Holidays are a great time to spend with family and friends while enjoying traditional seasonal goodies. One of the main attributes of the holidays in many cultures and religions is a variety of desserts. However, sometimes these holiday desserts are not very healthy and contain a lot of fat and sugar. Fortunately, there are several ways you can make desserts healthier and keep them delicious. By replacing key ingredients like flour or milk, and reducing sugar and fat, you can turn popular but unhealthy treats into healthier desserts.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Replacing Ingredients
Step 1. Use whole grain flour
Whole grain flour contains more vitamins and nutrients compared to premium processed flour. If you want your dessert to contain more dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamins, replace regular flour (which is used in most recipes) with whole grain. You can replace up to 50% of regular flour with whole grain when preparing holiday desserts.
- Whole wheat flour makes the final product thicker and harder.
- Try 1: 1 whole wheat flour in recipes for oatmeal cookies, chocolate cake, and gingerbread.
- Don't use wheat flour for delicate dishes like angel cake, yellow biscuit, or creamy scones.
Step 2. Substitute tofu or coconut oil for the fat
In many recipes, butter can be substituted for tofu or coconut oil. Use a 1: 1 ratio of pureed soft or silk tofu to butter. If you are substituting coconut butter for butter, do it in a 1: 1 ratio too.
- Tofu will add an airy texture to foods like brownies and muffins without affecting their taste.
- Tofu is rich in protein and low in fat.
- Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and is similar in properties to butter.
- Coconut oil is great for muffins, muffins and muffins.
Step 3. Substitute fruit puree for butter and fat
Fats (such as oil) bind different ingredients and give the baked goods texture and moisture. You can always substitute unhealthy fats with fruit purees such as applesauce, pumpkin, plum, or banana. Take only half of the required amount of oil, and replace the rest with fruit puree.
- Applesauce is an excellent substitute for butter in recipes for cakes, muffins and gingerbread.
- Plum puree works well as a butter substitute for muffins, scones, chocolate muffins, brownies, and cookies.
Step 4. Replace eggs with egg whites
Substitute two egg whites for eggs in the recipe instead of one whole egg. Egg whites are rich in potassium, riboflavin, protein and selenium. Unlike egg yolks, they do not contain cholesterol or saturated fat.
Proteins give the dessert an airy, light texture
Step 5. Substitute a different type of milk from cow's milk
Instead of cow's milk, which is high in fat, you can use plant-based milk such as soy milk, almond milk, or rice milk. These types of milk or skim milk have approximately the same properties as regular milk. As a rule, you can replace up to half the milk volume. You can substitute coconut milk for whole milk - don't confuse it with regular coconut milk, which contains 5 grams of fat per cup (for comparison, whole milk contains 8 grams of fat per cup).
- Almond milk has a natural sweetness, so it's good to use it in sweet dessert recipes.
- Soy milk has a bean-like flavor that can spoil the taste of sophisticated desserts.
Method 2 of 4: Reducing the amount of ingredients
Step 1. Reduce the amount of sugar
The amount of sugar in most recipes can be safely reduced by 25% -33% without affecting the taste or quality of the finished dessert - this is especially true for biscuit, bread and cookie recipes. Don't remove sugar in recipes that require it to create texture, such as custard.
Step 2. Don't include unhealthy desserts in your menu
Try not to include unhealthy foods in your menu at all, such as sweets or desserts that are high in fat or sugar. Try to focus only on fruit-laden desserts.
Delicious and healthy desserts include baked pears, low-fat strawberry shortbread, and banana oatmeal cookies
Step 3. Don't use processed or artificial ingredients
Try not to use products with chemical additives, such as pre-made icing. Instead, it's best to make your own glaze, as the finished glaze contains additives and preservatives that aren't known to work. Also avoid artificial sweeteners or food colors.
Step 4. Buy organic products
Use only organic ingredients and there will be no harmful pesticides in the finished dish. Use only organic fruits and milk - these are immune and heart-healthy foods and are often fresher because they are grown or sourced in your area.
Organic milk contains more antioxidants and vitamins
Method 3 of 4: Create a Festive Mood
Step 1. Make a list of traditional recipes for a particular holiday
Thanks to this list, you can decide which holiday desserts to try to change. Different countries and regions maintain their own traditions and beliefs. Think about your family and national traditions, and then make a list of traditional recipes. If your guests have other traditions, consider what they will eat.
- Cookies, pies and cakes are very popular in Russia, Europe and the United States and are the most traditional festive dessert.
- In North Africa, pancakes, cookies, various pastries and manna are prepared on holidays.
- In South America, chocolate cakes, ice cream and brigadeiro (filled chocolates) are very popular.
- In Korea, boiled fruits and dumplings with a sweet filling are eaten on holidays.
Step 2. Decorate desserts in a festive way
The appearance of desserts is very important and can create a sense of celebration. Decorate your desserts and cakes so that it becomes clear why they are prepared, using, for example, colors typical for the celebrated holiday.
If you are celebrating New Year or Christmas, add candies and snowmen, draw a Christmas tree or snowflakes
Step 3. Use ingredients associated with the holiday
Baked apples or eggnog, as well as the flavor of mint and gingerbread, are often associated with the winter holidays in North America. Think about the ingredients that remind you of the holiday and use them for your desserts.
- In Hungary, on New Year's holidays, desserts with poppy seeds and walnuts are often prepared.
- In France, macaroons are made with raspberries or with lemon and vanilla.
- In Mexico, a citrus-pumpkin flan is prepared on New Year's holidays.
Method 4 of 4: Choosing Healthy Recipes
Step 1. Bake a healthy Thanksgiving pumpkin pie
If you are celebrating Thanksgiving or fall festival, for example, you can bake a vegan pumpkin pie. You will need either tofu or pumpkin puree for the filling. The vegan version of the classic pumpkin pie is low in fat, making it a delicious and healthy fall dessert.
You can make regular pumpkin pie as well, making it healthier using the techniques above
Step 2. Prepare the apple cranberry crumble
Late fall in North America often cooks dishes with apples and cranberries. Substitute coconut oil or fruit puree in the classic recipe, and skip the ice cream for a healthier dessert.
You can also make cranberry orange muffins
Step 3. Prepare the fruit custard
Traditional English custard can be made with almond milk or soy milk to make it less fatty and healthier. Add fruits and nuts to the cream to make it even healthier..
Step 4. Bake a winter cake
Cake is the most popular holiday dessert. When making a healthy birthday cake, replace butter and sugar with applesauce, and use whipped coconut cream instead of marshmallows.