Nutrition Healthy Eating

Almost Heaven Brownies

Summary & Participants

Normal brownies have 250 calories per piece; this recipe has a delightful 89 calories per piece. When they come from the oven after 25 minutes, you'll have moist, delicious brownies to enjoy.

Medically Reviewed On: August 25, 2008

Webcast Transcript

“Taste of Health” with Graham Kerr

Almost Heaven Brownies Serves 16

Time Estimate Hands-on 20 minutes Unsupervised, 25 minutes

Ingredients
¼ cup dried, pitted prunes
¼ cup hot water
½ cup cocoa powder (American-style cocoa instead of the Dutch-processed in this recipe because its higher acid content adds to the acid in the buttermilk, which activates the soda to act as the leavening agent)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons light olive oil
½ cup buttermilk 4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 cup cake flour
¼ teaspoon freshly ground sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup crisp rice cereal

Directions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch (23x33-cm) baking dish with pan spray. Cut a piece of waxed paper to fit the bottom of the pan, lay it in, and spray over the whole bottom.

Soak the prunes in hot water for 15 minutes to soften. Puree in a food processor or blender. Combine pureed prunes, cocoa, vanilla, and oil in a medium bowl and mix well. Add the buttermilk and whisk until the mixture is smooth, with no lumps of cocoa. Whisk in the egg whites until light.

Mix the sugar, flour, salt, and soda in a large mixing bowl. Fold in the chocolate mixture and then stir in the rice cereal. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool and cut into 24 pieces.