3 Stupidly Simple Low Calorie Desserts to Boost Your Creativity

As an early-stage startup founder, I often spend my nights working till the crack of dawn.  I find that frequent binges of junk food help me to reach the highest levels of creative nirvana.  On one hand, I get some great work done on this diet of all the wrong things. On the other, two red bulls and several pre-packaged snacks later, I’ve downed 500+ regrettable calories without a second thought.  Track that for just one week and you could staple a whole pound of body fat right on to your body.  So by now, I’ve had enough of that!  I needed to beat this dessert dilemma and get my fix as well.

I searched far and wide because sugar is my first love.  My search had two requirements.  First, the dessert had to have a low calorie count.  Second, it had to take less than 2 minutes to make.  More than that would interrupt my workflow.  Here is what I came up with:

1. Two Minute Microwavable Mug Brownie

This is one of my favorites.  It’s a flexible recipe that can be customized in over a dozen ways to match your specific craving.  Plus, you can literally prep and cook it in less than two minutes.

Start by mixing the dry ingredients in a coffee mug:

• 4 tablespoons of Flour (Use Wholewheat as a healthy bonus)
• 2 tablespoons of Splenda (Use up to 4 tablespoons for extra sweetness)
• 2 teaspoons of Cocoa Powder (Add more if you are a big chocolate fan)

Then, mix in the wet ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of Unsweetened Applesauce
• 2 tablespoons of water

Stir it up until you get a good thick batter consistency, then microwave for a minute and fifteen seconds. Voila!  Warm, rich brownie goodness. If brownies aren’t your thing, replace the Cocoa Powder with some other flavoring ingredient and try it out. My favorite substitute is cinnamon and vanilla extract.  This recipe is based on a recipe I found on candelacouture.com.

2. Two Minute Microwavable Pumpkin Pie

It’s quick, easy and it won’t break your diet.   Be sure not to skimp on the microwave time for this recipe since one of the ingredients is raw egg whites.

Start by taking a coffee mug and mixing in some ingredients:

• ½ Cup of Pumpkin Puree (You can get this in a can)
• ¼ Cup of Egg Whites (You can get this from an egg white carton)
• 2 tablespoons of Splenda
• A few dashes of Cinnamon and Pumpkin Pie Spice

Stir it up until the ingredients are evenly mixed. Keep in mind, the mixture may not seem very thick, but that is normal.  Microwave the mug for two minutes and then add a little low calorie whipped cream to top it off.

This recipe is based on this recipe that I found on shape.com.

3. Diet Soda Popsicles

This dessert is one of the best because as long as you use a zero calorie drink as the main ingredient, it is essentially a zero calorie treat.  My Bay Area apartment doesn’t have air conditioning, so these popsicles are addictively refreshing when the mercury rises.

Start by purchasing a popsicle mold from a local store or ordering one online.  Target has a good one relatively cheap.

Fill the popsicle mold with your favorite diet soda or other low calorie drink, then place the mold in the freezer.  Once the popsicles are completely solid, pull them out as desired and enjoy. I know, I know, I could’ve stopped at the title for this one, but have you tried it?