Since the spread of COVID-19 has reached the United States, many of us are stuck at home following shelter in place and social-distancing directives from our state and local governments. While Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon streaming services have kept us entertained for long hours at home, many people are looking for a more hands-on kind of hobby to help pass the time. Cooking and baking are both excellent—and practical—options to keep you busy and delightfully full. But without a regular workout routine, baking buttery and sugar-rich desserts can really bog down your summer bod.
Here’s the good news: healthy baking is totally doable and just as delicious! If you’re looking for your next at-home baking project, try out these healthy alternatives.
Healthy Baking Recipes: Gluten-Free Tahini Brownies
Gluten-Free Tahini Brownies
It’s not easy to find good gluten-free desserts, and those that make them have seemingly mastered the art through some sort of supernatural anti-flour power. So, when you’re not able to visit your favorite gluten-free baker, how can you get your dessert fix without the unpleasantly crumbly texture or dryness of homemade flourless recipes? It’s easier than you might have thought! Enter: Gluten-Free Tahini Brownies from Bon Appetit’s Healthyish arsenal.
These deliciously fudgy brownies kick gluten ingredients to the curb in favor of some healthy “ish” alternatives, including:
Tahini which binds the batter and helps create a fudge-like texture.
Cocoa powder and bittersweet chocolate which fuses two distinctly chocolatey flavors into one brownie.
Agave syrup to provide a healthy amount of sweetness without the extra sugar.
What’s more, these brownies offer up an aesthetically pleasing tahini and chocolate swirl which is sure to impress the whole family.
Healthy Baking Recipes: Lemony Turmeric Tea Cake
Lemony Turmeric Tea Cake
This simple recipe from New York Times Cooking’s Alison Roman is described as a “house cake,” which of course, means you should have one on deck at all times. This citrusy loaf includes the suspected list of baking ingredients, like flour, butter, and sugar. It also adds in a healthy twist with turmeric powder and Greek yogurt.
Turmeric powder has become increasingly popular as a wellness ingredient, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. Greek yogurt is believed to boost metabolism and improve gut health.
This delightfully bright and beautiful (it has caramelized lemon slices on top) only requires six steps and can be made up to five days ahead with proper storage in a tightly sealed container. To make this lovely lemon dessert truly your own, try baking it in an artful baking mold. Find one online or take it to the next level by using food-grade silicone to customize your shape.
Healthy Baking Recipes: Homemade Samoas
Healthyish Homemade Samoas
Half Baked Harvest has become a sensation among rustic food fans around the globe. From single sheet pan veggie dinners to decadent desserts, this blog is a home cook’s guide to surviving stay at home orders. And if you’re still craving the signature sweetness of Girl Scout cookie season, check out this easy and healthier take on Samoas.
Healthy Baking Recipes: Earl Grey Yogurt Cake
Earl Grey Yogurt Cake
If you’re looking for a warm treat to enjoy for breakfast, this earl grey yogurt cake from Molly Baz of Bon Appetit is just the thing you’d want to wake up to. Instead of using tons of oil and butter for moisture, this cake swaps in whole milk yogurt to create that spongy, airy texture you want in any breakfast loaf, or any cake, for that matter. No special equipment or unusual cake ingredients needed for this recipe, so long as you have plenty of earl grey tea on-hand!
Healthy Baking Recipes: Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Tired of baking chocolate chip cookies weekend after weekend? Give oatmeal raisin cookies just one chance, we promise you’ll be a cookie convert! These chewy oatmeal raisin cookies from Bon Appetit stay true to the classics. Yet also allow for some flexibility with ingredients, which is something we all need given the current circumstances. Feel free to exchange raisins for dried cranberries, cherries, or whatever dried fruits you already have in your pantry.
Healthy Baking Recipes: Superfood Chocolate Bark
Superfood Chocolate Bark
If you’re looking to get your essential nutrients in a more indulgent format, check out Choosing Chia’s signature Superfood Chocolate Bark. This simple recipe strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory, while also incorporating nutritious superfoods such as:
Goji berries
Pumpkin seeds
Chia seeds
Hemp seeds
What are your go-to healthy baking recipes? Tell us your favorites in the comment section below!
