• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
  • 📋About
  • ❓FAQs/Help
  • 🛒Shop
  • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • 👨‍🍳RECIPES
    • 📋About
    • ❓FAQs/Help
    • 🛒Shop
    • 📮Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    🏠Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Low Fat Brownies

    Nov 19, 2011 · Modified: Apr 16, 2021 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · 5 Comments

    Recipe Table of Contents    
    4.67 from 3 votes

    Rich and chewy, low-fat brownie from scratch. Add lower-fat cream cheese frosting for a great combination that would be welcomed at any party. All for just under 200 calories.

    brownie on tray with frosting

    Jump To:
    • 👨‍🍳The Recipe
    • 🖊️Notes
    • 📖Easy Deserts
    • 🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
    • 📝Recipe

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Introduction

    I don't like mixes, so I generally cook from scratch, and this is about the same amount of work as a box, and you know what is in it.

    I somewhat simplified a recipe from food.com .

    I added some instant coffee to punch up the chocolate flavor and then made some cream cheese frosting with a lower fat cream cheese that is the perfect topping for the great tasting brownie.

    My Rating

    My rating system of a 4 out of 5 so very nice.

    A higher 4. This is a five if you need a low-fat or low-calorie treat.

    👨‍🍳The Recipe

    The Brownie

    I used applesauce to replace most of the liquid and fat. I did leave some butter. It is not all fat, and a little fat really is needed for the texture. I tried several ways to get rid of it, but it needs to be there.

    The dark cocoa powder is great for taste, but instant coffee is well known for busting chocolate flavor.

    The Frosting

    I think this adds something special. Do not use fat-free cream cheese; it is horrible. The lower fat is ok.

    You can skip the frosting or just do a powder sugar and milk frosting if you want.

    My suggested frosting adds 33 calories per brownie.

    🖊️Notes

    Nutrition

    Be aware that many of the "nutritional facts" on boxes of a mix are for the mix only not the added oil etc.

    This recipe makes 16 two-inch square brownies. They are 141 calories and 1.7 gms of fat each. The frosting adds about 33 calories. So frost if you want.

    Storage of the Brownies

    Without the frosting. I would store at room temperature tightly covered for 3-4 days. If frosted, then refrigerate. It should freeze well for 3-4 months.

    📖Easy Deserts

    Easy Sugar Cookies

    Easy Cheesecake Cupcakes

    Berry Crisp for Two

    This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

    Dessert Recipes, Low Fat Recipes
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    🖼️Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

    Mixing sugar and applesauce in bowl with mixer

    Preheat oven to 375°. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 ¾ cup sugar and ¾ cup apple sauce. Mix well with a hand mixer. Add 2 tablespoons butter melted, two egg whites, 1 tablespoon instant coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well again.

    wisking cocco and flour

    In a separate bowl mix 1 cup AP flour, ½ cup good quality dark cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well.

    adding dry mix to wet with mixer

    Now mix dry into the wet. Mix well but do not over mix.

    adding batter to pan

    Pour into a greased 8 X 8 pan.

    toothpick coming out of brownie

    Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

    mixing frosting in white bowl

    While brownies are baking, combine 2 oz of reduced-fat cream cheese, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Beat on low with a hand mixer until mixed and then increase speed slightly and whip for 10-15 seconds. Slowly add ⅔ cup powder sugar and mix until creamy.

    adding frosting to brownie

    After brownies are cooled, cut into 2-inch squares and top with a generous teaspoon of frosting.

    graphic Subscribe to 101 Cooking for Two

    📝Recipe

    brownie on tray with frosting

    Low Fat Brownies

    From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
    Rich and chewy, low-fat brownie from scratch. Add lower-fat cream cheese frosting for a great combination that would be welcomed at any party. All for just under 200 calories.
    Tap to leave a Rating
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Print Email CollectionCollected
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings #/Adjust if desired 16

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Convert to Metric
    • 1 ¾ cup sugar
    • ¾ cup apple sauce
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 2 egg whites
    • 1 tablespoon instant coffee
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 1 cup AP flour
    • ½ cup dark cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Frosting

