As you know, it’s challenging to find a tasty but healthy dessert recipe. Luckily for us I found one while perusing The Biggest Loser website.
Like the Cranberry Stuffing Recipe, it’s from Chef Devin Alexander. You can check out her entire Thanksgiving Menu with healthy recipes.
Before You Start:
In order for this loaf to look exactly like Starbuck’s I would have had to develop the recipe for a pan that is 4-inches wide by 4-inches tall. After a great search, I found one in a restaurant supply store that is 16x4x4. However, I decided it would be best not to require a journey to a restaurant supply store or requiring a loaf that large at home. So I developed it for a standard loaf pan. If you cut the resulting loaf into 8 slices, each will weigh precisely what the average Starbuck’s slice weighs. It will be slightly shorter, slightly narrower and a bit thicker, but it will taste just as good… I promise.
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup fat free vanilla yogurt
- 3 large egg whites
- 1 cup solid pack pumpkin
- butter-flavored cooking spray
Directions:
- PPreheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spray a standard loaf pan (approximately 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 inch) with spray.
- Sift the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, baking powder cloves and nutmeg into a medium mixing bowl. Set it aside.
- Using a sturdy whisk, mix the sugar, yogurt, and eggs in a large mixing bowl until they are thoroughly blended.
- Stir in the pumpkin. Then stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake the load until a toothpick inserted into center comes out dry (it may have crumbs, but shouldn’t be wet), about 55 minutes-1 hour.
- Let the cake cool 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a cooling rack.
- When it cools completely, slice it into 8 slices, each approximately 1-inch thick.
Refrigerate any leftovers. (Baked goods made with yogurt need to be stored in a refrigerator).
Makes 8 1-piece servings.
Nutrition Information:
- Calories: 246
- Protein: 5g
- Carbs: 57g (2g fiber)
- Fat: 0g
Compare the above nutrition information for the healthy version to that of the original which has 12 grams of fat per piece!
Leftovers:
This loaf freezes incredibly well. Simply make the recipe and slice it as suggested, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer. Pull it from the freezer an hour or so before you’re ready to eat it to let it thaw. Or remove it from the plastic and rewrap it completely in aluminum foil and heat it in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for about 5-10 minutes or until it is just barely warmed.
Recipe courtesy Devin Alexander, “Fast Food Fix” (Rodale 2006)
For a printable version of this recipe, click the following link: Starbuck’s Pumpkin Pound Cake: the Low-Fat Version
