Video Recipe: Healthier Best Brownies | UPMC HealthBeat

These soft and chewy brownies are packed with decadent chocolate flavor. Butter and cocoa powder swirl together to make a fluffy frosting to glaze the top of the finished bake. Feel free to enjoy a second helping – each serving of this sweet treat only has 115 calories.

Total time:50 minutes

Preparation time:25 minutes

Cooking time:25 minutes

Recipe serves: 16 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan.
  2. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in white sugar, eggs, applesauce, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa powder, flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread into prepared pan.
  3. Bake in preheated oven until brownies are just set in the center, about 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and confectioner’s sugar in a bowl; beat until smooth. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

Nutritional Information

115 calories; protein 1.7g; carbohydrates 15.1g; fat 6.1g; cholesterol 36.6mg; sodium 89.4mg. 

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