Applesauce Brownies
Yield: 16 servings
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Tips: 1/2 cup of chopped nuts and/or semi-sweet chocolate chips may stirred into the batter just before baking, if desired.
Suggestion: Delicious topped with a dollop whipped cream or served with a scoop of ice cream.
If you're looking for recipes for healthy brownies, this delightful applesauce brownie recipe is definitely one you should consider! This easy brownie recipe produces a moist and soft brownie that leans on the healthy side. While most brownie recipes use granulated sugar as the main sweetening agent, these Applesauce Brownies are sweetened with brown sugar and applesauce, giving them a more wholesome flavor and natural tasting sweetness than traditional brownies.
In addition to being moist and wholesome, these light brownies are made with cocoa powder, which adds to their soft and fluffy texture. Cocoa powder brownies tend to produce a lighter, fluffier brownie than do brownies made with bakers chocolate
squares, which tend to produce a more dense and fudgy texture. Some chocolate brownie recipes use both cocoa powder and bakers chocolate, giving the brownies a double dose of chocolate flavor. Brownies made with cocoa powder and brownies made with bakers chocolate both clearly have their redeeming qualities and irresistible flavor. Which type of chocolate brownie you choose to make depends on your own personal preference.
Applesauce Brownies are great to serve around the holidays, when apple pie is traditionally served as one of the most loved Thanksgiving and Christmas desserts. These Applesauce Brownies will sneak in some of that fresh apple flavor, while adding fun and variety to your holiday desserts. Because these brownies have a moist cake-like texture somewhat like gingerbread cake, topping them with dollops of whipped cream or serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream tastes outstanding! If you enjoy nuts, you can easily add 1/2 cup of your favorite chopped nuts to this brownie recipe, simply by stirring the nuts into the brownie batter just before pouring into the baking dish and baking. If you are a devoted chocolate lover, you can instead add 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter, also by stirring them into the batter just before baking. Of course, if you love both nuts and chocolate, by all means, use them both!
In addition to being moist and wholesome, these light brownies are made with cocoa powder, which adds to their soft and fluffy texture. Cocoa powder brownies tend to produce a lighter, fluffier brownie than do brownies made with bakers chocolate
Applesauce Brownies are great to serve around the holidays, when apple pie is traditionally served as one of the most loved Thanksgiving and Christmas desserts. These Applesauce Brownies will sneak in some of that fresh apple flavor, while adding fun and variety to your holiday desserts. Because these brownies have a moist cake-like texture somewhat like gingerbread cake, topping them with dollops of whipped cream or serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream tastes outstanding! If you enjoy nuts, you can easily add 1/2 cup of your favorite chopped nuts to this brownie recipe, simply by stirring the nuts into the brownie batter just before pouring into the baking dish and baking. If you are a devoted chocolate lover, you can instead add 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter, also by stirring them into the batter just before baking. Of course, if you love both nuts and chocolate, by all means, use them both!
Recipe▼
Ingredients
- 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup regular or cinnamon applesauce
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts and/or semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (using nonstick spray or butter).
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In an electric mixer bowl, combine brown sugar and butter and beat at medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs and mix again until blended. Add apple sauce and vanilla extract and mix again until blended. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing on low speed until thoroughly blended. Remove mixer bowl and manually stir in nuts and/or chocolate chips (if using). Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick insert into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool, then cut into squares.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In an electric mixer bowl, combine brown sugar and butter and beat at medium speed until smooth and fluffy. Add eggs and mix again until blended. Add apple sauce and vanilla extract and mix again until blended. Add flour mixture, a little at a time, mixing on low speed until thoroughly blended. Remove mixer bowl and manually stir in nuts and/or chocolate chips (if using). Pour batter into prepared baking pan.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick insert into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool, then cut into squares.
