Chocolate brownies are a favourite treat for many dessert lovers, but the more you eat, the more you worry about your waistline, especially if you can't live without sweets. So today we are sharing clean brownie recipes for health-conscious bakers.
A brownie is a square, brown dessert with a rich chocolate aroma, often topped with nuts. Every cafe or coffee shop stocks brownies; they are a staple treat no shop can do without. Brownies are actually classed as cookie bars rather than cake or bakery items, because they come in pieces you can pick up with your hands, whereas cakes are eaten with a spoon or fork.
So today we share some clean brownie recipes for anyone who worries about gaining weight but still wants something sweet, to try the next time a craving strikes, without the guilt.
1. Sugar-Free Brownie
This sugar-free brownie is gluten-free and dairy-free, so people with either allergy can enjoy it. Most importantly, it contains no refined sugar, using a sweetener instead. It is also more nutritious than regular brownies made with plain flour, as you can choose your "flour", such as mung beans, red beans or oats.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup Greek yoghurt
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup 100% cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 2 tsp sweetener
- A pinch of pink salt
Method
All you need is an oven; the method is the same as a regular brownie. Combine all the ingredients and mix until smooth, pour into a mould and bake in the oven. That's all it takes to make this brownie.
2. Black Bean Brownie
Here we simply swap regular cake flour or wheat flour for black beans. They give a dense texture just like flour, so they work as a substitute, and they also provide carbohydrates and protein that are good for the body. Packed with nutrients, they are perfect for clean eaters.
Ingredients
- 1/2 can or 2/3 cup cooked black beans
- 2 tbsp 100% cocoa powder (organic)
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp plain milk
- 2 tbsp pure honey (add more if you don't like it bitter)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- Almonds and chocolate chips
Method
Combine all the ingredients and mix until smooth. Pour into a mould and bake in the oven. That's all you need for a delicious, easy, clean brownie that is good for your health too.
3. Avocado Brownie
Avocado is already known as a good fruit for weight control because it contains healthy fats the body needs. Since baked goods already contain lots of butter and fat, using avocado instead gives a soft, silky texture no different from using milk, butter or other fats. Best of all, avocado is natural.
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1 small, very ripe avocado
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1½ tbsp melted coconut oil (melt in the microwave for about 30 to 40 seconds)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or use ground almonds)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp sodium bicarbonate
- A pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chips and Nutella (for topping)
Method
Blend the egg and avocado until smooth, then stir in the vanilla and brown sugar. Add the melted coconut oil and mix well. Add the flour, salt, sodium bicarbonate and cocoa powder and stir to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips, pour into a mould and sprinkle with chocolate chips for topping. Bake the avocado brownie in the oven, then cut into pieces and serve.
