Maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to mean forfeiting dessert. With a bit of care, you can bake delicious treats, like cookies and pies, that are low in fat and cholesterol. Choosing different recipes and swapping out a few ingredients can make a big difference in the calories, fat and cholesterol in your dessert, whether you're craving all-American apple pie, a rich chocolate cookie, or a spicy pumpkin treat. While portion control still matters, desserts can fit into your diet.
Cookies
Step 1
Replace butter with a vegetable oil--based margarine without trans fats to reduce cholesterol in your cookies.
Step 2
Reduce butter in your cookie recipe by one-half to cut the total fat. Add an equal amount of yogurt, applesauce or pumpkin puree to your recipe to replace the missing butter.
Step 3
Add 1 tsp. to 2 tsp. of corn syrup to your cookie recipe can make a crisper low-fat cookie.
Pies
Step 1
Replace shortening, butter or lard with canola oil for a baked pastry crust. Substitute a mixture of canola oil, milk, and a small amount of butter for the butter called for in a graham cracker or cookie crumb crust.
Step 2
Eliminate butter in fruit pie fillings, like apple or peach pie.
Step 3
Swap traditional custard or pudding fillings with lighter versions using skim milk or cooked meringue fillings that rely upon low-cholesterol and fat-free egg whites.
Step 4
Top your pie with a light crumble topping made from oats, brown sugar, spices, and a small amount of canola oil in place of a higher-fat top crust. Make a light, cooked meringue topping or use nonfat whipped topping to finish off your pie.
Tips and Warnings
- Low-fat baking can take experimentation. Gradually reduce fat in your favorite recipes to see how much you can remove without sacrificing the flavor or texture you want. Use recipes that are naturally low in fat and cholesterol, like meringue cookies, ladyfingers, or French macaroons. These recipes rely upon egg whites rather than high-fat butter and egg yolks.
- Don't replace butter with low-fat or fat-free spreads. These products contain a substantial amount of water and will not work for baking. Trans-fat-free margarines, such as those made with canola oil, will work for baking.
Things You'll Need
- Trans fat-free margarine
- Yogurt, applesauce, or pumpkin puree
- Canola oil
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