Low calorie baking that actually tastes good?

lucys1225 · December 2014

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 · December 2014

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 · December 2014

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

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/

jrbowker · December 2014

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 · December 2014

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 · December 2014

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 · December 2014

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 · December 2014

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.

lexbubbles · December 2014

I've had to write all these out/compile it for my uni class since everyone spent all term raving about my baking and wanted all the recipes. Wish I had filmed their reactions when they found out they'd been eating low-cal/low-fat/'healthy' cake all along because it was priceless.

ETA: I've made all of those and entered them into the database manually to make sure the calorie counts were accurate for the specific ingredients I used.

squirrelzzrule22 · December 2014

I don't know a way to eliminate sugar, but I've substituted pumpkin into brownie and cookie recipes with great results. It essentially takes the place of the butter, eggs, and oil which really cuts down on calories. The texture will come out more fudgey than fluffy, but its totally doable.

Also, use diet soda in cupcake recipes. It sounds insane but they come out great. Google diet soda cupcakes and you'll find tons of recipes for them. I don't use this one much anymore, because I think diet soda is pretty icky and again it is still very sugary, but it cuts way down on calories.

Honestly, if I make a low calorie treat I'd probably eat so many that its totally not worth it. For me I'd rather save some calories and occasionally splurge on the real thing and call it a metabolism rest

Laurend224 · January 2015

I have had success subbing out half the oil in baked goods for applesauce. Any more than that and the texture gets gummy. I don't like Sugar substitutes, so I use real sugar. I don't eat eggs so when a recipe call for it I use Ener-g egg replacer, that saves some fat and calories too.

k_amanda_k · January 2015

try vegan recipes? My favorite blogs are fat free vegan and chocolate covered katie

jmunn1129 · January 2015

Use bananas or applesauce instead of butter/egg/oil. They help a lot with cutting calories! Also I use stevia and I find the flavor complements a lot of recipes.

cooky_monster · January 2015

lexbubbles wrote: »

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.

wow!! you my friend, ROCK!!! I am gonna have so much fun trying out these recipes

x

lexbubbles · January 2015

cooky_monster wrote: »

lexbubbles wrote: »

Snippy snip

wow!! you my friend, ROCK!!! I am gonna have so much fun trying out these recipes x

Just remember that the calorie counts I provided were calculated for the specific ingredients I used and yours may vary, so always double check.

I know my shortbread biscuits came out way under the count provided in the recipe itself because I subbed out margarine for light sunflower spread and stuff.

madiao · January 2015

squirrelzzrule22 wrote: »

I don't know a way to eliminate sugar, but I've substituted pumpkin into brownie and cookie recipes with great results. It essentially takes the place of the butter, eggs, and oil which really cuts down on calories. The texture will come out more fudgey than fluffy, but its totally doable.

Also, use diet soda in cupcake recipes. It sounds insane but they come out great. Google diet soda cupcakes and you'll find tons of recipes for them. I don't use this one much anymore, because I think diet soda is pretty icky and again it is still very sugary, but it cuts way down on calories.

Honestly, if I make a low calorie treat I'd probably eat so many that its totally not worth it. For me I'd rather save some calories and occasionally splurge on the real thing and call it a metabolism rest

lucys1225 wrote: »

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/

lexbubbles wrote: »

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.

This is so awesome thank you! I tried the brownies over the weekend and they turned out pretty good

Thanks!!!

SuequehannaWakiya · January 2015

Yep - paleo baking with coconut flour (I second the detoxinista link). I was curling my lip up before tasting it but the tastes blew me away, and the baking stays moist and rich for considerably reduced carbs and sugars. The only way I will bake now

Low calorie baking that actually tastes good?

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