Recipe Modifications for Healthier Holiday Baking
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 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!