“Skinny” Brownies

I love when I get visits on my site from friends who aren’t food bloggers. Last week, our computer tutor emailed me that he and his wife made my butternut squash risotto. And this week, one of Larry’s colleagues emailed me a recipe for low calorie brownies that I renamed “skinny” brownies.

Not much of a baker or chocoholic, I immediately thought of the February Chocolate Blog Hop coming up with the theme being chocolate. After a little research, I discovered the recipe was called “Amaretto Fudge Brownies” from the Weight Watchers One Pot Cookbook.

For me, the combination of amaretto and chocolate didn’t set off any fireworks, but adding orange liqueur and orange zest sounded pretty good. Orange and chocolate is a favorite combination of mine. I substituted decaf coffee crystals instead of espresso. Grand Marnier was my choice for the liqueur and I added fresh orange juice.

Somehow, I knew my pan of brownies would fall short of the 16 promised in the original recipe. Even so, they weigh in under 150 calories and are low in fat and sodium. Larry ate four, so I guess they passed the taste test.

Thanks to Susan for including me in the blog hop!

Yields 12 brownies

  • 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose unbleached white flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg white
  • 3 tablespoons orange liqueur
  • zest of one organic navel orange
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 4 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 tablespoon instant decaf coffee granules
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with the oil.

3. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

4. Using a large bowl, whisk together the egg, egg white, liqueur, orange zest and vanilla.

5. Stir in the sugar, melted butter and orange juice. Mix well.

6. Add the cocoa and coffee granules.

7. Add the flour mixture and the walnuts. Stir gently until just blended.

8. Pour into greased dish and bake for 18 minutes. Cut into squares when cooled.

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41 Responses to “Skinny” Brownies

  1. apuginthekitchen February 4, 2012 at 12:31 pm #

    Those look great, who can say no to a skinny brownie, will try these!

    • lizthechef February 4, 2012 at 1:08 pm #

      I was pleased that they came out moist with so little butter. Thanks –

  2. Oui, Chef February 4, 2012 at 12:50 pm #

    I love low-fat baked goods for the same reason Larry does, I can eat 4 of them at a go!

  3. TasteFood February 4, 2012 at 1:10 pm #

    I would call this the oxymoron brownie. I love all of the orange in it!

    • lizthechef February 4, 2012 at 1:34 pm #

      Me too – and you can really taste the orange.

  4. jaynerly February 4, 2012 at 1:43 pm #

    Never thought I’d hear skinny and brownie in the same sentence! Great idea, I also love the chocolate orange combo! Can’t wait to try these!

    • lizthechef February 4, 2012 at 1:47 pm #

      Jayne, is it snowing in London for real?!

  5. kitchenbelleicious February 4, 2012 at 2:00 pm #

    i didn’t think the word skinny and brownies could go together but it looks like they can and they can be down right delicious brownies too! These are awesome! Glad to be in the bloghop with you

  6. Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasil) February 4, 2012 at 3:20 pm #

    Wow – coffee + orange + chocolate brownies? That are skinny? Definitely need to try these out.

    • lizthechef February 4, 2012 at 4:18 pm #

      I’m hiding these from myself – does that make sense?

  7. sippitysup (@sippitysup) February 4, 2012 at 4:48 pm #

    I am sure these would be fab. GREG

    • lizthechef February 4, 2012 at 4:51 pm #

      Thanks, Greg, Hope you are recovering from the doggy poo detective trauma 😉

  8. Samantha February 5, 2012 at 6:30 am #

    Never thought of putting oranges into brownies. Looks great!

    • lizthechef February 5, 2012 at 8:40 am #

      Thank you, Samantha – try it out sometime…

  9. The Wimpy Vegetarian February 5, 2012 at 11:18 am #

    These look absolutely perfect, Liz!!! Orange and chocolate is a fabulous combination. I’m so glad you made these for the chocolate bloghop!! Yay!!!

    • lizthechef February 5, 2012 at 11:22 am #

      Thanks, Susan, you would like these, I think…

  10. Sunchowder - Wendy Read February 5, 2012 at 11:31 am #

    Chocolate and Orange are like love and marriage 🙂 These look delightful Liz! Congrats on blog hop too. I get all the emails, but have not been able to join yet.

    • lizthechef February 5, 2012 at 11:41 am #

      Hey, Wendy, let me know when you do – I’m still a bit lost -as usual;)

  11. Elizabeth February 5, 2012 at 12:15 pm #

    Yum, yum, yum. There are nothing skinny about this recipe. Abundant brownies maybe… Thanks, Liz, for all the inspiration.

    • lizthechef February 5, 2012 at 12:53 pm #

      Hi, Elizabeth, There are only 2 left…

  12. Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more February 6, 2012 at 5:06 am #

    yum, and skinny food makes you feel better about eating like 4 at once LOL

    • lizthechef February 6, 2012 at 7:53 am #

      Hey, Sue, guess are were right..

  13. Baker Street February 6, 2012 at 5:45 am #

    Did you say skinny! I’m in! Bookmarking your recipe. 🙂

    • lizthechef February 6, 2012 at 7:54 am #

      Thanks, I’m going to make these again – one tiny brownie left now…

  14. The Wimpy Vegetarian February 6, 2012 at 4:41 pm #

    Hi Liz – I wanted to let you know I awarded you the Liebster Award today on my blog in my newest post. It’s one more way to let you know how much I enjoy your blog!! Go check out the award on my site!

    • lizthechef February 6, 2012 at 4:49 pm #

      Susan, I was just sitting here when your new post came up – thank you SO much. Now I have to figure out how to move the award onto my blog 😉 You are so sweet –

  15. Marnely Rodriguez February 7, 2012 at 4:42 pm #

    And these are SKINNY?! Woah, I need to make these ASAP!

    • lizthechef February 7, 2012 at 4:48 pm #

      They were a big hit – let us all know if you try them? Thanks for your visit!

  16. Margarita February 7, 2012 at 10:56 pm #

    Orange liqueur in brownies… heaven!

    • lizthechef February 8, 2012 at 8:42 am #

      Next time I might try Cointreau…

  17. Jessica | Oh Cake February 8, 2012 at 8:04 pm #

    Who can resist a brownie? And with Grand Marnier? I’ll take a dozen, thanks!

  18. dudut @mytwistedrecipe February 9, 2012 at 12:25 am #

    skinny or not, i love brownies!

    sending #chocolatelove your way 🙂

  19. juniakk February 9, 2012 at 10:38 am #

    yay for skinny brownies! i have such a weakness for them. 🙂 sending some #chocolatelove to you!

    • lizthechef February 9, 2012 at 10:41 am #

      Thanks, the blog hop is so much fun, especially #chocolatelove. Already thinking about greens for March, though.

  20. M April 25, 2012 at 12:48 pm #

    Hi there, would you mind awfully posting the original recipe, for those odd people like me who really like the sound of the Amaretto version?! Many thanks if you do

    • lizthechef April 26, 2012 at 1:16 pm #

      On vacation -will do so upon our return in a week or so.

      • M May 7, 2012 at 9:11 am #

        Thank you, I hope you enjoy the vacation and I look forward to the recipe

        • lizthechef May 7, 2012 at 10:52 am #

          I lost the original recipe, but I would omit the orange juice, orange zest and Grand Marnier – substitute 3 tablespoons of Amaretto instead…Good luck!

  21. M May 7, 2012 at 11:37 am #

    I will try that out, fingers crossed! Thanks

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