Do you own a business where you bake desserts? When baking desserts, it is essential to start using healthier options. Switching to healthier alternatives in your baked goods won’t mean you have to sacrifice taste and presentation.

Even if you do not own a business, or that baking is an ardent passion for you, switching to healthier options could help you gain a new side to your skills, something which can in the future help you, when and if you do decide to opt for a job in the baking world. When you opt for healthier alternatives for your baked goodies and hone your skills enough in the domain, your resume gets an instant lift and it becomes easier for employers to find you on job-hunting websites such as bakeryjobs.in (if you are registered there, that is).

1. Food Coloring

While your customers probably love bright and colorful desserts, the artificial food coloring used in baked goods like cookies and cakes are full of chemicals that are not good for your health. Instead, try using natural food coloring for commercial use.

Did you know that you can also achieve colorful desserts using healthy ingredients like fruits, spices, and vegetables, which gives you added nutrients and other health benefits? Some alternatives you can try to add color to your desserts include:

Carrot juice or pulp for a vibrant yellow or orange hue to your desserts. The sweet flavor of the carrots is ideal for baked goods and also provides you with Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other nutrients.

Beets, a root vegetable with a sweet flavor, will add a red color to baked goods. Other options for pink or red hues in your desserts include using raspberries or pomegranate juice. Beets can help lower your blood pressure, improve digestion, and is also a great source of potassium and magnesium.

Spinach powder, matcha powder, or kale to achieve a green color to your dessert recipes. Using these greens to add a hue to your baked goods comes with added health benefits like fiber, iron, and calcium.

Turmeric, which is a spice, can be used in powder or root form. Turmeric will add a vibrant yellow shade to your desserts. Remember, a little goes a long way. The spice not only adds color to your dessert, but it will also help your body fight inflammation and lower your bad cholesterol levels.

• Flour

A great way to bake healthier desserts is by switching out white flour for other alternatives. You can start by replacing the white flour with whole wheat, which is packed with fiber and protein. White flour can attribute to a spike in your blood pressure, so switch to whole wheat flour for a lower glycemic index.

Try experimenting with different types of flours in your next dessert recipe. Reach for chickpea, oat, or almond flour for more nutrients and added protein to your cookies, cakes, or pies.

You can also try skipping using flour in your desserts by replacing it with beans like chickpeas and black beans. Because beans have a mild flavor, they are perfect for baking.  Skip the refined flours and opt for wholesome ingredients that are good for you and your customers.

• Sugar

When it comes time to bake your next cake or cookies, try cutting down on the amount of sugar you use to make the desserts healthier. Using less sugar in your recipes will have a minimal effect on how your desserts taste.

One option is replacing sugar with fruit for a sweet and moist dessert. Extra ripe bananas have a sweetness and are naturally rich in glucose, which means they’re easy to digest and provide energy. Bananas are also rich in potassium, immune-boosting Vitamin C, and fiber.

Instead of reaching for white sugar in your dessert, try more natural forms of sugar like honey, maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar, or dates. Not only are these options sweet, they are also having lower glycemic levels than regular sugar. You will be able to keep the sweetness in your desserts while adding extra health benefits. Another option is adding spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, or flavorings like vanilla or almond to boost the sweetness in your desserts.

• Oil and Butter

Using oil and butter in your desserts adds unnecessary calories and fat, especially saturated fats. Instead, there are healthier options you can use and take out the oil or butter altogether.

Avocados can be used to make frosting, pudding, or replace butter in recipes for cakes, brownies, and other baked goods. Using avocados will increase the protein in your desserts, help you take in additional nutrients without risking the flavor and also add a smooth texture. Avocados are full of heart-healthy mono-saturated falls that help to keep your cholesterol levels low, rich in Vitamins E and K, and fiber.

Try using other fruits to replace fatty oils in a recipe. Unsweetened applesauce is excellent for moist desserts, especially in cakes. Use cup of applesauce for every cup of oil a recipe calls for.

You can also try adding other fruits or vegetables to your desserts. Try including shredded or pureed carrots, zucchini, or pumpkin. They will add nutrients, flavor, and moisture to any recipe that calls for butter or oil.

Final Thoughts

It is the perfect time to start baking healthier desserts for your business. Give your customer options next time they stop by your shop and show them that healthy can still mean colorful and full of flavor!