Baking substitutes come in handy when running low on ingredients or when you don’t want to run out to the store.
Example: you can make your own milk at home with oats or almonds.
You can also substitute eggs and butter with other healthy pantry ingredients, when you know how much and when to add.
You can even substitute regular flour from the all purpose type to an on-healthy purpose kind. Maybe even gluten-free.
Then after some practice, you know better what you’re doing.
Because like everyone starting off, I didn’t know what I was doing … I built a kitchen food pantry that was healthy-ish coming off of 2020 difficult times, where sourcing groceries was online (not up close and personal).
I bought healthy foods and some not-so-healthy ones based on screen availability, where the healthy-ish-part cancelled the healthy.
Like sugar products, that when eaten in heaps puts your body on a roller coaster. 🎢
…And as a metaphor, how decades ago, I used to live in that unaware (half-conscious) way.
…When my thoughts were happy, I was in a good mood.
Many don’t know how to live a different way.
It’s easy to enjoy life when happy thoughts are co-created from the heart.
…But many days, if you were to count on a calendar, don’t start off that way.
And there’s a better way of not counting on your natural thoughts and feelings.
…So from that, I built better habits in my life.
I then later learned the way to speed up happy thoughts when the mind doesn’t want to cooperate.
Coffee first thing, definitely helps with that mission. ☕️ I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention that cold brew makes it possible for a soft landing.
And then I pair with foods like prebiotic carrots or bananas.
Happy foods they are feeding the gut (where most the happy hormones are made).
Healthy foods can taste happy for you too when you look at them as doing good for you, like I do.
…And if you know how to pair them and prepare them for delicious meals.
And so as the years passed, happy-healthy foods then became my mantra as I weaned off having to have bags of sugar… or cookies around.
Today those are an occasional treat, but no longer a crutch or an emergency sugar lifeline, as I can make my own version.
I found with a few healthy mean ingredients, you can create a satisfying chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. And candy made from natural sugar, like these wholesome applesauce fruit roll ups.
A few pantry items I always have on hand are: oats, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, spices, honey, and applesauce.
Some of these ingredient types haven’t changed from my original pantry. They’ve stood the test of time.
Tried and true, the more wholesome ingredients aren’t boring when they are the way to a delicious recipe full of taste variety.
Like adding in abundant seasonal ingredients.
…Fruits come first to a more abundant mind.
And fruits help a healthy body.
They’re also happy fuel for daily thoughts. They can be game changers when you appreciate them.
They’re also easy to get. You don’t need the stars to align for happiness sourced via fruit.
Often you don’t even need permission for that type of happy. As a kid, we could grab low-hanging fruit at our little hands’ reach.
Today you can grow a fruit tree from a seed.
The fruits can be enjoyed whole or in a fruitful jammy recipe.
And for me, baking is my jam.
So I also keep a variety of flours available for healthier baking substitutes.
Most of my favorite experimental baking recipes use healthy baking substitutes. I created a dedicated section on my blog’s home page for healthy ingredient substitutes.
This go-to section is good when you want to try healthier recipes and get inspired by food and baking substitutes that work, without inventing the wheel.
Especially if you want to change to healthier eating ways and habits without giving up tastes, one easy recipe at a time time. They’re often quicker bakes… and some are even no-bakes. Or slow bakes if you want.
Along with recipes, inspiration for the oven comes from the ingredients and foods you’re surrounded by.
Plus food and baking shows…
It’s Game Day season, but it’s also Bake Day season.
Not any ‘ol baking season, but cheeky Great British Bake Off season is upon us.
…Or BE-AKE time!
That once upon-a-time was known as The Great British Baking Show on my side of the pond.
…Or what I call The Great British Bakeoff because I love the show. You too?
And whatever you refer to this baking season or television show as, you always want to have a dessert ready in hand when screen sweet tempted.
Baking substitutes are mainly the unusual flavor choices. And this season, change in the sugar and salt (judges).
I’ll be eating it up laughing, learning along, and baking with the new season.
GBBO time of year marks the start of fall and holiday baking season when the oven gets cranking, so it’s a good time for you at home also to bake!
And on my side of the set, I put a healthy bake game plan together that maybe are your desires too.
A healthy sweet substitute can be as satisfying and happy guilt-free. You can have your cake and eat it too!
And it can be easy. Where baking at home this season can be relaxing and rewarding.😋
Because it doesn’t have to be hard or sugar-full in your home. You can get away with no granulated sugar bags in your home.
Something I used to love.
But now I love shortcuts. And tastes that aren’t about the sugar.
…Like easy rough puff pastry that can be even tastier than shortbread.
And you do it once, and you may not even need a recipe the next time…
Let that be some inspiration!
And that can be your micro-technical baking challenge in your tent.
But under no-pressure bubble like in the white tent.
Not like this season’s GBBO technical situation… where it just go tougher.
…Whaaat, NO recipe!?
They just get an illustration like we all see on our home sets. Oh my!
The brave contestants have to make it come to life for the real life judges.
That’s no easy feat for the gingham table in the tent. 🎪
Where on bake day, we’re happy and they’re sad. Or mellow.
And we can cheer and celebrate them on…
We can sympathize and challenge ourselves to a new recipe.
…Not with a yellow cake box that has pictured ingredients. But something new.
That can open the door to a new way of baking.
Maybe a healthier way and habit that comes just in time for new years’ opening. That’s what I did way back when.
And now maybe it’s your turn?…
Ok and now that you’re food prepped, it would be cruel for me not to arm you with a bake challenge:
Here’s one: a fruit cake with coconut flour. And if you don’t like chocolate or coconut, try a vanilla cookie with no butter that may look swirl botched, but will leave ya chuffed. 😋
These are some more healthy bake challenges if you get bored. I change them from time to time to keep you on your baking toes. 🩰