Saturday, September 25, 2010

Good-For-You Brownies

My girls wanted brownies when they got off the bus.  Strange request but they were specific so I thought I would comply.  However, I am trying to limit their sugar intake so I set out to find a healthier recipe that still actually tasted like brownies?  Have you ever tried to make a healthier version of your favorite recipe only to have it turn out tasting nothing like the original?  I have.  Drives me nuts!  

I thought I'd share this brownie recipe with you that I got from Jillian Michaels' Master Your Metabolism Cookbook.  This is a great cookbook.  It's got lots of yummy recipes.  Here you go!


Fudge Brownies

Ingredients:

Olive Oil Spray for the pan
2/3 cup mild honey, such as clover or orange blossom (I used Raw Honey)
1/3 cup natural, unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Nestle Toll House)
1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour
1/4 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 large egg, at room temperature
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spray an 8-inch square pan with olive oil.  Set aside. 

Place the honey in a large glass measuring cup.  Microwave on high power until the honey is runny and just bubbling, 45-60 seconds.  Add the cocoa and stir with a fork until well combined.  Let cool to room temperature.  

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Whisk until well combined. 

In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, oil, egg, and vanilla.  Whisk together until well blended.  Add the honey-cocoa mixture and whisk until smooth.  Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and stir until no traces of flour remain.  Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. 

Bake until the surface looks dry around the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with the moist crumbs clinging to it, about 25 minutes.  Do not overbake.  Place the pan on a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing into 16 squares.  (Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days)

My notes: 
  • 3 days?!  What?!  They lasted 3 hours in my house!
  • 16 squares?!  It's an 8x8 pan!  We got 9 brownies out of that pan. 
  • I didn't fully read the directions before I jumped in.  So, my egg was NOT room temp and I did NOT let the honey-cocoa mixture cool to room temp.  I don't have time for that so I dumped it in at the temp it was.  The brownies still turned out good but they were more of a cake consistency than a fudge brownie consistency.  If you have the time, let things get to room temp, the brownies will be more like brownies.  

I hope you enjoy these brownies.  

What are some of your favorite healthy recipes? 

Thanks for stopping by,

1 comment:

  1. These sound terrific! I love healthy recipes..and brownies. Will have to give them a try :) Thanks for stopping and for your sweet compliments. God is good!!! I'm a new follower :) Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete

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