7 Superfoods You Can Swap Into Your Next Dessert

You Won't Believe These Superfoods Are Hiding In Your Desserts

Luckily for, um, all of us, sweet treats aren't completely off limits for the health-minded. And no, we're not talking fruit salad.

Brownies, cookies, cakes, puddings -- these can all be made a little bit lighter with some sneaky baking swaps. Check out some of the most surprising below, then let us know in the comments if you've ever tried any of these!

1
Avocado
Shutterstock
That buttery consistency makes for a perfect replacement for -- you guessed it -- butter! Try swapping out half of the butter in your recipe for avocado. One fruit should give you about three quarters of a cup, according to POPSUGAR Fitness. Doing so swaps some of the saturated fat in butter for the heart-healthy and satiating poly- and monounsaturated fats of avocados, with a hearty dose of vitamins and antioxidants to boot. Try it in cookies, breads and muffins.
2
Applesauce
Shutterstock
You can drastically cut back on calories and fat by swapping in applesauce for oil or butter in cakes and muffins. You can typically do so in a 1:1 ratio, meaning if your recipe calls for a half-cup of butter, a half-cup of applesauce will do just fine. Because the texture will change significantly, it may be best to only replace about 75 percent of the oil or butter, Kitchen Daily reported. The sweetness in applesauce can also be a smart replacement for added sugar, like in this tasty cookie recipe.
3
Greek Yogurt
Shutterstock
Greek yogurt can still be high in fat, but the advantage it holds over oil and butter is its heaps of protein and calcium. Try swapping it into your next batch of brownies in a ratio of a third of a cup of oil for a quarter-cup of the white stuff, or a cup of butter for a quarter-cup Greek yogurt and a half-cup of butter.
4
Black Beans
This is a swap anyone eating a gluten-free diet will love -- but the protein boost of swapping in black beans for flour is something anyone can benefit from. Rinse, drain and purée a cup of beans and add in place of a cup of flour. You'll shave off about 200 calories, according to All You. Try it in chocolate cake or brownies.
5
Bananas
Shutterstock
Mash 'em, and you'll find yourself with a fat replacement with a similar consistency to that of avocado, Greatist reported. Vegans can also try swapping one mashed banana for each egg a recipe calls for -- just be aware this will add some flavor, according to PETA.
6
Prunes
Shutterstock
While you might think of them as unappealing, prunes make for a tasty and fiber-filled swap for butter in your baked goods. One half-cup of butter replaced with a half-cup of puréed prunes will save you 700 calories and 92 grams of fat, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Try 'em in brownies or chocolate cakes, since they'll definitely lend a dark color to your mix.
7
Tofu
A quarter-cup of puréed silken tofu makes for a spot-on texture replacement for eggs, according to PETA. It can also sub in for dairy products in creamy dishes like cheesecakes and custards to cut down on fat. Try it in this pudding recipe from Mark Bittman.

Before You Go

Sneaky Ways To Eat More Greens

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE