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Holiday baking is a tradition for many. But did you know there are ways to trim the amount of saturated fat, cholesterol and sugar from your treats without sacrificing flavor? We compiled a list of ingredient substitutions you can incorporate into your holiday sweets to make them lighter on calories and healthier overall.

When your recipe calls for…

• All-purpose flour, USE: whole wheat flour for half the amount called for in the recipe
• Butter, margarine or shortening, USE: applesauce for half of the called-for amount OR trans-free spreads or shortenings used for baking; use cooking spray if these ingredients are called for to prevent sticking
• Cream, USE: fat-free half-and-half OR evaporated skim milk
• Cream cheese, USE: fat-free or low-fat cream cheese, Neufchatel cheese OR pureed low-fat cottage cheese
• Eggs, USE: two egg whites OR ¼ cup of egg substitute for each egg called for
• Milk, USE: reduced fat or fat-free milk
• Sour cream, USE: low-fat or fat-free sour cream OR low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt
• Sugar, USE: half the recommended amount of sugar OR a substitute such as Splenda or Stevia for baking (be sure to follow the substitution guidelines for sweeteners, most often on the back of the package)

Happy baking!

(Information compiled from the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic)

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