Low calorie baking that actually tastes good?

madiao

I love baking, but I don't love the amount of calories that come with it lol. I'm really interested to know if anyone has any recipes that they have tried that actually taste like and have the texture of the real thing??

I've tried low calorie baking in the past but it either ends up disgustingly granulated with some sweetener like Splenda or deflated and tasteless like low calorie brownies (that don't even really taste like chocolate!!).

Does anyone have any low calorie baking recipes that actually taste like the real version and have the texture like their full calorie counterpart?

Francl27

In my experience... nope. What I do now is cut the recipe in half or more and just enjoy a bit less.

CarrieCans

I agree with Francl27

There's just no substituting some things.

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helenarriaza

Yeah, no. You can't substitute the creaminess, fluffiness or buttery flavor of the real things.

leggup

I made these once: http://myfrugaladventures.com/2014/06/skinny-raspberry-banana-muffins/ They use mashed banana and greek yoghurt instead of traditional muffin ingredients. I used frozen mixed berries instead of fresh raspberries. I used 0% fat greek yoghurt and that was a problem. Without any fat, the muffins stuck to the paper liners like mad. I would use nonstick spray and no liners.

I have also made these: http://www.fitwithrachel.com/quick-healthy-cookies Literally, banana + oats. You really have to add other ingredients for flavor or they will just taste like banana bread bites. I made them super small and then sandwiched them with peanut butter. Delish.

The best advice for baking low calorie treats is to make each item smaller. Instead of making cupcakes, make mini cupcakes. Pie? Mini pies. Cake? Cakepops. Brownies? Brownie bites. I love my mini muffin pan.

AngryViking1970

Yeah, baking with Splenda or Truvia doesn't work, and I've tried lots. I have had some success with replacing 1/2 the oil in muffin and quickbread recipes with applesauce, though. But that doesn't really work with stuff like brownies...

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BernadetteChurch

I bake using butter and sugar and refuse to try lower calorie options. I make my biscuits a bit smaller, which reduces the calories a little, but mostly I'm just trying to teach myself moderation. Most of my biscuits work out at around 80 calories each, which I usually have room for a few nights a week. Quality over quantity!

Patttience

If you are going to bake and eat this sort of food then make it worthwhile and do it less often.

leggup

BFDeal wrote: »

What kind of lunatic makes cookies from mashed bananas??!!??

I found the recipe when I was looking for ways to use up old bananas. I only really like bananas when they're almost unripe- green around the edges. I also found that the recipe was good for people who have celiac, IBS, or are on FODMAP for other medical reasons.

Francl27

I've tried the oatmeal and banana cookies... NOPE. lol.

CarrieCans

Francl27 wrote: »

I've tried the oatmeal and banana cookies... NOPE. lol.

I made them a few weeks ago. The BF and kids said they liked them but i wasn't thrilled. Now i question how much they really liked them because no one has asked me to make them again. Also, they didn't keep very long before they looked like a science experiment.

I am considering making an oatmeal banana leather in the dehydrator, like a fruit roll up. No "cookie" expectations might make it go over better.

waterbyrde

Try the SkinnyTaste version of Starbuck's cranberry bliss bar. My in-laws especially loved the 1/3 fat cream cheese frosting. This has to be refrigerated, so it doesn't hold up well on holiday cookie plates. Lesson learned there...

Here's a link: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/12/skinny-cranberry-bliss-bars.html

I subbed apple sauce for 1/2 the butter. I also skipped the white chocolate chips and drizzle, but added walnuts. The skinny taste version was listed as 149 calories a bar...I didn't calculate my version.

I think you have to be careful about lower-calorie recipes. Bars/breads make it easier to reduce oils/butters. Most cookies lose their texture too easily.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I'm a baker and I've yet to find anything that significantly cuts calories and that tastes good. Some of the recipes that sub in mashed bananas or canned pumpkin aren't too bad, but I don't think the calories are all that much lower. Might as well have the real thing.

madiao

Thanks guys! I was hanging on to a small piece of hope that there might be some magic out there haha.

Its so deceptive when you see all the pictures on pintrest and they look divine, then yours turns out nothing like it

the smaller portions/cookies is an ace idea though. Thanks!!

jennym194

I have made muffins with applesauce and bananas and they were great and only 100 calories. I also did the smaller cookie thing for Christmas and that definitely helped me not over eat this year on christmas.

SuggaD

All the time. My basic substitutions are egg whites for eggs (double) and applesauce for any oil. Sometimes, I'll also substitute bananas for the sweetener. Search pinterest. You'll find tons of great healthy desserts.

rgunn02

there used to be a website called "eat healthy america" i think it's been renamed though…I've found some good receipes on there.

Also - when ever I bake (which is a lot with 3 growing boys in the house!) I always half my flour with "Hamiltons" barley flour. It pumps up the fibre and makes the baking so moist and doesn't have the same dry whole wheat flavour.

VeryKatie

How about something like meringue cookies? Of course they're not like cookie cookies, but they were never supposed to be. 3 egg whites, 1.5 tsp vanilla, 2/3 cup sugar, 0.5 tsp lemon juice and some food coloring - makes about 40 cookies at about 11 cals per cookie plus they're fun to pipe into different shapes. And they kind of melt in your mouth like cotton candy.

lucys1225

I make many different "healthy" cookies. While they're not low in calorie, they are very nutritious and tasty. If you are interested in anything like that, I will be happy to share some recipes.

madiao

I've done the meringue cookies before! I love them they're just like pavlova

I'd love to hear some of your cookie recipes Lucys! Cookies are my absolute weakness haha, the one food in the world I dont think I could live without (accompanied by a big glass of milk of course :P )

Serah87

Nope......I make the real stuff and just eat less of it.

lucys1225

These two are my absolute favorites:

http://www.allergyfreealaska.com/2012/12/06/guilt-free-pecan-pie-cookies/

http://detoxinista.com/2014/07/the-healthiest-cookies-ever-paleo-vegan/

BarbieAS

I haven't had much luck substituting stuff in baking. I love to bake, and for the most part when you try to healthi-fy it up TOO much, you just end up with something that really doesn't taste very good and is ultimately unsatisfying, not to mention not worth the time/ingredients you spent on it (or the calories that you're still consuming). I strongly agree that just decreasing your portion is the best way to go.

Just about the only slightly healthier recipe that's ever worked for me is that whole mix a can of fruit with a box of cake mix and make cupcakes deal. You're not saving too horribly much over traditional cupcakes, but it's a bit, and I actually really do enjoy the taste of some of the combos - favorites are a can of pumpkin with spice cake or yellow cake (I highly recommend a bit of pumpkin pie spice if you do plain yellow), or a can of crushed pineapple with a box of angel food cake mix.

WinoGelato

I haven't made anything from this blog, but people rave about it...

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

jrbowker

I also love baking, but really the substitutions are not that great. I find that biscotti is one of the best things. there are recipes that do no add butter or oil. The only fat comes from eggs. They are best VERY crunchy, that way they are most satisfying. they also last a long time.

Francl27

Kruggeri wrote: »

I haven't made anything from this blog, but people rave about it...

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

Yeah but it's not that low cal either. I made the jelly roll up and it was good, but once I entered everything... 350 calories. Definitely nowhere near the 110 calories that she mentioned.

Those pecan pie cookies look delicious, but I don't keep half of those ingredients in my house, so... I guess it's the case for most 'healthy' cookies (plus almond flour is way too $$ IMO).

I LOVE biscotti. But they're pretty much mostly sugar. If anything, I like a bit of fat in my goods, they keep me full longer.

Raynne413

The only thing I've found that works out ok is one can of pumpkin and one brownie mix. Just mix the two and bake at the same temp and time as the mix calls for. Let them cool completely, and they turn out pretty good.

mariaoutlook

I made a Philadelphia light cheesecake for Christmas. Easy to make and less than 200 calories per portion. PHILADELPHIA 3-STEP Low-Fat Berry Cheesecake

I make oatmeal raisin spice cookies and pineapple coconut snowballs from time to time. Not sure how many calories they have but I use stevia instead of sugar, etc.

lexbubbles

I have LOADS. I bake for my uni pals all the time and not one person has ever been able to tell it's 'not the real thing'. Nobody. Ever.

Low-cal banana bread:
http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/flourless-banana-bread-muffins/

(recipe does it as muffins, but I make it in a loaf tin and slice up as you would regular banana bread. THE densest, moistest, and tastiest banana bread I've ever eaten)

Healthier carrot cake:
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/low-fat-moist-carrot-cake.html

<100 cal christmas cake:
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/recipes/low_fat/christmas/christmas_cake.htm

70ish cal mince pies (my boyfriend ate a dozen of these in one sitting because they were 'totally amazing'):
http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/531462/slimming-world-s-mince-pies

100 cal muffins (I tend to make it into smaller 70cal cakes)
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/28862/100-calorie-basic-muffins.aspx

85cal oatcake
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/20708/easy-oat-cake.aspx

85cal banana-pb cookies
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/19121/peanut-butter-and-banana-cookies.aspx

45cal shortbread
http://www.bakingmad.com/calorie-concious-shortbread-biscuits-recipe/

<200 pumpkin spice loaf (dense - serving could easily be halved)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/view/67903059545469

Flourless choc chip muffins <200
http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2014/01/21/flourless-chocolate-chip-almond-butter-muffins/

200ish strawberry cheesecake
http://www.runningwithspoons.com/2014/06/17/no-bake-strawberry-cheesecake/

200ish lemon drizzle cake
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1973654/lighter-lemon-drizzle-cake


AND FINALLY

My own recipe for 120-150 (yes, really!) calorie triple-choc-fudge brownies

100g granulated sugar
50g granulated sweetener
110g cocoa powder
2 large eggs (whole)
75g light sunflower spread
60ml semi-skimmed milk
Approx 60ml water
125g plain flour
1tsp vanilla extract
10g each white, milk, and dark chocolate chips
20g fudge pieces (ASDA sell these in a little bag, but you can easily buy some fudge and crumble it yourself)

Extra chips/fudge pieces for sprinkling on top, if desired

Method
Pre-heat your oven to 175C (350F, Gas Mark 4)

Spray a square baking pan with light cooking spray, or line with baking paper

Mix together flour and cocoa powder in a bowl

In a separate bowl, cream the sugars and spread. Then add in the milk, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined.

Add the butter mixture to the flour mixture, and stir until just combined

Add water in small amounts until mixture is of the right consistency

Stir through the chocolate chips and fudge.

Pour mixture into the pan (sprinkle more choc chips and fudge on top if desired), and bake for 20 mins. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out clean.

Allow to cool slightly in the pan, before dividing into 16 squares and cooling completely on a wire rack.

Cals per +Brownie*: 120

*Without extra chips and fudge on top.