While many of us may be trying to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet and getting more exercise, being healthy doesn’t have to mean depriving yourself of tasty treats.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or savoury bakes are more your thing, there are plenty of lower-fat, lower-sugar baking recipes that you can turn to when you want to indulge. So, here are nine baking ideas with a healthy twist.
1. Chocolate beetroot brownies
When it comes to baking, brownies are often considered the ultimate chocolatey treat. And while brownies are known for being decadent, this doesn’t mean that they can’t be enjoyed as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
For example, these chocolate beetroot brownies from Sneaky Veg are a lower-sugar, lower-fat alternative. The beetroot helps to create a fudgy texture and is packed full of essential nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. Beetroot is also a source of glutamine (an amino acid that can improve digestive health) and studies show that beetroot can help lower blood pressure.
Dates add natural sweetness while walnuts add protein. Plus, wholemeal flour is more nutrient-dense than white flour and contains vitamins B1, B3, B5, and B9, as well as riboflavin.
If you’re not a fan of beetroot, you might want to try these gluten-free black bean brownies from Minimalist Baker instead.
2. Peanut butter protein balls
If you’re looking for a sweet treat that’ll boost your energy levels while helping to increase your protein intake, these peanut butter protein balls from Delish can make a handy go-to snack.
One of the best things about this recipe is that it contains chia seeds, which are high in protein, fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. This makes them great for improving digestive health and supporting a healthy heart.
Peanut butter (when eaten in moderation) can also be a good source of healthy fat and can help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. One study also suggested that eating peanuts every day can decrease heart-related injury by up to 38%.
These protein balls also contain flaxseeds and oats, which are high in fibre, low in fat, and can keep you feeling fuller for longer.
If you’re in a hurry, you could consider making no-bake protein balls in just a few minutes. Check out the video below to see how to make them.
3. Spelt soda bread
Before wheat became so widely used in bread, spelt flour was a very commonly used ingredient.
Spelt is a healthy whole grain with a higher protein content than wheat, and has a mild and nutty flavour. It’s lower in insoluble fibre, meaning it’s easier to digest and can leave you feeling fuller for longer. Spelt also has a higher amount of important vitamins such as manganese, zinc, and copper, which support bone health.
This spelt soda bread recipe from Doves Farm is yeast-free and requires just three main ingredients: spelt flour, bicarbonate of soda, and natural yoghurt.
Though, keep in mind that spelt does contain gluten – so if you’re gluten-intolerant or have coeliac disease then it’s best to avoid.
4. Pineapple cheesecake bars
If you’re in the mood for something fruity, you might enjoy these pineapple cheesecake bars from Delish.
They only require eight ingredients; with the star of the show, of course, being pineapple. As well as being delicious, pineapple is packed full of vitamin C and manganese, both of which help to maintain a healthy immune system. They’re made with non-fat Greek yoghurt and light cream cheese so that each slice contains a healthy dose of protein without being too high in fat.
If you’re not keen on pineapple, you might want to try this healthier version of a New York cheesecake from Delicious, or this strawberry cheesecake from WeightWatchers.
5. Sweet potato muffins
If you fancy trying something a bit different for breakfast, why not have a go at making these sweet potato muffins from Jamie Oliver? Made with sweet potatoes, fresh chillies, parmesan cheese, spring onions, cottage cheese, eggs, and seeds, they’re a treat for the tastebuds, while also packing a nutritious punch.
Sweet potatoes, spring onions, and chillies are rich in antioxidants which help protect your body from free radicals (molecules that can cause cell damage and contribute to disease). Spring onions, parmesan, and cottage cheese are also good sources of calcium, which is needed to build and maintain strong bones and teeth.
Meanwhile, the eggs, sunflower, and poppy seeds give these muffins a high protein and fibre content – with each one containing an impressive 18.2g protein and 6.5g fibre. This means they’re digested slowly and can help you feel fuller for longer.
To see this recipe tried and tested, check out the video below.
6. Healthier apple crumble
Not only are apples low in calories, but they also contain pectin (a probiotic fibre that’s linked to a healthy gut), potassium, and vitamins C and K.
And the good news is that it’s really quick and easy to make a healthier version of an apple crumble without compromising on taste.
This healthy apple crumble recipe from BBC Good Food has fewer calories per serving and is vegan and dairy-free. Rather than using butter to make the crumble topping, it uses coconut oil (which is lower in saturated fat), and instead of flour, it uses oats (which have a higher nutritional profile and are easier to digest than white flour).
It also swaps sugar for a small amount of maple syrup which has a lower glycemic index (GI) than regular table sugar. GI refers to how quickly a food causes blood sugar levels to rise. A food with a higher glycemic index will make your blood sugar levels spike more rapidly, followed by a steep drop; which can cause headaches and/or leave you feeling shaky and tired.
7. Turkey sausage rolls
Sausage rolls are a traditional family favourite. However, they’re not known for being particularly healthy, with 100g of an average sausage roll containing more than 26g of fat.
If sausage rolls are at the top of your list of baked treats, then luckily, you don’t have to give them up as part of a healthier lifestyle as it’s possible to create a healthier version at home.
For example, this recipe from Sainsbury’s uses turkey mince instead of pork mince. Turkey mince is lower in calories and fat and higher in protein – making it the ideal healthy substitute.
If you want to reduce the fat content of your sausage rolls further, you could try this recipe from WeightWatchers which, again, uses turkey mince but substitutes shortcrust pastry with wraps instead.
For more inspiration, you might want to check out the video below, which will show you how to make healthy turkey and hoisin sausage rolls.
8. Gluten-free lemon millet biscuits
These gluten-free lemon millet biscuits from Jamie Oliver are fresh and delicate in flavour, light in texture, and perfect for anyone following a gluten-free diet.
This recipe uses oats as a healthier alternative to flour. It also uses olive oil rather than butter because it has significantly less saturated fat.
Other key ingredients include lemons, which are high in vitamin C and help keep our immune system healthy, as well as millet; a cereal grain that can add texture to gluten-free biscuits. Millet has the highest calcium content of all cereal grains and more essential amino acids (which are important for growth and repair) than most too.
If lemons aren’t your thing, or you want to try something a bit different, you could also try these healthy cinnamon cookies from My Kids Lick the Bowl, or these gluten-free oat and raisin cookies from WeightWatchers.
9. Baked vegetable samosas
For anyone who loves Indian cuisine or appreciates a spicy snack, samosas may be a firm favourite.
This recipe from the British Heart Foundation makes 12 tasty vegetable samosas which are low in saturated fat, salt, and sugar.
They include chickpeas which are high in protein, so make a great addition to any meat-free dishes. Potatoes have also been linked to better blood sugar control, improved immunity, and a reduced risk of heart disease.
Samosas are typically deep-fried in oil or ghee, meaning they often have a high fat content. However, this recipe sees you bake the samosas instead, reducing this.
Final thoughts...
Baking is something that we can all enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle. Even some of the most indulgent recipes can be adapted to reduce the fat and sugar content. To find what works best for you it may just be a case of experimenting with different recipes and considering how you can opt for healthier ingredients, whilst still creating something delicious.
For more information on building a healthy and sustainable diet, check out the diet and nutrition section of our website, or read our article; 12 healthy, low-sugar recipes.
Have you baked any low-calorie treats lately? Or perhaps you’re planning to have a go at one of the recipes above? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!