Recipe Modifications for Healthier Holiday Baking

The holidays are often when families gather and celebrate the many traditions passed down over generations. Holiday baking might be a family favorite in your household.

If you’re focusing on heart health this season, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to sit out on the holiday baking fun.

In fact, with a few simple ingredient substitutions, you can still create some of your favorite desserts with a focus on heart health. See our ingredient substitutions below!

Instead of:	Try this:
1 cup cooking oil	½ cup unsweetened apple sauce plus ½ cup oil
1 cup butter, shortening or lard	1 cup margarine ¾ cup vegetable oil 1 cup fruit puree such as unsweetened applesauce
1 whole egg	2 egg whites ¼ cup applesauce ¼ yogurt
1 cup cream cheese	1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup sour cream	1 cup low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt (regular or Greek) 1 cup low-fat sour cream
1 cup light cream	1 cup evaporated skim milk 1 cup fat-free half & half
1 cup sugar	2/3 cup sugar
¼ cup maple syrup	¼ pureed fruit
2 cups all-purpose flour	1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour	1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

Note: Replacing a solid fat with oil doesn’t work in all baking recipes; it works better in recipes that require melting the solid fat first.

Dietitians are another resource for reviewing diets and helping to personalize meal plans. We hope you have a very merry baking season!