Better-Choice Sweet Swaps: Baking & Candy

During the holidays (or let’s be honest, any day) it can be tough to resist sweets. But here’s the truth – you shouldn’t have to! There are healthier options for candy, baked goods, and treats, and I’m going to stock you up with these better options. 

Indulging doesn’t need to include refined sugar, inflammatory seed oils, or artificial ingredients. With a few simple swaps, you can recreate your favorite cookies, cakes, and candies in a way that doesn’t undermine health goals.

At Taylor Dukes Wellness, we believe that treats can be fun and festive, but free from ingredients that harm the body. That’s why we’ve rounded up our favorite cleaner baking and candy swaps – so you can enjoy dessert without crash or compromise.

Baking Swaps

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour → Organic almond flour, organic oat flour, or 1:1 gluten free flour
• Brown sugar → Organic coconut sugar
• Sugar → Organic coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey
• Conventional eggs → Organic, pasture-raised eggs or flaxseed or chia seed “egg” (1 tbsp. ground seeds + 3 tbsp. water)

• Conventional butter → Kerrygold pure Irish butter (no additives), coconut oil, or applesauce
• Crisco → Chosen Foods avocado oil shortening
• Vegetable oil → Avocado oil or coconut oil
• Heavy whipping cream → Organic coconut cream (without guar gum)
• Sour cream → Plain coconut yogurt

• Buttermilk → Organic almond milk + 1 Tb lemon juice (combine and let it sit for 5 minutes)
• Hershey’s chocolate → Hu Kitchen dark chocolate (70% cacao or higher)
• Nestle chocolate chips → Navitas Organics organic cacao nibs or Hu Kitchen dark chocolate gems or Lily’s chocolate chips
• Cream cheese → Miyoko’s cashew cream cheese
• Table salt → Taylor Dukes Wellness Mineral Salt

Recipes

• Protein-stuffed Dates
• Pumpkin Spice Protein Muffins
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
• Homemade Gelatin Marshmallows
• Strawberry Banana Protein Muffins
• Gluten and Dairy Free TDW Lemonade Cake
• No-bake Chocolate Protein Cookies

P.S. Grab our free Holiday Desserts Ebook filled with healthier holiday treats like gingerbread cookies, mini pumpkin pies, and coffee cake.

Candy Swaps

Baking isn’t your jam? Or maybe you just want a quick grab-and-go candy option for school events or special occasions? Here are some smart swaps for popular candy. Not all are perfect options, but they are better alternatives!

• Snickers Bar → Stuffed Medjool date with almond butter + drizzle of dark chocolate + sprinkle of crushed nuts or Unreal Nougat Bars (GF, less sugar)
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups → Hu Kitchen Nut Butter Chocolate Bar + Chocolate Bar or Unreal Peanut Butter Cups (DF, GF, less sugar) or Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups (organic, GF, DF, less sugar) or Lily’s Peanut Butter Cups (non-GMO, no sugar added)
• M&Ms → Unreal Dark Chocolate Gems (colored with natural veggies, no artificial dyes)
• Skittles → YumEarth Giggles Chewy Candy (made with organic ingredients and natural colors)
• Gummy Bears, Swedish Fish, Sugar Patch, Peach Rings → SmartSweets or YumEarth Organic Fruit Gummies (no artificial dyes, lower sugar)
• Starburst → SmartSweets fruit chews (lower sugar, no artificial dyes or flavors)
• Hard candy / lollipops → YumEarth Organic Pops (made with organic cane sugar + natural fruit flavors, dye-free) or SmartSweets Lollipops (less sugar, no artificial dyes or flavors)
• Caramel Candies → Homemade coconut milk caramel or Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels
• Conventional Chocolate Bars (like Hershey’s) → Hu Kitchen Chocolate Bars (organic ingredients, no refined sugar or dairy) or Lily’s (no sugar added)
• Chocolate-covered pretzels or almonds → Unreal

My Go-To’s

In general, you can see I lean heavier into brands that have committed to making sweets with less sugar, cleaner ingredients, no dyes/colors, and just less junk in general! Here are some of my favorite brands for the occasional sweet:

Mostly ​​Chocolate: 

• Lily’s – no sugar added
• Unreal – simple ingredients, less sugar
• Justin’s – simple ingredients, less sugar
• Hu Kitchen – simple ingredients, less sugar 
• Spring & Mulberry (use code TAYLOR15)

Gummies or Hard Candies Candies: 

• SmartSweets – refined sugar-free, lower-calorie
• YumEarth – allergy-friendly (top 9 allergens), organic, fruit-based

Additional Tips: 

• Look for candies with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving. Pay extra attention to the added sugar.
• Choose candies made with real fruits, nuts, or seeds. 
• Avoid candies with artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. 
• Consider making your own healthy candy at home using natural ingredients like fruits, nuts, and dark chocolate. 

Making better choices in baking and candy doesn’t mean giving up the flavors and foods you love – it just means being more intentional with ingredient choices. 

By stocking your pantry with these simple, better-for-you swaps, you can enjoy your favorite treats while still protecting the health of your family. Because at the end of the day, feeling good and enjoying what you eat should always go hand-in-hand.