Cakes, cookies, pies, and candies contain both solid fat and added sugars. Many of the calories in most cakes, cookies, and pies come from these solid fats and added sugars. All the calories in candies come from these ingredients. Solid fats and added sugars add calories to food, but few or no nutrients. This is why the calories from solid fats and added sugars are often called “empty calories.” Learning more about solid fats and added sugars can help you to make better choices.
Figuring the number of empty calories in cakes, cookies, and pies can be a bit tricky. One way to get a good estimate is to check the recipe ingredients. Look for sources of solid fat and added sugar. Use the following amounts to calculate the total number of empty calories in a recipe. Then divide this total by the number of servings the recipe makes. This will give you an estimate of the number of empty calories per serving.