Somewhat Healthier Christmas Baking

[Apricotta]

I'm doing some Xmas baking this year, as usual, but I'm trying to go lighter and want some recipes which would be a little (or a lot) less guilt-inducing. If you have any, I'd love to have them. I will post some soon that I have, as well.

Thanks, and happy baking!

[sugarseattle]

smaller portions.

[gfron1]

I would check out the agave and special diet topics in the index. The other idea is using high cocoa % chocolate.

[merstar]

I'm doing some Xmas baking this year, as usual, but I'm trying to go lighter and want some recipes which would be a little (or a lot) less guilt-inducing.  If you have any, I'd love to have them.  I will post some soon that I have, as well.

Thanks, and happy baking!

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Which kind of recipes are you looking for? Cakes? Cookies? Quick Breads? Let me know and I'll see what I can dig up. I have some lower fat quick breads, some coffee cakes and a muffin or two that are light, plus a low cholesterol chocolate cake.

[ludja]

We always make meringues each year at Christmas--not because they are low cal but b/c they are good. You can flavor them with lemon, lemon and almond, grated chocolate, grated chocolate and chopped hazelnuts, etc. The nuts will of course up the calories...

[heleen1]

What about biscotti? There are lots of recipes that have no added butter, so are significantly lower in fat. That, and meringue cookies )

[YWalker]

I like the Blueberry Pecan Cake from Cooking Light magazine. It is more of a coffee-cake. I frequently make a couple and go ahead and slice it them into individually wrapped pieces. I then give blueberry pecan cake and cherry-almond scones to a couple of friends on Christmas Eve for them to have for breakfast Christmas morning. (Leaving enough for our family to have the same.)

I prefer making it with fresh berries if at all possible. When I use frozen ones, it comes out an ugly purplish color (although the taste is still good.)

[torakris]

I too, like to go healthier when possible. Many years back I found a lighter version of one of my staple Christmas cookies, Russian tea cakes/Mexican wedding cookies, from Eating Well magazine. They cut back on the butter (only 5T for 4 dz cookies) by using cornstarch to help the cookies 'melt' in your mouth. These are really good and no one would ever know they are better for you.

I was able to find the recipe online here. (scroll to post 4) There are also a couple other lighter holiday cookies also from Eating Well magazine listed.

[milgwimper]

You can also go to the Eating Well website itself and they have a lot of their recipes online. They also have a contest every year to make the healthiest Christmas cookies. Eating Well Holdiay Cookie Contest Winners 2007 I hope this helps. I really like Eating Well's cookie recipes.

Edited December 2, 2007 by milgwimper (log)