Making Those Baked Goods A Little Healthier

Would it be fair to say that wintertime is baking season? After all, there are the holidays in December, winter weather in January and we just wrapped up Valentine's this month. Plus add whatever winter season birthdays you celebrate.  Yep, lots of baking and baked goods.

According to University of Kentucky extension’s, Lynette Allen that could be approached to create a healthier and still yummy product. 

“There are adaptations that you can do to your recipe to help add nutrients or take away some of those things that we know is not great for us,” she noted.

So, what are some examples of incorporating ingredient substitution or modification to add nutritional and health value to homemade baked goods?

“One way that comes to is if your recipe calls for all-purpose flour, you can replace up to half of that flour with whole wheat flour.  So, you've just boosted that fiber content that is very healthy for us, and without changing the end product much."

Although Allen cautions going over half of whole wheat flour in a baking recipe could result in a denser, perhaps less tasty product.  Now, what about cookies? Especially what seems to be a favorite to many; chocolate chip. 

"Chocolate chip cookies are so popular you could switch out those chocolate chip, the semi-sweet or the milk chocolate and go for a dark chocolate that adds more flavor but also adds nutrients with antioxidants.” 

And while you are at, increasing the nutritional value of those cookies... 

“Go on and mix in some rolled oats, upping that fiber content.” 

Or bake a cookie with a dried fruit such as raisins or cranberries. Some other ideas use fruit purees such as applesauce as a fat substitute. Use yogurt as a substitute for cream cheese. If that is an ingredient in a baking recipe. Also, reducing ingredient portions such as reducing that called for One Cup of sugar in a recipe to say 2/3 cup. And while these tips can help with healthier baking, Allen reminds us of a very important consumption tip:

“Remember the serving size and only eat occasionally or in moderation. Just be intentional and choose making healthy choices,” Allen said.

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