Applesauce Brownies? Eh..not so great
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16679)
Boston, Massachusetts
May 7, 2016 4:52pm CST
Some days you just need some kind of treat. Well, I need some treat, at least, even if you insist on eating just raw foods and vegetables you just yanked out of the ground with your own two hands.
And I would be perfectly happy with an artery-clogging cupcake, twinkie or ring-ding. But I don't have any of those, and so I decided to bake some brownies.
I feel guilty about making a treat or dessert that The Man can't enjoy, however. So, I tried to make it a healthier snack. That means lowering fat and cholesterol.
I substituted egg beaters for the eggs. And I substituted applesauce for the oil. I have used applesauce instead of oil in muffins and bread pudding and it was very nice.
But it doesn't work in brownies. Brownies are meant to be fudgy, not apple-y. While they don't taste bad, the apple is really noticeable. Chocolate/apple cakes, that's what they are.
The Boy has a friend over who doesn't seem to notice that these brownies taste like apples, because he has eaten about half the pan by himself. I thought they were moist and had a nice texture, but they weren't quite brownies.
Have you ever ruined a favorite recipe by trying to make it healthier? I wonder if it isn't better to just make the thing you crave and get it over with rather than have something disappointing that doesn't satisfy the craving.
22 people like this
23 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
7 May 16
My aunt used to make up batches of brownies but put zucchini in it. I am not sure if she replaced any of the other ingredients, or cut back on any of them though.
They were very delicious and you couldn't tell that zucchini was in them at all.
I wonder if a different flavored apple sauce would have tasted better? You know they have cinnamon flavored, berry flavored... I bet cinnamon flavored applesauce might have given it more of a nice kick.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
8 May 16
@Rollo1
For the most part, we've always been more Southern Traditional with our baking. No short cuts / healthy choices are added into the things my family bakes.
I can't bake for anything myself though.
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
7 May 16
Surely there's no point in eating brownies if they're healthy?!
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
8 May 16
I think applesauce taste good in brownies. I have noticed you need to add less applesauce as it called for oil. I cut it in half.
I make many recipes to a healthier version. It is trail and error til can get the right taste.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 May 16
Maybe one of these other subs would work better, applesauce is on there, but so are other ones
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1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
8 May 16
@Rollo1 I dont like em myself, but they use em alot, going to message you the list, I figure more research can be done if some look like a good idea! and a few actually really do
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
8 May 16
I went looking for an unbaked brownie recipe for you. If you skip the ganache (and this isn't really a ganache, that should be cream based) this might work
The problem is that a brownie just isn't right without a crisp crust.
Simple, raw vegan brownies studded with raw walnuts and cacao nibs! A 5-ingredient coconut oil chocolate ganache is optional but recommended for a fudgy, decadent finish. A healthier vegan, gluten free dessert!
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
8 May 16
They look interesting - like a no bake fudge. I do love anything with a dollop of frosting on it and I love dates. I would eat those brownies. However, coconut oil is really high in saturated fat, and tropical oils in general are not recommended for the "heart healthy" diet that The Man has to follow. It's not easy to find recipes that follow all the rules he has set down for him. Sigh.
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
8 May 16
I don't bake anymore. I buy a package of small chocolate Bundt cakes with chocolate frosting and chocolate chips on them. I cut them in half and freeze all but one piece. I eat about one each week. Total decadence.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
8 May 16
Your daily requirements for chocolate must be very low. Mine are slightly higher. But the good news is that chocolate has a lot of health benefits. That is, if you believe everything they tell you and only for today because tomorrow the healthiest thing you can do today is the thing that tomorrow they will say is deadly.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
8 May 16
@Rollo1 I do believe chocolate is healthy. I buy dark chocolate bars, cut them into small pieces and place them in a plastic container in my pantry. A square a day, just like with apples and oranges.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
8 May 16
I actually have a chocolate apple cake that I absolutely love. I only make it at Christmas but I haven't made it in a long time. I may have to try that substitute! Except I'll use real eggs.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
8 May 16
@Rollo1 No fresh apples, actually the recipe name is Quick Applesauce Cake. But it calls for a half cup or so of Cocoa. I love the two flavors together! But then, I have used applesauce in recipes before and thought it was great. So what do I know?
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
8 May 16
@Jeanniemaries I have used it in other things but this is the first time I tried it in brownies. It's a good sub in many recipes but this one didn't work well for me. It's about experimenting till you find what you like, I guess.
@Marilynda1225 (79769)
• United States
9 May 16
I thought applesauce would work as a substitute for oil but I guess it just doesn't work for brownies
@Dishari (687)
•
8 May 16
If someone has eaten up half of it, it surely was delicious! At least you discovered a whole new recipe while experimenting! Hope to find it in stores soon! 
