You won't believe these cakes don't have butter! (Or sugar for that matter)

Ever since I started baking cakes for the Hungry Aikido guys, I've been conscious of how much fat and sugar normally goes into them (the cakes, not the boys).

You might have picked up by now that I tend to bake without butter and sometimes sugar as well. This doesn't always necessarily lead to a 'healthy' cake, but it is usually healthier in some way. (That's what I keep telling myself anyway).

It's funny though because I still get the same apprehensive expression when I tell them that a cake I've made had no butter in. They then munch on the cake, and still look a little confused, yet surprised at the same time (in a good way usually!).

There have been very few occasions where cake has been left (unless they are just all extremely polite boys), which suggests that these 'healthier' cakes aren't so bad.

So I thought I'd share with you a few favourite butter and sugar free baking recipes. Yes, it can be a little scary to try these experimental ones out, but trust me, the look on people's faces when you tell them what's not in them is always rather satisfying :-)

Apple Cake (butter and sugar free)

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This apple cake is filled with dried mixed fruit, which is what gives this cake its sweetness. The fruit is gently boiled in water to allow them to 'swell', but also to ensure that they won't dry out too much whilst being baked into the cake.

Ginger and Nutmeg Cake (butter and sugar free)

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Ok, I admit, this is not the prettiest cake to look at. But it's packed out with fruit (as well as ginger and nutmeg of course), which makes this particular cake really flavoursome. So just close your eyes when you bite into it and you'll be fine.

Carrot Cake (butter and sugar free)

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From what I remember, I created this on the back of the Ginger and Nutmeg cake above actually (or the other way around!), using the same ratio of ingredients. This is how I tend to create new recipes, and in this case it worked out particularly well. This has also got dried fruit in, and pumpkin seeds also, which you could easily substitute to something else of your choice, to shake things up.

Jammy Oat Rolls (butter and sugar free)

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Ssh, and last but not least, this is the naughtiest of this batch, because it's got a fat load of double cream in it. Remember I said these experimental ones aren't always healthier versions ;-)

Other butter free baking recipes that might take your fancy.

Other sugar free baking recipes that might take your fancy.