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    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Lightened Up Cheesecake

    Published: Mar 28, 2017 · Modified: Jan 20, 2020 by Chellie Schmitz

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    Craving cheesecake? Try this lightened up version. Your taste buds will never know this has less calories! This Lightened Up Cheesecake is creamy, decadent, and and refined sugar free! Fresh berries compliment it perfectly. #cheesecake #betterforyou #lightdessert #dessert #berries #summer via @artfrommytable

    This Lightened Up Cheesecake is just as luscious without losing an ounce of flavor! It's creamy, and decadent and and refined sugar free!

    slice of 'lighter' cheesecake on a plate garnished with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, drizzles with strawberry sauce.

    You may be wondering why lighten up your cheesecake? Can't you just indulge once in a while? While I'm a firm believer in occasional indulgences--I kind of have a sweet tooth.

    Cheesecake for Breakfast?

    So in order to indulge more often, I like to take something, such as a dessert, and transform it into a better for you option. Most cheesecakes have 257 calories, 18g fat, 20.4g carbohydrates  and 4.4g of protein per slice.

    whole cheesecake with strawberry swirl, topped with fresh berries.

    My Lightened Up Cheesecake has 118 calories, 3g of fat, 9g carbohydrates and 13g protein per slice. And, just as decadent, I might add. 🙂  You could even put this in the 'healthy' category, which means, you could eat cheesecake for breakfast! (in perfect world?) Another reason for it's lightness is no crust.

    Now, that being said, I'm not typically a calorie counter myself, but I am impressed when a dessert has this many nutritional benefits. There's really nothing "bad" for you in this recipe.

    The Ultimate Cheesecake

    Most cheesecakes are made with cream cheese (yum!) and heavy cream or sour cream, along with some eggs, sugar and starch to hold it all together. I've used Cottage cheese and Greek yogurt in this version, and no refined sugar.

    ingredients for a lightened up version of cheesecake: Yogurt, cottage cheese, flour, sugar, lemon, eggs, strawberries, vanilla bean.

    To Bathe or not?

    Many people wonder if you have to use a water bath to bake a cheesecake. I've also kept this recipe really simple by not using a water bath to bake it. This isn't really a traditional recipe, so I didn't find it necessary in this case, but it's up to you.

    The purpose of a water bath is to create an extra creamy texture, and to prevent cracking. If the surface of the cheesecake gets too dry it will crack.

    4 picture collage of how to add a strawberry swirl to cheesecake: 1-pour cheesecake batter into springform pan; 2-add drops of strawberry sauce; 3- drag toothpick through the strawberry 'dots'; 4-bake.

    All occasion cheesecake 

    This would be a lovely Easter dessert, or even a Mother's Day treat. Can you imagine serving this to your mom and telling her it's guilt free? What a gift. 😉  But, I plan to eat this on more than just holidays.

    slice of cheesecake garnished with fresh berries and strawberry sauce, sitting next to the whole cheese cake minus the slice.

    This recipe was adapted from  Sarah at Passion RX Fitness

    Looking for more healthy desserts?

    Healthy Banana Split

    No Churn Dairy Free Strawberry Banana Ice Cream

    lightened up cheesecake

    Lightened Up Cheescake

    This Lightened Up Cheesecake is just as luscious without losing an ounce of flavor! It's creamy, and decadent and and refined sugar free!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 133kcal
    Author: Chellie Schmitz
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    Ingredients

    • 2 cups low fat cottage cheese
    • ½ cup non fat Greek yogurt
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 tablespoon Truvia or other stevia based sweetener
    • 3 tablespoon whole grain unbleached flour
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
    • ¼ cup pureed fresh strawberries plus more for garnish
    • fresh berries for garnish

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350.
    • Place cottage cheese and yogurt into a blender and process until smooth
    • Add the eggs, sweetener, flour, vanilla and lemon zest and blend agin until combined well.
    • Pour into an 8 or 9 inch greased spring form pan.
    • Drop small spoonfuls of strawberry puree’ in a circle, or randomly on the batter. Using a skewer, toothpick, or butter knife, drag it through the spoonfuls of puree.
      lightened up cheesecake
    • bake for 30 minutes, or until the top pulls away from the pan and looks smooth and solid. 
    • Let cool completely before refrigerating for several hours or overnight. Serve with additional fruit if desired. 

    Notes

    To puree' strawberries, just place them in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Use any extra for a garnish or on top of yogurt, ice cream, waffles or pancakes.
    You don't have to use a spring form pan, any round one will work. These silicone ones are amazing, (affiliate link) they require no greasing.
    If you are using a different type of sweetener, make sure you use a conversion chart to get the right amount.
    To make Trim Healthy Mama compliant:
    • Use baking blend instead of the flour OR use ground Oatmeal in place of the flour. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 133kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!I love to see what's on YOUR table! Mention @artfrommytable or tag #artfrommytable on your favorite social.

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    about chellie

    ABOUT CHELLIE

    Chellie is the creator of Art From My Table, where her passion for delicious food and gathering with loved ones comes together. She believes anyone can cook a great meal, it doesn't have to be complicated or stressful. Her recipes and food photography have been featured in many publications including Buzzfeed, Southern Living, Today Food, and Fitness magazine. Read more...

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