Healthy Cake Recipes

Secret ingredients: parsnips and olive oil

Okay, so a slice of this cake might not work as one of your five a day, but when combined with the olive oil, the sweet parsnips keep the cake moist so there's no need to add any butter. The cream cheese topping might cancel out any saved calories or fat content though!

Bake our nutty orange and parsnip cake

Polenta is a really great way to add texture, bulk and depth to flour-free bakes. It's low GI so provides slow-release energy without the white carb crash, and also boasts more protein than a large egg! No wonder the Italians can't get enough of it!

Secret ingredient: buttermilk

Buttermilk is low in fat so it's a great alternative to whole milk. This cake is wheat-free too.

Bake Jude Blereau's raspberry buttermilk cake

Taken from Wholefood Baking (Murdoch Books; £17.99)

Secret ingredient: brown rice flourNot all gluten-free ingredients are healthy or affordable, but brown rice flour is both. Plus it keeps blood sugar levels steady for energy. This wheat-free cake recipe is a great way to give it a go.

Bake Jude Blereau's strawberry mousse tart 

Secret ingredient: mashed potato

You might not have considered using potatoes in a cake before but this recipe really works! Brimming with vitamin C, potassium and fibre, the result is a moist and citrusy bake that's not too calorific.

Bake our sticky lemon cake

Secret ingredient: wholegrain spelt flour

Another spelt flour recipe. The quince in this recipe also packs a nutritional punch, boosting heart health and fighting inflammation. It's just as tasty as a gooey chocolate cake too!

Bake Lily Vanilli's quince tart

Taken from Sweet Tooth (£20, Canongate)

Secret ingredient: chia

You might not have heard of this ancient edible seed, but it's brilliant for baking as it adds crunch. Chia carries a wealth of health benefits - it's high in memory-boosting Omega fats, protein and soluble fibre. One slice of this cake will really satisfy sweet cravings.

Bake Chrissy Freer's chia, date and walnut slice

Taken from Supergrains: Eat Your Way To Great Health (£14.99, Murdoch)

Secret ingredient: yogurt

Butter can really push up the fat content of cake. This clever recipe uses Greek yogurt and almonds instead so you still get the creamy flavour and crumbly texture.

Bake our lemon, almond and yogurt cake

Secret ingredient: buckwheat flour

If you're trying to snack less, look for ingredients that balance your blood sugar for steady release energy so you stay fuller for longer. Buckwheat is great for this. Use dark-coloured buckwheat flour as it contains the protein-heavy husk.

Bake Amber Rose's caramelised pear and buckwheat pudding cake

Taken from Love, Bake, Nourish (Kyle Books, £18.99)

Secret ingredient: chestnut flour

Most nuts are high in good fats, but chestnuts contain far less calories. They're also high in fibre and vitamin C so chestnut flour makes a great gluten-free alternative to wheat.

Bake Amber Rose's chestnut cake with purple berries

Taken from Love, Bake, Nourish (Kyle Books, £18.99)

Secret ingredient: spelt flour

Unlike plain white flour which loses its nutritional value during the milling process, spelt flour is packed with soluble fibre, niacin (the essential B vitamin for steady energy release) and even iron. Wheat, dairy and egg-free, this is a great cake for allergy-sufferers.

Bake Jude Blereau's vanilla almond cake

Taken from Wholefood Baking (Murdoch Books; £17.99)

Secret ingredient: cornflour

This rosewater and pistachio pavlova makes it so easy to add a nutritional boost to your baking. With a secret ingredient of cornflour, this is really good for the digestive system because it contains high levels of fibre. Your skin will feel the benefit too thanks to the vitamin A. Pistachio nuts are also also brimming with minerals such as potassium, iron and zinc.

Make Amber Rose's rosewater and pistachio pavlova.

Bake Deliciously Ella's sweet potato brownies

Bake our lime and courgette loaf cake

Secret ingredient: courgette

Make this good-for-you lemon cheesecake