The Best Fudgy Banana Caramel Brownies (easily Veganized!)

Do you really want chocolate? Do you need so badly in your life that you might gnaw your pointer finger off despite its infinite usefulness is in daily life if that's what it took to get some of that bittersweet cocoa? If you answered yes, we totally think alike. Which is why I am supplying you with this recipe. I love your pointer finger that much. 

The best part is, you can almost tell yourself that these brownies are good for you! I mean, they have whole wheat flour in them and there is no butter or oil in sight. In fact, they even have fruit (apples and bananas, so classic) in them! The sugar content can totally be ignored for these purposes. Enjoy your almost-good-for-you brownie and sit back on the couch instead of going to the gym.

Also, these are fantastic if you have vegan are dairy-free friends. If you don't want to mess with finding dairy-free caramel (though you will need to mess with finding vegan chocolate chips), simply skip that that step and, instead, heat up some regular JIF or Peter Pan peanut butter and drizzle over top as soon as they come out of the oven. Mmmm, chocolate+PB+banana. Yum. In my case though, I think I prefer the pools of gooey caramel that form on the top of these beauties. Caramel+chocolate+banana, delicious.

Applesauce Brownies (with option to make vegan)Adapted from The Messie Kitchen
Yield: 8x8 pan (8-12 servings, depending on how big or small you like your brownies) 

1 cup unsweetened applesauce* omit sugar if using sweetened

1/3 cup sugar* omit if using sweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup unbleached white flour

½ cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup chocolate chips *use dairy free chips if veganizing

1 large banana (yellow, not brown or super squishy)

¼ cup caramel sauce of your choice *use a dairy free brand if veganizing

1.Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray or oil an 8 x 8 baking pan.

2. Mix applesauce, sugar (if using unsweetened applesauce), and vanilla in a medium bowl. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.

3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the applesauce mixture. Mix until just combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips

4. Spread half of batter the prepared pan (will be fairly thin). 

5. Slice the large banana into coins and place evenly on top of batter in pan (it should look like polka dots or a connect four game almost). 

6. Spread the remaining half of the batter over top of the bananas.

7. Drizzle caramel sauce over top (I made rows going across up and down so that it pooled where the rows met). 

8. Bake 25-30 min, until center is firm and not sticky. Cool completely before slicing and try not to eat it all before your roommate/family comes home.