A great way to get your children to eat better is by sneaking nutritious foods into classic favorites. For example, avocados are high in good fats and have a creamy, velvety texture that makes them the perfect ingredient to take your baked goods to the next level.
Avocados can replace butter, eggs and — in this recipe — shortening. As delicious as it is original, kids and adults alike will love the softness that the avocados bring to this chocolate cake, as well as the delightful crunch of the pistachios.
Avocado and Pistachio Brownies
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves: 12
Brownie Ingredients:
- 125 mL (½ cup) melted butter
- 310 mL (1 ¼ cup) sugar
- 125 mL (½ cup) cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 avocado from Mexico, puréed
- 5 mL (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 125 mL (½ cup) all-purpose flour
- 125 mL (½ cup) toasted and crushed pistachios (for garnish)
- Sea salt, to taste (for garnish)
Chocolate icing :
- 1 avocado, puréed
- 250 mL (1 cup) icing sugar
- 180 mL (3/4 cup) cocoa powder
- 5 mL (1 tsp) vanilla extract
- 15 mL (1 tbsp) boiling water
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 170 °C (325 °F). Butter and line an 8-inch square pan.
- Mix sugar, cocoa powder and melted butter in a bowl until smooth. Add remaining brownie ingredients.
- Pour mixture into pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Set aside.
- For the icing, mix puréed avocado with icing sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract in a bowl. Add boiling water and mix until smooth.
- Ice brownies and garnish with pistachios and sea salt.
Source: (NC) www.newscanada.com
Is there a way to make these Keto? They look amazing! Thank you.
Yes, it’s possible to adapt these brownies to be Keto-friendly by replacing the flour and sugar with low-carb alternatives. Here are some suggestions:
Almond Flour: This flour is produced from finely milled blanched almonds. It’s low in carbs, has a mild and slightly sweet flavor, and a moist texture. It’s also highly nutritious, offering a substantial amount of protein, fiber, monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, and other nutrients.
Coconut Flour: Another low-carb alternative to regular flour is coconut flour. It’s derived from dried coconut meat and is rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Erythritol or Stevia: These natural sweeteners don’t elevate blood sugar levels, making them an excellent sugar substitute in Keto recipes.
Keep in mind, Keto flours lack gluten, a protein present in grains that allows flour to rise and maintain its form when leavened with yeast. That’s why most Keto recipes use leavening ingredients other than yeast. Also, Keto flours impart a unique taste and texture to recipes, which may necessitate some adjustments to perfect it.
Please be aware that Keto flours cannot be swapped in a 1:1 ratio in standard recipes. Typically, Keto baking recipes include a blend of low-carb flours and require a larger quantity of eggs or liquid.
I hope this helps! Enjoy your Keto-friendly brownies! 😊