Healthy Brownies (no butter or sugar!)

These brownies are delicious.  Not delicious "for a healthy dessert", but delicious on their own.  They are dense and gooey, but made without butter or sugar.  In fact, the ingredient list starts here...

Yep, apples!  Or applesauce, whichever you have on hand.  I just chopped up one medium apple and pureed it in my food processor (I use a Ninja) with 1 Tsp of water.  If you don't have an apple, 3/4 cup of applesauce will work just as well.

Yields: 8-10 brownies

1 medium apple or 3/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup agave or coconut nectar
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup whole wheat flour or almond flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp olive oil
1 egg (substitute 1 Tbsp ground flax for a vegan)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup nut butter (optional)

1. In a large bowl, combine the applesauce (either homemade from the apple or purchased), agave, olive oil, egg, vanilla and baking powder. 
2. Melt the 1/2 cup chocolate chips and then stir in to the mixture.
3. Mix in the flour and the remaining chocolate chips (I used a combination of white and dark chocolate)
4. Grease your pan.  I used a tiny bit of coconut oil in a 9x13 glass pan. 
   
5. Pour your batter into the pan.  Add the nut butter to the batter after it's in the pan, if using nut butter.  Then take a knife and swirl it into the batter.  
6. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool for 10 minutes before serving so they retain their shape.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  
8. Try not to eat them all at once.  On second thought, these aren't bad for you and are less than 100 calories a serving.  Go nuts. 
   

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