Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies (Vegan)

Spring is on it's way, although it's snowing like a mofo outside this afternoon. We haven't had a lot of snow yet this winter, but I'd prefer to not start it now that it's just about March. But you know what they say about March, "In like a lion and out like a lamb". Whoever they are they better be right, because I'd like some flowers and green grass before July this year... I am starting my last week of my internship this week, and now I'm sad. I wanted these to go by quick so I could get out there and get a paid job, but I really started to like this hospital setting. So I decided today would be a good day for an introspective hour staring out the window, letting the snow mezmorize me, and not dwell on the things I can't change for now.... Then I decided it was as good a day as any to make some brownies. My boyfriend is a brownie fiend, and I have to admit, they're one of my favorites too.  A delicious recipe I've worked out over the years is for my Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies. I made them vegan too, so everybody wins. Except the gluten-free folks, but I am working out a new GF brownie I will have to share soon for all you wheat-less wonders out there.

Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies (Vegan)

-2 cups all purpose flour ( I used Bob's Red Mill All-purpose Whole Wheat)

- 1 1/2 cups sugar

-1 cup filtered water

-1 cup canola oil

- 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

-1 cup walnuts, chopped

-3/4 cup cocoa powder

-1 t. salt

-2 t. baking powder

-1 t. vanilla 

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Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 cake pan with non-stick spray. Combine flour, salt and baking powder and whisk to combine. In another bowl, combine sugar, cocoa, water, canola, and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add wet to dry and whisk gently  to combine ( whisking is used in this recipe to combine all the ingredients and get out the lumps. whisk only until the lumps are out then fold. Fold in walnuts and chocolate chips, pour batter into pan and bake 20-25 minutes, until toothpick inserted in comes out clean.

Frosting: 1 cup dark chocolate chips, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 t. vanilla. Melt chocolate  and whisk in soymilk and vanilla. Pour on top of cooled brownies

Nothing can snap you out of an existential funk faster than  one of these brownies, trust me. 

I didn't even beat myself up about not going to the gym today and eating a gargantuan brownie. I just enjoyed every last crumb.

The ganache frosting is rich and delicious, you cannot taste the soymilk in it at all. The brownie itself is perfectly  moist and cake-y.  you can make these with hazelnuts, pecans, or whatever sort of nut your heart desires,  I just happen to really love walnuts.

This is another recipe that I have never had anyone complain about or say it tasted "vegan". If by tasting vegan you mean it tastes delicious, then I would agree 100 %. I am not vegan, but rather a flexitarian, eating meat very seldom. I love desserts and try to tweak recipes to make them a little better for you, so you can eat more of them once and a while. Sounds like a win-win to me! =)