It's a few months late but this one's for Vero.
Vegan Brownies
2 cups white flour (or 1 cup rice flour & 1 cup whole wheat flour)
1/2 cup cocoa powder (or carob powder)
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup brown sugar (or maple syrup)
1/4 cup applesauce (or vegetable oil)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
1-1/4 cup water
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
3. Mix all the wet ingredients in another bowl.
4. Add wet to dry and mix well.
5. Pour into a 8" or 9" greased pan and bake 35 minutes. (It's done when a toothpick inserted into the middle comes clean when removed.)
6. Spread frosting (see below) over brownies and let cool.
Peanut Butter Frosting
1/3 cup carob or chocolate chips (or 1/3 cup of cocoa powder mixed with warm water and 2 tbsp of brown sugar to make a chocolate paste)
2 tbsp peanut butter
1/4 cup water
2 tsp cornstarch mixed with a bit of water
1 tbsp sugar
1. Add all of the ingredients besides the cornstarch paste into a microwavable bowl. Microwave until all ingredients have melted and stir to get rid of any lumps.
2. Add cornstarch paste to chocolate mix and stir throughly until frosting thickens.
Note: If you're lazy, you could also simply just spread Nutella over the brownies.
Adapted from: Lickin' the Beaters by Siue Moffat
(BTW, I recommend anyone interested in making healthy desserts to go out and buy this book... It's awesome and has very cute illustrations. I got a cute button when I bought my copy.)