These Weight Watchers brownie bites are made with applesauce and just the right amount of brown sugar for 3 SmartPoints for 2. Gluten free brownies at their absolute best!
Weight Watchers SmartPoints
These brownie bites are made with regular baking ingredients, and there are only 3 SmartPoints in 2 brownie bites. They're not overly sweet, but they're tender and chocolatey and honestly quite satisfying.
I'll be the first to admit…that I don't fully understand Weight Watchers. I get that Oprah likes it now and that there's a point system. I've always appreciated the fact that, when you're on Weight Watchers, you eat your own food rather than plastic prepared meals.
I have mixed feelings about “dieting” in general since I have two teen/tween daughters and I'm desperate for them to maintain a love of food and respect their bodies. I don't want them counting everything they eat at their age. They should eat when they're hungry, stop when they're full and eat a balanced diet. Done. But when they're in their 40s like I am, things may change a bit…
Since there are so many “zero points” foods that are pretty much “free” for you to eat throughout the day, it makes baking quite a bit easier. This Weight Watchers brownie bites recipe isn't the first WW-friendly recipe I've ever published, but it's the one I feel best about. They're just so normal, you know?
Of course, if you do want truly “normal” in general, I've got 15 amazing recipes for gluten free brownies just waiting for you. :)
Please do pay careful attention to exactly the ingredients that are called for in the recipe, including the manner in which the ingredients are to be prepared. Low-fat/low-sugar baking has its own rules, and we must obey!
For example, I've found that the batter is much looser and the brownies more tender when both the yogurt and the applesauce are warmed slightly before adding them to the batter. You also want to be sure to mix until just combined.
What's different in this recipe?
My original recipe for two-bite gluten free brownies is one of my absolute favorites ever. I make them all the time because they're always well-received by literally everyone.
They're rich but not too rich, chocolatey but not overwhelming, and they're just exactly the right size. When someone has a birthday or a bake sale, that's my go-to recipe.
This recipe isn't exactly the same because it doesn't have all that butter, and has quite a bit less sugar. But with Weight Watchers allowing eggs, applesauce, and nonfat Greek-style plain yogurt for absolutely zero points, and even unsweetened cocoa powder for very few points, it is possible to cut back on fat and sugar and still have a tender muffin.
Ingredients and substitutions
These brownies can most likely be made quite allergy-friendly, but each substitution discussed below will change the Weight Watchers SmartPoints value, and not for the better. Give with one hand✋?, take with the other✋?.
Dairy-free: These brownies are nearly dairy-free all on their own, except for the nonfat Greek yogurt. It's easy to replace that with Greek-style nondairy plain yogurt (Anita nondairy coconut milk yogurt is my favorite brand), but I don't know of any non-fat dairy-free plain yogurt. The Weight Watchers points will definitely be different, and not in a good way.
Egg-free: A “chia egg” (1 tablespoon ground chia seeds + 1 tablespoon lukewarm water mixed and allowed to gel) is probably a pretty good substitute for each egg, but the egg yolk is a different story. It adds fat, which is crucial in these low-fat brownies since fat is a tenderizer and creates a smooth mouthfeel. You might be able to replace the egg yolk with another tablespoon of neutral oil, but that will add more points.
Sugar-free: I haven't tried replacing the brown sugar with a sugar-free alternative, but you might be able to replace it with Swerve brown sugar replacement. I find that Swerve tends to absorb a lot of moisture, so if you find that the batter is too thick, try adding some warm water by the teaspoonful until it reaches the proper consistency.
Watch this 40-second Weight Watchers Brownie Bites video
Push play ▶ to watch me make them, then make your own and enjoy a light 3-point treat!
Weight Watchers Brownie Bites
Ingredients
1 cup (140 g) all purpose gluten free flour (I like Cup4Cup here, but Better Batter works as well)
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
1/2 cup (40 g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons (82 g) packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (114 g) fat-free plain Greek yogurt, slightly warmed
6 tablespoons (96 g) unsweetened smooth applesauce, slightly warmed
1 tablespoon (14 g) neutral oil (like grapeseed, sunflower, vegetable, canola)
2 eggs (100 g, weighed out of shell) + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature, beaten
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (optional and NOT included in SmartPoints value)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Grease the wells of a 24-cup miniature muffin tin lightly and set it aside.
In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and brown sugar, whisking to combine well and breaking up any lumps in the brown sugar. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the yogurt, applesauce, oil, eggs and egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix until just combined. The batter will be smooth and thick but not stiff.
Divide the batter evenly among the prepared wells of the muffin tin, and shake back and forth to spread into an even layer in each well. Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake until the brownies spring back when pressed lightly in the center and a toothpick inserted in the center comes back mostly clean (about 14 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool only very briefly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Leaving the brownies in the pan for more than a minute or so tends to cause them to wilt and collapse.
Dust very lightly with the optional confectioners’ sugar before serving, but remember that isn’t included in the SmartPoints value (and 1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar has 1 SmartPoint).
Weight Watchers SmartPoints: 3 points in 2 miniature brownie bites.
Edie says
NOONE should still be aspiring to bake or eat low fat anything!! Weight Watchers is not a healthy way to ta and keep weight off (voice of experience!). I know it’s very confusing to know what to eat these days but this is NOT IT!! I have been eating gluten free for a few years and it’s great but, if you are adding a whole bunch of sugar to your gluten free eating, you may miss the health boat!
Nicole Hunn says
Edie, I’m approving this comment because you didn’t say anything too inflammatory. I do have to correct your assumption that this recipe is high in sugar, which it certainly is not. However, I don’t ever give advice on how people should eat on this blog. I merely support them in the choices that they make for themselves. I don’t feel it’s appropriate to do anything else, and ask that you respect that, too. Thanks.
Glenda Finlay says
Thanks Nicole these sound wonderful. Can you freeze these?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Glenda,
You sure can! They freeze really well. Just wrap tightly first. You can defrost at room temperature or pop in the microwave for a few seconds.
Carol says
So glad to see WW GF recipes.do you have more? And how do I find more of Amy’s zero point recipes? Chili is not my thing, but I’m always looking for WW, GF, dairy free recipes. What do you think will happen if I use almond milk instead of yogurt? Cut down on the amount? Add more GF flour?
Nicole Hunn says
I linked to my other Weight Watchers recipes in the post, Carol. Please click through! I don’t recommend using almond milk in place of the yogurt, I’m afraid. It’s completely different and won’t work.
Rosemary says
Hi Nicola, thanks for this lovely recipe. If I should want to make them normal muffins size how long and at what temperature would I cook them please? Thanks
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Rosemary,
Yes, I’ve made them as full-sized. Just bake them at the same temperature but for about 22 minutes.
Nancy James says
Thank you for the Weight Watchers Smart Point count. I think that you will find that there are all kinds of us out here working the WW program and the GF program, and it’s not always easy. Thanks for making it easier! And brownies, too!
Holly says
These look great! Just FYI, the current Weight Watchers program uses Smart Points, and these are 3SP for 2, per the online calculator. Going to make these soon!
Nicole Hunn says
Yes, that’s what I at least thought I said, Holly. 3 points for 2 brownie bites!
Holly says
Hi Nicole – you did, but said PointsPlus. That was a WW program from a few years ago – and they now call their current points program Smart Points. If people are currently following the latest program from WW, they might wonder what the points would be under Smart Points. :)
Nicole Hunn says
Oh, okay thank you, Holly! I’m kind of new to all the lingo, so that’s helpful. I made the changes, and good thing because I don’t want readers to be confused—or discount the SmartPoints (!) value. :)
reese says
Thank you VERY much for including a lower cal recipe. I have your books and would run to the store on publishing day to buy a “lower calorie gluten free” book by you. Because I watch calories, finding GF treats that are light enough to fit into my day is hard. This is a true issue in the GF market and I think an opportunity for someone like you to offer us alternatives. Low cal GF bread? Omg, yes, please! :)
Nicole Hunn says
You’re so welcome, Reese. I will definitely be happy to post more of these sort of recipes. I don’t currently have any plans at all to write any more traditionally published cookbooks, but I’m happy to work on some more Weight Watchers-friendly recipes in general and post them right here. :)
Freda says
Yes I i’ve been a lifetime member for about two years now. My daughter and grandson are the reason I follow your every move :-) my daughter joined weight watchers last year but struggled because of the celiac. So many things weight watcher allowed she could not have. This recipe came at the perfect time as I have a friend that’s a weight watcher and needs a recipe for a GF member of the family. I’m excited to share this with her!
Nicole Hunn says
That’s great to know, Freda. Thank you for telling me. She should try my friend Amy’s zero point chili recipe! Amy is great with coming up with zero point meal recipes, and most of them are naturally gluten free.
Freda says
Weight Watchers and Gluten Free! A match made in heaven. Keep them coming:-)
Nicole Hunn says
You’re into it, Freda? I honestly wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested. It’s not usually my “thing,” but these were too good not to share!
Patricia Wilson says
The brownie bites sound wonderful and glad that you pointed them out for us that follow WW. Thank you!
Nicole Hunn says
My pleasure, Patricia. Hope you like them!