Ok, so it’s not baking season yet. You know, the weeks just before Thanksgiving through the New Year? They’re fondly known as “baking season” to many as lots of goodies are made around then.
- Libby’s canned pumpkin (NuVal score: 94)
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (NuVal score: 12)
- Raisins (NuVal score: 88)
- Peanut M & M’s (NuVal score: 3)
- Fresh cranberries (Nuval score: 100)
- Almonds (NuVal score: 81)
- Walnuts (NuVal score: 82)
Baking season will be here before we know it, so what better way to prepare for it than giveaway some new baking gear. You can win some Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffin Mix (NuVal score: 34), Hodgson Mills Whole Wheat Muffin Mix, and a 12-cup mini muffin pan.
To enter: Just leave a comment on this post about your favorite ingredients to use in your baking. I’ll randomly pick a winner on Monday morning. Good luck!
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 
Pumpkin!!
pumpkin, of course! coconut flour, dried fruits, bananas, dark chocolate! yummy.
right now i agree with pumpkin, but generally i’d say peanut butter:-)
Right now it would be anything that reminds me of fall-pumpkin, apples, cinnamon,or nutmeg. but on the norm it would be bananas.
pumpkin or bananas! pumpkin bread sounds so good right now! guess i need to put that on the “to do” list
I would have to say canned pumpkin or peanut butter (or another nut butter). delicious!
During this season definitely pumpkin! All year round though I love adding oats to cookies, bars and muffins
Pumpkin and coconut!
I really like using applesauce and yogurt in my recipes.
I love how high the score is for canned pumpkin!
I don’t do a lot of baking actually (I’d eat too much of it!) But, oats are one of my favorite things to use when baking!
[...] I’m hosting a baking giveaway over on Trading Up Downtown [...]
I love to use pumpkin in cake, cookies, muffins. YUM!
I love to use blueberries and chocolate in my baking
oatmeal, white chocolate, dried fruit and bananas!!
Peanut butter all the way!
Also I’m a big fan of adding applesauce to recipies in lieu of oil
i am a fan of using applesauce in my baking to reduce oil and i always try to add some flax or chia seeds too!
I like using applesauce in my baking recipes in place of oil!
Anything with grated carrot always knocks my socks off! But right now, I’m loving the pumpkin just like everyone else.
I love to throw a little cinnamon in my baked goods.
I like to bake with dark chocolate, banana and nuts.
Butter, of course!
Also, fruit purees instead of oil if I’m feeling like a healthy treat!
bananas, dried fruit, pumpkin, spices….chocolate!!!
I love using all kinds of fruit–dried or fresh. Bananas, berries, raisins, craisins! They’re all great in baked goods.
I love using zucchini, pumpkin, cinnamon, cranberries and of course chocolate!!! Lately I have been loving the Turbinado sugar. I cannot wait for baking season!!! Love it!!!
I’ve been using garbanzo flour in a lot of things lately it adds some healthy protein, only a few tablespoons though if you use too much it kind of has a funky taste haha
I enjoy using oatmeal, all kinds of nuts, and dark chocolate
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white chocolate PB from the peanut butter company, yum!
I can’t believe peanut M&M’s scored so low. Those are my favorite candies!
My favorite ingredients to use in baking is probably oatmeal, applesauce, and cinnamon.
Oats, chocolate chips, vanilla and pumpkin!
Chocolate…enough said!!
I love to bake with pumpkin, coconut, and apples!! I also love brown sugar to make a crumbly topping on things!! YUM!
Chocolate Chips! I have a new appreciation for muffin tins and all the wonderful baked goods (and mini-entrees) they can facilitate.
Oats, bananas, dark chocolate, blueberries, nuts… the list could go on! I’ve never used pumpkin, but I know I’m missing out… must try
Did you have to tease me with all this talk of baking and sweets this early in the morning?!
Love zucchini in chocolate cake
My favorite baking ingredients are brown sugar, chia seeds,and vanilla soy milk!
