Preheat the oven to 350/180c degrees and coat a small 4 x 6 or 6 x 6 loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside- A smaller pan makes thicker brownies. If you don't have a small pan, simply double this recipe!

In a large mixing bowl, add your applesauce and nut butter and mix well. If nut butter is too stiff, feel free to microwave until melted. Once mixed, add cocoa powder and mix until fully incorporated and a thick, silky batter remains.

Transfer brownie batter to the loaf pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a skewer comes out just clean. Allow the brownies to cool in the pan completely. Once cooled, refrigerate for several hours (even better, if overnight). Remove, top with optional frosting and slice into bars.

Notes

Brownies need to be kept refrigerated but are also freezer friendly. They taste delicious thawed slightly, directly from the freezer. Cooking time can vary, depending on your oven.