Clean It UP! -For Tanya

I can't believe I am saying this... I have been turned on to Pinterest. Lord help me. I said I never would... well I lied. AHH! Ok I am over it. Moving on. I am actually glad that I did it because I am able to bring you guys a recipe that originally came from Pinterest. I would like to give credit to the person but I don't know who you are or how to do it from there. The recipe is for Peanut Butter Cup Brownies. The recipe.. and picture look AMAZING, but let's face it-waist line hell awaits. So I decided to see if I could "Clean it up". Now I warn you, this is STILL a TREAT and should not be eaten every day. BUT... we all need a treat sometimes, just not all the time. So check it out, here is the picture for the ORIGINAL:


I admit that is pretty darn impressive... Here is mine:

SO their's look better. I know.. I am not a photographer. BUT I know that mine are a TAD cleaner than theirs.. so I am going with that.

Here's what you'll need:

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup stevia for baking
• 1 tbsp water
• 1 4 oz. unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 2 servings dark chocolate chips
• 1 omega-3 egg
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (you could also use oat flour, almond flour..)
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• another 2 servings dark chocolate chips
• 2 servings creamy all natural peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray down a muffin pan (you will only make 6)
2. in a microwave safe bowl combine sugar, stevia, applesauce, water and olive oil
3. microwave for 45 seconds until its all melted together
4. stir in the first 2 servings of dark chocolate chips and cocoa powder, mix until combined
5. add in egg and mix well
6. add flour and baking soda and mix well
7. allow batter to cool to room temp and then add the other 2 servings dark chocolate chips
8. mix and then spoon into muffin tin
9. bake for 12 minutes
10. you want the tops to be fairly firm but you don't want a toothpick to come out too clean on these
11. after they are done, let them cool slightly then take a spoon and take out a hole (about the size of a tablespoon) out of the center of each
12. take your peanut butter and microwave for 30 seconds and stir, then spoon into the centers. Garnish with chocolate and Peanut butter chips (I used 2 servings TOTAL- 1 of each) between the 6 muffins
13. let them cool a bit and enjoy! (if you can wait that long...) I think these are better a little warm so when you come back for more you may warm them a bit in the micro (10 seconds?)

For fun here are the nutritional facts for the ones in the prettier picture:
Calories: 410 Carbs: 50g  fat: 25g Sat fat: 13g Protein: 7g Sugar: 38g

Stats on the "cleaner version"
Calories: 240 Carbs: 29g Fat: 13g Sat Fat: 4g Protein: 6g Sugar: 9g
... Mine aren't so bad looking now are they?? :D