Brownies are one of our most favorite treats. They’re super easy to whip up from scratch and they can cure the fiercest of chocolate cravings with just one (or two) squares. Brownies are supposed to be a treat, something that is free from any judgment or worry because they’re never going to be considered a health food. But, what if we told you that there’s a way to make a slightly healthier version with an ingredient that makes this batch of brownies smooth and fudgy, without compromising on taste or enjoyment? Enter the avocado, the fruit (Yep! It’s a fruit) de jour. Avocados are everywhere these days, so why not add them to your next batch of brownies? It’s not as wretched as you might think.

Instead of butter or a processed oil, what you’re getting with the mashed avocado is a source of healthy fat, making your favorite chocolate brownie just a little more health-conscious but still rich and chocolatey. This is an excellent way to use up an avocado that might be nearing its end, so before you throw it away, consider whipping it into a batch of these amazingly fudgy and delicious brownies. If you’re worried about your brownies suddenly tasting like chocolate guacamole, don’t. You won’t even notice the avocados once all of your usual brownie ingredients are mixed together.

Adding an avocado to your brownies isn’t completely weird; after all, we’ve added applesauce to dishes to replace oil for a slightly healthier version of a special treat. The avocado here is going to add a beautiful texture to your fudgy brownies. We like to have a little more chocolate in ours, so we add chocolate chips too. If you want, make this with dark chocolate, for added health and flavor benefits. A batch of these brownies isn’t entirely “guilt-free” but we never really feel guilty about eating chocolate. One bite will have you convinced that a fresh batch of avocado brownies is really something special!