How to Make Delectable Low-Calorie Cakes ...

One of the easiest ways to make low-calorie cakes is to reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe. Most recipes add far more sugar than is necessary, and some even include different forms of sugar, such as syrup or treacle. You can cut down the sugar by as much as half and it won't affect the taste.

No cupcake is complete without a topping, but they do add quite a few calories. Fortunately, you can substitute a low-cal topping for the typical fat-laden version. Look for ingredients such as low-fat cream cheese, and don't be too generous with the topping even if it is lower in calories.

Chocolate cakes are delicious, there's no doubt about it - but they're not exactly low in calories. If you usually make your cakes with chocolate, try using cocoa instead. Look for proper cocoa and not drinking chocolate, as the latter has sugar added, as well as a higher cocoa butter (and therefore fat) content. It'll still be a really tasty cake.

As well as cutting down on the sugar, you can also reduce the amount of fat in a recipe. If you cut down the amount of fat, however, you do need to replace it with another ingredient. Applesauce or mashed banana, and sweet vegetables like pumpkin, are one way of doing this. You can also try fat-free dairy products.

Do you really need frosting on your cake? If the recipe is moist enough, you may be able to do without frosting altogether. It's certainly tasty, but will make your cake even more calorific. So this is a very easy way to save a lot of calories. Many recipes don't really need any kind of frosting; it's just a habit or preference to make a cake with frosting on top and in the middle (and maybe on the sides as well).

Most cakes are made with refined white flour, which can leave you feeling unsatisfied - so you eat a larger slice of cake. Try swapping the white flour for wholewheat flour instead. This will be more filling due to its higher fiber content, so you will eat a smaller slice of cake.

Finally, look for a recipe that uses fresh fruit; like the wholewheat flour, this will help fill you up. Fresh fruit is low in calories and will add flavor and contrast to the cake. It's a pretty way of decorating a cake - just resist the temptation to add lots of cream as well!

There's no need to deny yourself a delicious slice of cake; with these small changes you can still enjoy tasty but low(er) calorie cakes. Just remember not to overdo it and tell yourself you can eat more because it's lower in calories! Save the fattening cakes for special occasions. What is your favorite cake?