Sweet Potato Brownies

I am skeptical about all of the new versions of brownies that exist these days. Like guys, I'm all for fun and creative ways to make traditional foods, but some of these ideas sound... interesting. Like I'm sorry, but people who have tried black bean brownies?!? I was skeptical to try out sweet potatoes in brownies or chickpeas in cookies, so you better bet your bottom dollar I am hesitant to support black beans. But, I digress...

I personally love sweet potatoes, so I knew that they would work well in a dessert form. When I was playing around with ingredients, I actually combined a few recipes because I wanted these to taste good and not like a dessert that you only eat because it's healthy. There was a period of time where I wouldn't dare bake with flour or sugar. Now, I bake with it all the time and genuinely realize why these ingredients make a difference. I have learned that food should taste good and make you feel happy, and when you substitute ingredients in order to make it purely "healthy", it takes away the pleasure of eating.

I love this recipe because it combines my new approach to baking/cooking. It includes healthy foods like sweet potatoes and applesauce with tasty foods like sugar and flour!

Honestly, these brownies are more of a cake then a brownie texture. Also, since there isn't a lot of sugar, they are more of a dark and decadent flavor then a sugary one!

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Ingredients ( makes about 12 brownies):

• 2 medium sized sweet potatoes

• 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 C whole wheat flour

• 1/2 C sugar

• 1/3 C cocoa powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 C of chocolate chips or however many you want!

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees*

1. Peel sweet potatoes and cook them in the microwave for about 6-8 minutes. Just make sure they're cooked enough in order to blend them in a food processor!

2. In a food processor, add the cooked sweet potatoes, unsweetened applesauce, and vanilla extract

3. In a large bowl, add the sweet potato mix and the eggs

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt

5. Add the dry ingredients into the wet. Do not overmix, but mix just enough for the batter to be fully incorporated

6. Fold in as many chocolate chips as you want

7. Grease up a 9 x 9 tin and add the brownies mix into the tin. Sprinkle a little more chocolate chips on top

8. Bake in the oven for 35-40 mins

9. Let the brownies cool for at least a half and hour before you cut into them!

Notes:

*again, these brownies are more cake like then brownie like. So they are more spongy then a traditional brownie, so be aware of that

*these will last about 3-5 days