Can you imagine a world where cupcakes are good for you?
The fact that baked goods aren’t healthy is the cause of 90% of my problems (or was!).
As someone who’s literally a sucker for brownies, muffins, and everything baked, I couldn’t balance my baking obsession and healthy eating habits into one diet.
I tried gluten-free baking, but I wasn’t a fan of the textures. I went off baking, but I couldn’t resist a warm, gooey chocolate-filled muffin every time I passed in front of a bakery.
When I started using healthy baking hacks, I realized baking doesn’t have to be entirely unhealthy.
Because I don’t like keeping good information to myself, I’ll let you in on my special tips for cutting calories in baked goods.
1 – Use Greek Yogurt Instead of Butter
Greek yogurt is a staple in weight loss diets, but you’ve probably never thought of using it in baking. Truth is, it’s the perfect healthy alternative for butter, oil, and even sour cream.
It contains plenty of protein, vitamin D, and calcium, so it’ll take your dessert up a notch on the healthiness scale.
On top of that, it gives a creamy consistency that works so well for gooey desserts like pudding.
If you’re using Greek yogurt instead of oil, add ¾ a cup for every oil cup. Meanwhile, if you’re substituting butter, use half a cup of butter and half a cup of Greek yogurt for every full butter cup in the recipe.
2 – Use Healthier Icing
If you usually decorate your cakes using butter icing, replace it with water icing. It’s true that it doesn’t have the same creamy texture, but it still tastes good and doesn’t have nearly half the calories in butter icing.
You can also decorate your cakes with fresh fruits instead of unhealthy options. That way, you’ll be increasing the fiber content of your cake and avoiding unnecessary calories.
3 – Opt for Natural Sweeteners
Believe it or not, the most unhealthy ingredient in baking is actually sugar. That’s why finding alternatives for it is pivotal if you want to cut back on calories.
Use natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. It’s true that they may alter the taste slightly, but it won’t be noticeable.
Aside from natural sweeteners, you can use stevia. It’s a common sugar substitute in weight loss diets, and it doesn’t affect the taste like maple does.
Bear in mind that these alternatives are sweeter than sugar, so adjust the amounts accordingly. For honey and maple syrup, I’d use half the amount of sugar listed in the recipe.
4 – Consider Healthier Fillings
Your cupcakes don’t have to be filled with dense chocolate. You can consider healthier fillings like avocados, apples, or pineapples. Some cakes can also be filled with veggies, like beetroots and carrots.
If you’re a fan of sweet fillings, you can go for no-sugar jam. With naturally sweet fruits like raspberries, sugar-free jams still taste good.
5 – Start Using Whole Wheat Flour
Here’s a common misconception in healthy baking: whole wheat flour contains fewer calories than white flour.
That’s not true—both types have the same amount of calories. However, whole wheat flour is the healthier option because it doesn’t go through the same processing as white flour.
White flour loses its natural nutrients in the process, so whole wheat flour is more nutritious.
For every cup of white flour in your recipe, use ¾ a cup of whole wheat flour for a healthier dessert.
6 – Replace Milk Chocolate With Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate has a stronger flavor than milk chocolate, so it’s often my go-to for baked goods, especially brownies. You’d be even happier learning that it contains less sugar, so it’s the healthier alternative.
Because they’re both solid, you can use a 1:1 ratio to replace the milk chocolate in your recipe.
7 – Make Mini Versions of Baked Goods
Sometimes, healthier ingredients alter the taste of your dessert. If you’re not a fan of that, that’s okay. You can still enjoy baking but in smaller portions.
Instead of full-sized muffins, make mini ones.
The same goes for cakes, brownies, and even cookies.
Make mini versions, and you’ll still enjoy your desserts without driving your calorie intake through the roof. It’s okay to enjoy a sweet dessert every once in a while as long as you’re mostly following healthy eating habits.
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.