I am trying to lighten up our baked goodies later, using different sugar, agave, molasses, adding in applesauce and just cutting back on certain other things and replacing them with wheat flour. If you are making cupcakes and adding frosting I have tweaked the cake part to cut half the sugars but the frosting holds it all together!
Add bananas to all things chocolate, it’s delish!
I generally love to use cocoa, but I also love to use lots of fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Pumpkin, unsweetened applasauce…and peanut butter!
Chocolate chips and pumpkin are a baking staple for me
Definitely peanut butter
I’m a nut butter fan personally! Plus lots of chopped nuts
Turbinado sugar, carob chips and applesauce make for delicious baked goods. Thanks for the giveaway
Pumpkin for sure!
Definitely pumpkin. It adds such structure!
Packets of vanilla sugar- it smells so good and you can taste the difference
I love me some applesauce. Cuts the fat but adds a really nice light fluffiness!
I love to use chocolate chips in my baking, and King Arthur’s whole wheat flour. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me!
Chocolate or cinnamon would probably be my favorite baking ingredients
I am a fan of cinnamon!
I love experimenting with Sunbutter (since I have a peanut allergy)!
Pumpkin. Cloves. Whole Wheat Pastry Flour. My favorites!
Of course I’m going to pick my orange friend PUMPKIN! There is nothing like Libbys and I use it in everything from breads to pies.
You can’t go wrong with chocolate, peanut butter and/or banana!
Now that fall is here pumpkin will be showing up in a lot of my baking…if I can find any that is!
Definitely pumpkin…but also chocolate chips.
My fave ingredients are peanut butter, pumpkin and chocolate when I am baking:) these ingredients are SO versatile and can be combined in lots of yummy ways:)
Sugar, peanut butter and chocolate chips!
I always use vanilla sugar. Chocolate isn’t far behind though!
Peanut Butter Chips! Fo Sho!
Issue is most of the time they dont make it into the recipe because they go straight into my mouth…
pumpkin!
Pumpkin!!
I love adding ground flaxseed – it adds a little fiber so I actually feel full after indulging. =)
I heart orange zest! In a cobbler or mixed berry dish, it adds that extra spark. YUM!
I love using the ingredients that I have on hand to bake instead of feeling like I need to follow a recipe. I have subbed Grapeseed Oil for Canola oil, soy milk for milk, and agave syrup for sugar. The best thing is that these can be healthy substitutions.
I love using pumpkin in any baked good! Pumpkin + dark chocolate is my favorite combo.
<3 pumpkin!
I’m trying to get a lot of baking done as I’m expecting a child in a month & a half, and want to have some homemade good available for visitors, and for my new family during the crazy fist few months.
I love using pumpkin!
@Sarah L.: My favourite ingredients are nuts.I love cookies, salad, and loves with with nuts in them.
Interesting to see the NuVal scores for popular baking items!! I love to use applesauce–always makes things more moist
my fave baking ingredient is cinnamon! its always adds some warmth and depth to everything…from snickerdoodle cookies to brownies! and it makes me think of the holidays!
my favorite baking ingredients are Mott’s Natural No Sugar Added Apple Sauce and Flax Seed!
Not the most exciting ingredient, but brown sugar makes most baked goods!
I like to use Ghirardelli chocolate chips. I buy them in these huge 4-pound bags at Sam’s Club!
I’m a recent nut convert. I used to hate them in baked goods as a kid, but love them now. Especially pecans. omg, yum!
Lots of pure vanilla! Cinnamon is great too.
I love to add chopped nuts to my baked goods.
Dark chocolate and peanut butter make everything better.
Pumpkin or bananas. Or toasted walnuts!
I love to use peanut butter but lately I’ve been using a lot of maple syrup in granola bars and cookies fabulous flavor and sweetener.
Yum! I love using applesauce as an alternative to oil and my favorite mix-in has to be chocolate chips. It makes life better.
My favorite baking ingredient is probably raisins. They are just so good in a bread or cookie!
