Gooey Chocolate Fudge Brownies
A brownie a day keeps the frownie away. These gems are scrumptious; soft and moist with deep chocolate flavor and made without any butter or granulated sugar.
If you’ve ever wanted a brownie recipe that’s fudgy and chocolatey—without the fuss—this is it. I created this recipe using wholesome swaps, but you’d never guess from the rich taste. They’re sweetened with maple syrup, moistened with applesauce, and studded with melty chocolate chips. The result? A pan of brownies that feels indulgent, but still fits into my “better-for-you treat” philosophy.
Whether you’re making these for family, friends, or a little late-night kitchen therapy, here’s some fair warning: don’t bake them if you’re home alone. It’s hard to stop at one… or two. Been there!
I’ve been a self-proclaimed brownie purist my whole life, but in our house there’s a great divide. I’m team straight-up chocolate, while my husband, Ian, is all about mixing in chopped cherries. Both versions disappear fast—especially if you top them with a squirt of whipped cream or small scoop of vanilla ice cream. (In the name of research, I tested this… and let me tell you, OMG it was GOOD.)
While you’re here, you might also love my Flourless Almond Butter Blondies, 2-Ingredient Chocolate Pie, or Superfood Brownie Bites—all equally delish but smartly lightened-up.
Why these brownies are the ultimate bite
- Fudgy and gooey: A melt-in-your-mouth texture that’s pure chocolate bliss.
- Easy as can be: Toss, mix, bake—no fancy equipment required.
- Smarter ingredients: Applesauce and maple syrup replace butter and white sugar.
- Customizable fun: Keep them classic or stir in fruit, nuts, or even a swirl of peanut butter.
I recommend sticking with an 8×8 pan for the perfect height and texture. If you only have a 9×9, just shorten the bake time a bit and expect them to be flatter. And trust me on this one—do NOT use a 9×13, unless you want super-flat brownies (and who wants that?).
Brownie in dip form? Yes, please! Give my Brownie Batter Hummus a try next!
Gooey Chocolate Fudge Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole wheat flour, or all-purpose
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp instant coffee powder, optional
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup applesauce
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, more for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line with an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the flour, cocoa powder, instant coffee, salt and baking powder, and whisk until well combined.
- Add the eggs, maple syrup and applesauce to the dry ingredients. Stir to form a creamy batter, being thoughtful to not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and jiggle it to evenly distribute throughout the pan. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips over the top, if you’d like. Bake in the oven on the middle rack for 35 minutes. This will result in super-moist gooey brownies. For cakier, firmer brownies, bake for an extra few minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Thank you Joy for this recipe. After 2 tries, I finally made it spot on! The texture was cake like but not dry. I used regular applesauce and only a half cup of maple syrup and only a half cup of 70% of chocolate chips which was all that was needed to satisfy my sweet tooth.
I have seen you on ABC channel 7 many, many times and I really like how you give us recipes that are healthy and taste good at the same time. I plan on trying other recipes that you have on your website!
Barbara, this made my day, thank you for sharing!! I love that you stuck with it and nailed it to your liking. Can’t wait for you to try more… keep me posted on your favorites!! 😉