Healthy Chocolate Chip Zucchini Brownies

Healthy  brownies?  You got it!  These fudgy little treats are full of vitamins including C and A, magnesium, and potassium from the zucchini; folic acid, B vitamins, copper, and vitamin E from the almond meal; and flavinoids in the dark chocolate.  Furthrmore, the only oil used in the brownies is extra virgin coconut oil, full of lauric acid, which has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, stimulate weight loss by increasing your metabolism, help digestion by stimulating our enzyme systems, improve thyroid functioning, strengthen our immune system, help prevent cancer and help control blood sugar.  All in a brownie.  Now that's a reason to eat dessert!  Oh, and did I mention they are gluten free?  Bonus!

Don't let the zucchini scare you:  you won't even taste it!

Ingredients:
1c almond meal
1c light brown sugar
3/4c sorghum flour
1/2c cocoa powder
1tsp xanthan gum
1/2tsp baking powder
3/4tsp fine sea salt
2 large eggs, beaten
1/4c + 1tbs extra virgin coconut oil
1tbs vanilla extract
1c packed shredded zucchini, patted dry
1/4c dark chocolate chips
1/2c semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preaheat the oven to 350F.  Line the bottom of a square baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together almond meal, sugar, flour, cocoa, xanthan gum, baking powder, and salt.  Add eggs, oil and vanilla.  Beat until smooth (will be very thick).  Add in zucchini and chocolate chips.  Stir to combine (may need to use your hands!).  Spread brownie batter into the baking pan.
3. Bake in the center of the oven for 20-25 minutes (for an 8x8 pan) or 35-30 minutes (for a 9x9) or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Remove the brownies and let cool slightly.  Serve warm: chill or freeze leftovers.