Dark Chocolate Avocado Brownies: Healthy Dessert Recipe

Avocados are the superheroes of the fruit world — for one, because they have an alter ego as a healthy fat. Most fruit is fat-free, so this is definitely an anomaly, but a desirable one because these are monounsaturated fats, which the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes can actually help lower your cholesterol levels and keep your heart healthy.

Avocado’s high fat content accounts for its creamy texture and allows it to be substituted for less-desirable fats like butter in baked goods. Doing so may significantly decrease the risk of heart disease, according to past research. And even though avocados are high in fat, a study published in September 2021 in Journal of the Nutrition indicates that regular consumption of avocados may actually change belly fat distribution in women (the unhealthy fat deposits around the organs in the body).

Among its other superpowers, avocado is rich in several important vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium. These nutrients help support immunity, bone health, and healthy blood pressure levels, among other functions. Avocados are also an excellent source of fiber, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a nutrient that is vital for keeping your digestive system working efficiently, notes Mayo Clinic.

While this versatile fruit is wildly popular in savory foods — Mexican food, toast, salad — it’s also a great (and healthy) addition to desserts like these cake-like brownies.