Made with wholesome ingredients and no added sugars, these brownies offer a rich, fudgy experience without compromising on taste.

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Consuming too much sugar is considered by some to be the ultimate marker for developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes has various causes, including environmental, genetic, and metabolic factors.

But even if you have diabetes, you can still bake a cake and eat it, too.

Certain ingredients have the power to transform traditional sweets into suitable substitutes. Not only will your sweets still taste great, they may even be good for you.

Portion control is the second part of the equation. A little bit of something delicious can go a long way.

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Bake time: 25 to 28 minutes
  • Makes 16 to 25 squares

Ingredients

  • Shortening or vegetable spray, for coating pan liner
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup powdered stevia extract (cup-for-cup sugar replacement)
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons (tsp) vanilla extract
  • 1 cup sugar-free chocolate chips, divided
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts or pecans, divided (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350º F (180°C). Line an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, extending over edges to form handles. Coat liner with shortening or vegetable spray.
  2. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on low speed (or by hand with a large spoon), combine oil, applesauce, stevia, eggs, and vanilla. Add flour mixture a bit at a time, stirring until dry ingredients are absorbed. Stir in 1/2 cup each chocolate chips and chopped nuts.
  4. Spread brownie batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining chips and nuts on top of batter.
  5. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out with fudgy crumbs. Do not overbake.
  6. Cool brownies in pan. When cool, lift brownies out of pan onto cutting board. Peel away liner and cut brownies into squares.
  7. Store brownies in an airtight container.

Helpful tips

  • Check package ingredients carefully, and be sure to use stevia that is formulated to replace sugar cup for cup.
  • Stevia has a higher concentration of sweetness than sugar. Although this recipe calls for half the amount of sugar in a usual brownie recipe, you may need to adjust the amount of stevia you use according to your taste.

Baked goods like brownies can be a part of your diet even if you have diabetes.

Sample meal plans from the American Diabetes Association encourage you to keep your carb content for most meals between 45 and 60 grams in total. These meals should also focus mostly on high fiber foods and complex carbs.

If you plan to eat dessert, try cutting back on carbs in the rest of your meal. Alternatively, if you find yourself having trouble eating just one slice or square, save treats for birthdays, holidays, or other special occasions.

But whatever you do, enjoy!