by Susan on 12/03/09 at 12:18 pm
Pumpkin Pie For Life
Are you doing any baking this holiday season? This is the time of year when many creative cooks like to bake cookies, fruit cakes and other treats to share with their friends and families. But it’s also the time of the year when overindulgence is very likely. How about trying some healthy substitutions in your recipes? You can still maintain great flavor and texture, while cutting the calories, fat and sugar. Here are six substitutions you can make that no one will notice.
Flour –Try substituting half of the flour with whole grain flour, or swap all of it for lighter, whole grain pasty flour. You can also substitute half of the flour with soy, rice or nut flours. (Almond flour provides a particularly nice flavor.)
Butter – Butter cakes a wonderful flavor, but it is also high in saturated fat and calories. Substitute fruit puree for half of the butter to lighten up the recipe. Applesauce also makes a great butter substitute in cakes and quick breads. Or eliminate the butter and go with canola oil.
A Holiday Classic
Dairy – Try using plain, unsweetened soy or rice milk if you need a dairy substitute. If a recipe calls for buttermilk, just add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice to the soy or rice milk.
Sugar – Use honey or real maple as a flavorful and healthier alternative to refined sugar. Use 3/4 cup of honey or maple syrup for every cup of sugar in the recipe. Honey and maple syrup also add moisture.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out FriendsEat.com for cake and cookie recipes!
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