Fresh blueberries are in season, and their plenty suggests summery desserts — light, fruity and simple.
Dessert Waffles With Spiced Blueberry Sauce is an easy idea to try, combining the waffles' crispness with creamy frozen yogurt and a spicy sauce. Blueberry-Orange Dessert Sauce is a refreshing sauce to spoon over ice cream or cut-up fruit; Blueberry-Pineapple Parfaits layer fruit, yogurt and granola.
DESSERT WAFFLES WITH SPICED BLUEBERRY SAUCE
(Preparation time 10 minutes, cooking time 7 minutes)
2 cups fresh blueberries
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or to taste)
Four 4 1/2-inch fresh or frozen waffles
4 scoops vanilla frozen yogurt or ice cream
In a small saucepan, combine half the blueberries, the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, black pepper and 1/3 cup water. Over medium heat, bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in remaining blueberries; cool. Toast waffles; place on dessert plates. Scoop frozen yogurt onto waffles; top with blueberry sauce. Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition information per serving: 281 cal., 6 g pro., 5 g fat, 55 g carbo.
BLUEBERRY-ORANGE DESSERT SAUCE
(Preparation time 5 minutes)
2 cups fresh or frozen (and thawed) blueberries
1/3 cup light cream cheese (from an 8-ounce container)
1 tablespoon orange-flavored liqueur or marmalade
In the container of a food processor or blender, place blueberries, cream cheese and orange-flavored liqueur; whirl until smooth. Spoon over ice cream or cut-up fruit. Makes about 2 cups.
Nutrition information per 1/4-cup serving: 49 cal., 1 g pro., 2 g fat, 6 g carbo.
BLUEBERRY-PINEAPPLE PARFAITS
(Preparation time 10 minutes)
20-ounce can pineapple chunks, drained
8-ounce container vanilla or lemon-flavored fat-free yogurt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen (and thawed) blueberries
1/2 cup granola
If using frozen blueberries, drain and pat dry. In a small bowl, combine pineapple with half of the yogurt. Into 4 small wine or juice glasses, spoon alternating layers of pineapple mixture, blueberries and granola, repeating twice. Top each with a dollop of yogurt. Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition information per serving: 233 cal., 4 g pro., 3 g fat, 49 g carbo. Recipes from the North American Blueberry Council.