Vegan "buttermilk" Brownies

SAHS's Note:

My grandma's to-die-for recipe gets updated to accommodate the vegan. These moist, cake-like brownies are topped with a stiff, buttercream-like frosting and are absolutely irresistible!

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 40 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 25 brownies

BROWNIES

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons unsweetened cocoa
• ½ cup water
• 1 ¼ cups applesauce
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ cup soymilk , with
• ¾ teaspoon vinegar , added to soy milk

FROSTING

• 1⁄8; cup cocoa
• ¼ cup soymilk , with
• ½ teaspoon vinegar , added
• ½ cup earth balance butter substitute
• 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375. Grease a 9x13" baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and cocoa and mix well. In small saucepan, combine water and applesauce and bring to a boil. Add to flour mixture and beat at low speed just until blended; continue beating at high speed until smooth.
3. Add baking soda and soy milk-vinegar to flour mixture and blend well. Pour into greased pan and bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake.
4. To make frosting: In large saucepan, combine cocoa, milk-vinegar, and butter substitute. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then remove from heat and add powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix well, and spread over warm brownies. Allow to cool before cutting into bars and serving.

Reviews

[OceanLuvinGranny]

Ok, updated for health, but not for the vegan as they have milk in them and vegans don't use eggs, milk, sour cream, cheese etc. I suppose they could sub a soy milk for the actual milk but as long as they have the real milk in the recipe, they can't possibly be called "vegan." Maybe I am being too picky, but true vegans won't touch eggs or dairy products.