Brownies
Brownies are a wonderful dessert: they're cake-like, without the work involved in making a cake, there's usually enough to share, without having a bunch of left-overs, and they're usually nice and chocolatey. What's not to like?
With all that in mind, here are six yummy brownie recipes for you to check out, including Frosted Peppermint Brownies and Guinness Brownies. Enjoy!
FUDGY ZUCCHINI BROWNIESThis comes from Audra, otherwise known as The Baker Chick. If you haven’t check out her site, you really, really should. (Hint, hint.)
Anyway, Audra write, “I put green vegetables in your brownies - please don’t hate me.” She then goes on to talk about putting zucchini in her brownies. What can I saw, but I love her comments, as well as these brownies.
To view this online (and to check out Audra’s comments), go to http://www.thebakerchick.com/2014/08/fudgy-zucchini-brownies/.
Recipe adapted from: All Recipes
Ingredients
1/2 cup coconut oil (another vegetable oil will work as well)
1-1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used dark)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups finely shredded zucchini*
For the Frosting:
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray or grease a 9x13 baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar and vanilla until smooth and well-combined. Sprinkle the flour, cocoa powder, soda and salt over the wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated. (The batter will be dry at this point- worry.)
Fold in the zucchini and mix for just a few seconds or until batter is well combined.
Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the pan comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Allow brownies to cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
In a medium-large bowl, stir together the butter and cocoa powder until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with the milk. Stir in the vanilla.
Spread frosting over cooled brownies and enjoy!
Notes
*Finely shredding the zucchini helps it release more liquid leading to the right texture of brownies. If your batter seems extremely dry after combining all the ingredients, your zucchini may be on the dry side. You can add a tablespoon of water at a time until the batter comes together. The zucchini will release a lot of water during baking and help bind the brownies and give them their rich and fudgy texture!
SUPERFAST FUDGE BROWNIES
This recipe comes from The Working Stiff Cookbook, by Bob Sloan and illustrated by Michael Klein. I absolutely love this cookbook. Even vegetarians can find plenty to love in it. The great thing about this recipe is that it really doesn't take much longer than a boxed mix, and is so much better!
The recipe starts with, "The perfect comfort food to go with your burgers. (Burger Bliss was on the preceding page.) Brownies always lift the spirits. Especially these brownies. They're fast, easy, and foolproof." I agree!
Ingredients
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter (or margarine), cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the cocoa powder, stirring continuously until the butter is just melted. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the butter mixture to a large mixing bowl and let it cool for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until each is well combined. Add the flour and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake on the center rack of the oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with tiny crumbs on it. Serve warm or at room temperature.
FLOURLESS BLACK BEAN BROWNIES
This recipe comes from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, who, besides running her own site (Lively Table), writes on VeryWellFit.
For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “If you have a sweet tooth, you may be used to eating dessert most days. Sometimes fruit or a fruit salad will do for a light dessert. Other days, you just need a brownie.
“Baked goods like brownies are often high in sodium, even though they don’t taste salty. Between leaveners like baking soda and baking powder, salted butter, and added salt, brownies and other baked goods can be sneaky sources of sodium! If you bake your own brownies at home, you can control the amount of sodium-containing ingredients for a better alternative.
“The secret to these flourless brownies is a can of low sodium black beans.Before you write them off, give them a try! Blending up black beans in a high-powered blender or food processor makes them nice and smooth, and when baked into brownies, gives them a nice chewy texture without any flour. They also add in extra fiber, iron, and folate.”
Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 16 (2-inch square each).
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
Preparation
Heat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8" baking dish with parchment or spray with oil.
Blend all ingredients except for unmelted chocolate in a high powered blender until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in chocolate and pour into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Use all chocolate chips if you don’t have a dark chocolate bar.
Cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate, and chocolate chips gives these brownies lots of rich chocolate flavor with a little boost from coffee granules.
If you don’t have the coffee granules don’t worry—you can leave them out and you’ll still have delicious chocolatey brownies!
Cooking and Serving Tips
Avoid over-cooking—the designated time should be just about enough, but you can check before removing from the oven. Brownies shouldn't be overly dry.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator and heat for 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave before serving.
GUINNESS BROWNIES
This is from Emily Weinberger on the Food Network. The recipe begins, "Guinness® stout is a very dark beer that boasts notes of coffee and caramel, two ingredients that pair naturally well with chocolate. For this recipe, the Guinness is reduced to a syrup to intensify the flavors and really make the chocolate stand out. The brownies are a nice marriage of fudgy and cakey and are intensely chocolatey, thanks to the bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours (includes cooling time); Yield: 16 brownies; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/guinness-brownies-12348094.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing the pan
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
One 11.2-ounce bottle stout beer, such as Guinness® Extra Stout
1-1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons flaky sea salt, for garnish
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, for garnish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder and kosher salt in a medium bowl until combined.
