Contributed by Info Guru Paul Seaburn

I’m partial to any diet that recommends eating sweet treats but in smaller portions than usual.

Since my “usual” portion is an entire box of cookies or pan of brownies, this goal is easy to attain. Of course, what they really mean are mini portions and you’ll be surprised at how many different kinds of desserts are available in small shapes and sizes. They’re a great way to sample desserts when you can’t decide which one you want. Each of these ten tempting mini desserts will surely satisfy your sweet tooth and leave room for more … as long as you don’t eat the whole plate.

10. Bite Size Gourmet Cookies

The tempting selection from a beautiful gourmet mini cookies offers small but satisfying dessert options. Send a box that has specialties the recipient doesn’t often indulge in, and choose one for yourself, too.

9. Mini Pies

You can call mini pies tarts but there’s plenty that are sweet treats. They’re the prefect treat for someone who would like to eat a slice of pie without dripping the filling all over their shirt or pants.

8. Mini Melons

If fruit is your favorite dessert, mini melons are just the thing when don’t want to lug a watermelon or cut up a cantaloupe. Small versions of watermelons, honeydews and exotic melons like the Zhuang Zhou are perfect for halving and having.

7. Mini Petits Fours

Petits fours are already a mini dessert, but when there’s so many flavors to choose from, a box of mini petits fours is a sampler’s delight. From vanilla to chocolate and all flavors in between, these tiny tasty treats are the candy of the dessert family.

6. Mini Cookies

Mini cookies aren’t crumbs but little siblings to their belly-busting big brothers. Even with their small size, mini cookies can still pack plenty of peanuts, chocolate chips, cream fillings and the ret of your favorite fillings.

5. Mini Chocolate Fruits

Fruits make great desserts as is, but they’re even better when drenched in chocolate. Mini chocolate-covered apples are a sweet treat for Halloween parties, Thanksgiving feasts and any other holiday when you need a small, sweet, somewhat healthy dessert.

4. Mini Loaf Cakes

When you’re having one of those days that can only be made better by eating a whole cake, a mini loaf cake will satisfy your psyche without sacrificing your waistline. Little loaves of banana bread or lemon or poppy seed quick breads are also the perfect size for breaking in half and sharing with a friend.

3. Mini Muffins

Mini muffins are the best mini dessert for baking at home. Any of your favorite muffin recipes can be made into minis with a little adjustment in oven temperature and cooking time. Use mini paper cups so you can skip the pan cleanup and go right to eating.

2. Mini Coffee Cakes

Coffee cakes were made for coffee, but tea, milk and even water just naturally taste better washing down a mini coffee cake. Cinnamon, nuts, chocolate, lemon and other great flavors will have you drinking a second cup so you can stay awake for more.

1. Mini Bundt Cakes

A mini bundt cake is a beautiful and tasty little cake you can eat with a fork. Grab mini-bundt pans and make them yourself, or let someone else bake these yummy cakes in chocolate, cherry, marble and other flavors so you can eat instead of cleaning the crumbs stuck in those tiny pan crevices.