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Mariel here. About a month ago, I stumbled across a “Secret Recipe Club” hosted by Amanda’s Cookin’ and since I’m a sucker for secrets, I opted in. The premise is simple enough: each chef is assigned a different food blog and must choose a recipe to recreate in their own kitchen. Then, on a designated date, they have to share their successes – or failures – with their own readers. The goal is two-pronged: 1) you’re introduced to a bevy of new bloggers 2) you’re also introduced to a slew of new recipes. It’s a win-win really.
For this month’s installment, I was instructed to “Meet the Swans” – a lovely little blog devoted to the finer art of nesting. Chronicling Krista Swanson’s engagement and first year of marriage, Meet the Swans also encompasses a recipe section that’s primarily dessert-focused. In Krista’s world, “brownies” and “cookies” are two separate and distinct food groups, which I wholeheartedly respect.
Thumbing through the pages of her site, I came across a recipe for Zucchini Brownies that Krista originally culled from All Recipes. Intrigued, I decided to indulge in a very Deceptively Delicious exercise of sneaking otherwise innocent veggies into a chocolate-laden sugar bomb. You know, to healthy things up. The first time I made these, I stayed true to the original recipe but the results were a mixed bag: the brownies were ooey-gooey and sufficiently chocolatey, but they crumbled at the slightest provocation making it nearly impossible to eat them the old fashioned way: with my grubby hands. Since then, I’ve tweaked the recipe by adding an egg and deleting a ½-cup of shredded zucchini, which instantly remedied the problem.
Another upside of all this experimenting was that the Zucchini Brownies reminded me of one of my favorite sneakily healthy desserts: Chocolate Black Bean Cake. Dense and rich, you’d never know that this decadent treat is packed to the gills with fibrous legumes. It eats like a splurge without actually busting any buttons. In the meantime, do check out Krista’s other treats – her Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies look ridiculously good.
Print This Recipe
Zucchini Brownies
Makes about 20 brownies
Adapted from Meet the Swans
Ingredients for the brownies:
1 large egg, lightly beaten – stock
½-cup canola or vegetable oil – stock
1½ cups granulated sugar – stock
2 teaspoons vanilla extract – stock
1½ cups of zucchini, shredded/grated (about one big zucch) – $0.75
2 cups flour – stock
½ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened) – stock
1½ teaspoons baking soda – stock
½ teaspoon salt – stock
Ingredients for frosting:
3 Tablespoons butter, melted – stock
6 Tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened) – stock
1½ cups powdered sugar – stock
¼-cup (or just a splash less) of milk – stock
½ teaspoon vanilla – stock
Grand total assuming well-stocked kitchen: $0.75
Cost per brownie: $0.03
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In large bowl, stir together the lightly beaten egg, oil, vanilla, sugar, and grated zucchini. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, soda and salt. Stir dry ingredients into zucchini mixture in batches.
3. The mixture will be somewhat gluey FYI, but spread it evenly in a greased 9×13 baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes. Set aside to cool on a wire rack.
4. Prepare the frosting by melting the butter very gently in a double boiler or the microwave then stirring in the cocoa. Using a hand-mixer or an electric mixer, beat the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat in the butter mixture and spread over cooled brownies. Make sure the brownies are totally cool before trying to do this.
Thank you for your nice comment about the Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies and for trying out the Zucchini Brownies. I’ve made these several times and I’ve never had them turn out so crumbly that they didn’t stay together. Although they are fudgy, I would say they also have lighter and more cake-like crumbly texture than a “normal” brownie. It was interesting to hear about your experience with the recipe!
Yeah I’m not sure why mine were so “delicate” that i couldn’t pick them up without them falling apart, but my husband went nuts for them so it probably won’t be the last time I make them!
The brownies look so moist and delicious. I would never have guess they were crumbly. I love chocolate zucchini bread, so I’d probably be like your husband and enjoy these.
You’ve made my morning, Mariel. Still laughing. 🙂 …Susan
Oooo, you are really sneaky! I bet the zucchini make the brownies even more moist.
What a great idea to use zucchini in a brownie. Sounds so delicious! Oh, summer, come quickly so zucchinis will be plentiful again!
This brownie recipe sounds wonderful! I’m in love with chocolate zucchini bread, so I know this will be a hit with my taste buds.
Thrilled to have taken part in the SRC with you and discovered new blogs.
I’m all for putting vegetables into a chocolaty treat. These look so fudgy and rich that I don’t think anyone would ever suspect the “secret” ingredient hiding inside.
I always love zucchini bread, but I’ve never tried zucchini brownies. These sound great!
Calling husband now to make sure he planted zucchini so I can make these brownies! Gorgeous!!
I love making brownies healthy, this is a great idea, thanks!
Gorgeous photo – those brownies look so decadent! Love the idea of using them as an ice cream topping! 🙂
I think the brownies look great. I have made a chocolate cake with zucchini that is heavenly and you can’t even tell there is zucchini in them.
http://www.bakingandboys.com/2009/08/zucchini-chocolate-cake-and-awesome.html
I also later adapted it and made a healthier version, which does taste a little healthier, but is still really good.
http://www.bakingandboys.com/2009/09/craving-and-healthier-chocolate.html
The frosting does look divine on your bronwies!
I like to bake with zucchini, but haven’t ever thought to put them in brownies. That frosting sounds amazing!
Isn’t Zucchini such a wonderful food- it goes so well in cakes. I too made a Zucchini bread for this month’s SRC. Loved it and love your brownies as well!
What a nice way to “healthify” a brownie! I would never guess zucchini would make the brownie crumbly. I’ve only had zucchini in muffins.
I love zucchini bread but have never taken the plunge to include zucchini in brownies. I look at the recipe I make for bread each time and truth be told, would be hard pressed to label the recipe as somehow better for the inclusion of a veggie, it’s still loaded with plenty of fat and sugar too!
Your experience aside…I must say I was luckier. I LOVE the Whole Wheat pizza with pears and figs I made from your blog. Enough that I bought more dough and pears this weekend. Yummalicious!
Aww thanks Barbara, I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the pizza! I took a gander thru your recipes earlier this morning and I’m keeping my fingers crossed I get assigned your blog next time – it seems like we have such a similar palate… Plus I’m dying to try that Coconut Key Lime Tart with a Honey Yogurt Topping
They look so dark and chocolately and yummylicious!!
I like secrets. I like chocolate… YUMMY!
I’m going to have to try this one.
Well they tasted good, so that’s what counts! They look awesome! Thanks so much for playing along!
Your picture of the brownie is beautiful even if they weren’t your favorite, although the tweaks may be worth playing with to try these out after the zucchini start coming in from my garden 🙂
What a great idea – a secret recipe club. It’s always disappointing when a recipe doesn’t turn out the way we want it to. Your brownies really do look fabulous though.
🙂 Mandy
I love zucchini brownies, one of my favorites!
I’m so glad to see that you are also at SRC! What a great company :-). And you got to make a really yummy dish this month, I love your brownies!
This recipe reminds me of the chocolate zucchini cake my Mom would make each year after picking the zucchini from our little garden that my Dad grew when we were growing up. I’ve always love the combo of chocolate and zucchini. I’ve made chocolate muffins like this at home and nobody know that there zucchini in there. 😉
Well your photo sure makes these brownies look irrestible!! And I’m sure they would be gobbled up immediately! There is chocolate zuchini bread, so why not brownies too ?!
These look gorgeous! I haven’t tried zucchini in a sweet recipe yet… and I think this is the one I am going to have to start with!
Isn’t the Secret Recipe Club so much fun!?! This was my second time playing along and I’ve really enjoyed it. Love these brownies – and I’m sure my grandkids are going to enjoy them the next time they visit.
WOW! Your picture is awesome. I just love hoping around seeing what everyone is making. I have to try this recipe – somehow when you add a vegetable into a dessert it sounds “better” for you 🙂
wow this is too good!!
My boyfriend does the same thing…dessert in our house lasts MAYBE 24 hours and I get two servings if I’m lucky! I am all about hiding healthy foods in desserts, which might be good for him 🙂
I love the “Secret Recipe Club” idea, I’ve been looking to join something like that….maybe you’ll see me next month 🙂
Hazaaaah!!! There are no eggs & milk in these…If the chocolate doesn’t irritate my baby’s skin…I can EAT these! Thank you
Thats a great recipe to pick from Kristas beautiful blog. You make me want to head to the kitchen and give it a shot right away, frosting and all. The black bean cake is mesmerizing too. How wonderful to meet you via the SRC!
Bummer they weren’t quite right but it sure is a good idea. I cant wait to see the bean cake!