Anabolic Chocolate-Amaretto Cheesecake Mousse--The Dessert of Champions!

Chocolate-Amaretto Cheesecake Mousse

Difficulty:  EASY
Servings:  6 (half cup each)
Nutrition Information
Calories: 276; Carbohydrates 16g; Protein 26g.
Fat:  9.5g saturated; 0.2g polyunsaturated; 2.3g monosaturated
Fiber:  3.5g

About this Recipe

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Just in time for Valentine's Day!  This is an awesome sugar-free high-protein anabolic dessert. No one will know it's sugar free, nor that it contains cottage cheese.  For the protein powder, be sure to use a GOOD TASTING quality protein powder--If the protein powder tastes bad, so will the dessert.  You can make this with sugar if you wish, but note that sugar increases the calories by almost 100 and more than triples the carbohydrates--the dirty kind of carbs.  The sugar-free option uses both liquid stevia and erythritol crystals.  I get them both at iherb.com (links:  erythritol, liquid stevia).  Use referral code KOQ452 when you check out and get $5 off your first order.

Health Benefits of this Recipe

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From about.com:  Why is chocolate healthy? Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Erythritol is a zero calorie sweetener that adds bulk to recipes like sugar does, but it's only about 70% as sweet as sugar.  Therefore, most recipes using erythritol will add another sweetener like stevia to compensate.  Neither of these sweeteners have any calories, nor will they spike blood sugar (safe for diabetics), nor will they cause gastric upset like many sugar alcohols.

Ingredients

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• 8 Ounces Light Cream Cheese (Neufchatel)
• 1 Cup Lowfat Cottage Cheese
• 4 Scoops of your Favorite Chocolate Whey Protein Powder

Sugar-Free Version

• 2/3 Cup Erythritol Crystals
• 1/2 teaspoon Pure Liquid Stevia Extract

Sugar Version

• Substitute 1 Cup powdered sugar for the erythritol and stevia
  (sugar version increases carbohydrates to 38g and calories to 371 per serving)
  
  

• 3 Ounces Unsweetened Baking Chocolate (coarsly chopped)
• 1/3 Cup Fat Free Half and Half
• 1 teaspoon Instant Coffee or Instant Espresso
• 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions

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1. Using a coffee grinder or blender, pulverize the erythritol crystals into a powder.  If your coffee grinder is small, you will need to process in two batches.  2/3 cup of erythritol crystals will yield about a cup of powdered erythritol. Use all of it in this recipe.  Pulverizing the erythritol will make it dissolve much better.
   
   
2. Into a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and the powdered erythritol.
   
   
3. Into a glass microwave-safe measuring cup, combine the instant coffee and the half and half.  Microwave until boiling (about 1 minute 20 secs), stir, and pour the boiling half and half mixture over the chocolate and erythritol.  Stir to completely dissolve erythritol.  Let stand until chocolate is melted.  If necessary, return the chocolate mixture to the microwave for 1-2 minutes to fully melt chocolate.  Cool to room temperature.  Stir.
   
   
4. Into a food processor bowl fitted with the knife blade, blend cream cheese, cottage cheese and protein powder until very smooth.
   
   
5. Add the cooled chocolate mixture, stevia, almond extract and vanilla.  Blend until all ingredients are fully incorporated and mixture is satiny.
   
   
6. Divide mousse among 6 dessert cups, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours (or overnight).
   
   
7. Optionally garnish with whipped cream, toasted almonds, and a fresh raspberry just before serving.

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