Better for you Cheesecake Brownies

Lately, I’ve been being very careful about what I eat. I’m trying to get my weight under control by being healthy. That said, the baking has not been happening as much, and dinners have been simple and nutritious-but not worth blogging about. yet. Notice the yet. Healthy doesn’t have to be bland!

I had a brownie craving, but I didn’t want to do my mom’s, which have a calorie count of almost 500 calories for one brownie! After scraping my jaw off the floor, I went online and found a recipe that had good reviews (and 280 calories), and adapted it to fit with my kitchen supplies.

The secret ingredient is sweet potatoes. Helps cut down on sugar and flour….and you don’t even taste it. At all. It is so yummy!

Better for you Cheesecake Brownies

1 stick of butter
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup (packed) brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
(pinch of salt)

Combine the hot sweet potatoes with the butter until the butter is completely melted. Add the brown sugar and chocolate, stir until combined. You don’t want any large clumps of sweet taters. Add the rest of the ingredients.Pour into a greased 8×8 pan. Then, in a small bowl combine 8 oz neufchatel (found next to the cream cheese), 1/3 cup sugar, and an egg. Pour over the brownie mix, and run a knife through it to give it that marbled texture. Bake in a 350 oven for 25-30 minutes, til a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy!