The cake is a word we take as synonymous with vast loads of calories.
The idea of a healthy cake could be absurd and unimaginable for many readers. But before we show you the other side of the picture, let us tell you the best part about cakes:
“Every cake is a story. It is not only a dessert. Instead, it is an emotion, a gift, a celebration, an experiment, or even a status. It can lift dull spirits as sugar releases endorphins. While you are baking the cake in the oven, the whole house gets aromatic, exciting all family members for what is to come.” – Natalie Way Bakes!
Is eating cakes healthy?
If you are a health freak, you don’t need to eliminate all types of cakes from your diet. Instead, it would help if you focused on choosing the one that will help you increase your healthy food intake. Cakes made with dried apples and bananas can be a delicious treat for following a well-balanced diet pattern.
When it comes to commercially baked cakes, they have enhancers and preservatives to prolong the shelf life and retain the texture. Not only this, but they also contain a high sugar and refined flour content.
It would be wise to find healthy and delicious oven-baked recipes to satisfy the taste buds and keep your health in check. So, the chocolate fudge cake and ultra-creamy desserts should stay for specific occasions only.
How to make a healthy cake?
With some changes, a sense of occasion, and an eye on portion control, it is possible for us to enjoy healthy, home-baked cakes and not gain calories.
Here are seven ways to can make it happen:
- Make your bread and use less salt
Bread makes a significant salt contribution to our diet. Recently, many manufacturers have tried to reduce the salt content in the bread they produce. A survey by Consensus Action on Salt and Health discovered that one in four loaves had more salt in two slices than the pack of crisps. It indicates that we should carefully check food labels.
The bread that you prepare at home will have a low salt content. Whatever measurement you take, it is going to be lower than commercially produced bread.
- Try various flours
When you make bread at home, you get the liberty of choosing a flour that you like. The whole grain flour is a healthier choice. However, it doesn’t have to be ultimately wheat. You can try barley or oat. Use them as a singular flour or mix in specific proportions. When doing so, add some herbs and seeds to give a crunch and some flavor.
- Add healthier ingredients to baking
The type of ingredients in a cake also plays a vital role in determining if it is all wrong for your health. For example, when you use whole grain flour instead of white flour, it increases the fiber content. This makes baking more filling and healthy.
A cake made using organic sugar, free-range eggs, whole grain flour, and reduced-fat olive oil can be nutritious and yummy. These ingredients could cost higher than the usual products used in making a cake, but they are healthier.
Using fruits and vegetables will also amplify the fiber content of the cake. It may not go in enough portion that you usually consume. Nonetheless, it is one of the best ways to retain the taste and nutrition level of the cakes. We suggest you use sweet vegetables like beetroots and carrots. Or you could go for sour fruits like berries and strawberries to maintain the taste of your preference.
Make frequent use of natural vanilla and cinnamon to boost the flavor. It will also avoid adding unnecessary calories to your cake.
- Use unsaturated fat
If you know how to play around with the ingredients, baking a cake at home could be the healthiest option for you. Typically, the cake recipe has a considerable butter content to add flavor. You can use unsaturated spread instead of butter to give a light texture.
It is essential to review the spread you are using. Make sure it works for baking cakes.
When you are hesitant about using any spread, you could also opt for oil. It makes the cake moist. At the same time, it could also disrupt the balance of the cake as it is liquid. Better start looking for recipes that use oil instead of butter to keep your measurements accurate.
- Control the portion size
Regardless of what you are eating, portion control is an indispensable part of healthy eating. If you know you can’t resist the yummy cake, we recommend you cut the cake into equal pieces or get yourself a set of mini cake pans.
When eating cake, nibble on it and savor the flavors. Munching down a whole piece in one go would amplify the need to consume more. Moreover, you can get yourself a cake decoration kit to make any cake more enticing.
- Look for the proper pastry
Whether it is shortcut pastry or puff pastry, about a third of its content is fat. And if you are using palm oil or butter, it contains more saturated fat content. When making pastries, we recommend you look for recipes that use unsaturated fat content. This may have a different texture than flaky pastries or shortcut pastries that you usually consume. However, a lovely crunch served as small tarts could enhance the overall look and taste.
- Don’t go overboard
Needless to say that a healthy diet is all about staying in balance. You can indulge in cakes and pastries, as long as you define some limits. Gulping vast chunks of the healthy cake could create a significant impact on blood sugar levels. There is no harm in baking a healthy cake and savoring it on Sundays, as long as you don’t go overboard.
Parting Thoughts
There is no point in taking yourself down the guilty lane as long as you know how to bake and eat healthily. If you follow the tips mentioned above, you might work out a equally delicious and healthy recipe.
Don’t forget to share with us when you find one!
