These 4-Ingredient Brownies Are Healthier Than Normal Thanks To A Powerhouse Addition

Almost everyone has their favorite comfort food to treat themselves to every now and again, whether it's cookies, cupcakes, or in this case, brownies. However, these are treats for a reason, so ways to make them a little healthier are often welcome. Thanks to one powerhouse addition, you can make a batch of healthier brownies using just four ingredients that will still taste delicious.

The secret to healthier brownies is cottage cheese. It takes the place of flour, butter, and oil, which leaves just eggs, cocoa powder, and a sweetener as your other three ingredients. The cottage cheese adds protein and a decadent fudge-like texture that melts in your mouth. These brownies are also incredibly easy to make, as you simply blend all your ingredients together (some even recommend using a blender) and bake until they're set.

While these brownies are arguably healthier than typical ones, that doesn't mean that they're on the same level as a green salad. This is still a treat and should be regarded as one, and while it's perfectly fine to have in moderation, don't trick yourself into thinking it's a health food.

This simple and easy brownie recipe is ripe for customization. If you're not a fan of the fudgy texture, try making your brownies crunchier with pretzels or chips. Chips and pretzels are a great way to add texture to a batch of brownies, and the seemingly endless array available means that you have no shortage of options. These crunchy treats also add salt to the mix, deepening the flavor profile and creating a blend that will make you want to polish off the entire tray in one go. If you want the salt without the crunch, you can also substitute soy sauce to give your brownies a rich sweet and salty flavor blend.

Of course, salt is just the tip of the iceberg. Use a drizzle of caramel for an extra-sweet flavor, a dash of espresso powder, or maybe some vanilla extract to create a delicious contrast to the cocoa powder. Even something as unexpected as Dr Pepper can improve your brownies (yes, really). Thanks to this healthier recipe, you've got more breathing room to experiment and add unique flavor to your next batch of brownies.

The only thing to remember is that, whenever you adjust a recipe, you'll generally want to add more moisture if you're introducing extra dry ingredients, and vice versa. If, for example, you add that can of soda but don't use a bit more cocoa powder or little less cottage cheese, your brownies might be less fudgy and more soupy.