Category Archives: Searching for the best brownie

Pin 222, Greek Yogurt Brownies

Posted by suzyhomebaker in 261 Days Pinned Challenge, bars, cake, chocolate, kid friendly, low-fat, Searching for the best brownie, Transformation and tagged with , ,

Greek yogurt is my dessert at the end of the day. I top it with a little agave syrup and some granola. Very satisfying. When I saw this Pin I had to try it because I love chocolate and my fridge is stocked with yogurt.

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Honestly, they look better than they taste. They appear to be a fudgy, decadent brownie, but pictures can be deceiving.

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They are very chocolately, especially with the addition of the chocolate chips. But they have the texture of a low-fat brownie. A bit rubbery, not at all fudgy. Although, if you are on a diet, or simply watching your sweet intake, these could give you that little chocolate satisfaction. At only about 115 calories per brownie, it’s a nice little treat at the end of the day. In the search for the best brownie, this would be at the bottom of the list. And by the way, Riley says:

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so eat a low-fat brownie!

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Recipe courtesy of fitsugar.com and Shape Magazine

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons espresso
1/2 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil; spray foil lightly with cooking spray.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, salt,and baking powder. Set aside.
  3. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until combined. Add egg, egg whites, vanilla and coffee. Continue beating until incorporated.
  4. Scrape down sides of the bowl and reduce mixer speed to low. Slowly add flour mixture to the bowl, followed by yogurt, and mix gently until combined. The batter will be thick.
  5. Stir in chocolate and walnuts if using.
  6. With a spatula, spread mixture evenly in pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of pan comes out dry. Cool on a wire rack before removing from pan and slicing into 16 squares.

Recipe makes 16 2-inch by 2-inch servings.

114 calories
5g fat
16g carbs
2g protein
1g fiber
16mg calcium
61mg sodium

221 to go……..

Searching for the best brownie: Cook’s Illustrated’s Best Chewy Brownie

Posted by suzyhomebaker in bars, chocolate, kid friendly, Searching for the best brownie

This is a good one. And you know its good if that’s how I’m starting. It’s fudgy, it’s chocolatey but not too overpowering, it’s chewy, it’s so good. It rivals and I think surpasses the first brownie recipe I posted from King Arthur and I think may have bumped it out of the first place position. I made this recipe for Riley’s preschool graduation Family picnic and a couple moms and one of the teachers raved about it. In fact, they took the remainder of them home. I have yet to find a recipe from Cook’s Illustrated that doesn’t totally satisfy and deliver. Definitely make this one. It will not disappoint. Did I mention its fudgy?

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Searching for the best brownie: King Arthur’s Best Fudge Brownies Ever

Posted by suzyhomebaker in bars, chocolate, kid friendly, Searching for the best brownie

I have a new quest; to search for the best, fudgiest, super chocolatey brownie. Here’s my first attempt, and a good one at that. I ripped this recipe off a King Arthur flour bag and have been waiting to make it for some occasion, this occasion being a bake sale. But really, does anyone need a reason to make a tray of brownies? I could tell you a good reason not to. You’ll probably eat the whole tray if they’re any good. You’ll probably eat them even if they’re mediocre. These are hardly mediocre. They are very fudgey, full of chocolate (there’s a bag of semi-sweet chips in there), maybe an inch thick, and have that nice crackled glassy sheen top. Warm out of the oven they are the quintessential brownie. If I had vanilla ice cream on hand that would have made the whole experience perfect. An accompanying glass of milk did help. A couple of days later, they’re still very good with a lot less moisture of course but still very fudgey.  I like to nuke em in the micro for 12 – 15 seconds to get that fresh-baked feeling back. All in all, these are very good brownies and a good start to my search. I can honestly say its the top contender.