Whether You're Battling the Holiday Bulge or Just Dealing with Dietary Restriction We have Substitutions to Simplify

We all know that the holidays have a habit of bringing more than just cheer.  If you're like most of America you could be looking at putting on an extra 5-7 pounds of seasonal "fluffing" between Thanksgiving and New Years! I know, "gasp" right? However, while most of us are lamenting over our choice to consume the yearly irresistible treats many of our friends and families are being deprived of the same deliciously horrible guilt.   As they deal with their dietary restrictions they can only watch longingly as we are offered an endless variety of sweet things and baked goods.  So whether you're trying to keep a trimmer figure then Mr. & Mrs. Clause this season or your dealing with dietary struggles the Chocolate Mousse is here for you!

Below are some of my favorite substitute suggestions that will both help you eat your holiday cheer without fear and/or fight back the holiday bulge so you can ring in the new year without a bigger rear.

FLOUR (1 Cup)

To increase nutrients and fiber content mix 1/2 cup wheat flour with 1/2 white flour

Go gluten free
1/3 cup Rice Flour
1/3 cup Millet Flour
1/3 Almond Meal

SWEETENERS (1 Cup)

Reduce sugar content by half by using 1 cup apple sauce to replace 1 cup of white sugar

No brown sugar? Use 1 cup white sugar, 2 TBS Molasses

Ran out of Confectioners sugar? Use 1 cup white sugar and 1 TBS cornstarch, grind well in food processor


FAT  (1 Cup)

No butter? No problem! Reduce the fat and calories by half with these two substitutes:

1 cup mashed avocado (also fun as it will give your recipe a green tint...you may want to warn your friends in advance)

1 cup mashed bananas

Out of oil? Try this:

1 cup stiffly beaten egg whites ( I find verbally abusing them doesn't really change the consistency but it often makes me feel better)

1 cup Greek yogurt (no beating required here, yogurt is already well behaved)


Dairy (1 Cup)

Heavy Cream: Cut calories and fat by using 1 cup evaporated milk

Buttermilk: 1 cup milk, 1 TBS lemon juice OR vinegar

Leavener (1tsp) (This is the stuff that makes your baked goods rise or, if you're seven year old, your school volcano go boom!)

Baking Powder: 1/3 tsp baking soda and 1/2 cream of tarter

Baking Soda: 4 tsp baking powder

Cream of Tartar: 1tsp lemon juice

That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles...

But it doesn't have to be!    Your probably still waddling after the large consumption of Thanksgiving treats... and now you need to prepare for National Cookie Day (Dec 4)!  In an attempt to help lessen the impact of the seasonal bulge, I'd like to offer you some healthier baking substitutions this cookie season. (National Cookie Month is October... but who ever heard of cookies in October?!?  It is clearly supposed to be in December!)

 

Flour Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

    Increase the nutrients and fiber:

    1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour mixed with 1/2 cup White Flour

 

    Go Gluten Free:

    1/3 cup Rice Flour + 1/3 cup Millet Flour + 1/3 cup Almond Meal

    

    Low Carb / Calorie and high in Fiber:

    1 cup Black Bean Puree                                                                          

 

Sweetener Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

    Reduce Sugar content by Half:

    1 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce

 

    Reduce the Calories by 400 Calories per cup:

    1/2 cup Sugar + 1/2 Tbs Vanilla Extract

 

    No Brown Sugar?...

    1 cup White Sugar + 2 Tbl Molasses = Light Brown Sugar

 

    1 cup White Sugar + 3 Tbl Molasses = Dark Brown Sugar

 

    Ran Out of Confectioners Sugar?...

    1 cup White Sugar + 1 Tbl Cornstarch... process in food processor until powdery

 

Fat Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

    Butter:

    Reduce the Fat and Calories by half:

    1 cup Mashed Avocado (this will tint your recipe slightly green)

 

    1 cup Mashed Bananas

 

    Oil:

    1 cup Stiffly Beaten Egg Whites

 

    1 cup Greek Yogurt

 

Dairy Substitutes (for 1 cup) -

     Heavy Cream:

     Cut Calories and Fat:

     1 cup Evaporated Milk       

 

     Buttermilk:

     1 cup Milk + 1 Tbl Lemon Juice OR Vinegar

 

Leavener Substitutes (for 1 tsp) -

     Baking Powder:

     1/3 tsp Baking Soda + 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar

 

     Baking Soda:

     2 tsp Baking Soda and Omit the Salt from the recipe

 

     Cream of Tartar:

     1 tsp Lemon Juice

Sweet Specials