If there’s a baking secret that deserves to be shouted from the rooftops, it’s the magic of using applesauce in your baked goods. What if I told you that you could make a pan of rich, deeply chocolatey brownies that were unbelievably moist and tender, but with a fraction of the usual oil or butter? It sounds too good to be true, but that is the wonderful promise of these incredible Applesauce Brownies.
This is the recipe I turn to when I’m craving a classic, comforting chocolate treat but want to keep things on the lighter side. These brownies are a wonder. They have a beautiful, soft, cakey-fudgy texture and a rich chocolate flavor that will satisfy any craving. The applesauce is a secret ingredient that works behind the scenes, providing incredible moisture without any detectable apple taste.
It’s a simple, one-bowl recipe that’s perfect for the whole family. As we’re in the heart of apple season here in Cologne, it’s the perfect time to embrace this wholesome baking hack. Get ready to bake a guilt-free treat that doesn’t compromise on deliciousness.
The Old-Fashioned Secret to Lighter Brownies
Using applesauce (Apfelmus) as a substitute for fat is one of those brilliant, old-fashioned baking hacks that has stood the test of time for a reason. It’s a simple, natural way to reduce the fat and calories in a recipe while adding a huge boost of moisture. This recipe is a celebration of that clever trick.
The applesauce creates a wonderfully tender crumb and a texture that is a delightful hybrid—somewhere between a dense, fudgy brownie and a light, moist chocolate cake. Because the applesauce is doing the heavy lifting for moisture, we only need a tiny bit of oil for richness, resulting in a brownie that feels much lighter but is still completely satisfying. Paired with a good dose of cocoa powder and chocolate chips, the result is a perfectly balanced, wholesome treat that you can feel good about enjoying.
Why You’ll Love This Lighter Take on a Classic:
- Incredibly Moist and Tender: The applesauce is a powerhouse ingredient that guarantees a soft, tender brownie that will never be dry.
- Secretly Healthier and Lower in Fat: This is a wonderful, guilt-free way to indulge your chocolate cravings, as applesauce replaces most of the oil or butter.
- Rich, Deep Chocolate Flavor: A generous amount of cocoa powder and chocolate chips ensures these brownies are deeply satisfying for any chocolate lover.
- A Super Easy, One-Bowl Recipe: This is a wonderfully simple, mix-and-bake dessert that comes together in minutes with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients & Equipment
For the Applesauce Brownies:
- Unsweetened Applesauce (ungesüßtes Apfelmus): 240g (1 cup). It is very important that it’s unsweetened!
- Granulated Sugar: 200g (1 cup).
- Neutral Oil (like rapeseed or melted coconut oil): 60 ml (¼ cup).
- Eggs: 2 large, at room temperature.
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon.
- All-Purpose Flour: 125g (1 cup).
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (Backkakao): 45g (½ cup), sifted.
- Baking Soda (Natron): ½ teaspoon.
- Salt: ½ teaspoon.
- Ground Cinnamon: ½ teaspoon (optional, for a warm spice note).
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: 170g (1 cup), divided.
Helpful Equipment:
- An 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) square baking pan.
- A large mixing bowl.
Time Estimates
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: Approximately 40 minutes (plus cooling time)
Step-by-Step Instructions
This simple one-bowl recipe is a joy to make.
Step 1: Prepare Oven and Pan Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease an 8×8 inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper, creating an overhang on two sides to use as handles.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients In a large bowl, whisk together the unsweetened applesauce, granulated sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients Place a sieve over your bowl of wet ingredients. Sift in the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and optional cinnamon.
Step 4: Fold it All Together Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until they are just combined. Stop mixing as soon as you no longer see big streaks of flour. Overmixing can make the brownies tough.
Step 5: Add Chocolate and Bake Gently fold in ¾ cup of the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips evenly over the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Step 6: Check for Doneness The brownies are done when a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, but not wet batter. Because these are so moist, you don’t want the toothpick to come out completely dry.
Step 7: Cool Completely Place the pan on a wire rack and let the brownies cool completely in the pan. This is an important step that allows them to set properly. Once cooled, use the parchment handles to lift them out and slice into 16 squares.
Notes, Tips & Variations
- Unsweetened Applesauce is Key: Using sweetened applesauce will likely make your brownies far too sweet, as the recipe already contains sugar. If you only have sweetened, I would recommend reducing the granulated sugar in the recipe by about ¼ cup (50g).
- Understanding the Texture: These brownies have a unique and wonderful texture. They are not as dense and fudgy as a brownie made with a lot of butter, but have a deliciously soft, moist, and slightly cakey crumb that is incredibly satisfying.
- Delicious Add-Ins: These brownies are a perfect base for your favorite mix-ins. ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans would be a fantastic addition for a bit of crunch.
- Frosting Option: For a more decadent treat, you can top the cooled brownies with your favorite chocolate frosting or a simple chocolate ganache.
The Best Applesauce Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
- 240 g 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 200 g 1 cup granulated sugar
- 60 ml ¼ cup neutral oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 125 g 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 45 g ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon optional
- 170 g 1 cup chocolate chips, divided
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper.
- Mix Wet: In a large bowl, whisk together the applesauce, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
- Combine Dry: Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and optional cinnamon over the bowl.
- Fold: Use a spatula to fold the batter together until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Add Chocolate: Fold in ¾ cup of the chocolate chips.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.
- COOL: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out and slicing. This step is essential for them to set.
Notes
- For the best results, use unsweetened applesauce.
- These brownies have a soft, moist, cakey-fudgy texture.
- Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts for extra crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Will my brownies taste like apples? Not at all! This is the magic of this recipe. Unsweetened applesauce has a very neutral flavor when baked, especially when paired with strong flavors like cocoa and chocolate. It works quietly in the background to provide incredible moisture without imparting any noticeable apple taste.
2. Are these brownies supposed to be cakey or fudgy? They are a delicious hybrid of the two! Because applesauce replaces a lot of the dense fat (like butter) that makes a brownie traditionally “fudgy,” the texture is lighter and softer, with a more cake-like crumb. However, they are still incredibly moist and rich, so I like to call them “cakey-fudgy.” They are not a dense, heavy brownie.
3. Can I use sweetened applesauce if that’s all I have? You can, but you will need to adjust the sugar in the recipe. Sweetened applesauce already contains a lot of sugar, so I would recommend reducing the granulated sugar in the recipe by about ¼ to ⅓ cup (50-65g) to prevent the brownies from being overly sweet.
4. Can I make my own applesauce for this recipe? Yes, homemade applesauce is wonderful in this recipe! Simply cook down your favorite apples with a splash of water until they are very soft, then purée them until smooth. The most important thing is to make sure you do not add any sugar to it, so you can control the sweetness in the brownie recipe itself.
Ready for a Guilt-Free Treat?
This is one of my favorite recipes for a quick, easy, and satisfying chocolate treat that I can feel good about. It’s perfect as an after-school snack for the kids or as a light dessert for myself. I hope you love this classic baking hack! If you make a batch, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
For more wholesome and delicious baking inspiration, be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram. Enjoy every single moist and chocolatey bite! And try out my Easy Tiramisu Brownies.