Apple pies are wonderful, but they can have a few too many calories for some diets. If you still want to enjoy this classic dessert, you can make it a little healthier by cutting out some of the sugar. It's not hard to do because after all, apples add a fair amount of sweetness themselves, so the pie really doesn't need a lot of sugar to make it delicious.
This apple pie recipe uses a combination of easily found apples at the grocery store: Gala and Granny Smith. The pie is on the tart side because of the Granny Smith apples, but there are many apple varieties you can choose from. You may notice this pie is missing a top crust; leaving it off is another way to cut back on both sugar and fat that you might otherwise get with a traditional pie crust or a crumb topped pie.
To add a healthy dose of sweetness, try serving this pie warm with a scoop of low-fat, low-sugar frozen yogurt or low-fat, low-sugar ice cream. If you are just getting used to enjoying your desserts with less sugar, you might find the transition a little challenging at first. But soon you will savor the natural flavors of the apples and find it quite satisfying; you probably won't miss the sugar at all.
Sprinkle in the ice water into the mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing with a fork after each addition.
Using your hands, form the dough into a ball.
Roll the dough into an 11-inch circle between 2 sheets of plastic wrap coated with cooking sprayto reduce sticking.
Place the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes so it becomes slightly firm and uniform.
Preheat the oven to 425 F. Remove the top sheet of plastic wrap from the pie dough. Turn the dough over into a 9-inch pie plate coated with cooking spray, and remove the remaining layer of plastic wrap.
Consider adding other spices to the mixture, including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom. Or apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice.
Feel free to use other apples in this pie, but keep in mind you want ones that are firm and that will hold their shape when baked, and not fall apart. Consider Pink Lady, Fuji, Braeburn, or Honeycrisp.
How to Store Low Sugar Apple Pie
This pie is best kept in the refrigerator, covered, for up to four days.
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Pumpkin Pie: This one is our winner! When in doubt, choose pumpkin pie. In competition with those mentioned above, it offers the fewest calories, and least fat and added sugar. It's also loaded with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, phosphorous, calcium, and iron.
Apple pie contains 450 calories per 136 g serving. This serving contains 24 g of fat, 4 g of protein and 55 g of carbohydrate. The latter is 26 g sugar and 2 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Apple pie contains 10 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving.
Speaking of sugar content, it's also interesting to note that apple pie generally contains more sugar than pumpkin pie. "Apple pie often contains added sugars, both in the filling and the crust, which can contribute to higher calorie and sugar content.
Whether enjoyed as a simple homemade treat or a slice from a bakery, apple pie is a comforting and timeless dessert cherished by many. But the question arises- Can you enjoy an apple pie being a person with diabetes? The answer is, yes!
A modest slice of apple pie has more than 400 calories and about 20 grams of fat (five of those come from the less-healthy saturated fats). Add some ice cream or whipped cream, and you're looking at well over 500 calories, which knocks out 25% of the average 2,000-calorie diet.
With an astounding 620 calories per slice, pecan pie dominates the contest from a caloric standpoint. Pecans themselves provide a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and are thought to be healthy for the heart.
With the crust, butter, and sugar needed, pies are a danger to blood sugar. Limit the serving by splitting a slice at the table with a family member. Pumpkin pie is a healthier choice than pecan pie which can have triple the amount of calories.
Leaving the skin on the fruit will help boost its nutrient value. For a delicious fall treat that won't spike blood sugar levels — like that slice of apple pie will — toss cubed apples with cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of oil, and then bake until tender.
The pumpkin pie wins on calories, saturated fat, protein and calcium. But the apple pie takes the cake when it comes to fiber, sugar (both total and added) and sodium. So what's a pie aficionado to do? Well, if you're watching calories go for the pumpkin-it almost always has fewer because of the single crust.
Apples score relatively low on both the glycemic index (GI) and the glycemic load (GL) scales, meaning that they should cause a minimal rise in blood sugar levels (10). Apples have a minimal effect on blood sugar levels and are unlikely to cause rapid spikes in blood sugar, even in those with diabetes.
This means that as long as you eat a single one-cup portion of pumpkin or less, it shouldn't significantly affect your blood sugar levels. However, eating a large amount of pumpkin could drastically increase your blood sugar. As with any carb-rich food, portion awareness is key when managing blood sugar levels.
Sweet treats -- like candies, pies, cakes -- were once off-limits for people with diabetes. Not anymore. In fact, research has shown that starches like potatoes and white bread affect blood glucose levels much like sugar -- causing sometimes dangerous spikes in blood sugar.
With the crust, butter, and sugar needed, pies are a danger to blood sugar. Limit the serving by splitting a slice at the table with a family member. Pumpkin pie is a healthier choice than pecan pie which can have triple the amount of calories.
Address: 359 Kelvin Stream, Lake Eldonview, MT 33517-1242
Phone: +577037762465
Job: Product Hospitality Supervisor
Hobby: Gardening, Web surfing, Video gaming, Amateur radio, Flag Football, Reading, Table tennis
Introduction: My name is Manual Maggio, I am a thankful, tender, adventurous, delightful, fantastic, proud, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.