Best way to make cookies healthier

sparklesf611

I recently made a delicious cookie recipe but was hoping to make it healthier.  I was thinking of using splenda instead of sugar.  However, i think I would like to cut down on my use of butter - should I use something like smart balance or I can't believe it's not butter?  I also noticed people incorporate apple sauce a lot, how can I go about doing that. 

 

Many thanks!

crystalrain

I don't know about using splenda, but how about adding ground flax seed to chocolate chip cookies or using whole wheat flour? I add flax seed to lots of baked goods. You can also use yogurt in lots of other baked goods, not sure about cookies though!

philandclaire

What is your philosophy of "health"? 

 Some people feel that artificial sugars are not healthy.  

Some people think that low fat is healthy.

Some people thing that whole grain is healthy.

What exactly are you looking for?

RedRedWine2

Whole wheat pastry flour is awesome...I have snuck it in there with cookies and can hardly tell a difference (I use about 1/2 white flour and 1/2 whole wheat)

I recently tried baking splenda in cooking and it wasn't bad! Again, I used about 1/2 sugar, 1/2 baking splenda.

I also like recipes that use whole grains (oats, etc) or fruits/veggies (shredded zucchini, etc.)

I love these (and sub some flour with WW pastry flour)

http://thetummytrain.wordpress.com/2011/03/26/bonding-over-chunky-zucchini-cookies/

 

CKinLA

I will sub applesauce for eggs (1/4C = 1 egg).

I'll do WW flour, sometimes (but with cookies, I prefer AP. I would start w/ doing 1/2 and 1/2.

You could also try vegan baking. dailygarnish.com has a lot of great recipes.

sparklesf611

philandclaire:

What is your philosophy of "health"? 

 Some people feel that artificial sugars are not healthy.  

Some people think that low fat is healthy.

Some people thing that whole grain is healthy.

What exactly are you looking for?

 

Good point.  While normally I don't think artificial sugars are necessarily the best thing, I can't imagine that elevated sugar is great either.  I am thinking I probably will try doing the half whole wheat flour and half regular and also do 1/2 splenda and half regular sugar.  There are two eggs in my recipe which I am okay with, but I really want to do something about the butter (i.e. fat content).  

philandclaire

Do you mind posting the recipe?

shesthetoast

sparklesf611:

Good point.  While normally I don't think artificial sugars are necessarily the best thing, I can't imagine that elevated sugar is great either.  I am thinking I probably will try doing the half whole wheat flour and half regular and also do 1/2 splenda and half regular sugar.  There are two eggs in my recipe which I am okay with, but I really want to do something about the butter (i.e. fat content).  

Just don't feed them to anyone who doesn't know there's splenda in there.

(Splenda really bothers my stomach. I have other friends who can't eat splenda or aspartame.)