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Recipe Modifications for Healthier Holiday Baking

Published in Heart & Vascular, For the Health of It, Healthy Eating Tips Author: Hannah Warzecha, RDN, LD

The holidays are often when families gather and celebrate the many traditions passed down over generations. Holiday baking might be a family favorite in your household.

If you’re focusing on heart health this season, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to sit out on the holiday baking fun.

In fact, with a few simple ingredient substitutions, you can still create some of your favorite desserts with a focus on heart health. See our ingredient substitutions below!

Instead of:

Try this:

1 cup cooking oil

½ cup unsweetened apple sauce plus ½ cup oil

1 cup butter, shortening or lard

1 cup margarine
¾ cup vegetable oil

1 cup fruit puree such as unsweetened applesauce

1 whole egg

2 egg whites

¼ cup applesauce

¼ yogurt

1 cup cream cheese

1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1 cup sour cream

1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt (regular or Greek)

1 cup low-fat sour cream

1 cup light cream

1 cup evaporated skim milk

1 cup fat-free half & half

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup sugar

¼ cup maple syrup

¼ pureed fruit

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 cup whole-wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

Note: Replacing a solid fat with oil doesn’t work in all baking recipes; it works better in recipes that require melting the solid fat first.

Dietitians are another resource for reviewing diets and helping to personalize meal plans. We hope you have a very merry baking season!