Noor’s Protein-Avocado Fudge Brownies

by Noor H. Salem

When you hear brownies, you might subconsciously think of gooey and fattening squares of chocolatey goodness. Readily consumed brownies might contain excessive refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, genetically engineered ingredients, toxic preservatives and really, no nutritional benefit.

When choosing to take the path of holistic wellness, many clients constantly express their concern of finding it difficult to stay on diets, due to missing out on their favorite foods, desserts, and drinks. It’s crucial to recognize that going on a short-term diet that leaves you hungry, deprived, and frankly, moody, isn’t feasible, nor durable. You might find yourself eating the highly processed protein bar instead of your meals, and making it through the first few days, hideously. However, you then drawback, and return to your old habits. Instead of forcing yourself to go on a highly-deprived and short-term diet, work on making permanent lifestyle changes.

When you are eating more whole foods, and focusing on avoiding chemicals, not calories, you will begin to see tremendous change in your physical and mental health alike. Your mood may enhance, as your body is being nurtured better. With that being said, these brownies are health coach approved, and best of all, kids approved. While it may be hard to stop at one store-bought brownie, due to the high sugar and low nutrient value it carries, these brownies will leave you satisfied. These brownies are incredibly high in healthy fats, protein, dietary fiber, and countless vitamins and minerals.

Using almond flour will make these brownies high in protein, making them a great treat, yes, even on your workout days. Again, eating healthy doesn’t mean you must deprive yourself of your favorite foods, drinks, and desserts, and just munch broccoli all day. Almond flour has a lot more grams of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids per cup than its coconut counterpart, leaving you with heart health benefits, cognitive health benefits, digestive relief, and satiety.

Moreover, almond flour is lower in carbohydrates than coconut flour. Nonetheless, coconut flour is an extremely healthy choice. In fact, if you’re looking to intake more dietary fiber into your diet, coconut flour may be a great stepping stone, with approximately ten grams of fiber per cup. Do keep in mind that coconut flour sucks up the moisture in baked goods; if you’re looking for a more gooey and fudgy brownie opt for using the almond flour. You can even use both equally in this recipe, for a boost of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and a remarkable brownie texture.

Frosting; there is so much to say regarding store-bought frosting and how truly detrimental it is for your health. Besides it being beyond excessive in sugar and chemicals, it comes along with hydrogenated oil, which is a Trans fat linked to causing cardiovascular conditions, high blood pressure, and obesity. Hydrogenated oils are extremely harmful to your physical and mental well-being, and should be avoided. The frosting I include in this recipe is made of avocadoes, raw cocoa, and pure maple syrup. Not only is it high in healthy fats, contains more than two dozen vitamins and minerals, and antioxidants, but it’s also free of refined sugar. It’s incredible that something so healthy could be this tasty.

Your kids, and spouse, will be oblivious to the idea of avocados in their frosting. Give these brownies a try, and take gradual steps to reach a healthy lifestyle, enduringly.

Ingredients:

Brownie Base:

• 2 avocados, ripe
• ¼ cup organic pure maple syrup (or coconut palm sugar)
• 3 organic eggs
• ½ cup organic raw cocoa (or carob powder)
• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed avocado oil
• 1/3 cup organic dark chocolate chunks or carob chips
• ½ cup almond flour or coconut flour
• ½ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (alcohol-free)

Noor’s Fudge-acado Frosting:

• 1 avocado
• 3 tablespoons organic raw cocoa (or carob)
• 4 tablespoons organic pure maple syrup

 Topping:

• ½ cup chopped walnuts or macadamia nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the avocado, maple syrup, avocado oil, and eggs in a food processor; pulse until smooth. You may need to stop and scrape down the sides and pulse once more.
2. Add the dark chocolate chunks, flour, salt, and vanilla. Pulse. Transfer to a 9 by 13 baking pan.
3. Bake the brownies for 14-15 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
4. Meanwhile; Add all frosting ingredients to a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. Spread frosting over cooled brownies. Drizzle with walnuts/macadamia nuts. Enjoy.

Noor H. Salem is an author, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.