Quick Guide: Calories in Desserts

Calories in desserts can add up quickly during the holiday season -- a cookie or two at work, a helping of pie at Mom's, followed by leftover pie before bed -- the myriad treats on offer is one of the traps that can make the holidays a diet danger zone! Keep your sweet splurges in check with this list of the number of calories in desserts.

Pies (Per Serving):

• Apple - 456 calories
• Blueberry - 360 calories
• Cherry - 486 calories
• Chocolate cream - 379 calories
• Mince tart - 477 calories
• Pecan pie - 452 calories
• Pumpkin - 316 calories

Quick Tips:

Skip the top layer of pie crust and you'll save 75 to 100 calories per slice.

Enjoy an ounce of whole pecans for 201 calories to solve a pecan pie craving for nearly 300 calories less than one slice.

Pie Toppings:

• Vanilla ice cream, ½ c. - 145 calories
• Non-fat dairy whipped topping, ½ c. - 60 calories
• Homemade whipped cream, ½ c. - 204 calories

Cookies:

• Chocolate chip (3) - 234 calories
• Shortbread cookies (2) - 160 calories
• Frosted sugar cookies (3) - 240 calories
• Gingerbread men (2) - 300 calories

Quick Tip:

Use mini chips for chocolate chip cookies, but use half the amount listed in the recipe. Since the chips are so much smaller, the flavor is better-dispersed, so you can use fewer.

Learn More:
Holiday Baking Substitutions
Lighten Up Comfort Foods

Need to find out the caloric information for something on your holiday menu? Check out About.com's Calorie Count -- you'll find nutritional information for foods from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course ... dessert!

Get your new year's weight loss efforts off to a great start by signing up for our free Weight Loss 101 e-Course.

More Holiday Weight Advice