Anti-Depressant Brownies

Who needs drugs when you have these brownies?! They're so rich and chocolately I would NEVER have guessed they're low fat... but the ingredients don't lie! I've found my new favorite brownie recipe. Be careful, though... just like the drugs, they're habit-forming. I got this recipe from TessLouise on the IBS message boards at www.helpforIBS.com.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 24
• Yields: 1 9x13 inch pan

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup  unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄3 cup canola oil
• 1⁄2 cup boiling water
• 1⁄3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2  cups sugar
• 4  large  egg whites (or 1/2 cup Egg Beaters)
• 1 1⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Spray a 9x13" baking pan with cooking oil and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the cocoa and baking soda (I like to sift them together to destroy any lumps in the cocoa).
4. Blend in the oil, and mix until smooth.
5. Pour in the boiling water, stirring until the mixture thickens.
6. Stir in the applesauce, the sugar, and the egg whites; mix until smooth.
7. Add the flour and the vanilla; blend completely- there should be no lumps.
8. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
9. Spread the batter evenly to avoid crispy edges.
10. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes (25-30 minutes if using a Pyrex pan), until just set in the middle.
11. Let cool and cut into squares.
12. Note: I've also halved this and baked it in an 8x8" glass pan and it was done in about 25 minutes.