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Thing is.. I don’t really like brownies.
Well, no, I take that back. I like a very, very specific type of brownie–the type that’s ultra fudgy and dense, and not cakey, but so incredibly rich you’re good with a tiny square and wouldn’t think to add ice cream to the top.
I also like those Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies, but that’s a different story for a different day and one I will deny, deny, deny should you ever see me in public.
So when I decided to “basically” give up sugar in 2016–to combat the junky takeout we’d been eating since Leo was born, to feel more balanced than one-handedly shoveling pains au chocolat in my face for breakfast (baby on the opposite hip, bien sûr), to get back to my pre-Leo body-ish–I knew I’d wrestle with finding the perfect healthy brownie recipe. Because when it comes to healthy, unrefined treats, you’re a bit limited. You’ve got your raw desserts and your, let’s face it, healthy brownies. That’s the way it seems anyway, since brownies are forgiving, I suppose! Much more so than, say, macarons or cupcakes.
But I’ve been craving something chocolatey and sweet lately, and I blame it on this Wonder Weeks leap Leo’s going through lately. It just happens to coincide with the dreaded four-month sleep regression and a growth spurt, so we’re tired and cranky all around. So I tried making a healthy brownie recipe I’d found, but it was dreadful! Just dreadful. I even photographed it before cutting in, I had such high hopes for this recipe! But alas, it was mushy and confusing and I was so, so sad. So my expectations for this next attempt were pretty low…
But damn, mama! They were absolutely everything I was looking for–so rich and fudgy and dark chocolatey and easy and quick. I essentially gave the clean-eating treatment to a well-loved fudgy brownie recipe, and they came out perfectly. You’ll love these, whether you’re on a refined sugar sabbatical or not!
I wouldn’t eat these as like, you know, a meal replacement, but they’re definitely way healthier than their refined counterpart! Oh, and make sure you actually let them cool before slicing–otherwise you’ll end up with crumbly edges like mine have. We couldn’t wait! Notice how only lines going one direction are crumbly, though, and the other are quite straight.. we cut one way when they were still a bit warm to test and cut the other way when they were cool. The lines were beautifully straight after they were cooled–I didn’t need to chill them or use a wet knife!
Oh, and I can only imagine how incredible these are with good ol’ white sugar, even more butter, and white flour, so check out the original recipe, too!
Healthy Fudgy Brownies (Refined Sugar-Free)
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 ½ cups granulated coconut sugar
- ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-process)
- ¼ tsp rounded teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs , cold
- ½ cup white whole-wheat flour
Instructions
- Place oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 325º F. Line an 8" square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving an overhang on at least two opposite sides.
- Set up a double boiler. Bring 1-2" of water in a medium saucepan to a low simmer and place a medium heat-proof mixing bowl on top. Don't let the bottom of the mixing bowl touch the water in the saucepan--if it down, remove a little water. In the mixing bowl, combine butter, coconut oil, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, and salt. Stir occasionally until the butter and coconut oil have melted and the mixture is very warm. It will likely look grainy, but don't worry about this! Remove the mixing bowl and let sit for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture has cooled down slightly and is only warm, not hot.
- Stir in vanilla, then add eggs, one at a time, stirring until very smooth after each one.
- When the batter looks thick, shiny, and thoroughly blended, add in the flour and stir until fully incorporated. Spread evenly in pan - the batter will be very thick.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean--you want it to be a little moist with batter for ultimate fudginess! You may need to continue baking another 10 minutes, so just keep an eye on things and use that toothpick test. When done, remove from oven and let cool completely in pan. When cool, lift out with parchment or aluminum foil overhang and slice into serving squares with a sharp knife.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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Adapted from Inspired Taste.
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Hi there!! I would really love to try a healthy recipe but I don’ have all the ingredients. So I thought I would ask:
If I don’t have coconut oil or sugar, what can I use as a substitute?
Also, instead of the cocoa powder, can I use actual dark chocolate? And if so, what would the quantity be?
Hi, Fay! Unfortunately, we haven’t tried this recipe with those substitutions, so we can’t say for sure how it would turn out or the quantity you would need. We’d love to hear how it turns out if you do try it!
I am not trying to reply to super old posts, but making a suggestion: Lankanto Monk fruit. I have also added pureed date paste( which adds a bit of natural sugar and chewiness
Great to know!!
Would be good if I used Stevia sugar instead of coconut?
And what amount, would it be the same amount of 1 1/2 cups?
You could try that! I think it would probably be the same amounts
Great!
Thank you very much for the prompt reply 🙂