Surprising ingredients that are perfect for baking!

Many people tend to think that baked goods are terrible for the waistline, due to their high sugar and fat content.\n\nYet 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.\n\nWhile 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.\n\nHere are a few surprising foods that can be added to your baking that will make it both nutritious and tasty!\n\nStevia\n\nWhip 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.\n\nIt can even be added to beverages - both hot and cold - and sprinkled over your cereal.\n\nZucchini\n\nSome 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.\n\nHere is a great healthy zucchini chocolate cake recipe to get you started.\n\nApple puree\n\nOver at the Healthy Food Guide, they recommend using fruit puree such as apple to sweeten and moisten baking.\n\nCheck out this low-fat recipe for blueberry muffins!\n\nQuinoa\n\nMost 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.\n\nAdd 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.\n\nHere is a recipe for yummy quinoa cookies by blogger 'two peas & their pod'.\n\nNuts and seeds\n\nNuts 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.\n\nAnother great source of energy is oats or bran flakes!\n\n