Banana Carob Brownies

I've been a little scared to get back to baking. My brain is trained to grab the sugar immediately!

But I am retraining.. and grabbing the honey instead.

These brownies came about after a long internet search for a brownie recipe without refined sugar. I found black bean brownies, gluten-free brownies, vegan brownies.. but nothing seemed to be appropriate for me. So I started my own little brownie experiment.

These brownies are made with whole wheat flour, carob powder, mashed banana, honey and olive oil- a little different than your typical ingredients. The texture is not like your traditional brownie (I don't know if you can ever really get that signature brownie bite without refined sugar), but it is pleasing, and doesn't leave that sugary coating on your mouth.

I hesitate in calling these "healthy" - I am finding that word means many different things to different people and doesn't really define food anymore. I do believe they are nourishing, won't give you a crazy sugar rush and are appropriate as a daily treat or snack. If you want to cut back on the sugar a bit, these are a good way to ease into it.

I'm getting back in my baking groove.. 

surely some sweet, strange concoctions are on the way.

Banana Carob Brownies

by Oven Love

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup carob powder (cocoa powder can be substituted, carob is what I had on hand)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup mashed banana (about 3 small bananas)
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup mini carob or chocolate chips, or chopped chocolate 
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, carob powder, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. In another medium bowl, whisk mashed banana, honey, olive oil, vanilla and eggs. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the carob/chocolate chips and/or nuts. Spread into the prepared pan
3. Bake brownies for 20-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Pull the full pan of brownies out to cool completely on a rack. Cut brownies when cool and serve. Keep in an airtight container.