Taya's Avocado Brownies

When I'm craving something sweet and fudgy but that won't make me feel the pain from processed sugars, Avocado Brownies are my absolute go to. They hit every craving, especially if you substitute for crunchy peanut butter and garnish with a flake of sea salt... Lets get cookin'!

Ingredients Needed

• 1 small ripe avocado (~ ½ cup mashed)

• ½ cup cacao powder (or cocoa powder)

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup coconut sugar (or brown sugar)

• ¼ cup almond butter

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

• ½ cup dark chocolate chips (dairy-free, if needed)

Instructions Preheat the oven to 325ºF and line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. (Grease the pan first, so the parchment paper will stay in place.) In a food processor, combine the avocado (peel and pit removed), cacao powder, eggs, coconut sugar, almond butter, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the bowl as needed.

• Fold in the chocolate chips, then pour the batter into the prepared pan. (Decorate the top with a few extra chocolate chips, if desired.)

• Bake at 325ºF for 40 minutes, or until the center of the brownies looks cooked through. (You don't want it to jiggle when you shake the pan.) Allow the brownies to cool completely. The avocado flavor is MUCH more pronounced if you try these warm, so please don't be tempted to taste them until they have come to room temperature. You can place them in the fridge if you want to speed up the cooling process, or you'll have to wait at least 2 hours for them to cool on the counter.

• Slice the brownies into small squares and serve. It's normal for this brownie to stick to the knife a bit with you cut them since they are flourless and fudgy. Leftovers can be stored on the counter for up to 48 hours, or in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.