For many, a rich, fudgy brownie is an irresistible indulgence. However, the accompanying calories, fat, and sugar often bring a sense of guilt. What if you could enjoy a truly decadent brownie without any of the dietary drawbacks? We’ve cracked the code with our revolutionary Applesauce and Spinach Brownies! These brownies are not just a treat for your taste buds, they’re a testament to healthy baking innovation. Prepare to be amazed by their deep chocolate flavor, incredibly moist texture, and the sheer ease of preparation, all while being remarkably low in fat and sugar.

These unique brownies ingeniously incorporate hidden vegetables, making them an ideal choice for the pickiest of eaters, including toddlers and school-aged children. Parents rejoice, as this is a delicious way to sneak essential nutrients into their diet without them ever suspecting! Beyond catering to selective palates, these brownies are a game-changer for anyone seeking a healthier dessert option. They are carefully crafted to be low in fat, perfectly suited for a Weight Watchers lifestyle (at just 4 WW points per serving), and completely free of artificial sweeteners. Enjoy them as a satisfying dessert, a wholesome snack, or even a convenient addition to any lunch bag.

Vegetables in Dessert: A Guilt-Free Indulgence

I am an enthusiastic advocate for integrating vegetables into desserts. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy something sweet while knowing you’re also consuming beneficial vitamins and nutrients. This approach significantly reduces the “guilt factor” often associated with dessert. The joy of a treat becomes even greater when it secretly contributes to your well-being. Below are more of my favorite sweet and healthy recipes that cleverly incorporate hidden veggies in the form of purees:

• Potatoes: Experience a unique delight with Potato Ice Cream – surprisingly creamy and delicious!
• Beets: Add natural color and nutrients with my Healthy Red Velvet Cookie Recipe (no dye), which uses canned beets. Similarly, try the vibrant Healthy Red Velvet Pancakes with Sweet Chocolate Cream Cheese Butter.
• Zucchini: This versatile vegetable shines in Chocolate Zucchini Biscotti and the incredibly easy Chocolate Blender Zucchini Bread.
• Lentils: For a truly innovative dessert, try the No Bake Healthy Chocolate Raspberry Red Lentil Dessert Lasagna.
• Avocados: Achieve creamy richness and healthy fats with Chocolate Avocado Mousse & Strawberry Mini Desserts and the refreshing Skinny Strawberry Chocolate Avocado Icebox Cake.
• Pumpkin: A fall favorite that’s great year-round in Healthy Apricot Pumpkin Bran Muffins, Skinny Pumpkin Cheesecake with Oreo Cookie Crust, a comforting Pumpkin Bread (with walnuts), and even Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream (no churn).

One of the greatest testaments to this recipe’s success is that my own children continue to adore these spinach brownies. And here’s the best part: they still love them even *after* discovering the secret ingredient – spinach! This means I no longer feel the need to hide the vegetable from them; they genuinely enjoy the taste, proving just how well the spinach blends into the rich chocolatey goodness.

Ingredient Notes for Perfect Applesauce and Spinach Brownies

To create these incredibly delicious and healthy applesauce and spinach brownies, you’ll need a thoughtful selection of ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the desired taste, texture, and nutritional profile. Here’s a closer look at the key elements:

Beyond the fresh applesauce and vibrant spinach, you’ll also need:

• Spinach. This leafy green is truly the unsung hero of this recipe. It’s so seamlessly incorporated that you’d never guess it’s there! Spinach is not only incredibly nutrient-dense, contributing valuable vitamins and minerals, but it also adds crucial moisture to the brownie batter, resulting in a wonderfully tender crumb.
• Semi-sweet chocolate (baker’s chocolate). Utilizing melted baker’s semi-sweet chocolate is key to achieving that rich, creamy, and undeniably chocolatey texture that defines a perfect brownie. It melts smoothly and integrates beautifully into the batter. Avoid using chocolate chips, as their composition is designed to hold their shape when baked, leading to a different melting consistency and a less uniform chocolate distribution.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder. For an intensified chocolate flavor without adding extra calories, fat, or Weight Watchers points, unsweetened cocoa powder is essential. It provides a deep, robust chocolate taste that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
• Unsweetened applesauce. This is our star ingredient for reducing fat. Unsweetened applesauce effectively replaces a significant portion of the fat (like butter or oil) typically found in traditional brownie recipes, making these low-fat and Weight Watchers friendly. While applesauce is a fantastic fat substitute in baking, it’s important to use it judiciously, as too much can sometimes lead to a chewier, tougher texture. However, in this specific recipe, the balance is meticulously calibrated to ensure these Weight Watchers Brownies maintain an absolutely perfect, tender, and moist texture.
• Canola oil. A small amount of canola oil is included to guarantee the brownies remain wonderfully moist and tender. Completely replacing all the oil with applesauce could indeed result in a dryer, tougher, or overly chewy final product. This modest addition ensures the ideal brownie consistency.
• Brown sugar. The inclusion of brown sugar is intentional for its role in creating a dense, rich, and delightfully chewy texture – all hallmarks of an excellent brownie. Its molasses content also adds a subtle depth of flavor that granulated white sugar cannot replicate.

