The warm smell of baking cookies, cakes and pies becomes such a sweet and cherished part of the holidays. But too often this also means an abundance of not-so-good-for-you treats loaded with calories along with extra fat and sugar.  This holiday season, try using these healthier ingredient options in your favorite baking recipes.

• Trans-fat-free margarine: Hard stick margarines and vegetable shortening contain trans fats, which studies show are linked to poor heart health. Use a trans-fat-free version; and you can also cut back by ¼ to ⅓ on added fat in many recipes with the same results but fewer calories.
• Whole wheat/grain flour: Switch out ⅓ to ½ of the recipe’s flour allotment with a whole-grain version. This adds fiber and additional nutrients, besides making for a hearty baked texture to breads, muffins and cookies.
• Applesauce or plum purée: You can substitute these for a portion of the oil, butter or margarine in recipes. This reduces the calories and fat by about 40-50% without losing any flavor.
• Nuts and seeds: Adding almonds, walnuts, and pecans, as well as sunflower seeds, puts extra good nutrition into your baking. Nuts and seeds supply a wealth of vitamin E along with the minerals zinc and selenium.
• Dried fruit: Use cranberries, raisins and other dried fruits in cookie and cake recipes for a festive look. Dried fruit adds extra nutrition, including fiber and potassium.
• Chocolate: Small amounts of dark chocolate as shavings or small bits adds a group of antioxidants called anthocyanidins that have heart-protective benefits. But keep in mind moderation is key with all baked goodies!