This is the season of good tidings and cheer and, of course, dessert. Eating a small amount of these decadent treats is fine—especially the ones that only come around once a year. But if you’re looking for a recipe that is delicious and low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, here’s a winner.

Apple coffee cake

5 cups tart apples, cored, peeled, and chopped
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
½ cup pecans, chopped
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg, beaten
2½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1½ tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350º F. Lightly oil a 13x9x2 inch pan. In a large mixing bowl, combine apples with sugar, raisins, and pecans; mix well. Let stand 30 minutes. Stir in vegetable oil, vanilla, and egg. Sift together flour, baking soda, and cinnamon; stir into apple mixture about 1/3 at a time, just enough to moisten dry ingredients. Turn batter into pan. Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool cake slightly before serving.

Nutrition facts: 188 calories, 5 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 11 mg cholesterol, 68 mg sodium, 32 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein
Recipe source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Healthy baking swaps

Lighten up your recipes with these swaps. For best results, replace only one ingredient in a recipe.

• Instead of oil, try applesauce, nonfat or low-fat yogurt, buttermilk, or pureed fruit
• Instead of heavy cream, try chilled evaporated skim milk
• Instead of whole egg, try 2 egg whites
• Instead of milk and cream cheese, try low-fat milk or low-fat cream cheese
• Instead of frosting, try powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cocoa