Low-Fat/High Taste Baking Secrets

Low-Fat/High Taste Baking Secrets

When it comes to baking, we all want that gratification that comes from putting something sweet, chewy, and even gooey on our taste buds. However, the other end of that spectrum can often leave us feeling guilty afterwards. We know exactly how many calories we have consumed in that minute of indulgence. It would be so nice to be able to indulge without having to consume ourselves with worry as we consumed all those yummy calories.

As our culture has become more consciously aware of what we put into our bodies, we have the bonus of other options for lower calorie and low fat recipes. Here are several low-fat/high taste baking secrets you can indulge in – and you might not even notice the difference.

Substitute egg whites for whole eggs – If you want to stick to your traditional recipes, you’ll find that substituting egg whites may work just as well as whole eggs. You may wish to substitute one extra egg white to make up the difference in consistency. Some bakers also like to add a light oil to make the recipe a little lighter, as well.

Other alternatives to eggs include:

• Commercial egg substitute such as Egg Beaters. Just follow the instructions on the box.
• Silken tofu – about ¼ cup of tofu replaces one egg
• Flaxseeds – One tbsp. of ground flaxseed mixed with three tbsp. of water replaces one egg.
• Bananas – about ½ cup of mashed banana equals one egg
• Yogurt and Soy Yogurt – about ¼ cup equals one egg

Use applesauce in recipes – If you love sweet and tart mixed together in your baking, then applesauce is the perfect ingredient for adding into your baked goodies. Applesauce offers a low-fat, high taste combination that is a win/win for you and your taste buds. Using applesauce allows you to replace the high saturated fats and sugar in traditional baking and gives you a sweet and tart taste. The consistency is also useful in baking.

Fat free yogurt in baking – The wonderful thing about using fat-free yogurt in baking is its versatility. Fat-free yogurt substitutes for many ingredients such as:

• Sour cream
• Milk
• Butter
• Half and half
• Light cream
• Cream cheese

The consistency and the taste are both there when it comes to adding yogurt as a low fat/high taste substitute.

Fruit as a substitute – If a recipe calls for sugar, try experimenting with different types of fruit such as:

• Banana
• Crushed pineapple
• Apples
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Peaches

Look into substituting canned peaches, or canned pears, and frozen fruit with juices instead of sugar.

Of course, you can always use low-fat milk instead of regular milk, orange juice, and pineapple juice as other alternatives, as well.

So, as you can see, there are many tasty flavorful ways to sweeten the baking without adding the calories. Consider substituting a low-fat ingredient next time you’re baking – chances are you’ll like the results.