Don's No-Sugar-Added Brownies

¾ cup unsweetened, unflavored applesauce

1 cup all-purpose, unbleached flour

½ cup natural (not Dutch-processed) cocoa powder

12 packets stevia natural sugar substitute

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup coconut oil (preferably organic), melted

4 tablespoons low-fat (1 percent) milk, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 large egg

½ cup sugar-free dark chocolate chips (such as Lily's brand)

Place oven rack in middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 7-by-11-inch nonstick baking pan with vegetable oil spray. Set aside.

Add applesauce to wire mesh strainer and place over a deep bowl to drain. Set aside.

Add flour, cocoa powder, stevia, baking powder and salt to a medium mixing bowl and whisk together until combined, about 20 seconds.

Measure out ⅔ cup drained applesauce and add it to a large bowl along with the melted coconut oil, milk, vanilla and egg; whisk together until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the dry ingredients to the bowl and whisk or stir together until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Scrape the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake for 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the batter comes out almost clean. Remove the pan form the oven and cool on a wire rack. Cut into roughly 2-inch squares.

Serves 15.

Nutrition values per serving: 103 calories (54.3 percent from fat), 6.2 g fat (4.6 g saturated), 12.9 g carbohydrates, 2.2 g fiber, 1.3 g sugars, 2.4 g protein, 14 mg cholesterol, 97 mg sodium.