A Different Brownie

I have a project up my sleeve involving baby food jars.  My "baby" just turned twenty years old last week, so I really don't have a use for baby food.  I looked into buying empty jars on Etsy, but the cost with shipping was about twice what I could pay for full jars at the big box discount store here in town.  I'm pretty frugal, so I knew it would be foolish to pay double, but I also grew up with parents who do not believe in waste.  I can't just pour out all that baby food.  I solved my dilemma by buying baby applesauce and making chocolate applesauce brownies.  (To be truthful, though, they are better with regular, non-baby applesauce.  Baby food applesauce is so finely processed that it is almost a liquid.) These brownies are a favorite of mine from childhood.  They are moist and dense, and the applesauce adds a different taste. Over the years, I updated the recipe to reduce the original amounts of sugar and salt.  Give them a try for a change of pace.  I'm going to be eating a lot of them in order to empty my baby food jars!

Chocolate Applesauce Brownies

2 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup butter

1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup applesauce (or two baby food jars)

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Spray a 9x13 pan with vegetable spray; set aside.

In microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate and butter together in microwave; stir to combine.  While chocolate and butter are melting, sift together flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl.

In a large bowl, beat or whisk eggs until light.  Gradually add sugar and continue to whisk.    Stir in chocolate/butter mixture.  Whisk for 30 seconds or until fully incorporated.  Add flour mixture and whisk until smooth.  Stir in applesauce, nuts, and vanilla. 

Pour into 9x13 pan.  Tap pan gently to release air bubbles.  Bake at 350 degrees F. for about 30 minutes (check for doneness after 25 minutes).    Let cool and cut into squares.

Printable recipe

Constant Cravings -- Solution!

The microwave brownies didn't stop the chocolate cravings.  Even a few Dove dark chocolates didn't do it.  Let's face it, when a girl wants brownies, a girl wants BROWNIES.  Thursday afternoon I broke down and made the real McCoy -- the ultimate, luscious, deep dish brownies that I was craving.

I've had this recipe for years, and I have no idea where I got it.  It's so perfect, I hardly tinker with it at all.  My only addition to this recipe is the chopped nuts.  The original recipe calls for margarine.  I have used butter, but I really can't tell any difference in the finished product.  And three sticks is a lot, so I generally use margarine as it's less expensive. You can halve the recipe, but I never do because I prefer middle pieces to edges, and there aren't enough middles with a square pan.  I tried to offset this decadence by also making homemade vegetable soup.  I figure all the vegetables sorta balance out all the sugar.  The main thing, though, is that the chocolate craving has been satisfied.  Ahhh.

Deep Dish Brownies

1 1/2 cups margarine, melted
3 cups sugar (1 cup of this can be brown sugar)
3 teaspoons vanilla
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups chocolate or peanut butter chips (I always use chocolate!)
1 cup chopped walnuts




Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9 x 13 pan.
In medium mixing bowl, blend melted margarine, sugar, and vanilla.  Add eggs; beat well.
Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.  Gradually add to egg mixture, beating until well blended.
Stir in chips and nuts.
Spread in pan.
Bake 40-45 minutes.