*Refer to the comprehensive recipe card below for the precise quantities and a complete list of all ingredients.

Recipe Variations to Suit Your Taste

This applesauce and spinach brownie recipe is wonderfully versatile, allowing for minor adjustments to fit your preferences or what you have on hand. Consider these simple variations:

• Egg Whites: For ultimate convenience and to avoid dealing with leftover egg yolks, feel free to use liquid egg whites available in a carton. Alternatively, if you prefer to use fresh eggs, don’t let those leftover yolks go to waste! They are perfect for preparing a batch of my delicious Low-Fat Hollandaise Sauce.
• Sugar: While brown sugar is recommended for its unique flavor and chewy texture, you can substitute white granulated sugar. Be aware, however, that this will result in a slightly different taste profile, lacking the rich, caramel notes that brown sugar imparts.
• Spinach: Both fresh or frozen spinach can be used interchangeably in this recipe. Just ensure that frozen spinach is thawed and thoroughly drained to prevent excess moisture in your batter.
• Oil: Canola oil is specified for its neutral flavor and healthy fat profile, but vegetable oil can be used as a direct substitute without significantly altering the outcome.

Essential Tips for Baking the Best Healthy Brownies

Achieving perfectly moist, fudgy, and delicious brownies with hidden veggies is easy when you follow these key tips:

• Eggs – Always ensure your eggs are at room temperature. Room temperature eggs emulsify more easily with other ingredients, creating a smoother, more uniform batter. This leads to a better rise and a more consistent texture in your final brownies.
• Spinach– If you’re using fresh spinach, simply drain it after cooking. There’s no need to aggressively force out every drop of liquid, as a little moisture is actually beneficial for the batter’s consistency and to keep the brownies moist. However, if you opt for chopped frozen spinach, you don’t necessarily need to puree it (unless you prefer an ultra-smooth consistency). What is crucial is to thaw it, drain thoroughly, and then press down on it a couple of times with a large spoon to expel any significant excess liquid. This prevents your batter from becoming too watery.
• Chocolate– When melting chocolate in the microwave, exercise extreme caution. Ensure that no moisture, dampness, or grease comes into contact with the chocolate, as this can cause it to “seize” – turning it into a grainy, unworkable mess. Always use a low power setting (typically 50% power; consult your microwave manual for specifics). Heat the chocolate in short, 30-second intervals, stirring thoroughly after each interval. The residual heat from the melted chocolate will continue to melt the remaining pieces, so vigorous stirring helps it melt without overheating. Less time in the microwave is often more effective than prolonged heating.
• Flour. Do not, under any circumstances, skip the sifting step for your flour! Sifting is vital because it aerates the flour, making it significantly lighter and airier than unsifted flour. This lighter texture makes it much easier to incorporate smoothly into your wet ingredients, preventing lumps and ensuring a consistently smooth batter. Furthermore, sifting breaks up any existing clumps in the flour, allowing for a more accurate and consistent measurement, which is crucial for baking success.

How to Make Delicious Applesauce and Spinach Brownies

Creating these healthy brownies is a straightforward process. Follow these steps for a perfectly baked batch:

Prep: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prepare a 9×13 inch baking pan by coating it thoroughly with non-stick cooking spray to ensure your brownies release easily.

Spinach puree: To prepare the spinach puree, combine your spinach with 3 tablespoons of water and microwave for approximately 2 minutes, or until thoroughly wilted. Transfer the cooked spinach to a food processor and blend until it achieves a smooth, uniform consistency. Afterward, drain off any excess water by pressing the puree against a fine-mesh sieve.

* If you are using frozen chopped spinach, cook it in the microwave until it’s warm and thawed. If it’s already finely chopped, you do not need to puree it further. Simply drain it well and press down on it a couple of times with a large spoon against a sieve to force out any significant excess liquid. This ensures your batter won’t be too wet.

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1. Step 1: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together the sifted all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder. Ensure all dry ingredients are well combined. Set this bowl aside for later use.

2. Step 2: In a separate large bowl, add the prepared spinach puree, unsweetened applesauce, canola oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Next, whisk in the egg whites until fully incorporated, followed by the brown sugar, mixing until the sugar is well dissolved and the batter is uniform.

3. Step 3: Carefully add the reserved dry ingredients from Step 1 into the wet spinach mixture in the large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are just blended and no pockets of dry flour remain. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough brownies.

4. Step 4: Melt the semi-sweet chocolate. You can do this using a double boiler method, or more quickly, in the microwave. If using the microwave, heat the chocolate in a small bowl at 50% power for about 1 minute and 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until completely melted and smooth. (Always consult your microwave manual if you’re unsure about power settings.) I find the microwave method to be the most efficient.

5. Step 5: Once the chocolate is melted and smooth, gently fold it into the brownie batter. Stir until the melted chocolate is completely incorporated, ensuring a consistent, rich chocolate color throughout the mixture.

6. Step 6: Pour the prepared brownie batter evenly into your greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Use a spatula to spread it smoothly to the edges, ensuring an even thickness for uniform baking.

7. Step 7: Place the pan into your preheated oven and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes. The brownies are done when a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only a few moist crumbs attached. For my oven, exactly 38 minutes provided the perfect bake!

8. Step 8: Once baked, remove the brownies from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This step is absolutely crucial. These brownies *must* be cooled completely before serving to ensure the subtle hint of spinach completely disappears, leaving only the rich, chocolatey goodness.

Top Tip for Ultimate Flavor: Patience is Key!

For an optimal flavor experience, it is paramount to allow these healthy applesauce and spinach brownies to cool completely before cutting into them and serving. While it might be tempting to enjoy them warm, allowing them to cool thoroughly is the secret to ensuring that the spinach flavor completely vanishes, leaving behind only the deep, satisfying chocolate taste and moist texture you crave. Trust us, the wait is worth it!

Serving Size & Adjustments

This healthy applesauce brownies recipe yields a generous 12 servings, each a satisfyingly substantial size. Should you need to cater to a larger crowd or prefer to have more on hand, you can easily double or even triple the recipe. Simply click on the serving number in the recipe card below and adjust it to your desired quantity. The ingredient measurements will automatically scale, taking the guesswork out of recipe adjustments. Remember, for larger batches, you will need an additional baking pan to ensure even cooking.

Storage & Freshness

Proper storage is key to maintaining the moistness and flavor of these delightful spinach brownies. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer-term enjoyment, these brownies freeze beautifully. Place them in an airtight container or a heavy-duty Ziploc freezer bag, and they will retain their freshness for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm for a quick treat.

Weight Watchers Points (WW Points)

Embracing a Weight Watchers lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to forsake the joy of chocolate. In fact, for many, a sustainable weight loss journey must include the occasional satisfying treat. Personally, I firmly believe that adhering to any weight loss program that completely bans chocolate is both unrealistic and, frankly, a cruel deprivation! It’s about smart choices and moderation.

That’s why these substantial-sized Healthy Applesauce & Spinach Brownies are such a triumph for those managing their weight. Each delicious serving comes in at a remarkably low 4 WW points! This allows you to indulge in a rich, fudgy, and wholesome chocolate dessert without derailing your progress, proving that healthy eating can still be incredibly rewarding and tasty.

Your Feedback Matters: Comments & Reviews

Did you know that leaving a comment and a star rating on recipes is one of the most impactful ways to support your favorite recipe creators? Your feedback not only helps others discover delicious recipes but also motivates us to continue creating and sharing! If you’ve loved baking and tasting this healthy applesauce and spinach brownie recipe, please take a moment to share your thoughts. Comment below, rate it in the recipe card, or share photos of your beautiful brownies on social media using the hashtag #foodmeanderings or by tagging @foodmeanderings!