It is true that sweeteners are the easiest way for a low calorie dessert, and sugar on the other hand, is what really adds up on the waist. BUT to our comfort, we can look for foods that are naturally sweet in flavor.
And if you use just a liiiiittle bit of sugar, it isn't going to be earth shaking. Everything in moderation, right?
Well here are soem ideas I have. All of them are 100kcal per serving or less.
A fruit salad always makes a good dessert. Especially with some youghurt on top.
Custards and puddings are fairly low cal, and you can make them with corn flour or potato flour. My favourites are ones made of strong coffee or tea, but any fluid is good. Mix in some berries, fruit pieces, or whatever you like.
1 cup of fluid
half to 1 tablespoon cornflour(depending on how thick you want it)
sugar to taste
Mix everything and heat up stirring on stovetop in a small pan, untill it bubbles and becomes thick.
Pour into serving glasses.(ontop of berries or other adds) and chill for two hours or untill cooled and stiff.
I usually make a coffee pudding to the bottom, and then a vanilla pudding (milk+vanilla+cornflour+sugar) to the top for a nice layered pudding
Also, if you add the vanilla before the coffee has stiffened, it goes INSIDE the coffee pudding and makes a neat ball that you then break with your spoon, yum!
Vanilla sauce is made the same way as vanilla pudding (milk+flour+vanilla+sugar), and can be added ontop of other desserts. 1 tablespoon of corn flour contains 70kcal, and you get quite alot of vanilla sauce from it.
FRUIT is good in desserts, and not only on salads. Here is one thing I often make:
1 pear
1 teaspoon of oil
white wine
cinnamon
peel and cut the pear in pieces. stir fry on a pan in a spoonfull or two of white wine and cinnamon, untill soft. You can add a bit of water, if it is about to burn and stick ot the pan. Pears are so sweet in themselves that they don't require sugar, and wine adds a bit more sweetness and taste aswell. You can still add a touch of sugar, though, if you think it needs it.
Put in a bowl and top with vanilla sauce.
Also bananas are good for frying. They release glucose when you heat them up, and become sweeter. They contain more kcals, though.
And everyone loves apples in the oven, right?
Then there are quik microwave cakes:
(this recipe should make 2 little cakes or one big 200-300kcal one)
1 egg
half a dl/2 spoons of flour (whole meal, ofcourse)
half to 1 teaspoon of bakign powder
1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar
fluid and flavors (coffee, tea, juice, milk, chocolate, spices etc.)
1 teaspoon of oil
mix all together. Add enough of fluid so that the dough resembles pancake mix or a very thick smoothie. To get the right amount of fluid and flavor takes a couple of tries, but it's all fun
Separate in small coffee cups, or make one cake on a wide pan.
Microwave for 3 mins.
You can eat them from the cup, or down them and top with something nice for looks and flavor.