Baking

What Is Healthy Baking?

Baking and healthy eating aren’t words that are commonly used together, however it is definitely possible! Most baked goods like cakes and cookies to bread and savoury dishes are typically loaded with butter, dairy milk, sugar and white flour.

Healthy baking is baking with natural ingredients that are good for you. This means no artificial ingredients, sweeteners, preservatives or chemicals. It’s being mindful of what we put in our food and only choosing to cook with high-quality, unprocessed and wholefood ingredients that are packed with the nutrients and vitamins we need to sustain long-term health.

Many healthy bakery products contain natural plant-based ingredients that are better for you and better for the environment. There are also more options for those with allergies as organic baking ingredients can be gluten-free, nut-free, seed-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free to suit any type of diet.

GoodnessMe makes it easy to buy healthy baking ingredients online at the click of a button. Eliminate gluten with a healthy baking mix from Gluten Free Food Co, including banana bread, chocolate cake and quick bread. Go vegan with our vegan baking ingredients from Macro Mike and treat yourself to scrumptious doughnuts and cookies that are high in plant protein and low in fat and calories. 

We’ve also got healthy sauces, syrups, flours, oils, healthy baking dessert mixes, spreads, powders and all the healthy baking essentials you’ll need to whip up a delicious meal or snack that tastes great and is good for you, too!

What Are The Healthy Baking Ingredient Essentials?

When you’re making the switch to healthy baking ingredients, there’s a number of staples you’ll want in your pantry for regular use:

1. Coconut Flour – flour is the base for a lot of baked goods. If you need a gluten-free baking option or just prefer something healthier than plain flour, coconut flour is a great choice. It’s high in fibre, very absorbent and has a delightful, sweet and nutty flavour that lends itself well to desserts and snacks. You can also try other flours, such as our spelt wholemeal flour, buckwheat flour and rye flour from Ceres Organics.
2. Non-Dairy Milk – Alternative milk is more than just a health trend - they’re better for you and the planet! Soy milk has a high protein content that rivals dairy milk, while hemp oat, almond, hemp, cashew and coconut milk are other great options that are kinder to the environment.
3. Chia Seeds – Chia seeds are little powerhouses packed with fibre, antioxidants, protein and omega 3. They’re gut-friendly, heart-healthy and can be incorporated into drinks, snacks, cakes and healthy desserts.
4. Ground Flaxseeds – Flaxseeds are also high in fibre and nutrients. In baking, they can reduce the amount of oil needed in a recipe and increase the fermentation time of bread.
5. Nut Butter – A nut butter spread is loaded with good, healthy fatsand protein. Spread them on toast, add a scoop to your smoothie or bake them into snacks and desserts. You can whip up a homemade one or buy one already made. Try our Essential Hemp nut butters which are high in protein and omegas, including smooth and crunchy peanut butter and hemp, as well as a cashew, coconut and hemp spread.
6. Carob or Cacao – Cacao and carob is essential for baking chocolate-based desserts and snacks without the added sugar or dairy content. Carob is naturally sweet and is a great sugar replacement while cacao contains flavonoids that are good for heart health. Power Super Foods and The Carob Kitchen have your chocolate cravings sorted! Shop our organic cacao and carob powders, nibbles and range of healthy chocolate to add a rich chocolate taste to your healthy snacks and desserts.
7. Sweeteners – Ditch the artificial and refined sugars and go for a natural sweetener instead. Monk fruit is granulated, very sweet and tastes like raw sugar without the calories. Try our Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener in your cakes, brownies, cookies and more.
8. Coconut Oil – Replace butter with coconut oil. It’s solid at room temperature, full of healthy fats and absolutely delicious! Use our Niulife extra virgin coconut oil in sweet and savoury baked goods.

Is Baking At Home Healthier?

While going out to a café and having a piece of cake with our morning coffee is a common ritual for many Australians, the truth is – you have no idea what baking ingredients have been used to make that delicious treat on your plate! 

When you bake at home, it’s much easier to follow a healthy diet full of natural ingredients and goodness. If you have special dietary requirements, such as gluten-free or nut-free, you’ll be able to buy baking ingredients that suit your needs and know exactly what goes into each recipe.

Baking at home also lets you swap out some of the unhealthy ingredients for more healthy alternatives.

What Is The Healthiest Type Of Cake?

The healthiest cake you can make is one without heavily processed flours, sugars and other refined and artificial ingredients that typically make up a cake. Many of your favourite cakes can be made healthier at home using wholesome, organic ingredients that greatly reduce the amount of fat, sodium and sugar within each bite.

A cake that’s loaded with nuts, fruit and vegetables is a good choice when it comes to healthy eating. Consider using an alternative flour, such as oat, whole wheat or coconut, and using natural sweeteners like maple syrup to replace the sugar.

Healthy icing alternatives are also a great option. Our Ceres Organics Icing Sugar is organic, gluten-free and made from tapioca starch and golden cane sugar.

If you want to fast-track the process and get right to eating something delicious, pick up a healthy cake mix from GoodnessMe! We’ve got brands like PBCo, The Gluten Free Co and Macro Mike who have all of your favourite sweet treats reinvented into healthy, wholefood mixes ready to bake. Enjoy chocolate cake and banana bread, as well as muffins, cupcakes, pancakes, waffles and more.

What Can I Substitute In Baking?

Reap the benefits of substituting healthier ingredients when you bake at home. Some of the most common ingredient swaps include:

1. Using a healthy baking flour, such as whole wheat flour, which is higher in fibre than white flour and less processed. You can also try almond meal, hemp or something more adventurous like our Natural Evolution Green Banana flour
2. Swap full cream dairy milk for a non-dairy milk, like almond, hemp or oat
3. Swap eggs for a chia egg or flaxseed egg
4. Use coconut oil instead of butter
5. Use Greek yoghurt instead of cream
6. Try natural sweeteners over sugar, like monk fruit and stevia
7. Go for carob or cacao instead of chocolate
8. Trade in cheese for nutritionial yeast

Ingredient substitutes may require that you make a few recipe modifications to ensure you’ve got the right weight and texture. For example, natural sweeteners are much sweeter than refined sugar so remember to use less!

Be sure to check out our range of healthy recipes online at GoodnessMe, and get inspired for your next baking session!