Many people think that eating well means to eat bland boring tasteless "health" food.
I assure you that does not have to be the case. With a little creativity, fresh (organic when possible) ingredients, and a willingness to experiment, you can turn even the guilty pleasure of indulging in sweets into something that is as good for you as it is delicious. Amy from BabyCakes by Amy knows this, and has created a small business that is changing minds about "healthy food" by the dozen.
I assure you that does not have to be the case. With a little creativity, fresh (organic when possible) ingredients, and a willingness to experiment, you can turn even the guilty pleasure of indulging in sweets into something that is as good for you as it is delicious. Amy from BabyCakes by Amy knows this, and has created a small business that is changing minds about "healthy food" by the dozen.
Amy bakes her treats with almost all organic ingredients, which is certainly one way to make a healthier choice and something that you can do with very little change to your normal recipes. If you are new to baking from scratch and are feeling a little intimidated, start simply, try using your regular box mix and switching to organic milk and eggs. When you are ready to make things a little more interesting add some dried cranberries, or shredded carrots to your next batter. As your confidence grows, the possibilities are endless!
When you are ready to for a bit of a challenge try reducing the amount of granulated sugar you bake with. But before you do, first you must understand that sugar plays an important role in the chemical reaction that takes place when baking. Don't panic...it's a piece of cake! The sweetener aids in leavening, provides bulk, structure, texture, and moisture see I told you...it's cake. You should also remember that we use sugar because it's what our moms did. It is possible however, to reduce a great portion of sugar when baking by substituting fruits (fresh, dried, and or purees), naturally sweet vegetables (like carrots, beets, or parsnips), or agave, maple, or molasses all of which are much healthier alternatives without changing the taste or consistency of the cake.
Here are some basic conversions to get you started.
1 cup sugar = ⅓ cup apple sauce + ⅔ cups sugar + 1 cup diced fruit (bananas and peaches work well) + 1 tsp vanilla or cinnamon
1 cup sugar = ⅔ cup agave + reduce liquids by ¼ cup each
1 cup sugar = 1 cup date sugar (dehydrated ground dates) + maple + bake 25° lower
If you'd like to reduce the sugar in your cakes, but don't want the guess work, or math try this, this, or this recipe.
When you are ready to for a bit of a challenge try reducing the amount of granulated sugar you bake with. But before you do, first you must understand that sugar plays an important role in the chemical reaction that takes place when baking. Don't panic...it's a piece of cake! The sweetener aids in leavening, provides bulk, structure, texture, and moisture see I told you...it's cake. You should also remember that we use sugar because it's what our moms did. It is possible however, to reduce a great portion of sugar when baking by substituting fruits (fresh, dried, and or purees), naturally sweet vegetables (like carrots, beets, or parsnips), or agave, maple, or molasses all of which are much healthier alternatives without changing the taste or consistency of the cake.
Here are some basic conversions to get you started.
1 cup sugar = ⅓ cup apple sauce + ⅔ cups sugar + 1 cup diced fruit (bananas and peaches work well) + 1 tsp vanilla or cinnamon
1 cup sugar = ⅔ cup agave + reduce liquids by ¼ cup each
1 cup sugar = 1 cup date sugar (dehydrated ground dates) + maple + bake 25° lower
If you'd like to reduce the sugar in your cakes, but don't want the guess work, or math try this, this, or this recipe.
If you are wondering what tempting treats Amy is cooking up,
she has everything from standard favorites like chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet, to creative and tempting combinations like carrot pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting, and spiced chai cake with spiced chai buttercream, even amaretto, and margarita cupcakes.
For more information about her cupcakes, business, or inspiration for your next sweet craving look her up on facebook here.
photos by BabyCakes by Amy
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