Recipe: Red Fruit Frozen Yogurt Topping

To satisfy your family’s sweet tooth, try pouring this warm, delicious fruit topping over frozen yogurt. Raspberries, cranberries and cherries are high in fiber, and contain vitamin C, plus powerful antioxidants that help prevent disease.

Consider using Splenda® sugar blend (part sugar, part sucralose) to reduce calories further. Splenda in moderation is a safe, important alternative for children, as obesity and related diseases like diabetes are on the rise.

Ingredients

• 1 14.5-ounce can of sweet cherries packed in juice (reserve juice)
• 2 cups raspberries (fresh, or frozen without added sugar)*
• 1 cup raw whole cranberries
• 2/3 cup of sugar or Splenda baking blend
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, or to taste

*For brighter color, substitute 1 cup of blackberries for the raspberries. Frozen, unsweetened berries contain the same vitamins, minerals and fiber as fresh berries.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 F. Use non-stick cooking spray on bottom and sides of 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish.
2. In 3-quart saucepan, mix reserved juice from cherries, Splenda blend, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture bubbles and thickens.
3. Gently stir in cherries, raspberries and cranberries. Spoon into baking dish. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until fruit topping is golden brown and bubbling.
4. Spoon hot mixture onto favorite frozen vanilla yogurt. Or stir chilled mixture into Greek or low-fat yogurt, or cottage cheese.

Ingredient health benefits

• Cherries: Deliciously nutritious, cherries are jam-packed with benefits for any sweet treat. Polyphenols, vitamin C and other antioxidants work hard to fight inflammation and protect your cells from damage that can contribute to disease. Cherries are also full of vitamin A and vitamin E for healthy eyes and skin. And they have fiber, potassium, anthocyanins and natural plant compounds called sterols that can help keep your cholesterol levels and blood pressure numbers in check. But that’s not all a bowl full of cherries can do! They’re rich in melatonin, serotonin and tryptophan — key sleep-inducing compounds to help you hit the hay harder.
• Raspberries: These round, red berries are a wonderful way to add a little bit of tartness to your topping. The perks of raspberries are similar to cherries, as both fruits have polyphenols, potassium, anthocyanins and vitamin C. But raspberries also have manganese, which your body has several uses for, such as strengthening your bones and healing wounds.
• Cranberries: Probably the best thing to come out of a bog, cranberries are loaded with vitamin C to boost your immune system, as well as vitamin K and vitamin E for strong bones, healthy blood cells and radiant skin. Cranberries also have natural compounds that may fight bad bacteria in your gut and mouth, protecting your gut’s microbiome and your oral health. There are even powerful free radical-fighting antioxidants to keep your cells in peak condition.
• Cinnamon: While crimson fruits are the stars of the show, this popular spice still deserves some recognition. Cinnamon, which comes from the bark of the cinnamon tree, is rich in antioxidants and has minerals like zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium. It may also help reduce your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels, but research is ongoing.

Nutrition information** (per serving)

Serving size = 1/2 cup
Makes 8 servings

Calories: 130
Calories from fat: 2 g
Total fat: 0.2 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 2.7 mg
Total carbohydrate: 32.8 g
Dietary fiber: 3.5 g
Sugars: 24.8 g
Protein: 0.9 g

**For recipe with sugar; calories and carbohydrates are lower with Splenda blend.

— Contributors: Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatric dietitians.