Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies

Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies

Unsurprisingly, when you try to make brownies that are not laden with sugar and empty calories from white flour, they no longer taste that much like brownies. I have tried brownies made from almond or hazelnut meal and brownies made from coconut flour, and while they are nice, they are more like chocolate slices or cakes, and not really worthy of Brownie status. 

Surprisingly, when you use sweet potato as the basis for a brownie, it comes a lot closer to what you expect of a brownie: dense, moist and delicious. And, being made from real foods without added nasties, I'm happy to let my kids have a piece when they catch me sneaking some. 

I have been adding chocolate extract to my chocolatey baked goods since reading what dessert guru David Lebovitz has to say about chocolate and chocolate extract. Similar to vanilla extract, pure chocolate extract is made by infusing cacao beans (rather than vanilla beans) in an alcohol solution. When you add a tiny amount to a chocolate recipe, it boosts the chocolate flavour dramatically. Making chocolate treats without actual chocolate blocks/bars/chips or cane sugar, something seems a little lacking to me, and chocolate extract fills the lack. 

Chocolate flavoured extract exists. I've bought it, tried it, thrown it out. If you can get your hands on some chocolate extract actually made from real cocoa/cacao, buy it. And buy some more for me too. I have been using Stonemill Natural Chocolate Extract, which Aldi stocked (as a once off thing), and its ingredients are: Water, Vanilla Extract (Water, Alcohol, Vanilla Beans), Chocolate Concentrate (40%) [Water, Alcohol, Alkalised Cocoa Powder (25%)]. Contains 35% alcohol by volume. Not exactly made from whole cocoa beans, but at least made from a real chocolate product, and it is GOOD. 

If you are interested in chocolate extract, the online Australian store Premium Gourmet Food sells some... David Lebovitz recommends Star Kay White brand... Nielsen Massey is another brand... And if you want to try making your own chocolate extract, give this Instructables recipe a go (and then give me some feedback!). And here are some other recipe ideas for using your chocolate extract! 

Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownie

Adapted from recipes by Eat Drink Paleo and The Paleo Scoop. 

• 1 medium peeled white sweet potato (purple/red skin), steamed or boiled (weighing approx 250g after peeling, or 300g before peeling)
• 150ml (125g) coconut oil, butter or mild flavoured oil of your choice
• 150ml (240g) rice malt syrup
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp chocolate extract (optional)
• ¼ tsp liquid stevia (optional, or substitute powdered stevia)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarb soda
• 1/3 cup (41g) cocoa powder (I used dutch processed cocoa)
• 2 Tbs (30g) coconut flour

Instructions

1. Steam or boil peeled sweet potato if you haven’t already – I cut mine into chunks and cook in the microwave with a little water in a covered microwave-proof dish. Alternatively you could bake the sweet potato in its jacket and then scoop the flesh out.
2. Preheat oven to 180 °C (365 °F).
3. Blend sweet potato with the oil/butter until smooth (or you can mash it really well). Ensure it has cooled enough that it won’t cook the eggs when they are added next.
4. Add rice malt syrup, vanilla, chocolate extract, stevia and eggs to blender/food processor with cooled sweet potato and blend till well incorporated (or mix well by hand). 
5. Add baking powder, bicarb soda and cocoa powder and blend in, and finally mix in the coconut flour. (Avoid adding too much coconut flour as it will absorb too much moisture, which will result in drier brownies.)
6. Transfer the mixture into a 20x20cm (8”x8”) greased baking tray (I use a silicon tray). It will hold its shape while cooking, so be sure to spread it out evenly. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
7. Cool for 5-10 minutes before carefully removing from tin. Allow to cool right down before cutting to avoid jagged edges. 

This would be a really easy recipe for a Thermomix, I imagine - you could cook the sweet potato in it, then blend it up and blend in the rest of the ingredients. 

Sorry about the lack of photos - I must remember to take some next time I make these!