I love this time of year. The weather is absolutely beautiful in Southern California. The kids on our street seem to have forgotten about the Wii, and now beg to play outside as late as they possibly can. The beginning of spring is also a reminder that bathing suit season is almost upon us. There was a time when I actually couldn’t wait for bathing suit season. That was back in the day when my best girlfriend and I would ride the bus to the San Clemente Pier to bake ourselves and look for cute boys. Oh, we thought we were cool! Now as a thirty-something year-old, bathing suit season is no longer in the cool category. But since we still spend much of our summer at the beach with our kids now, it’s time to cut back on the sweets just a smidge, eat more soup, get myself back to Pilates, walk the dog more, and pick up those hand weights to tighten up those triceps.  

When I eat dessert, I usually splurge on the real version and avoid the low-cal route. But occasionally, I will come up with a diet dessert. One of my favorites is the Diet Cherry Coke Cupcake. It’s moist and fluffy, but has less fat than your typical chocolate cupcake. I decided to play off the soda cupcake again, by testing out Diet Cherry 7up. I am a Diet Cherry 7up addict ~ any soda with the words “diet” and “cherry” are stocked in my fridge. The cherry flavor cuts out some of the diet taste and satisfies my sweet craving.

This past weekend I made up a batch of Diet Cherry 7up cupcakes. The recipe is the same as the Diet Coke cupcake recipe, except you use a can of Diet Cherry 7up, and a white cake mix instead of a chocolate one. These were good. My dad gave them thumbs up, and he usually isn’t a fan of low-cal desserts either. If I had to choose between the Diet Cherry Coke cupcakes and the Diet Cherry 7up cupcakes, I think I would pick the Diet Cherry Coke, but if you’re not in a chocolate mood, these are a close second.

Diet Cherry 7up Cupcakes

1 box white cake mix

1 can Diet Cherry 7up

2 egg whites*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the cake mix and eggs whites in a mixing bowl. Pour in the can of Diet Cherry 7up. Beat according to the directions on the box. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

*You do not have to include the egg whites. I do because I find that it binds the cupcake better.

Low-fat Cream Cheese Icing                                                                                                                          8 oz. light cream cheese, softened cream cheese,                                                                                                                      1 c. marshmallow cream
1 tsp.  fresh lemon juice
 1 tsp.  vanilla extract
 1 c.  powdered sugar

In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, marshmallow creme, lemon juice and vanilla until well combined.  Then gradually beat in the powdered
sugar.

Makes 1 3/4 cups