I recently decided that since the chocolate chips are my favorite part of any baked good, but they’re one of the biggest calorie contributors, I’d start getting MINI chocolate chips. That way, I use the same amount of chips, but they’re more spread out and I get “more” per bite!
It’s a tough pick…. probably Callebaut Chocolate. At this time of year pumpkin is right up there. Peanut butter always finds its way into my baked goods. Who knows! I just love to bake
I love adding applesauce, grated carrot or grated zucchini to my baked goods.
I like to use apple sauce in baking instead of oil. If you drain the apple sauce for just a few minutes before adding it, it doesn’t even mess with the texture at all!
I like to use butternut squash to bake breads and muffins.
Boo on the M&Ms! What does dark chocolate rate? I love baking with seasonal ingredients- blueberries in the summer, pumpkin in the fall!
You can never never never go wrong with pumpkin!
I’m kind of obsessed with butterscotch chips..that’s probably not too high on the Nuval scores though
*Real* vanilla extract. It just has the best aroma and flavor. Also flax see, whenever I can sneak it in…
Peanut butter right now. Can’t get enough!
My favorites are cinnamon and oatmeal and not necessarily together!
Pumpkin!! I actually couldn’t wait for Ocotber and made pumpkin bread last night.
i love using blueberry in any baked good! i also love adding flax when i can.
My favorite ingredient…cinnamon, hands down!
I love baking with banana! It’s a great way to use the overripe ones that i’ve tossed in the freezer.
I love to use Greek yogurt, applesauce, and vanilla extract!
Oats! They taste so freaking yummy in baked goods.
Pumpkin and chocolate chips. Preferably together!
Pecans and coconut – prefereably covered with caramel!
Chocolate chips and peanut butter. Now I want to bake!
Greek yogurt, oats, coconut flour, and maple syrup!
I love baking using my homemade jam! It makes everyone taste that much more delicious!
I’m gonna have to go with organic dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs….I just think they go well with everything
My favorite fall ingredient is APPLE! But, I love cinnamon so anything that goes with that as well (apple, pumpkin, chocolate…)
Pumpkin or chocolate chips!
Shredded unsweetened coconut is my absolute favorite baking ingredient! It goes with EVERYTHING!! – that and chocolate. of course.
my favorite baking ingredients are pumpkin or banana-they add so much flavor and moist-ness without being unhealthy.
Just made Chocolate Chip pumpkin walnut muffins yesterday!!! I love pumpkin season!
Oats and dark chocolate chunks. Yum!
Chocolate and sour cream. Mmmm!
Cinnamon…tastes great and love the smell!
Yay! I love to cook with pumpkin, applesauce and greek yogurt!
Oat flour is a new favorite! I LOVE the texture.
peanut butter!!
Chocolate chips and walnuts–killer combination in anything!
I love to use nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice and hot chocolate mix to give my baking a sweet taste without all those excess sugary calories!
Definitely pumpkin. You can’t go wrong with the classic combo of pumpkin and cinnamon. I also love baking with oats: oatmeal cookies and apple crisp.
Peanut Butter goes fabulous with everything!!! Thanks for the giveaway!
Agave nectar and applesauce.
banana and chocolate chips!
Definitely chocolate chips or bananas or both!!!
Peanut butter, chocolate chips, or bananas…to hard to pick one.
Chocolate, peanut butter (or both!), or lemons.
This contest makes me excited. You should see all the rust on my muffin pan that I still use. I may or may not have ruined it in the dishwasher. My favorite baking ingredient is…well I can’t pick one so I will say 2…chocolate chips and a great quality pure vanilla extract. Yum! Thanks for the chance
I love adding banana to everything! Tastes great and makes everything so moist. Nuts and chocolate are always a plus!
My mom taught me how to use applesauce instead of oil and I taught her how to use pumpkin to make everything better!! I’d have to say pumpkin is my go-to for hearty, healthy dishes that don’t taste like you’re sneaking in something healthy—but you are!!!
Cinnamon and Vanilla! So good!
