Fudgey Brownie Bites

So everyone loves the edge pieces of a brownie right? The crispy-ish outside with a soft,fudgey inside. How much better can you get?? (I like lots of texture in my food). 

When first creating this recipe, I kept imagining the clear container stacked with little round bite-sized brownies. THAT is what I wanted to make. 

And make them, I DID. 

Only these are healthier.

And they just so happen to be vegan and gluten free

And they have a hidden fruit/veggie. 

And they’re still deliciously rich, chewy, and fudgy. 

They’re PERFECT

Some things I particularly love about these brownie bites over a whole big tray of brownies:

• They take less time to bake. You don’t have to wait an hour PLUS for them to bake and them cool before you can eat them 
• You get the best part of brownies in EVERY piece. Crispy outside, fudgy center. It’s like every piece is an end piece (which I don’t want on cake, but brownies? YES)
• They’re pre-portioned. Not cutting required. It’s so easy just to grab one when you’re wanting something sweet.Or two or three if you REALLY want!

Here’s what we’re using to make them:

• Almond Flour – makes them gluten free and adds protein + fiber to make them more blood sugar friendly
• Coconut Sugar – my favorite sugar to use. Adds a caramel-y taste, as well as added nutrients and a lower glycemic index than white sugar.
• Cacao Powder – obviously
• Baking Soda – a brownie staple. Baking soda usually works better over baking powder in brownies
• Salt – to balance out the sweetness. Necessary in EVERY dessert
• Maple Syrup – to add a bit more sweetness + liquid
• Coconut Oil – a necessary fat to make them fudgy! We don’t use a lot because we’re also using…
• Applesauce OR Pumpkin Puree – I find adding one of these helps you use less oil while keeping that awesome brownie texture. Plus you get the added nutrient bonus from the apples or pumpkin! Make sure to use unsweetened applesauce. 
• Vanilla extract – It just works
• Mini chocolate chips – for more chocolatey goodness! Make sure they’re mini, since these bites are so small, regular chips would just be too large. You can also get your favorite chocolate bar and finely chop it. 
• Flaky Sea Salt – in my opinion, a necessary ingredient in any dessert, especially if it’s got chocolate. NOTHING compares to that salt/sweet contrast.

And all you need is a couple bowls, a spatula, and a mini muffin pan!

What if I don’t have a mini muffin pan?

First, get one! Just kidding. Mini muffins are great to make little bite sized treats of all kinds, but I’ll admit I don’t use mine ALL the time. 

You can use a regular muffin pan, although you’ll get less bites and will need to cook them a little longer. I haven’t done this so I can’t confirm the bake time for them. I would guess 15-18 minutes, but don’t quote me. 

Whether you make these little bites for Valentine’s Day, to bring to a party, or just because, I’d love to hear about it!

Enjoy!!