1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup applesauce
1 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup goji berries, soaked in 3 tablespoons of water
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
pink sea salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour or spray an 8×8 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, beat together applesauce, oil, sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa. Beat until well mixed then fold in the goji berries (with any residual water). Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of pan comes out clean or with only a small, dry crumb attached.
My thoughts:
You all know how much I love the Vosges goji berry bar-I’ve already made an ice cream version– and I’ve been thinking about what else I could make this this flavor. The easiest, most logical choice was brownies. These brownies are particularly good, chocolatey but not so much that it over powders the subtle flavor of a goji berry and the salt provides just the right balance.
I’ve never seen goji berries for sale here in Canada. I’ve heard about their healthy benefits. I wonder if you still get the health benefits if you make them into brownies… 🙂 These look great!
I have never had goji berries before, but now I am very curious!
Applesauce…? I’ve always been leery of that stuff (had to take medicine with it as a child). Would you say it tastes significantly different from brownies made with oil or butter?
Wow. Very cool. I can’t think of anything else to say but that. Amazing job!
I’ve been wanting to cook with goji berries for the longest time! Your brownies look delicious!
I had mine leftover yesterday, microwaved for 30 seconds to make it seem like it just came out of the oven. So good. You outdid yourself on these, and I appreciated it more when I wasn’t stuffed with sushi!
Hmm…this is interesting. I grew up eating these berries in Chinese Herbal Soups my mom made. I never had it in a dessert form before. I have also had them in herbal teas in Hong Kong and Canada.
Janet, you can buy these in Canada in Chinese Herbal Shops or grocery stores. I have seen them when I visit family in Toronto.
Hey Jim: You really can’t taste the applesauce at all. No one has ever guessed that it was an ingredient before.
Janet: I live in Toronto and have been seeing Goji berries more regularly in mainstay supermarkets. Not sure where in Canada you live but try visiting your local health food stores – as I’m 100% certain you will find them there.
Jim: Applesauce is awesome in baked goods. It helps retain moisture without making the dessert too dense and heavy and it adds zero fat and zero cholesteral – which basically means you can eat more.
I just saw goji berries at the Costco just the other day, and I wondered what I would do with them, and here you are with healthy brownies!
Hummmmm… Yawmee! 🙂
Regards from Spain (it looks really nice :-))
Paquito.
paquito4ever.blogspot.com
How unique to use goji berries in brownies!! I’ll have to give that a shot! Thanks for the recipe…
Huh. I guess I’ll give applesauce a shot, if you can’t tell the difference!
Is the goji berry flavour really dominant? They look so moist and decadent.
Judy: Since this is a brownie, I don’t think you could say the goji berry flavor is the MOST dominant flavor, but there is a strong goji berry flavor.
Oh yum! And vegan! Hurrah!
i’ve never had goji berries before.. what do they taste like?
Karen: If I had to describe goji berries I’d say they sort of taste like herbal dried raspberries but they really have a unique flavor all their own.
its my first time to read about that goji berries what is that? mee too im curious!
Have you heard about the bacon and dark chocolate Voges bar? The people at Ma Petite Shoe said it should be coming in soon.