Vegan breakfast brownies with salted caramel hot chocolate frosting
These whole-wheat vegan breakfast brownies are made with applesauce, walnuts, flax and chocolate, with no separate cooking oil added to the batter. A salted caramel hot chocolate frosting makes them extra delicious.
Servings: 20 brownies
Calories: 128kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (can substitute with half and half of all-purpose and regular whole wheat flour)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
- ¼ cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup walnuts, lightly roasted and chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup applesauce
- ½ cup maple syrup (can sub with sugar)
- 2 flax eggs (whisk 2 tablespoon flax meal with 6 tablespoon water and set aside for a couple of minutes)
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For salted caramel hot chocolate frosting:
- ¼ cup vegan semisweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup nondairy milk
- ¼ cup cane sugar or turbinado sugar
- Salt (a pinch, for the frosting)
- Salt flakes (for topping, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving some overhang to get the brownies out of the pan after they have baked.
- To make the brownies, in a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, coffee granules, chocolate chips, and walnuts.
- In a larger bowl, mix the applesauce, maple syrup, flax eggs and vanilla extract.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix with a spatula until just combined.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Make the salted caramel hot chocolate frosting:
- In a small saucepan, mix the sugar, milk and the listed pinch of salt. Heat until the sugar has melted and started to turn brown.
- Turn off the heat and add the chocolate chips. Working fast, stir them in with the spatula until melted, then frost the top of the cake. The frosting solidifies rather fast, so work quickly.
- Sprinkle on some more salt flakes if desired. Cool thoroughly, cut, and eat.
Notes
- The cooking allowance includes the 35-minute bake and about five minutes for the stovetop frosting. Allow additional time for the frosted brownies to cool completely before cutting.
Nutrition
Serving: 1brownie | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Sodium: 66mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg