Sweet potato and chocolate may sound like an unusual combination but trust us on this one! Recently our creative Chef at Green Leaves Pasadena made some scrumptious sweet potato brownies with creamy avocado frosting. Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and a great source of beta-carotene, potassium and fibre. They were such a hit with the children!

Ingredients:
Brownie:
1 cup of sweet potato puree
70g brown sugar
200g Nuttelex
300g self-raising flour
70g cocoa powder
2 eggs

Frosting (optional):
2 ripe avocados
300g Nuttelex
50g icing sugar
30g cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Line a baking tray with baking paper so that you have some overhanging sides to easily remove the brownies later.
2. Peel and chop your sweet potato into large cubes, boil for approximately 15 to 20 minutes and test it with a fork just as you would when making mashed potatoes. Once soft enough, strain and mash it up. If you like, you can use a hand mixer to puree the sweet potato for a creamier consistency. To loosen the sweet potato, add some water as you puree.
3. In your kitchen mixer, whip up the Nuttelex with the brown sugar. Once the mixture looks pale, add the eggs.
4. Combine the dry ingredients and add to the wet ingredients.
5. Once the sweet potato puree is cooled, add 1/3 of it to the other ingredients in the mixer. As the mixture combines, add the rest of the puree.
6. Scrape the batter into the baking pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes. To check if it’s ready, insert a skewer and if it comes out clean, it’s ready.
7. Place the pan on a wire rack and let it cool completely before lifting the brownies from the pan onto the wire rack.
8. For the frosting, add the Nuttelex and icing sugar to the mixer, once it’s whipped together, vanilla extract and cocoa powder. Lastly, mash up the avocados and add it to the mixture. Once you get a smooth consistency, it’s perfect!
9. When the brownies are cool, use a spatula to ice it. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Hint: Store leftover brownies in an airtight container in the fridge. If you wish to freeze them for later, leave out the icing.

Centre: Recipe courtesy of Green Leaves Early Learning Pasadena