Slowly pour the Guinness into a medium saucepan, trying to make as little foam as possible. (Hold the pot at an angle and press the lip of the bottle to the side of the pot and slowly pour. This should help eliminate foam.) Bring the beer to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 13 minutes (you may need to pour the beer into a liquid measuring cup a few times to make sure it is reduced enough). Add the butter and whisk constantly until melted, about 1 minute. Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk constantly until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the granulated sugar until combined. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Add the flour mixture and stir slowly until combined, taking care that none of the flour spills out of the pot. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake until set on top, the brownies have slightly pulled away from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top.
Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to remove the brownies from the pan to a cutting board and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle the confectioners’ sugar on top of the brownies and slice into 16 squares.
FROSTED PEPPERMINT BROWNIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Easy brownie-mix brownies get dressed up for the holidays with frosting and crushed peppermint candy.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
1-1/4 cups Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 16 oz container)
1/8 teaspoon mint or peppermint extract
Betty Crocker™ green or pink gel food color
Peppermint or spearmint candies, crushed, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownie batter as directed on box. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1-1/2 hours.In small bowl, stir together frosting, extract and food color until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over brownies. Sprinkle with crushed candies. For easier cutting, refrigerate about 15 minutes until frosting is set. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.
Expert Tips
Cut brownies into bite-size pieces and serve in holiday paper liners for easy dessert pickups.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from Diabetic Gourmet, and begins, "Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?"
Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies
Source: Equal
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/double-chocolate-brownies.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Chopped Walnuts
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.
Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat
With all that in mind, here are six yummy brownie recipes for you to check out, including Frosted Peppermint Brownies and Guinness Brownies. Enjoy!
FUDGY ZUCCHINI BROWNIESThis comes from Audra, otherwise known as The Baker Chick. If you haven’t check out her site, you really, really should. (Hint, hint.)
Anyway, Audra write, “I put green vegetables in your brownies - please don’t hate me.” She then goes on to talk about putting zucchini in her brownies. What can I saw, but I love her comments, as well as these brownies.
To view this online (and to check out Audra’s comments), go to http://www.thebakerchick.com/2014/08/fudgy-zucchini-brownies/.
Recipe adapted from: All Recipes
Ingredients
1/2 cup coconut oil (another vegetable oil will work as well)
1-1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I used dark)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups finely shredded zucchini*
For the Frosting:
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly spray or grease a 9x13 baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar and vanilla until smooth and well-combined. Sprinkle the flour, cocoa powder, soda and salt over the wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated. (The batter will be dry at this point- worry.)
Fold in the zucchini and mix for just a few seconds or until batter is well combined.
Spread into the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into the middle of the pan comes out with a few moist crumbs.
Allow brownies to cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
In a medium-large bowl, stir together the butter and cocoa powder until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, alternating with the milk. Stir in the vanilla.
Spread frosting over cooled brownies and enjoy!
Notes
*Finely shredding the zucchini helps it release more liquid leading to the right texture of brownies. If your batter seems extremely dry after combining all the ingredients, your zucchini may be on the dry side. You can add a tablespoon of water at a time until the batter comes together. The zucchini will release a lot of water during baking and help bind the brownies and give them their rich and fudgy texture!
SUPERFAST FUDGE BROWNIES
This recipe comes from The Working Stiff Cookbook, by Bob Sloan and illustrated by Michael Klein. I absolutely love this cookbook. Even vegetarians can find plenty to love in it. The great thing about this recipe is that it really doesn't take much longer than a boxed mix, and is so much better!
The recipe starts with, "The perfect comfort food to go with your burgers. (Burger Bliss was on the preceding page.) Brownies always lift the spirits. Especially these brownies. They're fast, easy, and foolproof." I agree!
Ingredients
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter (or margarine), cut into 4 pieces
1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter an 8-by-8-inch baking pan.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the cocoa powder, stirring continuously until the butter is just melted. Use a rubber spatula to transfer the butter mixture to a large mixing bowl and let it cool for 2 minutes. Add the sugar and vanilla and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until each is well combined. Add the flour and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake on the center rack of the oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with tiny crumbs on it. Serve warm or at room temperature.
FLOURLESS BLACK BEAN BROWNIES
This recipe comes from Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN, LD, who, besides running her own site (Lively Table), writes on VeryWellFit.
For this recipe, Kaleigh wrote, “If you have a sweet tooth, you may be used to eating dessert most days. Sometimes fruit or a fruit salad will do for a light dessert. Other days, you just need a brownie.
“Baked goods like brownies are often high in sodium, even though they don’t taste salty. Between leaveners like baking soda and baking powder, salted butter, and added salt, brownies and other baked goods can be sneaky sources of sodium! If you bake your own brownies at home, you can control the amount of sodium-containing ingredients for a better alternative.
