Maria's Blondies & Brownies!

Brownies, blondies and bars in general are just good stuff!!  These are very nummy. Thanks Maria for your fab recipes and helpful health information.  Bill (my hubby) and I hired Maria when we started eating her "healthified" low carb way.  I was VERY hesitant as I hated, 'scuse me, intensely disliked (sorry mom) the low carb programs I had tried, in so many ways.  Well - this is different (see pics below) and I feel soooo much better than I did on other plans.  I love this lifestyle and what I eat! I'm excited to share some of the wonderful recipes I've tried.  Last year on vacation Bill and I would have spent most of our time vegging (that is sitting on our rears not eating lots of veggies, just to clarify) and drinking lots of coffee at the local coffee shop.  This year we have walked a few times per day, hiked through mountains (ok they weren't difficult trails, but still) and drank coffee at local coffee shops.  Have I said yet that I love this lifestyle! ;)

Photos!  I bet you would like photos of these treats.....  Well you can look at Maria's blog or here's a pic of the LAST one! (of the brownies variation - see below)

These are delicious brownies/blondies I got from Maria's website: http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/2011/08/blondies-and-cholesterol-facts.html

Her recipes are sooo good - you'll see a lot of them here.  Please check out her site!

5 oz coconut cream (or cream cheese but I find I have to cut way back on dairy to lose weight)
3/4 cup coconut oil  or organic butter, softened (I use coconut oil)
1 TBS vanilla extract
4 large eggs
1/2 cup coconut flour

3/4 cup erythritol

1 tsp stevia glycerite 

1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt

1/4 tsp aluminum free baking powder

2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup chopped pecans (I use toasted walnuts in the brownie recipe - just put in pan on stove about medium and WATCH - oh how many nuts I have burned!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush sides of an 8" by 8" or close to that size pan with coconut oil, or spray with coconut oil cooking spray.  Place a cut square of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan.

Tip - put can of whole coconut milk (not lite!) in the refrigerator the night before.  I just store my coconut in the fridge.  The coconut cream will be at the top when you open.  I add the coconut "water" at the bottom to soups.  Take a look at my Pumpkin and Sausage soup.  I'm frugal that way.

Beat coconut cream with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in coconut oil, sweetener, then add vanilla. Whisk together dry ingredients. Add eggs one at a time to coconut cream/cream cheese mixture, and beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients and almond milk. Fold in nuts. Pour mixture into prepared pan, and smooth top with a spatula. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, and top feels firm to the touch. When done, place pan on wire rack and cool completely.  They are good warm too with a cuppa something. :) See above about coffee. ;)

Maria cuts into 16.  I cut into 24.  They are rich but this way sometimes I can have 2!! :)


NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON 16 servings (per serving)
Traditional Blondie = 325 calories, 35 carbs, 1.2 g fiber

"Healthified" Blondie = 164 calories, 1.9 g carbs, 0.8 g fiber (1.1 effective carbs)

If you want more information on cholesterol too, check out, it might make you rethink about what you eat!  http://mariahealth.blogspot.com/2011/08/blondies-and-cholesterol-facts.html

Brownies!!! - think I forgot?  No way.  Love my chocolate.  Add 1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder to dry mix.  
I haven't tried this but Maria suggests adding 2 oz. finely chopped unsweetened baking chocolate to the coconut cream/cream cheese mixture.  I think it would be great.  And frosting!  Have to try that next time.  This recipe is a keeper.  As you see below....

The end.