This recipe was inspired by disappointment. The other day, I stopped by a local gluten free bakery to pick up a little treat for someone. It felt strange to buy just one small dessert and there was this brownie with cookie dough icing just sitting at the top of the case... Calling my name...

On the drive home, I couldn't wait to try a bite. Know what makes a brownie even better??? Ummmm...adding cookie dough icing, of course! After a stressful week, I decided that brownie would become my dinner. I was even a little bummed that it was going to ruin my day of healthy eating. But, it was vegan....so, isn't that basically like eating veggies anyway??

I grabbed a fork and settled on the couch. I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into the sweet, chocolate-y goodness. Well, it was sugary and sweet, but that's about it. I didn't even know it was possible to ruin cookie dough icing! After two bites, I was done. No, thank you. Not worth it. Goodbye $4.

So, I decided that I could do much better. And...I DID! Even though I have never made a vegan brownie before, my brownies are fantastic! And they are not just good for being vegan or gluten free, but actually sweet, chocolatey, and worth the calories!

Oh, and my vegan cookie dough icing is awesome!

Maybe I should start charging...

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Ingredients for Vegan & Gluten Free Brownies

• Chia Seeds + Water (egg substitute)
• Coconut Oil
• Vegan Dark Chocolate
• Applesauce- This adds sweetness and helps to keep the brownies moist.
• Brown Sugar (vegan-friendly)
• Maple Syrup
• Salt
• Cocoa Powder
• Flour- I used almond flour and tapioca flour for a lighter texture.

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Ingredients for Vegan Cookie Dough Icing

• Plant Butter
• Coconut Oil
• Brown Sugar (vegan-friendly)
• Flour- I chose oat flour. Some people are nervous about eating raw flour. If so, stick with oat or almond flour.
• Whipped Topping- This helps to give the icing volume. Look for an organic variety without hydrogenated oil. If you're not vegan, Greek yogurt would also work well.
• Vegan Dark Chocolate

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