Friday, April 19, 2013

Make Your Brownies And Blondies Healthy

Nothing beats a homemade brownie or blondie , especially as an after school treat with a glass of cold milk (or soy or rice)> Yet these treats are loaded in bad stuff from refined sugar to refined flour. This can bring on everything from plaque to fat. How to avoid this and  still enjoy these classic treats? Make them healthier.

I was inspired by reading Melissa Clark';s Good Appetite Column in Wednesday's New York Times Dining section. Her blondies are richly decadent, with a buttery chocolate bottom topped off by an even richer top loaded with bananas and rum (think Bananas Foster) I would sub in whole wheat flour for the refined white one along with using only one whole egg instead of the requisite two
You do have to add butter and sugar but try unsalted and use Stevia instead of brown sugar.(although the taste may not be as rich , thanks to omitting the last).

Brownies can go from sinful to healthy too. Usually most brownie recipes call for rich cocoa , cups of melted butter and refined white sugar. These create just decadent treats however they can be high in calories and cholesterol. Brownies can be made healthy. For one thing you can sub in carob for chocolate. It has the same flavor more or less as real chocolate. You can add nuts such as almonds to get the same nutty flavor along with walnuts and pecans. Honey can be used for a healthy sweetener along with whole wheat flour or spelt flour.

Brownies and blondies are great after school treats as well as being tasty desserts. Make them not only good tasting but good for you by subbing in healthy ingredients. They're still sinful but not as much  as the originals