There are many delicious desserts out there, but what about one that is not only delectable but healthy too? The almond trifles recipe is one that definitely fits in this category, and is one that the whole family will love.

Most of the ingredients are low fat, so you can delight in the fact that you will not only be getting a finger licking good dessert but also nutrition at the same time. This particular recipe calls for liqueur but you can replace this with a non alcoholic ingredient if you like.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 8 Amaretti di Saronno biscuits
• 4 tbsp brandy 0r Amaretti liqueur
• 225 g raspberries
• 300 ml low fat custard
• 300 ml low fat fromage frais
• 1 tsp almond essence
• 15 g toasted almonds, flaked
• 1 tsp cocoa powder

1. Place the biscuits in a mixing bowl and using the end of a rolling pin, carefully crush the biscuits into small pieces.
2. Divide the crushed biscuits among 4 serving glasses. Sprinkle the brandy or liqueur over the crushed biscuits and leave to stand for about 30 minutes to allow the biscuits to soften.
3. Top the layer of crushed biscuits with a layer of raspberries, reserving a few raspberries for decoration, and spoon over enough custard to just cover.
4. Mix the fromage frais with the almond essence and spoon over the custard. Leave to chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
5. Just before serving, sprinkle over the toasted almonds and dust with cocoa powder. Decorate with the reserved raspberries and serve at once.

“Try this trifle with assorted summer fruits. If they are a frozen mix, use them frozen and allow them to thaw so that the juices soak into the biscuit base, it will taste truly delicious”.

Fruit pies are not only delicious but are healthy for you too. They give you a great way to get the nutrition of fruit but with the sweetness of a pie. A lot of fruit pies are boring, but paper thin fruit pies are definitely not and they are small enough that you can eat them as a snack throughout the day.

You can basically include whatever types of fruits you want in these pies, but for the basic paper thin fruit pie recipe you will need an apple, pear, lemon juice, apricot jam, orange juice, and a few other ingredients to prepare.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 1 medium apple
• 1 medium ripe pear
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 60 g low fat spread
• 4 rectangular sheets of filo pastry, thawed if frozen
• 2 tbsp low sugar apricot jam
• 1 tbsp unsweetened orange juice
• 2 tsp icing sugar for dusting
• low fat custard to serve

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Core and thinly slice the apple and pear and toss them in the lemon juice to prevent discoloration.
2. Melt the low fat spread over a gentle heat.
3. Cut the sheets of pastry into four and cover with a clean, damp tea towel (dish cloth). Brush 4 non stick Yorkshire pudding tins (large muffin pans), measuring 10 cm across, with a little of the low fat spread.
4. Working on each pie separately, brush 4 sheets of pastry with the melted low fat spread. Press a small sheet of pastry into the base of one tin (pan). Arrange the other sheets of pastry on top at slightly different angles. Repeat with the other sheets of pastry to make another 3 pies.
5. Arrange the apple and pear slices alternately in the center of each pastry case and lightly crimp the edges of the pastry of each pie.
6. Mix the apricot jam and orange juice together until smooth and generously brush over the fruit. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Dust with icing sugar and serve hot with low fat custard.

“Other combinations of fruit are equally delicious. Try peach and apricot, raspberry and apple or pineapple and mango. Yummy!”