Applesauce Fudge-like Brownies with a Ganache Drizzle

The other day I used a box brownie mix and substituted most of the oil for applesauce.  I wanted to make the brownies from scratch, but I was in a time-crunch.  I felt bad, but the truth is I tried!  As my favorite acronym goes, BTN- better than nothing.  I promise, even with a busy schedule, you can make little changes that can help you eat well to live well! And, make sure you are proud of those little victories and do not beat yourself up over the losses.

Okay, so this week, I have a little more time.  I just finished my 2-day residency module training (whoot whoot haha) and I am trying to use up the rest of my hot cocoa, eggs, sugar and other baking goods before we move.  Did I tell you, Mike and I have to move TWICE :(! Our new condo isn't ready and our lease ends this month on our apartment.  But, thank goodness for one of my amazing tutees.  She and her boyfriend just moved to another condo and they're old apartment, 2 miles from us, is vacant for a month.  And, they are letting us use it!!!  How nice are they?!?!  So, when I heard she was not feeling good this week, I decided to make her healthy brownies and chicken soup.  I know, what a combo haha. Anyways, here is the brownie recipe I made from scratch. They are fudge-like, dense and delicious!  It also can be vegan!!

knife mark from
checking if done lol

Applesauce Brownies 

Ingredients for brownies
* makes 12 brownies

• ½ cup white flour (can substitute gluten free flour.  I did not make these for me, so I used regular flour... I did taste the batter though ;) )
• ¹⁄2 cup cocoa
• ¹⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs (can substitute flax seed egg. 1 tablespoon flax seed to 2 ½ tablespoon water = 1 egg)
• ³⁄4 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/3 cup almond vanilla yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 ¹⁄₂  teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 

Ingredients for Ganache Drizzle

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp of almond milk
• pinch of sea salt 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 decrease F.
2. In a large bowl mix wet ingredients: sugar, eggs (or flax egg), almond yogurt, applesauce, coconut oil and vanilla. Mix until well combined.  
3. Mix in dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, salt, cinnamon.  Mix well until batter is one gooey consistency.
4. Spray a 9 in. baking pan with butter spray or I used olive oil spray (again, I am trying to use everything up and not buy more things to move haha).
5. Spread batter out so that it is even.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Use a knife to stick into middle of pan.  If no batter is on the knife then it is done!  Let cool for about an hour.
7. While your brownies are cooling, make the delicious ganache drizzle.
8. Combine chocolate chips and almond milk in a bowl.  Microwave for 15 seconds, then using a spatula mix well.  But, bowl back in microwave for another 15 seconds.  Then mix again with spatula until smooth.  If it is too thick add a 1/2 tbsp, more of almond milk.  If it is too runny add a few more chocolate chips (the ganache should be warm enough to melt the added chocolate chips, but if not microwave again for 10 seconds).  
9. Then drizzle on ganache, lick the rest of the bowl lol, let the drizzle cool, and then ENJOY!

Care package :) chicken soup, cauliflower soup & brownies