DAIRY QUEEN: BROWNIE EARTHQUAKE
SAVE: 239 CALORIES, 25 G FAT, 15 G SAT. FAT
Who wouldn’t love Oreos and ice cream? It’s a brilliant combo that I’ve been all too familiar with since college.
Years later, I was hanging out with my friend Mike and we were craving something decadent. The next thing I know, we were in my kitchen, scooping vanilla frozen yogurt into my blender. I then hesitated, surveying the skim milk and reduced-fat Oreos sitting on my counter. Mike got a worried look on his face and said, “Do you know what you’re doing?” I chuckled and replied, “It’s frozen yogurt and Oreos; how bad could it possibly be?” A few Oreos later, I was reminded of the great days at Smith College. So when I saw this dessert on Dairy Queen’s menu, I immediately knew this amazing creation just had to be included.
1½ tablespoons marshmallow creme
½ teaspoon water
1½ cups fat-free vanilla ice cream
1 tablespoon fat-free hot fudge
1 reduced-fat chocolate sandwich cookie, crumbled
¼ cup aerosol fat-free whipped topping
CUT the brownie diagonally to form 2 triangles. Lay each triangle so that it rests on the opposite sides of a dessert or soup bowl that’s wider at the top than at the bottom.
In a small bowl, combine the marshmallow and water, and stir until smooth.
Place the ice cream in a mixing bowl. With a wooden spoon, mash until it is slightly softened and can be stirred. Spoon into the reserved brownie bowl in a spiral motion to resemble soft-serve ice cream or simply mound it. Spoon the marshmallow evenly around the sides. Spoon the hot fudge on top. Sprinkle with the cookie crumbles. Top with whipped topping.
MAKES 1 SERVING
501 calories, 12 g protein, 107 g carbohydrates, 2 g fat, <1 g sat. fat, 5 g fiber
Original Dairy Queen Brownie Earthquake: 740 calories, 10 g protein, 112 g carbohydrates, 27 g fat, 16 g sat. fat, 0 g fiber
BEFORE YOU START Dairy Queen’s bowl is 2" high with a 4" diameter across the top and a 3½"-diameter base. I went to my cupboard and found a standard white porcelain soup bowl that was almost exactly this size, just slightly wider on top.
DRIVE-THRU Want Earthquakes in a hurry? Make a batch of brownies and store them in a resealable plastic freezer bag in the freezer for up to 2 months. They can be eaten directly from the freezer (they stay soft) when you are ready to serve them.
EVEN BETTER This sundae is perfectly designed to share with a friend. Use two bowls instead of one. Each serving will still have a brownie, ¾ of a cup of ice cream (more than a standard ½-cup serving), and plenty of toppings. Plus, it’s always more fun to indulge with a “partner in crime.” The result will be only 250 calories, 6 g protein, 53 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat, trace sat. fat, 2 g fiber. You’ll save 490 calories, 26 g of fat, and 16 g of sat. fat over the one you’d buy at Dairy Queen.