    • 2 oz Reduced fat cream cheese - Not fat free
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla
    • ⅔ cup powder sugar
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375°. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 ¾ cup sugar and ¾ cup apple sauce. Mix well with a hand mixer. Add 2 tablespoons butter melted, two egg whites, 1 tablespoon instant coffee and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix well again.
      Mixing sugar and applesauce in bowl with mixer
    • In a separate bowl mix 1 cup AP flour, ½ cup good quality dark cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well.
      wisking cocco and flour
    • Mix dry into the wet. Mix well but do not over mix.
      adding dry mix to wet with mixer
    • Pour into a greased 8 X 8 pan.
      adding batter to pan
    • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
      toothpick coming out of brownie

    Optional Low Fat Cream Cheese Frosting

    • While brownies are baking, combine 2 oz of reduced-fat cream cheese, 1 tablespoon butter, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Beat on low with a hand mixer until mixed and then increase speed slightly and whip for 10-15 seconds. Slowly add ⅔ cup powder sugar and mix until creamy.
      mixing frosting in white bowl
    • After brownies are cooled, cut into 2-inch squares and top with a generous teaspoon of frosting.
      adding frosting to brownie
    See the step-by-step photos in the post. Some recipes have an option to display the photos here with a switch above these instructions but the photos DO NOT print.

    Your Own Private Notes

    Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Recipe Notes

    Pro Tips

    1. Some fat is needed to keep the texture, so don’t omit the butter.
    2. Dark cocoa powder adds more taste.
    3. The instant coffee is optional but will boost the chocolate taste.
    4. The frosting is optional and adds 33 calories.
    5. Do not use fat-free cream cheese.
    6. Good refrigerated if frosted for 3-4 days and frozen for 3-4 months.
    7. Nutrition includes frosting.

    To adjust the recipe size:

    You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Nutrition Facts
    Low Fat Brownies
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 174 Calories from Fat 27
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 3g5%
    Saturated Fat 2g10%
    Cholesterol 8mg3%
    Sodium 116mg5%
    Potassium 109mg3%
    Carbohydrates 36g12%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 28g31%
    Protein 2g4%
    Vitamin A 88IU2%
    Vitamin C 1mg1%
    Calcium 21mg2%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Serving size is my estimate of a normal size unless stated otherwise. The number of servings per recipe is stated above. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.
    Course : Dessert
    Cuisine : American

    © 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors. While we appreciate your sharing our recipes, please realize copying, pasting, or duplicating full recipes to any social media, website, or electronic/printed media is strictly prohibited and a violation of our copyrights.

    Editor's Note: Originally Published November 19, 2011. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

    Dogs by the pond

    More Dessert Recipes

    • Apple Cinnamon Muffins
    • Blueberry Crumb Pie—Quick, Easy, and Delicious Pie
    • Berry Crisp for Two or More
    • Banana Cake with Walnuts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment (Policy Link in Footer) Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Jen B

      January 11, 2022 at 7:40 am

      Can’t wait to try these. Some clarification please - Is butter salted or unsalted? And is applesauce unsweetened or sweetened?

      Reply
      • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

        January 11, 2022 at 7:50 am

        Hi Jen,

        Butter on this site is always with salt (there may be a few exceptions that will be specifically stated). Most of my readers will not normally have unsalted butter.

        Applesauce is unsweetened. Most sweetened apple sauce has corn syrup that I'm not big on—not a health thing... it can have a bit of odd taste. Also, nothing with artificial sweeteners usually anymore for the same reason.

        Dan

    2. MD

      February 09, 2017 at 10:33 am

      I'm wondering if banana can replace the sugar for the mix? I might try that and if it works out, I'll let you know!

      Reply
      • DrDan

        February 09, 2017 at 9:32 pm

        I have some doubts about it.
        Dan

    3. Aaron C.

      November 24, 2011 at 12:01 am

      LOW FAT BROWNIES? Looks really good, and I like brownies!
      Aaron

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Popular Recipes

    • Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Small Ribeye Roast
    • Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • Pan Seared Oven Baked Chicken Breasts
    kitchen reference sheet graphic wide blue
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top ↑

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Business Questions
    • Comment Policy

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    Privacy Policy | Terms | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME