Whenever I ask Jesse what sweet treat I should make, I generally get one of two answers; brownies or cookies.
Whilst he'll happily eat anything sweet, these seem to be the two front runners - and low and behold, a few weeks ago when I asked Jesse what he'd like, brownies were the reply I received...
But I didn't feel like just anybrownies.
Frosted brownies felt like too much effort.
Unfrosted brownies felt way too boring.
At first, I thought of peanut butter swirl brownies - but then I remembered I'd finished off the last jar or peanut butter and I didn't feel like walking to the shops.
So I got to thinking...
I wasn't feeling chocolate chips but I kept digging through my cupboard of treasures to get some inspiration - and that's when I saw a packet of gluten free "oreos" tucked away in the corner of the pantry.
Oreos and brownies sounded like a good idea to me. I decided that I was feeling too lazy for a complicated recipe so I had to come up with a one bowl recipe that was fudgy and delicious and filled with delicious oreo pieces - and of course it had to be lightened up too!
I got to work and came up with the bestbrownies ever. In fact, they were so good that Jesse took one bite and then looked at me with huge eyes and a mouth filled with a second mouthful of brownie, saying "no way... these taste like the fattiest most calorific brownies ever - you can't tell me this is a healthier recipe? It's not... is it?".
Whilst these babies are lower in fat, sugar and calories, you really can't tell. The first day you bake them they'll have a crunchy oreo topping - but if you leave them in the fridge overnight, you'll find your oreo chunks have turned into fudgy burst of goodness and you'll be feeling like you're floating on a heavenly cloud of chocolatey goodness.
So let me share the recipe with you! >>
Lightened Up One Bowl Oreo Brownies Recipemakes 9 large squares
gluten free, low fat, lower sugar, lower calorie + dairy free option
2 eggs
1/4 cup (60g) plain greek yogurt*
30 ml rice bran oil or melted coconut oil
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp (75g) coconut sugar or brown sugar (**see notes)
1 cup (120g) gluten free plain flour
1/2 cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1/4 cup milk of your choice
~About 5-6 gluten free oreos, crushed (we like these ones best)
- Grease and/or line a 6" or 8" brownie tin and set aside (we like to use our 6 or 7" brownie tin for thicker brownies!)
- Preheat your oven to 160C/320F
- In a medium mixing bowl, add your eggs, yogurt, oil and sugar and mix until combined.
- Add in your flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt, mixing to combine the ingredients.
- As the mix will be quite dry, add your milk and mix to incorporate all of your brownie ingreidents, mixing until smooth and combined.
- Add in about a third of your crushed oreos to your brownie batter, stirring to incorporate.
- Pour your brownie mixture into your prepared tin, smoothing and spreading out the mix to ensure it is evenly spread.
- Sprinkle your crushed oreos over the top of your brownie batter, ligthly pressing down the oreos into the batter.
- Bake your brownies for 15-20 minutes, or until your edges are firm and a skewer inserted into the middle removes with only a few moist crumbs.
- Allow your brownies to cool before slicing. We suggest chilling them in the fridge before slicing and serving as we like them chilled, however, it's up to you!
- The brownies will have a crunchy oreo topping on the day you make them, however, if you leave them in the fridge overnight your oreos will turn into delicious fudgy bursts of chocolate-y goodness!
- These brownies will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge in an airtight container or months if stored in an airtight ziplock bag in the freezer (simply place them in the fridge overnight to defrost).
Notes:
- *For a dairy free option, replace the yogurt with an equal amount of either a non-dairy yogurt or applesauce.
- **If you like things sweeter, use 1/2 cup of sugar or add 2-3 teaspoons of liquid stevia or a sweetener of your choice.
But tell me, if you're choosing a dessert or sweet to make or eat, what are your top choices?
I'm a chocolate girl so I probably always choose chocolate cake - but then I also love icecream :P