Easy, Healthy Brownies with Applesauce - Delicious, slightly fudgy brownies made with oat flour, olive oil, maple syrup, and applesauce - made in one bowl!
My favorite time to have a treat is shortly after lunch.
I'm not a big fan of dessert after dinner, as it doesn't do my digestion well, and I don't sleep the best after eating something sweet, especially if it has chocolate.
Eating a treat in the afternoon gives me a chance to test out some recipe ideas, and it provides a good boost of energy for the remainder of my day, particularly, if I head to the gym.
My favorites include this Sugar-Free Chocolate Mug Cake, cookies, and brownies!
Today's brownie recipe is a delicious, lower fat version made with applesauce.
Applesauce adds to both sweetness and texture, and it replaces some of the fat that you'd find in a typical brownie recipe.
These brownies are very easy to put together, and bake up quite fast, which is nice for impatient people like me.
Unlike some of my more bitter brownies and chocolate cakes, this one got a thumbs up from the entire crew (Sammy too!). He kept trying to sneak more, the little devil.
The ingredients list is very clean and accessible, and the whole 8 x 8 pan only has ONE tablespoon of added sweetener.
Ingredients and substitutions
I use a combination of maple syrup and stevia, along with some other flavorings, like oat flour, vanilla, and applesauce, to create a naturally sweeter taste.
I enjoy using oat flour in these, but they also work with spelt flour, whole wheat flour, einkorn flour, and half oat/half any of the aforementioned.
How to make brownies with applesauce
Mixing the batter...
Pouring the batter into a baking dish...
The finished product!
Recipe notes
This recipe may not be for those of you used to the really sweet brownies, so please keep that in mind before trying!
I make my own oat flour by grinding oats in a coffee grinder or a Nutribullet with the flat blade.
My favorite milk to use my Homemade Coconut Milk in this recipe.
You can top it with your favorite chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar to amp up the sweetness.
I love these with my Peanut Butter Frosting slathered on top!
Easy, Healthy Brownies with Applesauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup oat flour (can also use spelt, whole wheat, or einkorn)
- 5 Tbsp cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 Tbsp olive oil (can also use melted coconut oil or melted butter)
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tbsp milk of your choice see Notes
- stevia to taste
- chocolate chips or chopped chocolate for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add in the applesauce, oil, syrup, vanilla, egg, milk, and stevia.
- Stir until well combined.
- Pour the batter into a well-oiled 8 x 8 baking dish.
- Top with chocolate, if desired.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Don't overbake!
- Allow brownies to sit and cool completely in order to avoid crumbling.
Notes
Nutrition
If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!
Stacey
YUM! These look amazing.. my plan for the day is to try one (or two) before the ol'gym myself!
Cindy Hoffman
Lauren,
I am super anxious to try this recipe, but will you verify that only 1/2 cup of oat flour is necessary? I have been going over the recipe in my mind and I can't picture enough for 9 servings. Thank you!
Lauren
Hi Cindy!
Sorry for the delay, my computer was on the fritz last night. Yes, 1/2 cup is correct. The batter seems a bit thin upon spreading it out, but it bakes up nice! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Liri
Do these freeze well...thinking for kids lunches..
Lauren
Hi Liri,
I haven't tried, so I'm not sure, but this link might help you: https://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2009/11/can-i-freeze-brownies-any-special-instructions.html
Carey
Hi! How would you try this egg free? Does it need the egg to rise? I usually replace with applesauce or flax. Maybe Rey flax since there is already apple sauce or more apple sauce and increase baking powder?
Lauren
Hi Carey,
I've tried it with extra milk, and they're still good, but the don't rise as well. I haven't tried any egg replacers, like flax or chia, but I think they'd be worth a shot!
Carey C White
it worked well!
Hanna
I made these and they were really good, but they were a little cakey. Do you think it could be because I overcooked them? I cooked them less than the recommended time, but my oven is SUPER strong. Wondering if I should make them the same way and cook for less time or is there something I could change to make it more fudgey?
Lauren
Hi Hanna,
I would guess they were overbaked, as I've had that happen as well! You want to try to bake them just until the top feels 'set' to the touch. Hope that helps!
Emily Klepper
These are SO good! I made them once and loved them! I quadrupled the recipe and I am making them right now for a road trip with my girl friends! The perfect energizing treat! 🙂
I veganized them using flax egg and leaving out the milk. I also used coconut oil because I like the flavor. Topped some with walnuts too!
Lauren
Yay, I'm so happy you liked them, Emily! I'll have to try the walnuts myself.
Taylor
Could I use almond flour instead of oat flour? Also, how exactly do you use the stevia and can it be substituted?
Lauren
Hi Taylor,
I'm not sure, you might just google 'almond flour brownies', as there are many! The stevia I just use to our taste (about 15-20 drops of the liquid version). Not sure how to sub it out here, sorry.
Cutaia Diane
Flavour was amazing! But they were very crumbly . Did I bake too long?
Lauren
Thank you! Could be, yes...baking too long dries them out and makes them more crumbly. I've done it too!
Claudia
How much stevia should I add?
ri
how much more maple syrup would you suggest i add instead of the stevia?
Lauren
It totally depends on your sweet tooth. Keep in mind that by adding more maple, you're throwing off the wet-dry ingredients ratio, and the recipe won't turn out the same.
Caressa
Do you know if I can use coconut flour ?
Caressa
Can I substitute with coconut flour?
Lauren
I've never tried, sorry!
Clara
i made these veganized today and everyone loved it! did change a few things: instead of stevia, i used about 1/4 cup or 4 tbsp of half sugar half sweetener, and did 4 tbsp of almond milk instead of 1.
I didnt specifically replace the egg with anything and the recipe still turned out fantastic! also added walnuts:)
thank u for sharing!❤️
Srija chowdary
How to make them more gooey and fudgy
Anna Templeton
I make a recipe very similar to this one. I use 2 tblsps of the the "powdered" steveia and is it just perfect for my taste. I also add a few chocolate chips.