Kale Brownies - A Bountiful Love

Kale Brownies

Kale and brownies...I know it doesn't sound so appetizing. It is not just kids who turn their noses away from kale, despite all the good benefits of this vegetable. Some grown-ups cannot make themselves eat this wonder veggie.  Our youngest has the strongest aversion to veggies. Luckily, she now eats peas and carrots on fried rice.  Over the years, I now have some tricks up my sleeve to get her to eat vegetables.

I have mixed zucchini with muffins, spinach with popsicles. I am also known for mixing grated sweet potatoes in meatballs and meatloaf. See here for Chocolate Zucchini Muffins and Fruit and Veggie Popsicle.

Back to kale and brownies. You can mix kale with brownies without tasting the kale!  Trust me. Lily's got this awesome skill of dissecting her meals inside her mouth. Gross sounding BUT this skill of hers is funny and puzzled me throughout the years. She can detect, the smallest piece of diced or shredded veggies in her mouth.  This kale brownies, however, was a HIT. She not only ate a couple right off the bat but she happily declared that this brownie recipe is soooo great.  They are moist, fudgy and full of chocolate goodness. Go ahead and give it a try!





Ingredients:

1 large bunch kale
1¼ cup flour
2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 tsp. salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup  unsalted butter ( if using salted, skip the salt)
1½ cups granulated sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
4 eggs at room temperature, beaten
1½ tsp. vanilla extract

Wash the kale and pat it dry. Only use the leafy parts of the kale. Place the kale leaves in a steamer and steam for 5 minutes or until wilted. Puree the kale using a  food processor. Drain any excess liquid and set aside the kale.


You will have approximately have 1 cup of  kale. 
In a separate mixing bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. 


 Mix until thoroughly combined. Melt the chocolate chips and butter. I did not use a double broiler. I just used the microwave. Starting at 20 seconds stirring and then 10-second intervals until evenly melted and smooth. Let the melted chocolate sit until it cools to room temperature. 


Add the eggs, kale, sugars, and vanilla in a separate bowl.


 Mix the kale mixture with the chocolate mixture until combined. 


Gently fold in the flour mixture until just barely combined, taking care not to over-mix.


 Prepare a 13″x 9″ pan by greasing it with butter and then lining it with parchment paper.  Carefully pour the brownie batter into the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 


Carefully lift the brownies up (by holding on to the parchment paper) and transfer to a cooling rack. Leaving the brownies on the pan may overcook it and it will make your brownies really dry.  This is totally optional but you can sift powdered sugar on top of the brownies.





If you are wondering if they ever figured my "secret" ingredient.... the answer is NO. It is deceptively delicious and tasty! 


It is fudgy and dense.  Who knew that I can successfully have our youngest eat Kale?  I know for sure that this is not going to be the last time that I will be whipping up these homemade brownies.


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1 comment

  1. Yummy!! Those look so tasty. I'm like your daughter, not a big fan of kale, so I will have to try these :)

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