In this blog post, learn three ingredient swaps that will lighten the load of your favorite holiday recipes without compromising on flavor.
#1. Greek Yogurt: More Protein, Less Sugar
Since Greek yogurt is strained to remove extra water, its thicker texture is great for cooking and baking. The straining also increases a recipe’s protein and decreases its sugar levels. The more protein, the fuller you’ll feel, which may lead you to eat less.
For instance, A Dish of Daily Life’s Michelle Nahom subbed Greek yogurt for oil in her pumpkin bread recipe and Healthy Seasonal Recipe’s Katie Webster reduced the mayonnaise and buttermilk in her creamy Italian salad dressing.
When opting for plain Greek yogurt in a recipe, use the following as a guide:
1 cup sour cream or heavy cream →1 cup Greek yogurt
8 ounces cream cheese → ½ cup Greek yogurt AND 4 ounces cream cheese
1 cup butter → ½ cup Greek yogurt AND ½ cup butter
1 cup oil → ¾ cup Greek yogurt
#2. Regular Yogurt: When You Need a Runnier Substitute
Regular yogurt is still a great protein choice, but it’s a little runnier compared to its Greek counterpart. Since regular yogurt thins better when whisked, it’s a great substitution for mayonnaise or buttermilk.
Taste this swap in action over a family breakfast with Smitten Kitchen’s blueberry yogurt multi-grain pancakes.
When using regular yogurt, use these substitution suggestions as a guide:
1 cup mayonnaise → 1 cup yogurt
1 cup buttermilk → 2/3 cup yogurt AND ¾ cup milk
Like the guide below? Click here or the image to view larger and for printable PDF.
#3. Unsweetened Applesauce: Reduce the Sugar and Fat
Compared to white sugar, unsweetened applesauce has nearly 90-percent less sugar! Applesauce’s natural sweetness makes for a moist baked good, and can be used to reduce either the sugar or fat in a recipe.
The Foodie Dietitian’s Kara Lydon used applesauce to sweeten her upscale lemon raspberry breakfast cookies, while skinnytaste’s Gina Homolka reduced the fat in her kid-approved gingerbread men cookies.
Before You Start…
If you’re planning on making substitutions to a new recipe, start with small swaps. Changing out all of the oil or sugar in one recipe may not work well for another.
