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The following story was written by Heinen’s partner Alex Miles.
Nothing says “Happy Holidays” quite like the festive, sweet treats made from the comfort of your kitchen. Whether you dazzle friends and family with frosted cookies, gingerbread squares, freshly baked pies or other celebratory confections, it’s important to keep everyone’s health at the top of your mind, too. With some simple swaps and substitutions inside of your pantry, you can kick up the nutrient value in all of your favorite desserts. And we promise, they’ll be just as delicious as ever!
To help you get started, we’ve rounded up six baking brands that contain those better-for-you ingredients without sacrificing flavor or fun. Don’t forget to place them to the top of this year’s holiday grocery list.
Simple Mills® Almond Flour Baking Mixes
With the rapid rise of at-home baking, it’s no surprise that brands offering nutrient-dense baking mixes rise to the top of our list. When scanning the Simple Mills ingredient list, you’ll notice that there’s nothing artificial in their products. While many traditional baking mixes are made of refined wheat flour, Simple Mills’ baking mixes contain almond flour, which is not only gluten free, but it’s rich in vitamin E and magnesium. Almond flour-based mixes are also lower in carbs and high in beneficial fats and fiber.
Whether you’d like whip up some chocolate chip cookies, vanilla cupcakes or some warm bread, Simple Mills has a mix that delivers tasty results.
Bob’s Red Mill®
Speaking of healthy baking mixes, another one that gets us into the holiday spirit is Bob’s Red Mill. Founded back in 1978 by husband and wife duo Bob and Charlee Moore, this wholesome family brand offers organic and unbleached white flour varieties, ideal for baking from scratch. If you prefer a foolproof baking mix, they’ve created an entire line that is grain free, gluten free and paleo friendly. They even have a Gluten-Free Pie Crust Mix, giving you the perfect base for any of your favorite flavors.
Birch Benders Cups
Craving a no-fuss, zero-mess dessert during your holiday down time? Birch Benders, widely known for their keto and paleo pancake and waffle mixes, offers microwaveable snack cups in Double Chocolate Brownie, Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie and Blueberry Muffin varieties. All you have to do is pop the cup into your microwave and voilà! You have a heavenly slice of cake or scrumptious brownie ready in an instant. Best of all, these small desserts are grain free, gluten free and no sugar added, making them guilt free in our book!
Pyure Organic
Did someone say sugar-free, gluten-free AND organic brownies and cookies? Pyure Organic, a top-quality stevia brand that avoids artificial chemicals, additives and artificial processes, has gifted us with an Organic Sugar-Free Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix as well as an Organic Sugar-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix. Both products contain chickpea flour, providing more vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein than typical refined flours. They’re also lower in carbs and calories, so you can feel better about indulging that holiday sweet tooth.
Swerve Sugars and Baking Mixes
This sugar replacement brand aims to bring out the “Sweetie” in everyone, and that’s something worth celebrating this holiday season. Swerve offers zero-calorie sweetener varieties, including brown sugar, granulated sugar and confectioners sugar, that are naturally derived from fruits and vegetables. You can also shop their delicious vanilla and decadent chocolate cake baking mixes, both of which are grain-free, gluten-free and contain no added sugar.
Whether you’re following a certain diet or prefer smart sweet options, you should swerve in this brand’s direction.
Lakanto Sugar-Free Baking Mixes and Chocolate Chips
Would it be the holidays without a little history? Over 1,000 years ago, the Luo Han monks (who lived in the remote highlands of China) discovered a rare, sacred fruit prized for its incredible sweetness. For centuries, they used this “monk fruit”, also called “Immortals Fruit,” in medicinal elixirs to increase chi, or life energy.
Today, Australian-based brand Lakanto utilizes this superfood as a sugar replacement. Lakanto sugar varieties and baking mixes – including yummy brownie, muffin and cookie mixes – are lifestyle friendly and contain zero artificial ingredients or processes. Trust us, this brand and its time-tested traditions are worth keeping throughout the holidays and beyond!
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