Gluten Free Zucchini Brownies

After making the applesauce bread, that turned out really well, I got a little bold.  This  recipe is a little more healthy.  This is not the best brownie I’ve ever made, but it it the most healthy, and it is gluten free.  I recently tried the Fiber One Brownies.  These are way better than Fiber One.  

I used the batter from the Apple Sauce Bread recipe, but cut the sugar in half, cut the butter by more than half, and added some apple sauce to the batter.  This is a trick in many low fat recipes.  Dont’ be fooled.  This is not terribly low fat, but it is gluten free!  I sprinkled some instant coffee on top, after removing this from the oven to “darken” the chocolate flavor.  This is optional, of course.  You could top with a dark chocolate or cream cheese icing.  This is what I did:

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs.
• 3 tbsp. melted butter.
• 1/2 cup apple sauce.
• 1/2 cup sugar.
• 1 1/3 cups cooked quinoa.
• 1 3/4 cups rice flour.
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder.
• 1/2 tsp. each baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Approximately 2 cups shredded zucchini.
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut. (optional).
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans).
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips.
• 2 tbsp. instant coffee crystals.

Process:

• Heat the oven to 350.
• Prepare a 9 x 13 cake pan with oil/butter and flour/cocoa.
• In mixer, mix the eggs.
• Add the melter butter, apple sauce, and sugar.
• Mix well.
• Add the quinoa. 
• Mix.
• Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Mix.
• Add the zucchini, coconu, walnuts, and chips.
• Mix.
• Pour the batter in the prepared pan.  
• Place the pan in the oven.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
• If desired, top the warm cake with instant coffee crystals, or whatever you like!

This, too, would be nice, topped with whipped or ice cream.  What wouldn’t?