“The secret to these flourless brownies is a can of low sodium black beans.Before you write them off, give them a try! Blending up black beans in a high-powered blender or food processor makes them nice and smooth, and when baked into brownies, gives them a nice chewy texture without any flour. They also add in extra fiber, iron, and folate.”
Total Time: 35 minutes; Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 25 minutes; Servings: 16 (2-inch square each).
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 (15 ounce) can low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup chopped dark chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
Preparation
Heat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8" baking dish with parchment or spray with oil.
Blend all ingredients except for unmelted chocolate in a high powered blender until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
Stir in chocolate and pour into prepared pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.
Ingredient Variations and Substitutions
Use all chocolate chips if you don’t have a dark chocolate bar.
Cocoa powder, melted dark chocolate, and chocolate chips gives these brownies lots of rich chocolate flavor with a little boost from coffee granules.
If you don’t have the coffee granules don’t worry—you can leave them out and you’ll still have delicious chocolatey brownies!
Cooking and Serving Tips
Avoid over-cooking—the designated time should be just about enough, but you can check before removing from the oven. Brownies shouldn't be overly dry.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator and heat for 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave before serving.
GUINNESS BROWNIES
This is from Emily Weinberger on the Food Network. The recipe begins, "Guinness® stout is a very dark beer that boasts notes of coffee and caramel, two ingredients that pair naturally well with chocolate. For this recipe, the Guinness is reduced to a syrup to intensify the flavors and really make the chocolate stand out. The brownies are a nice marriage of fudgy and cakey and are intensely chocolatey, thanks to the bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder."
Active Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours (includes cooling time); Yield: 16 brownies; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/guinness-brownies-12348094.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing the pan
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
One 11.2-ounce bottle stout beer, such as Guinness® Extra Stout
1-1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons flaky sea salt, for garnish
1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar, for garnish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 of the sides. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder and kosher salt in a medium bowl until combined.
Slowly pour the Guinness into a medium saucepan, trying to make as little foam as possible. (Hold the pot at an angle and press the lip of the bottle to the side of the pot and slowly pour. This should help eliminate foam.) Bring the beer to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened and reduced to 1/3 cup, 12 to 13 minutes (you may need to pour the beer into a liquid measuring cup a few times to make sure it is reduced enough). Add the butter and whisk constantly until melted, about 1 minute. Add the bittersweet chocolate and whisk constantly until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the granulated sugar until combined. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Add the flour mixture and stir slowly until combined, taking care that none of the flour spills out of the pot. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake until set on top, the brownies have slightly pulled away from the sides and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top.
Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then use the parchment overhang to remove the brownies from the pan to a cutting board and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Use a fine-mesh sieve to sprinkle the confectioners’ sugar on top of the brownies and slice into 16 squares.
FROSTED PEPPERMINT BROWNIES
This is from Betty Crocker, and begins, “Easy brownie-mix brownies get dressed up for the holidays with frosting and crushed peppermint candy.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes; Servings: 16
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 box (16 oz) Betty Crocker™ Supreme original brownie mix
Water, oil and egg called for on brownie mix box
1-1/4 cups Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from 16 oz container)
1/8 teaspoon mint or peppermint extract
Betty Crocker™ green or pink gel food color
Peppermint or spearmint candies, crushed, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom of 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray. Make and bake brownie batter as directed on box. Cool completely on cooling rack, about 1-1/2 hours.In small bowl, stir together frosting, extract and food color until smooth. Spread frosting evenly over brownies. Sprinkle with crushed candies. For easier cutting, refrigerate about 15 minutes until frosting is set. Cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature.
Expert Tips
Cut brownies into bite-size pieces and serve in holiday paper liners for easy dessert pickups.
DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
This is from Diabetic Gourmet, and begins, "Applesauce replaces part of the fat, Equal all of the sugar, plus you get double the chocolate flavor with both cocoa and chocolate chips – so who can resist these delicious brownies?"
Recipe Yield: Yield: 16 brownies
Source: Equal
Recipe and image appear courtesy of Equal.
View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/double-chocolate-brownies.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons stick butter, softened
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup Equal Spoonful*
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Optional: Chopped Walnuts
* May substitute 24 packets Equal sweetener
Directions
Beat butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla until blended. Stir in combined flour, Equal, chocolate chips, cocoa, baking powder, nuts (optional) and salt until blended.
Spread batter in sprayed 8-inch square baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350F oven 18 to 20 minutes or until top springs back when gently touched. Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into squares.
Store in airtight containers at room temperature.
Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 105; Fat: 7 g; Sodium: 77 mg; Cholesterol: 38 mg; Protein: 2 g; Carbohydrates: 10 g
Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat
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