Super Yummy Zucchini Brownies w Frosting

I can’t get over the amount of twitter love that I have received for the recipe I’m about to share. It absolutely makes my heart glow! I’m always on the hunt for 5 star recipes that I then alter them if I can to ‘healthify’! I’m really not a fan of all the oils and sugars that seem to come with fabulous recipes! I also have to try and be creative when it comes to getting healthy fruits and veggies into my youngest one.

This is the link to the original recipe, but I’ll post it below and how i changed it..

* This is a soft/moist brownie, not cake-like *

Ingredients:

•1/2 cup vegetable oil (instead i used 1/4c oil, 1/4c unsweetened applesauce)

•1 1/2 cups white sugar (I used 1 1/4, and could have used even less!)

•2 teaspoons vanilla extract

•2 cups all-purpose flour

•1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

•1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda •1 teaspoon salt

•2 cups shredded zucchini ( i used 3 cups)

•1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional, i didn’t use)

Frosting:

•6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

•1/4 cup margarine ( I used softened un-salted butter)

•2 cups confectioners’ sugar

•1/4 cup milk

•1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oil, sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well blended. Combine the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Fold in the zucchini and walnuts.(note: it will be very dry at first, keep mixing until the zucchini gives off it’s moisture!) Spread evenly into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies spring back when gently touched.(I think mine only stayed in about 22 mins)

To make the frosting, melt together the 6 tablespoons of cocoa and margarine; set aside to cool. In a medium bowl, blend together the confectioners’ sugar, milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in the cocoa mixture.

Spread over cooled brownies before cutting into squares.

This recipe is seriously a BIG BIG winner is our family. I took it to a family event 2 weeks ago, and didn’t tell them there was zucchini in it till after it was gobbled up! muahahahaha! Do let me know if you try it!!