Pumpkin and chocolate! YUMMMM
nutella! so delicious in cookies…or any baked good in my opinion
When it comes to baking I am generally a bit of a trainwreck, but I have been known to make some pretty killer black bean brownies. Super rich and gluten free!
I love to bake with pumpkin and squash –
I seem to be able to put them into anything, and it’s definitely good for you! Happy Fall
I love PUMPKIN!!! I’m so bummed that it’s unavailable where I live right now (Orlando). I’m stalking amazon.com to see when Libby’s is available!
In my opinion, some nice rich chocolate chips make almost any dessert better! Thanks for the giveaway, Tina.
I love using those new York pieces candies to add a tiny mint taste to my M&M cookies!
Chocolate!!! as much as I like to tell myself that applesauce and pumpkin exchanges are my favorite, there’s just no substitute for good semisweet chocolate chips in EVERYTHING!
I LOVE peanut butter in almost anything!
Definitely banana! Yum.
I love using cinnamon – lots and lots!
It’s a tie between two items for me.
1: White whole wheat flour – so I can pretend what I make is healthier
2: Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut butter – Need I say more?
Chocolate. Chocolate makes any baked good better. Also, the more chocolate, the better
Also, I recently discovered BACON also makes a delicious addition to cookies!
I love using mashed bananas to add creaminess and delicious flavor!
Bananas! Everything tastes better with bananas in it
Cinnamon!!!!
peanut butter and chocolate
One of my secret ingredients is adding freshly grated orange peels…soo refreshing!
Nuts! I love the texture they add to baked goods. Yum!
I love adding vanilla Greek yogurt in place of fat, it makes everything moist. And in some recipes blended prunes to replace fat! That was two, but those are the two I am most excited about right now.
I love almond butter and white chocolate melted together. I also love sea salt!
Yum! I love adding shredded coconut. It goes with everything, sweet or savory.
Pumpkin! So many great combinations!
ooo….Yummy
When baking with flour my favorite ingredient to add is ground flax seed. Substituting a few tablespoons of ground flax seed for a few tablespoons of four enriches the recipe to offset my other favorite ingredient Fresh real Butter.
I love to bake! My favorite ingredient is anything with peanut butter. O.k now I’m hungry.
Hmmm, I like baking with peanut butter, oats or chocolate chips…. I know whatever it is will be delicious if it’s based on either of those ingredients!!
During the fall and winter, I do a lot with pumpkin and apples. But chocolate is a favorite year-round!
I’m cooking with a lot of almonds and raisins right now.
Chocolate chips or peanut butter! Or even better together!
Nut butters! yummm
That depends, chocolate (in all forms) is great in cookies, but in loafs and other baked goods, I enjoy cranberries, and nuts!
I love to add chocolate chips, vanilla, and even peanut butter!
I love baking with spices. Especially now with the fall season! Apples and cinnamon, pumpkin and cinnamon, cider with cinnamon — Basically anything with CINNAMON!
I love to bake with pumpkin and bananas!
I love to use mashed up dates instead of sugar in my baking.
Pumpkin for muffins and breads.
Blueberries for muffins, oatmeal and pancakes. And yes, I know they are not a “fall” item but hopefully everyone put some up during the summer months…
PB, bananas, and cinnamon
bananas, applesauce, and flax seeds – anything to convert a recipe to being vegan!
Cinnamon makes all baked goods, even brownies, better.
Pumpkin! Sadly I can’t find any. Apparently there is still a shortage.
i love using banana..it makes it anything so moist and adds extra sweetness
I love cinnamon and nutmeg.
I like to bake with BUTTER! A little bit (or more) goes a long way.
Pumpkin or bananas! Both add a great sweetness and moist-ness to anything.
Coconut is my fav ingredient to add, yum!
Peanut Butter!!
sugared almonds
Cinnamon and butterscotch chips
love using whole wheat flour!
Fruits, especially bananas, figs, and berries, as well as cinnamon and nut butters.
dried fruit really adds a ton of interesting flavors to baked goods!
Cinnamon and Pure Vanilla from Mexico- both smell great and offer a tasty flavoring
cinnamon and apples!
Lately, I have been baking with protein powder and also coconut oil or coconut butter. These are my current favorite ingredients. My ALL TIME favorite baking ingredient is CHOCOLATE. All I need is chocolate and I’m happy.
I love chocolate chips.. I mean who would disagree that it doesn’t make any recipe better?!
i sneak ground flax into my baked goods! don’t tell my husband, though, he thinks he’s getting a “treat” when i bake!
Definitely bananas. I have a favorite Banana Bread recipe that is easy and delicious. This week I did not have ripe bananas yet found some @ the market on the
“old produce rack” six bananas for 41cents…can’t beat that!
I love using applesauce instead of oil.
Two easy replacements I find myself making quite often in my baking are turbinado sugar for regular sugar and whole wheat flour for regular bleached flour.
I love using pumpkin in recipes – great for the Fall season!
I love to add nuts, and fruit.
Oatmeal and dried fruit and bananas.
I do love pumpkin! Lately though I have been experimenting with chia seeds and cocoa nibs
Pecans! They add a great texture and flavor to cookies.
Chocolate makes everything better, but I’ve already started a bit of baking and am hooked on Trader Joe’s dried, unsweetened blueberries. I think it’s time to revert to my chocolate obsession!
Bring out the nuts! I love cooking with nuts.
I love semi-sweet chocolate chips! I’ll even eat them alone… too bad the NuVal score is only 12. Moderation is key!
I love sneaking in whole wheat flour and walnuts!
I love adding bananas to my baked goods (and everything else!)
Egg replacer is my favorite addition. It keeps in a box so I don’t need to buy eggs all the time, its vegan, and it makes cookie dough without the threat of salmonella (if you eat it raw).
Canned pumpkin, cinnamon and oats!
chocolate chips and walnuts
Some of my favorite baking ingredients are overripe bananas, pumpkin, and dark chocolate covered almonds.
Butter. I don’t mind healthier baked goods for myself but if you want a REAL dessert, nothing beats butter in baked goods. Applesauce, oil, or shortening (gross) simply won’t do!
Pumpkin, applesauce, oats, raisins walnuts, dark chocolate chips and bananas!
Walnuts always taste better baked/toasted.
dried cranberries are so tart and sweet and chewy I love them in everything baked!
I use applesauce in everything
It’s super versatile!
Whole wheat flour, chocolate, walnuts, dried blueberries, and peanut butter.
i like subbing apple sauce for butter! And, I always use whole wheat flour for extra fiber!
Pumpkin, whole wheat flour, nuts, and bananas!
applesauce, honey, and whole wheat flour.
I LOVEEEE using pumpkin (I cant wait till all the stores start carrying it again!)
My favorite ingredients to use in baking…well…anything’s better with chocolate chips! Same with dried cranberries and peanut butter chips! YUMMMYYY!
Chocolate chips and oatmeal…love to make cookies and bars with these 2 items.
I love baking with Heath bars crunched up. They add a wonderful taste to cookies, cakes, and even breads! Like most everyone else has said, pumpkin and oatmeal are a favorite too!
Maple syrup.
i love to use cinnamon in baking.
i like whole wheat flour, fruits instead of fats, and agave instead of sugar!!
I love baking with oatmeal and wheat bran. Oatmeal does something amazing to the texture of baked goods, and wheat bran adds a bit of extra fiber with a negligible taste impact.
bananas and chocolate chunks!
I loveee to add Vanilla Bean Paste to almost everything – it is my go to ingredient for anything sweet!
Oats, raisins and chocolate chips.
Most people are using sweet items in their fall baking, but I like to enjoy baking with vegitables and meats as well. Great way to use left overs. Use chopped ham, peppers, onion and mix them into a potato bread recipe and you have intant on the go breakfast.
I’d have to say pumpkin. I use it for french toast, pancakes, muffins etc. Absolutely my favorite ingredient!