MONK FRUIT IN THE RAW: FROSTED CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

{I received free samples from Cumberland Packing Corp., maker of Monk Fruit In The Raw. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Cumberland Packing Corp. and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.}

So Thanksgiving is over, and the holiday season has officially begun.

And, other than the holidays of course, one of the best things about holiday season is the food. Specifically, the desserts.

However, with that said, it’s also important to stay healthy. Believe me when I say I want to gorge myself on cookies just as much as the next person, but I don’t because a) If I do i’ll feel like crap later and b) there are healthier desserts that taste just as good.

Todays recipe is an excellent example of one of those desserts. I give you: Frosted Chocolate Brownies which are delicious and gluten free + sweetened with only fruit.

What’s the catch?
Get this… there isn’t one!
When you’ve got the right ingredients it’s east to put together a dessert that’s healthy as well as decadent. I mean, look at those brownies! Who would have guessed they’re made without butter, oil, or granulated sugar?
One of the secrets in these guys is the use of Monk Fruit in the Raw. It’s a zero calories sweetener made from monk fruit (and other natural ingredients). Now, I’m not usually a fan of artificial or calorie-less sweeteners, but I’ve made an exception for this brand because it’s 100% natural. The real problem I have with products like Splenda or Equal is that they’re loaded with chemicals I don’t want entering my body, but with Monk Fruit In the Raw, I don’t have to worry about that. It’s an easy way to keep foods low calorie and all natural. (Just remember that it’s only recommended to sub out half the sugar in a recipe for Monk Fruit in the Raw in order to avoid any problems like rising, texture, etc. In this recipe I used dates as the other sweetener.)

I’m happy to report that my first experiment with Monk Fruit in the Raw worked out perfectly. You will not believe that these rich and fudgy brownies are actually on the healthier side of desserts. By all means, feel free to help yourself to seconds.

Frosted Chocolate Brownies