Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Broccoli Brownies (Gluten Free)



We had an event at work a couple weeks ago and I had a dietetic intern with me who at one point mentioned broccoli brownies. Obviously I was curious and I requested that she bring some in the following week (she's an intern, I can boss her around. haha, jk). She was a pretty fantastic intern. Low and behold the following weekend she walked in with a plate full of broccoli brownies! She admitted they didn't turn out quite as delicious as she had hoped, and after one bite I had to agree. While they were tasty, I could see whole chunks of broccoli in them and it was sort of a turn off. I actually gave them out to the team members and they loved them (or at least that's what they told me). I decided I wanted to try my own version of a broccoli brownie so I started searching online and found this one that was adapted from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious cookbook. I was happy to see that it called for broccoli puree, rather than broccoli chunks, so I made some modifications and came up with this recipe;




Broccoli Brownies
(Makes 12)

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray
4 ounces dark chocolate squares, such as Lindt (60-80%)
1.25-1.5 cups broccoli puree (steam the broccoli then puree in a food processor or Magic Bullet)
1/4 cup Splenda brown sugar (or 1/2 cup real brown sugar)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 T butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
3/4 cup oat flour (or brown rice flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8x8 inch pan with coking spray.

2. Melt the chocolate in a saucepan on the stove, or in the microwave.

3. In a large bowl combine melted chocolate, broccoli puree, brown sugar, cocoa powder, butter and vanilla, and stir until smooth.

4. Add the egg whites, mix again. Add the flour, salt, and baking powder and mix again, until smooth and blended.

5. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 20-30 minutes (depending on your oven....it took my oven 20 minutes to bake!).


ENJOY

NOTE: They taste best when they are warm, and even better with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla frozen yogurt!




I only made a half batch the first time I made these, just in case they didn't turn out. Here is the batter.



I was licking the spoon and the bowl like a mad women, which I took as a good sign that they were going to be delicious!


And delicious they were.

Chewy and moist. And, a good source of fiber. Take that fiber companies! And if I wanted to add fake fiber, I could, but this is all real fiber from oats and broccoli. I love it.


ESTIMATED NUTRITION FACTS

A "C-" is still passing ;)



QUESTION: What's the craziest fat replacement you have used in a baked good? My other favorites are applesauce and pumpkin.

17 comments :

  1. Whoa! Broccoli!? I've heard of black beans, but never broccoli. Interesting! I love cauliflower puree in place of mashed potatoes and I sub in applesauce for oil/butter all the time. I'm posting a recipe in a minute that uses zucchini and squash in place of lasagna noodles and it actually worked really, really well!

    Have a great weekend, Gina! Excited to see you guys next Saturday :)

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  2. I have made the black bean brownie nicole mentions...I HAVE to make this!! This weekend is my plan!!! LOVE IT...gotta love the interns and their fresh ideas!

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  3. wow! this is so creative! they look delicious!

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  4. Wow, those look great! Broccoli, who knew? I use pumpkin all the time because the texture comes out so great. I actually just made brownies with it last week.

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  5. This sounds . . . umm . . . interesting?
    It must be one of those things you have to try first.

    How do you feel about the whole concept of hiding veggies in other foods to get your kids to eat it?

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  6. I've been off the posting/reading habit because of applications to schools... and prepping for knee surgery!

    What a great idea! Broccoli Brownies. Wow. I will have to try this recipe because it looks easy enough with few ingredients!

    C is still passing, haha.

    I love me some oat flour.

    Happy Friday to you!

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  7. Wow broccoli brownies? Crazy! I'd love to try that. I've made brownies using pumpkin as the fat replacement before. Oh, and I suppose I've made black bean brownies...those didn't turn out so well.

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  8. You have my curiosity and now I HAVE to try this! My kids will be my guinea pigs of course :-) I remember making fudge with pureed prunes many years ago, and it turned out to be really good. Fun to read your FODMAPs "interview" on Food trainers today!

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  9. not sure I would like the broccoli chunks either lol! Puree -- maybe. They look good!
    Loved the FODMAP interview today on Laurens blog... planning to read more about that soon!

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  10. Wow-- I've heard of pumpkin, applesauce, and even black beans as subs, but broccoli?? That's a new one! They do look delicious and fudgey though!

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  11. Whoa, this is interesting.
    I don't try and replace the fat in baked goods, but I'm more of a lower carb person---I'd rather sub out the sugar for something better.

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  12. This is so cool Gina! I loooooove sneaking in veggies any way I can. Think the hubs would notice?

    I'm a fan of adding bean purées, pumpkin/sweet potato and applesauce in, but never have I thought about broccoli purée. So cool.

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  13. Wow! I use pumpkin often but broccoli is pretty cool! Definitely the puree though, I don't want full chunks of broccoli in my brownies!

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  14. no she didnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn'

    hahaha i can't BELIEVE there are such things as broccoli brownies. i mean i guess i could imagine serving them to kids as a sneaky way to squeeze in brox but still like i'll have a bowl of broccoli and a regular brownie. although i am intrigued to make these and serve them to my brother without telling him hahaa

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  15. that's a really really creative way to make brownies! I think cauliflower puree would work too! That's wonderful way to incorporate more veggies and make the dessert a little more healthy! Love it!

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  16. Wow! SO cool! They look super dark and fudgey! I use applesauce and pumpkin frequently too, and Greek yogurt! And I've used prune puree as a fat and sweetener replacement in brownies, with surprisingly good results...

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  17. I'm with you I think puree is the way yo go. I want a broco-brownie intern. Like Nicole, I've gone the black bean route. Love getting an actual veg in and GF, do you think my family would make these for Valentines Day, I don't love baking.

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