Black Forest Pie

1½ c. water
1 (4 serving) pkg. sugar-free cherry gelatin
1 (4 serving) pkg. sugar-free vanilla cook-and-serve pudding mix
2 c. pitted red cherries (fresh, frozen, or canned, packed in water, drained)
½ tsp. almond extract
1 (6-oz.) Keebler chocolate-flavored piecrust
1 (8-oz.) pkg. Philadelphia fat-free cream cheese
¼ c. Cool Whip Lite
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Sugar substitute to equal 2 tsp. sugar
¼ c. (1 oz) chopped walnuts

In medium saucepan, combine water, dry gelatin, and dry pudding mix. Mix well to combine. Stir in cherries. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and starts to boil. Remove from heat. Stir in almond extract. Cool for 5 minutes. Pour mixture into piecrust. Refrigerate for about 2 hours. In a medium bowl, stir cream cheese with a spoon until soft. Add Cool Whip Lite, vanilla extract, and sugar substitute. Spread mixture evenly over set pie filling. Sprinkle walnuts evenly over top. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serves 8.

Each serving equals:

201 calories, 7 gm Fat, 7 gr Protein, 27 gr Carbs, 372 mg Sodium, 1 gr Fiber

Diabetic exchanges: 1 Fruit, 1 Starch, 1 Fat


This recipe was one of the first "diabetic" recipes I tried when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I went to the library and checked out several cookbooks, rather than buy cookbooks without having tried any of the recipes. This one comes from the Healthy Exchanges Cookbook by JoAnna Lund. It has become a favorite of many people with whom I have shared the pie. If you don't particularly care for cherries, try using raspberry flavored gelatin and frozen (without sugar) raspberries. These both go great with the chocolate crust. I imagine other flavor fruits and gelatin would work, as would varying the crust.
For those of you who love to cook, as I do, checking cookbooks out of the library is an economical way to try new recipes. My daughter, Elizabeth, and I both like to do this. If you come across a cookbook that has many recipes you try and enjoy, then you can buy the book with confidence that it is a bargain!