I've heard about baking with avocado for a long time and I've always wanted to try it out. I thought January would be the perfect time for it as being more healthy is on everyone's minds. Avocados are so nutrious and are filled with vitamins and healthy fats, they have been shown to lower cholesterol and are also full of fiber. There is nothing bad about avocados that's for sure! Alternative ingredients are all the rage right now and I've become even more aware of other options to dairy products since my sister became vegan. Unfortunately these brownies aren't vegan friendly, but the frosting is! So you could easily add it to a vegan bake.
I started by mashing up 2 ripe avocados. As they are so popular now you can buy them ready and ripe, or ripen at home. I use a stick blender to make sure I got it as smooth as possible, you could also use a food processor. I mixed 200g sugar into the avocados.
I melted 260g dark chocolate. I used these 70% dark chocolate chips from Chocolate Trading Co. Dark chocolate is also another great ingredient as it is full of minerals and antioxidants.
I mixed the melted dark chocolate into the avocado mixture, then added 4 eggs, one at a time, mixing between each addition. I also added 2 tsp vanilla extract.
Finally I mixed in 30g cocoa powder, 80g plain flour and 1/2 tsp salt. I poured the brownie batter into a lined baking pan.
I baked the brownies on 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 for 30 minutes. I left them to cool completely on a cooling rack.
To make the chocolate frosting I again mashed up 2 ripe avocados and used a stick blender to get them super smooth and lump free.
To the avocado I added 325g icing sugar, 5 tbsp cocoa powder and 1/2 tbsp vanilla. It went very glossy and smooth. I spread it over the brownies and cut them into squares.
When I took the brownies into work I told everyone they were healtheir brownies and there was a secret ingredient in them. No one guessed correctly and everyone was so surprised to find out these had avocados in them! I got some amazing feedback and everyone really liked the brownies, they were very fudgy and dense, and the frosting was so delicious - a close competitor to regular buttercream I think!
I am entering these into myself and Cakeyboi's monthly baking challenge Treat Petite. This month's theme is fruit & veg.
I am also entering these into Belleau Kitchen's challenge Simply Eggcellent, this month's theme is healthier recipes.
Brownie recipe from Fake Ginger.
