Better-for-you brownies

Pop one of these sweet treats into your mouth, and you'll feel like you're cheating on that low-fat diet. (But you're really not.) Give these brownies a special Valentine's twist, by cutting out a heart on a small sheet of paper and placing it over the brownie. Then dust with powdered sugar, remove the heart, and voilà, festive love brownies!

Ingredients

• nonstick cooking spray 
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder 
• 1 cup all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 3 egg whites  
• 1 1/2 cups sugar   
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Coat mini muffin pans with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt.
4. In a separate bowl, beat melted butter, egg whites and sugar until just blended. Then stir in applesauce and vanilla.
5. Stir in combined flour mixture until well blended.
6. Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup.
7. Bake for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool for 5 minutes and remove from muffin tins.
9. Serve immediately or cover and store at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

Makes 36 servings.

Nutritional information