"Dolce Vita" Tiramisu

This is my first "Begrudgingly Healthy" entry, and we're starting with sweets! Some people can eat their way through bags of potato chips and Lil' Smokies, but for me...give me a bakery and a few hours and I'll be in heaven. Scones, carrot cake, muffins, tarts, lady-finger cookies, cobblers, madeleines, crisps, brownies, croissants, stop me now or I'll reach the blogspot word limit. Basically if left unchecked, I would turn into Augustus Gloop. Throw me in Willy Wonka's chocolate river and up the pipe, I'll see you in a few hours!

I decided that the first unhealthy food to take on would be tiramisu. To me there's no better dessert after a delicious Italian meal than a light yet creamy, sweet yet sharp tiramisu. Plus it has espresso and/or sweet liqueur, so where can it go wrong? Unfortunately it also is full of fat and sugar. Traditional tiramisu recipes call for egg yolks, sugar, mascarpone cheese, heavy whipping cream, and more sugar. The following recipe is extraordinarily low in fat and sugar, so I won't lie and say it's the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. If you eat it, you will be able to tell it is a reduced fat and low sugar creation. It's a major pet peeve of mine when people flat-out refuse to eat reduced fat or low sugar options simply because "It doesn't taste right, I can tell it's fake!". Well no kidding Ms. Supertaster, of course it won't be quite AS amazing when done healthily, but it is definitely a great replacement for those of us who don't want to be gordos for the rest of our lives. Without further ado, I give you the Dolce Vita Tiramisu!

Ingredients

1 regular sized (approx 9 oz.) sugar free angel food cake

1 envelope (0.82 ounce) General Foods International 100 Calorie Cafe Mocha Cappuccino mix

1 envelope (0.78 ounce) General Foods International 100 Calorie French Vanilla Cappuccino mix

2 cups skim milk

1 (8 ounce) package fat free cream cheese, softened

1 (1 ounce) box sugar free & fat free instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip FREE whipped topping, thawed

1-2 tablespoons unsweetened dark cocoa powder

Directions

1. Cut your angel food cake into a few large pieces, and begin to tear into bite-sized chunks by hand. You can cube using a knife if you'd prefer, but it is much quicker and easier to rip it up. Place half of your chunks into the bottom of a medium sized baking dish. An 8 inch square dish is best, but I used an oval casserole dish with no problems. Set aside.

2. Combine mocha cappuccino mix and 1/2 cup milk in a small microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high 25-35 seconds; stir with a whisk until mix dissolves. Set aside.

3. Place softened cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add 1 cup of milk; beat again until smooth. Add pudding mix; beat until blended together.

4. Combine french vanilla cappuccino mix and remaining 1/2 cup milk in a small microwave-safe dish. Microwave on high 25-35 seconds; stir with a whisk until mix dissolves. Add this vanilla cappuccino mixture to cream cheese/pudding mixture. Mix until combined.

5. Fold in entire container of Cool Whip Free.

6. Pour half of mocha cappuccino mixture over angel food cake in baking dish; top with half of cream cheese pudding mixture. Place remaining cake chunks on top of pudding mixture, and drizzle with remaining mocha cappuccino mixture. Top with remaining cream cheese pudding mixture. Smooth with silicone spatula to create an even and smooth flat surface.

7. Sprinkle dark cocoa through a small sieve (to avoid big chunks) over entire surface of tiramisu. Cover and chill, or if you simply can't wait serve immediately.

This serves approximately 8 people, though you can really make it anywhere from 6-10 servings depending on size. Based on 8 servings, this has approximately 198 calories and 0.5 gram of fat per serving.

What food would you like to see me turn begrudgingly healthy next? I want your ideas!

"We're walking like in a Dolce Vita, this time we've got it right. We're living like in a Dolce Vita, mmm gonna dream tonight..."