Brownie Bites - Pseudo Cupcakes/Muffins

I know... the title is confusing... I still don't know what to call these, so just make it, try it and call it what you will.

This is a recipe with no butter, eggs, sugar or flour. Not many will like it, but if you try to cook healthy, you'll love this. Fair warning! :)

This recipe makes 12 bites/cupcakes/muffins

Ingredients:

Rolled Oats - 1 3/4 cup - Don't use steel cut oats, it doesn't work
Egg Whites - 3 or 1/4 cup if using the liquid variety
Unsweetened Cocoa - 3/4 cup - I used the dark variety, feel free to use the regular kind
Unsweetened Applesauce - 1/2 cup
Vanilla Extract - 1 tsp - if you feel adventurous, try adding Kahlua Vanilla instead
Plain Greek Yogurt (Fat Free) - 1/2 cup - you can also use Fat Free or Low Fat Plain Yogurt instead
Vinegar - 1.5 Tbsp - (optional)
Baking Powder and Baking Soda - 1.5 Tsp (Optional)
Salt - a pinch - 1/4 tsp
Hot Water - 1 cup
Stevia - 6 Tbsp
Semi- Sweet Chocolate Chips, Sliced Almonds, Peanut Butter Chips - optional
Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Finely Ground Espresso Powder - 1-2 tsp

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners, spray with non-stick cooking spray and set aside
3. In the food processor, add all ingredients except the chocolate chips, sliced almonds and peanut butter chips
4. Blend until you get a smooth mixture
5. Pour mixture into muffin pans/cupcake liners. If you are using baking soda, powder and vinegar, only fill about 3/4 of the liners/pans. If you are not using these ingredients, you can fill up to the top
6. Place the muffin pan on the top rack for 10 - 12 minutes. Remove, add chocolate chips, sliced almonds or any other topping that you want and return the pan to the oven (optional). Bake for an additional 5- 10 minutes
7. Check for texture and see if they are done by inserting a toothpick in the center of the muffin. If it comes out clean, they're done. 
8. Shut off oven, take the pan out and let it cool on the cooling rack.

CAUTION: Do not try to take the muffins out right after you take them out from the oven - they will disintegrate. 

NOTE: I have made this recipe with and without the baking soda/powder and vinegar and to be honest, I liked it without these ingredients. If you are a chocolate fan, the espresso powder will bring out the chocolate flavor in this recipe. 

Once the muffins have cooled down, you can follow these additional steps to convert them to cupcakes 

1. Heat some bittersweet chocolate in the microwave oven in an oven safe dish for about 1-2 minutes. 
2. Add nuts, chocolate chips or anything else you want in the frosting and mix well. Use a butter knife to spread the topping on the muffin/cupcake. 

Here is how it looked - I didn't do the topping/frosting. Kept it simple. Chewy muffins, ready to be gobbled up!