Healthier Baking: Indulge Without the Guilt

Written by: Rachael Moody, General Manager, O2 Fitness -  Falconbridge

There's just something about cold weather that makes me crave baked goods - usually the kind that are not the best for you like pies and cookies!  That being said having a treat in moderation is fine (good for the soul even), but during this season the possibility of treats increases exponentially.  Luckily, there are so many creative ways to make baked goods healthier.

Try these 3 healthy replacements when baking:

Whole Wheat Flour: This is a great replacement for white flour when baking just about anything!

Coconut Oil:  Coconut oil is a great replacement for fats like butter or vegetable oil.  If you really love the taste of butter, try a mixture of half butter and half coconut oil.

Apple Sauce:  A cup of apple sauce only contains 100 calories vs. a cup of sugar at 770 calories.  However, be sure to reduce the amount of liquid when using apple sauce since it already contains liquid

One of my all time favorite treats around the holidays is apple pie, and I always try and convince myself it’s some-what healthy...I mean it does have fruit in it!  In an effort to satisfy my love of apple pie I did some experimenting with different recipes, and I’ve come up with a healthy version of an “apple pie.” This is a simple and delicious substitute and a great way to try out your new healthier baking skills!

Rachael's Baked “Apple Pie”

Ingredients

• 4-6 whole Granny Smith Apples
• 2 Tbsp coconut oil
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• 1/4 cup dried coconut
• 1 tsp of ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp walnuts or pecans chopped

Process

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Cut the top 1/4 off of the apples, near the stem.
3. With a sharp knife, remove the core of the apple without disturbing the bottom of the apple.
4. Melt coconut oil slowly in microwave
5. In a small mixing bowl, combine raisins, cranberries dried coconut, and cinnamon and walnuts/pecans.
6. Add coconut oil to mixing bowl and mix
7. Stuff the center of each apple with the mixture.
8. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350°F.
9. Cover with aluminum foil, and bake for an additional 10 minutes.