One of the reasons many people are intimidated by baking is that they love baked goods too much. It’s difficult to resist all the mouthwatering baked goods, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Luckily, enjoying cookies and cakes can be considered skincare if you know some healthy baked good recipes.
Here are some of my favorite delicious recipes that’ll help you kickstart your baking journey with zero guilt:
1 – Banana Bread
Banana bread is the ultimate baked good. It’s easy enough to make, all while having an impressive taste. Whether you’re having a lazy morning or planning to host a brunch, it’s the perfect thing to bake.
Bananas are rich in flavonoids and amines, some of the most powerful antioxidants.
You can add a crunch to your bread without compromising the health benefits. Some dark chocolate will perfectly complement the flavor while providing tasty antioxidants.
The key to making the perfect banana bread is ripe bananas. The darker the bananas the better! So, whenever you have overripe bananas, you can whip up this delicious bread.
2 – Fruit Muesli
No pantry is complete without an array of Muesli. Well, did you know you can bake your own muesli, making your favorite flavors and ensuring healthy ingredients?
Muesli is simple enough to make, even if it’s your first time setting foot in the kitchen! It’s just baked oats, nuts, and fruits.
The best part is that regardless of the ingredients you’re going for, you’ll get all the nutritional benefits of the oatmeal.
In particular, oats have anti-inflammatory properties, which can brighten your complexion and keep acne at bay.
Make sure you’re choosing high-quality, rolled oats. This way, you’ll get the signature crispy texture of muesli. Then, spread the ingredients of your liking on a baking sheet, and toast until browned.
My favorite nutty Muesli consists of rolled oats, cinnamon, walnuts, almonds, applesauce, and a few apple slices. I also love some honey and raspberries to satisfy my sweet tooth.
3 – Chocolate Avocado Cake
Chocolate is probably the first ingredient you’re warned against if you’re taking care of your skin. However, this chocolate avocado dessert proves you can have your cake and eat it too, literally!
Avocado has been hailed as one of the healthiest vegetables. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits. It also hydrates your skin from within.
Paired with potent dark chocolate, this cake isn’t only nutritionally dense, but it’s also one of the tastiest cakes you’ll ever try.
The avocado basically replaces the butter in the chocolate cake, making for a smooth texture without altering the taste.
4 – Blueberry Muffins
Muffins are baked goods that every baker must learn how to make. They’re healthy, delicious, and fit all occasions.
Still, if you don’t have all the ingredients, muffin mixes will work perfectly. That’s because blueberries are the ingredients responsible for glowing skin. They’re rich in vitamins and antioxidants, making them great for anti-aging.
Moreover, don’t worry if you only have frozen blueberries. They’re just as beneficial as fresh ones. You shouldn’t let them thaw before baking as this will make the blueberries bleed into the muffins.
A tablespoon of chia or flax seeds will greatly enhance the nutritional value of the muffins, without altering the taste.
5 – Oat Cookies
Who doesn’t love cookies? Not only are cookies exceptionally delicious, but they’re also fun to bake.
Fortunately, you can enjoy cookies while enhancing your diet and skin. Like muesli, the ingredients are straightforward, so you can enjoy the mouthwatering treat regardless of what you have in your fridge.
Oatmeal cookies can taste bland, though. For this reason, it’s best to add sweet ingredients such as chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and peanut butter.
While these ingredients aren’t the healthiest, enjoying a quick and easy chocolate oatmeal cookie is better than binging on desserts later.
6 – Salmon Quiche
If you learn how to bake quiche, you’ve got breakfast, lunch, and dinner covered. In particular, salmon quiche is an exceptional recipe if healthy skin is your goal.
The fatty acids and vitamin A in salmon promote skin elasticity. Furthermore, this fish is packed with antioxidants, protecting the skin.
Quiche doesn’t have to be a complex dish. Instead, using ready-made pie crusts will significantly cut down your prepping time. From there, all you have to do is make the filling.
You can’t make quiche filling without eggs. I also love pairing salmon with cheddar cheese, onions, and parsley. Don’t forget the seasonings!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.