either high in sugar, fat, or both. So while you could put down one slice of apple pie and then go do the three hours of walking it would take a 150 pound person to burn the 600 calories, or you could try this Pumpkin Stuffed Apple recipe. It deliciously marries the flavors of pumpkin and apple, has 1/3 of the sugar of traditional apple pie, and comes in at around 100 calories!

Calories aside, one slice of apple pie from a particularly well known national restaurant chain packs in 39 grams of fat (60% daily value) and 17 grams of saturated fat (85% daily value).

Pumpkin Stuffed Apple

Ingredients

15 oz Pumpkin puree (can or homemade)

10 Dates (deglet noor)

1 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves)

1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract

4 Medium apples (about 6-7 oz each)

(Makes 8 servings at 1/2 apple per serving)

Directions

Soak dates in a bowl of warm water for 20-30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. While dates are soaking, cut each apple in half. Using a spoon or melon baller hollow out the middle of each half leaving at least 1/4" of apple around the edges.

Take hollowed out apple halves and boil in a large pot of water for 3-4 minutes to soften. While apples are boiling, drain the water from the bowl of dates and mash the dates with a fork until a paste like consistency. Add pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla to the bowl and continue mixing with a fork until blended.

Remove apples from pot and place on a baking sheet. Using a spoon, fill the apple centers with pumpkin filling. For some additional flavor/texture sprinkle some chopped nuts (walnuts work well) on top before baking. Place baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Notes:

To further reduce sugar content, reduce the number of dates used, or substitute the dates with your choice of low/no sugar sweetener such as stevia.