Peanut Butter & Aubergine Brownies

Enough of those sweet potato brownies, I'm bringing something fresh to the scene - AUBERGINE BROWNIES. Even better, these have a gorgeous peanut butter marble effect on top!

For any of you curious people out there, don't worry, these do not taste like aubergine - it just provides the moist texture, which makes these healthy treats 'ooey gooey' and allows them to last up to a week in a airtight container. I have added cacao nibs to give them that little crunch, but how about try white chocolate chips to give a contrast in colour?

Ingredients:

(Makes 20)

- 1 medium aubergine

- 3 medium eggs

- 2 tbsp peanut butter

- 150g dark chocolate

- 4 tbsp coconut oil

- 65g pitted dates (chopped)

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 80g ground almonds

- 2 tbsp cacao nibs (optional - you can use chocolate chips here instead)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 170degrees.

2. Peel and cut the aubergine into tiny chunks, then steam them for 15mins until they're soft.

3. Place the steamed aubergine into a mixing bowl with the coconut oil and chocolate (they will melt) and stir it all together.

4. Add this mixture to a food processor (or use a hand blender), add the dates and blitz until a smooth(ish) batter forms.

5. Add the eggs to the food processor and blitz for a short moment until it is combined.

6. Put this mixture back into the mixing bowl and fold in the ground almonds, baking powder and cacao nibs.

7. Get a baking tray and line it with baking parchment, then pour in the mixture, spreading it evenly over the tray. 8. Dollop the peanut butter onto random places over the batter then mix it into the mixture to create a "marble" effect.

9. Bake in the oven for 15-20mins.

10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before cutting it into 20 even squares/rectangles.

Serve warm with a dollop of yoghurt or ice-cream - yum! (But can be eaten cold of course!)

#dessert