Healthy Gluten Free Brownie Cups

These brownie cups are so healthy, I almost called them "Breakfast Brownie Cups". Meaning, you could enjoy them for breakfast and get your day off to a great start. But they don't taste healthy. They're super fudgy and seemingly decadent, with a blast of sweet chocolate in every bite. So how can they be good for you? Let me count the ways...

Here's how these brownie cups are healthy: I replaced regular flour with coconut flour,  making them gluten-free. Coconut flour also makes the consistency of the batter more fluffy. I used coconut sugar, which has a lower glycemic index than regular sugar. You could also use maple syrup. I replaced most of the fat with applesauce, and then used just 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (instead of butter). I used lowfat milk, but you could also use almond or soy milk for a dairy-free version. I used two whole eggs, but you could substitute 4 egg whites and slash 10 grams of fat from the batter.

A handful of easy swaps and you can enjoy these brownies anytime you want - guilt free!

Healthy Gluten Free Brownie Cups

Cooking spray
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup coconut sugar, maple syrup or granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
5 tablespoon milk of choice (choose almond or soy milk for a dairy-free version)
2 large eggs or 4 large egg whites
2 tablespoons melted coconut oil
2 teaspoons mini semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat four 1/2-cup ramekins with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut flour, sugar, cocoa, and baking powder. Add the applesauce, milk and eggs and stir to combine. Stir in the coconut oil. The mixture will resemble chocolate mousse more than brownie batter.
Spoon the mixture into the prepared ramekins and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over top.
Transfer the ramekins to a baking sheet and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a wooden pick comes out clean (the batter will look shiny and undercooked, but it's not!). The outside will also be dry to the touch. Cool for a few minutes before serving. Serve with a spoon!

Serves 4