Pumped-Up Pumpkin Pie Bites & Whipped topping

Pumped-Up Pumpkin Pie Bites
From Devin Alexander, author of The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 80 Healthy Treats That Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Without Breaking Your Calorie Budget.

These are like mini-pumpkin pies, but they have no artificial ingredients, and they're sweetened with agave nectar and maple syrup. Two bites have 94 calories and a trace amount of fat, compared to a slice of traditional pumpkin pie which has 450 calories.

Devin's Note: When making the crust for this recipe, it might, at first, look like the crumbs won't cover the bottom of the pan, but trust me, they will! The easiest way to distribute them evenly is to use a small piece of parchment paper, and gently press the cereal mixture until you get a nice even layer.

Ingredients:
Butter-flavored cooking spray
3/4 cup all-natural, whole-grain, crunchy, high-fiber, low-sugar cereal (Devin uses Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets)
2 tablespoons 100% pure maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 large egg whites
15 ounce can (1 3/4 cups) solid pumpkin puree
3/4 cup agave nectar
2 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
32 teaspoons "'Cut the Crap' Whipped Topping" (optional; see below)

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 11" x 7" glass or ceramic baking dish with spray.

Add the cereal to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a chopping blade. Process for 15 to 20 seconds, or until the cereal is crushed.

Transfer crumbs to a small mixing bowl and add the maple syrup and cinnamon.

Mix until well combined. (The mixture should be slightly sticky.)

Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Using a small piece of parchment paper, gently press down on the cereal mixture, spreading it evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.

Bake the crust for 7 to 9 minutes, or until it is slightly browned. Set aside.

Meanwhile, add the egg whites to a large mixing bowl. Using a sturdy whisk, lightly beat them until they bubble very slightly.

Still using the whisk, stir in the pumpkin, agave and flour until well combined.

Stir in the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder and salt and continue mixing until well combined.

Pour the filling over the baked crust. Using a rubber spatula, spread it into an even layer.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry (a few crumbs are OK).

Transfer the dish to a wire cooking rack, allowing it to cool to room temperature.

Carefully cut 32 pumpkin "bites" (three cuts along the width of the pan, seven cuts along the length, creating 4"x8" bites).

Just before serving, top each bite with 1 teaspoon whipped topping, if desired.

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Makes 32 bites. Each two-bite serving has: 94 calories, 3 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates (15 g sugar), trace fat, trace saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber and 102 mg sodium.


'Cut the Crap' Whipped Topping
From Devin Alexander, author of The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 80 Healthy Treats That Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Without Breaking Your Calorie Budget.

Ingredients
3/4 cup light agave nectar
3 large egg whites, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Instructions
Add water to a medium saucepan until it is about ¼ full. Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Off the heat, combine the agave, egg whites and cream of tartar in a large metal or heavy duty glass mixing bowl (that will fit onto the top of your saucepan).

Beat on medium-high with an electric mixer fitted with beaters until well blended.

Place the bowl over the pot of boiling water. (For safety, be sure to wear an oven mitt while holding the bowl over the heat, as it will get very hot).

Beat for about 7 minutes, occasionally running the beaters around the sides of the bowl to scrape any of the mixture, until stiff peaks form.

Remove the bowl from the water and continue beating for 5 to 7 minutes more, rotating the bowl and scraping down the sides with the beaters, or until the mixture is thick, very fluffy, and has very stiff peaks.