Holidays are the ideal time to get together with family and friends and enjoy all together the delicacies that the season offers us. One of the most interesting aspects of the holidays is the extreme variety of sweets offered by the different cultural and religious traditions to celebrate the relative recurrences. Sometimes, however, these sweets can contain unhealthy ingredients and are high in fat and sugar. Fortunately, there are ways to make these sweets a little healthier while retaining their delicious flavor. By replacing key ingredients like flour or milk and cutting down on high-fat and high-sugar ingredients, you can turn these unhealthy festive sweets into healthy, hearty foods.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Substitute Ingredients
Step 1. Use whole wheat flour
Wholemeal flour contains more vitamins and nutrients than white and refined flour. If you want to enrich your dessert with dietary fiber, calcium and vitamins, you can replace part of the white flour you usually use with wholemeal one. Substitute 50% of the amount of flour required by the recipe of the dessert you are preparing.
- Wholemeal flour produces a denser and more compact dough.
- To make oatmeal cookies, chocolate cake and gingerbread men, you can also try using only the wholemeal one.
- However, it should be avoided for delicate preparations such as Angel Food Cake, sponge cake or cream scones.
Step 2. Use tofu or coconut oil instead of fat
There are many recipes that allow butter to be replaced with tofu or coconut oil. Try replacing the butter completely with smooth or pureed tofu. Coconut oil can also be used to completely replace butter.
- Tofu will give your brownies a soft, light texture and enhance the flavor of other dessert varieties.
- Tofu is high in protein but low in fat.
- Coconut oil solidifies at room temperature and has similar properties to butter.
- It is ideal for making cupcakes, oatmeal cookies and muffins.
Step 3. Use a fruit puree instead of butter
Fats such as butter help to mix the dough well and to give consistency and softness to the cake; however, you can replace them very well with a fruit puree, such as an apple sauce or a puree based on pumpkin, plums or bananas. Cut the amount of sugar in half and add fruit puree instead.
- Applesauce is an excellent alternative to butter and you can use it to make gingerbread cakes, muffins, and cakes.
- Plum puree gives excellent results in the production of muffins, cream scones, chocolate and coffee cakes, brownies and biscuits.
Step 4. Replace whole eggs with egg whites
Instead of whole eggs try using egg whites, in a ratio of two egg whites to each egg you would normally use. Egg white is rich in potassium, riboflavin (or vitamin B2), proteins and selenium. Unlike yolk, it does not contain cholesterol or saturated fat.
The egg whites will give your cake a soft and light texture
Step 5. Try using a different type of milk instead of cow's milk
You can replace cow's milk, which is generally high in fat, with other valid alternatives, such as soy, almond or rice milk. They have similar properties to skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and can be safely used to replace it completely. When choosing a possible alternative to whole milk, try to consider low calorie coconut milk drinks (not to be confused with natural coconut milk), because each cup contains only 5 grams of fat, versus 8 grams. of whole milk.
- Almond milk has a sweet taste, therefore it is a valid alternative to cow's milk in the preparation of desserts.
- Soy milk, on the other hand, has a bean aftertaste that is likely to overwhelm the delicate flavor of some desserts.
Method 2 of 4: Reduce the Amount of Ingredients
Step 1. Cut back on sugars
In many dessert recipes you can reduce the amount of sugar by 25-35%, without major repercussions on the flavor and quality of the result. It is particularly recommended in the production of cakes, quick bread and biscuits. Do not eliminate sugar from those recipes that require it to give the dessert the right consistency, such as creams and compotes.
Step 2. Eliminate unhealthy desserts
Avoid inherently harmful ones like candy or party sweets that are high in fat or sugar. Instead, focus on desserts that use fruit as a sweetener, such as fruit pies and tarts.
Other healthy alternatives include cooked pears, low-fat strawberry pie, and oatmeal and banana cookies
Step 3. Avoid industrial and artificial ingredients
Avoid products that contain chemical additives, such as certain icings. Instead of buying ready-made products, consider making a homemade cake glaze. Sometimes industrial icing products contain additives and preservatives filled with harmful or at least questionable chemicals. Also avoid artificial sweeteners and chemical food colors.
Step 4. Choose organic food
Consuming 100% organic ingredients prevents food from being contaminated with pesticides. Make use of organic fruit and milk in your recipes. Organic foods are good for the heart and the immune system; moreover, they are often fresher, because they come from local crops.
Organic milk contains more antioxidants and vitamins
Method 3 of 4: Create a Festive Mood
Step 1. Make a list of the sweets that are characteristic of the holiday you are about to celebrate
The list can give you an idea of the type of dessert that best suits the occasion. There are different traditions, based on religious faith and family customs. Think about the traditions that you usually practice as a family in terms of festive sweets.
- Cookies, tarts, and cakes are traditional sweets in the United States.
- Pastries, crepes and semolina-based desserts are typical of North Africa.
- In South America, chocolate cakes, ice cream and, in Brazil, brigadeiro are very popular.
- In Korea, cooked fruit and rice dumplings are the most popular.
Step 2. Garnish the dessert taking inspiration from the holiday theme
The visual effect is important and helps to evoke the spirit of the party. Decorate the cakes and sweets you have prepared according to the occasion you are about to celebrate. Use the color scheme that you think is most suitable.
For the winter holidays you can use candy canes or small snowmen as garnishes
Step 3. Use ingredients that remember the anniversary
Apple fritters and eggnog are usually associated with winter celebrations. In America, a classic of the winter holidays are also mint and gingerbread men. Identify ingredients that make you think of the holidays and use them to make your own desserts.
- In Hungary, for example, traditional ingredients include poppy seed paste and walnuts.
- The flavor of coconut cakes is mainly given by the aroma of raspberry, lemon and vanilla.
- In Mexico, pumpkin and citrus flan is a party classic.
Method 4 of 4: Choosing the Right Recipes
Step 1. Make a healthy pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving
If you choose the vegan version it's even better. The preparation of this cake involves a filling of tofu with or without soy, with a pumpkin puree as the main ingredient. This version of the pumpkin tart is low in saturated fat and makes for a tasty and healthy dessert that's ideal for the fall festivities.
You can also make a traditional pumpkin pie by using one of the methods listed above
Step 2. Make an apple and blueberry sbrisolona pie
Apples and blueberries are typical treats of the autumn season. To make the recipe even healthier, replace the butter with coconut oil or fruit puree and avoid ice cream.
You can also make orange and blueberry-based sweet bread
Step 3. Learn how to make fruit custard for the winter holidays
Instead of cow's milk, use almond or soy milk. This reduces the fat content and makes it a particularly healthy Christmas cake. For a balanced nutritional intake, add lots of fresh and dried fruit.
Step 4. Make a delicious and healthy Christmas cake
A cake is the best way to celebrate Christmas. However, you can make small changes to improve the nutritional content, such as replacing the butter and sugar with applesauce. Or, instead of using cow's milk whipped cream, use coconut milk.
