Yes you read that right. No it's not a trick. Yes, they are delicious. I am so excited about this recipe. I have been trying my very hardest to eat clean and feed my kids better for a long time, but have really put in extra effort the past few months. In doing so, I'm so far down 17lbs, and while I have more to go, it's a start. When I made this recipe, I was so super excited, because they are delicious, and by my calculations, about 51 calories each. FIFTY ONE. As far as treats go, that's pretty awesome. Not to mention all the healthy ingredients, so it's not at all like eating 51 calories of a store bought brownie.
Here goes.
Ingredients:
2/3cup freshly made cinnamon applesauce
2 very ripe medium bananas
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 whole egg
2 cups shredded zucchini (placed on paper towel for a few minutes to absorb some moisture)
2 cups oat flour (use approx. 2 1/4 cups oats, blend it until in fine powder)
1/4 cup freshly ground flax seeds (throw seeds in with oats)
To start, cook 1-2 peeled, sliced apple with a dash of cinnamon until soft. Add in a touch of water so the bottom of your pot doesn't scorch your apples. I say this, because I've learned the hard way. Also, my cinnamon spice jar was kind enough to fall apart when I tried to add a dash, so it looks a bit excessive - but it was fine.
Here goes.
Ingredients:
2/3cup freshly made cinnamon applesauce
2 very ripe medium bananas
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 whole egg
2 cups shredded zucchini (placed on paper towel for a few minutes to absorb some moisture)
2 cups oat flour (use approx. 2 1/4 cups oats, blend it until in fine powder)
1/4 cup freshly ground flax seeds (throw seeds in with oats)
To start, cook 1-2 peeled, sliced apple with a dash of cinnamon until soft. Add in a touch of water so the bottom of your pot doesn't scorch your apples. I say this, because I've learned the hard way. Also, my cinnamon spice jar was kind enough to fall apart when I tried to add a dash, so it looks a bit excessive - but it was fine.
While your apples are cooking, add your oats and flax seed into your blender and grind until they are in a fine powder. Set aside in large mixing bowl.
Once your apples are soft, let them cool a few minutes, and transfer to the blender. Puree them until they are smooth. Pour your apple sauce out to measure 2/3 of a cup. I fed the rest to my children. I used a gigantic apple, so there was extra!
Now add the COOLED apple sauce back into the blender, along with sliced bananas, egg, and vanilla.
Once your apples are soft, let them cool a few minutes, and transfer to the blender. Puree them until they are smooth. Pour your apple sauce out to measure 2/3 of a cup. I fed the rest to my children. I used a gigantic apple, so there was extra!
Now add the COOLED apple sauce back into the blender, along with sliced bananas, egg, and vanilla.
I neglected to take a picture of the wet ingredients once they were mixed. Whoops.
In your large mixing bowl, which should now have your oat/flax mixture, add your cocoa powder, baking powder and soda, salt. You could always sift your oats, flax and cocoa to ensure it's super smooth, but I didn't worry about that. Mix thoroughly.
In your large mixing bowl, which should now have your oat/flax mixture, add your cocoa powder, baking powder and soda, salt. You could always sift your oats, flax and cocoa to ensure it's super smooth, but I didn't worry about that. Mix thoroughly.
Add in your wet ingredients from the blender, and your zucchini. Mix until moistened.
Grease a 9x13 cake pan (we used coconut oil which works like a charm, but it's entirely up to you).
Put pan into your preheated over at 350 degrees F. Bake for 24-26 minutes, depending on your oven. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes. Place on a cooling rack and let cool completely before cutting. We cut ours into 21 pieces which was plenty big enough for a serving.
You could always alter the recipe to suit your tastes, or add extras in. If you felt so inclined, you could add walnuts, pecans, or dark chocolate chips. If you're looking to add extra protein, you could reduce your oats slightly and add your favourite chocolate protein powder.
If you have more of a sweet tooth, you could add in 1/2-1 cup of raw sugar or 1/2 cup of honey to sweeten it. If you add honey, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time. I found that the apple sauce and bananas made it plenty sweet enough for us.
There are so many ways to make this versatile treat your own! The challenge comes from only eating one at a time!
Let me know how it works for you, and if you enjoyed them!
If you have more of a sweet tooth, you could add in 1/2-1 cup of raw sugar or 1/2 cup of honey to sweeten it. If you add honey, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time. I found that the apple sauce and bananas made it plenty sweet enough for us.
There are so many ways to make this versatile treat your own! The challenge comes from only eating one at a time!
Let me know how it works for you, and if you enjoyed them!