Small changes in baking habits can add up to big differences in the amount of saturated fat in your diet. For example, if you substitute oil for butter or margarine, you can significantly reduce the amount of saturated fat in your baked goods.
This streamlined recipe for Light Scones uses just 3 tablespoons of canola oil, which contains a fraction of the saturated fat found in butter or margarine. Oil, butter and stick margarine all contain roughly the same amount of calories and total fat, but oil contains less saturated fat.
Numerous studies indicate that saturated fat contributes to high cholesterol levels. (A fat is saturated when it is solid at room temperature, like butter, margarine or shortening.) Light Scones contain just 0.3 gram of saturated fat, and 3.6 grams of total fat.
In baking, you can generally substitute half the amount of oil as the butter or margarine called for. However, there is one caveat: Do not overmix the dough. Knead the dough as little as possible to produce light and tender baked goods made with oil.
Light Scones
2 cups flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons canola oil or buttery flavored cooking oil
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon skim milk
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Using a fork, stir in the canola oil until the mixture form pea-size lumps. Add the raisins and 3/4 cup milk and stir to form a soft dough.
Turn the dough out on a very lightly floured work surface and gently pat into a round about 1/2-inch thick. Cut with a biscuit cutter and gently form the scraps into rounds. Don’t knead dough.
Using a pastry brush or your fingertip, brush the tops with the remaining 1 tablespoon of skim milk. Sprinkle each scone lightly with remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar.
Bake 10-12 minutes, until puffed and firm to the touch.
Yield: 12 servings.
Nutrition information per serving: 148 calories, 3 grams protein, 26 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams fat (24 percent fat calories), no cholesterol, 100 milligrams sodium.
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FAQs
For example, if you substitute oil for butter or margarine, you can significantly reduce the amount of saturated fat in your baked goods. This streamlined recipe for Light Scones uses just 3 tablespoons of canola oil, which contains a fraction of the saturated fat found in butter or margarine.
What does canola oil do in baking? ›
Canola oil, the most common vegetable oil used in baking, doesn't add a strong flavor. It allows your cake's flavor will shine through while still achieving a moist texture. However, when deciding on which oil to use, you should also consider the smoke point.
Does canola oil have saturated fat? ›
Canola oil is rich in good fats and can help reduce the risk of heart disease when used instead of saturated fats by reducing LDL cholesterol in the blood. Canola oil has: Just 7% saturated fat – the least of the common culinary oils.
Is scones fat or oil? ›
The perfect scone method
Place all the dry ingredients in a bowl and gently mix them together, then mix all the wet ingredients together (beaten egg, milk and oil). We love using oil as it is light on animal fat and also very easy to use.
How to reduce saturated fat when baking? ›
Replace regular butter with equal amounts of healthier buttery spreads such as Promise or Smart Balance. Trade half the butter with pureed fruit such as mashed bananas, apple butter or prunes (prunes work best with chocolate recipes). Replace half the oil with applesauce.
Can I substitute oil for butter in scones? ›
There is not really a hard and fast rule to the right amount of oil to replace butter, but you can typically use about three-quarters of the amount of butter that is called for in the recipe. For instance, if the recipe calls for 10 tablespoons of butter, you can use about 7 1/2 tablespoons of oil.
Which oil is lowest in saturated fat? ›
Here are some common cooking oils that contain more of the “better-for-you” fats and less saturated fat: Canola. Corn. Olive.
What are the downsides of canola oil? ›
Canola Oil Disadvantages
Some studies show that a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 can raise your risk of certain diseases and conditions, such as Alzheimer's, obesity, and heart disease. Canola oil is also highly refined. This means it goes through a process that uses heat and chemicals to extract the oil.
Does canola oil raise bad cholesterol? ›
Canola oil, also known as high oleic acid content, is low in saturated fat, and contains both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in ratio 2:1, which is supposed to reduce low density lipoprotein and overall cholesterol levels.
What is the secret to making good scones? ›
Top tricks I learnt from the experts for baking perfect scones:
- Resist the twist.
- Use frozen butter.
- Don't overwork the dough.
- Freeze the dough. ...
- Create rise and shine.
- Follow this recipe.
- Reduce the juice.
- Fresh is best.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Scones
- Using anything but cold ingredients. The secret to the flakiest scones is to start with cold ingredients — cold butter, cold eggs, and cold cream. ...
- Only using all-purpose flour. ...
- Overmixing the dough. ...
- Not chilling the dough before baking. ...
- Baking them ahead of time.
When comparing saturated fat per 100g, average values were 3.6g saturated fat/100g for plain scones, 3.2g saturated fat/100g for fruit scones and 4.2g saturated fat/100g for luxury scones (Figure 9b). (g) Scone type and sample no. (g) Scone type and sample no.
How can you modify baked goods to reduce fat content? ›
Replace up to ½ the fat in muffins, quick breads, cookies and cakes with mashed fruit or vegetables, like unsweetened applesauce, pureed pumpkin, squash, sweet potato, pureed prunes or mashed bananas. Replace up to ¾ of the fat in yeast breads with partly-skimmed ricotta cheese or low fat cottage cheese.
Why are scones so fattening? ›
fattening. A Food Standards Agency (FSA) report has found that the average scone contains 408 calories, with the best – sorry, most fattening – clocking up a remarkable 756 calories and 39.2g of sugar. Add jam and cream to the largest scone tested, and you are talking more than 900 calories.
How do you reduce fat content? ›
Tips to eat less fat
choose lower-fat or reduced-fat dairy products or dairy alternatives. grill, bake, poach or steam food rather than frying or roasting. measure oil with a teaspoon to control the amount you use, or use an oil spray. trim visible fat and take the skin off meat and poultry before cooking it.
How can you reduce the fat in a recipe? ›
✓ Use 1% or skim milk in place of whole milk in recipes. ✓ Replace some of the meat in burgers, meatloaf, chili and stews with vegetables, beans or whole grains. ✓ Coat chicken or fish in bread crumbs rather than batter to cook. ✓ Use fat free broth or fat free milk in mashed potatoes, soups, gravies and stews.
