Healthy Cooking Alternatives

Recently, while trying to eat healthier and cleaner, I have discovered some cooking tips that make those desserts we all crave every once in a while less fattening and a little healthier to indulge in.  Now I am not advocating baking and eating these every day but when its seasonal or you just want to have something tasty here are two tips I have found that satisfy my sweet tooth but aren't quite as detrimental to my health.

Both alternatives are for when baking brownies, cakes, and special breads.

• When baking any of these three desserts you can substitute ALL the ingredients for canned pumpkin.  I know its crazy but its true!  All you do is dump the canned pumpkin and store bought mix into a bowl, stir, and bake.  Now some warnings: the texture is a tad different sometimes but it still tastes great! 
• I recently have used this method with chocolate cake, red velvet cake, and pumpkin bread-- this one turned out the best
• The other alternative for things like brownies is substituting every ingredient but the water for yogurt.  Yes, that's right yogurt.  You simply mix the water, yogurt, and mix in a bowl, stir, and bake.
•  A friend of mine was using this trick and realized she didn't have vanilla yogurt, so she used strawberry yogurt instead.  It was delicious, tasted like chocolate strawberry brownies!  Now, once again, the texture is a little different but they are so moist!

I hope you find these tips useful and that your desserts come out tasting delectable, and just in time for fall cooking! Yay! 

Happy Baking!

Karsyn Penelope