Sometimes there is no use in trying to fight it anymore… You just want chocolate! I hear ya! I have a MAJOR sweet tooth and so does my daughter! As with all other desserts that I refuse to live without, I have created a modified brownie recipe WITH icing that allows me to leave some of that guilt behind! These brownies are BONKERS!

They are unbelievably:

Gluten-free

I never really tried working with gluten-free options until I joined my book club. When hosting the book club, the host is in charge of the menu. One of my friends in our group is gluten intolerant and so we always try to provide a gluten-free option for her. I would always avoid baking in the past because flour is in EVERYTHING! I finally crossed the bridge and tried different recipes with gluten-free flour once I found one that didn’t cost an arm and a leg! This is the one that I use:

I honestly can’t tell the difference between recipes when I use Krusteaz GF or when I use a traditional all-purpose flour. Plus it is whole grain and contains no sugar or added sugars like regular flour.

Butter-free and Oil-free

I was born allergic to milk. I can eat it now in moderation but I still try to find alternatives. (For example, I will ALWAYS put orange juice on my cereal rather than milk.) Applesauce is such a great alternative to use instead of butter in recipes. You may notice that, when baking, things are not quite as fluffy when using this alternative. However, the nutritional benefits outweigh the slight texture difference!

Egg-free

Flaxseed and water is an amazing substitution for eggs in almost every recipe. Mixing 1 tbsp flaxseed with 3 tbsp of water and letting sit for 5 minutes replaces one egg. This modification also reduces the cholesterol level and increases the dietary fiber which keeps you full longer! My favorite flaxseed brand is Bob’s Red Mill.

Adding honey to recipes in place of sugar helps to reduce the amount of added sugars. When using this replacement use equal amounts of honey for sugar for up to one cup. If substituting more than one cup, replace each cup of sugar with 3/4 cup honey.

However, eating honey is not recommended for children under the age of 1 due to the risk of Botulism (a paralytic food poisoning that may lead to death). Maple Syrup or molasses may be used as a substitution.