Surprising ingredients that are perfect for baking!
Naturally Sweet Products
Many people tend to think that baked goods are terrible for the waistline, due to their high sugar and fat content. Yet this doesn't have to be the case! There are many recipes out there that fall into the 'healthy' category - all it takes is a little thinking outside the square. While butter, sugar and flour make delicious baked goods that your grandmother would be proud of, these ingredients are not the be all and end all when it comes to creating a delicious cake, muffin or slice. Here are a few surprising foods that can be added to your baking that will make it both nutritious and tasty! Stevia Whip up sugar-free concoctions by using Naturally Sweet Stevia in your baking! Stevia extract is a natural, healthy sugar that is low in calories yet high in flavour. It can even be added to beverages - both hot and cold - and sprinkled over your cereal. Zucchini Some vegetables make the perfect baking ingredients, such as the humble zucchini. Since this vegetable is relatively simple in flavour and has high water content, it is great for giving chocolate cakes a moist and fudgy texture. Here is a great healthy zucchini chocolate cake recipe to get you started. Apple puree Over at the Healthy Food Guide, they recommend using fruit puree such as apple to sweeten and moisten baking. Check out this low-fat recipe for blueberry muffins! Quinoa Most of you probably know quinoa as a grain similar to lentils, chickpeas or rice. In fact, quinoa is technically a seed! While it is great for savoury foods, it can also add a delicious nutty texture to baking, and can make an awesome substitute for flour. Add this to muffins or biscuits to give your baking 'superfood status' - the seed is packed with essential nutrients and is an excellent source of protein. Here is a recipe for yummy quinoa cookies by blogger 'two peas & their pod'. Nuts and seeds Nuts and seeds are very versatile and can pretty much be added to anything when chopped up small. Whenever you make fruity muffins or loafs, try to add some delicious chia, pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Another great source of energy is oats or bran flakes!
