You may think I’ve lost it.
And you may be right.
I made mini brownie cakes. Â With a tomato. Â It sounds strange, but hear me out. Â Tomatoes are technically a fruit. Â Baking with fruit is good. Â So why not? Â
These mini cakes were marvelously moist.  Fresh, in-season tomatoes from the market are juicy and pretty sweet on their own.  Between that and the banana, the resulting healthy brownie is a chocolate treat that isn’t overwhelmingly rich, but still clearly a dessert.  At the end there is the tiniest hint of something fruity… but you can’t pick out the tomato at all (I tested it with several people).
You might notice that I left the oats whole in my cakes; that’s because I like the extra chew.  I also added a little coconut flour because I’m addicted to the wonderful, almost silky, texture it lends.  There is also protein powder involved (I just can’t help myself). You can sub in more flour for any of these if you prefer.
Like all good cakes, I decided this needed icing. Â And sprinkles. Â My icing was a simple mix of Greek yogurt, a bit of stevia, and vanilla.
Bonus: tomatoes are a great source of vitamins C, A, and K, potassium, fiber, and the cancer-fighting lycopene,
Try it.  You’ll like it.  Your friends will like it.  Your kids will like it.  Just don’t tell them what they’re eating until after they take a bite. 😉
Tomato Brownie Cupcakes
- 1 small tomato
- 1 small banana (~6 inches)
- 1 C water
- 2 T cocoa powder
- 1/2 C raw oats
- 1/2 C spelt flour
- 1 scoop (30g) chocolate protein powder
- 2 T cocoa powder
- 1 T coconut flour
- 1 T stevia (or other sweetener)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 T coconut oil
- 1/4 C egg whites
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a blender, blend tomato, banana, and water until smooth.  Pour into a bowl and mx in remaining ingredients except the egg whites.
Beat the egg whites until foamy (you can also use the blender for this), then fold them into the batter.
Pour into prepared cupcake tins and cook for 15-20 mins.
Makes 12 cupcakes.
Approximate Nutritionals (for 1 cake): 51 calories, 1.7 g fat, 34.6g sodium, 7.3g carbohydrates, 1.5 g fiber, 1.1g sugar, 3.3g protein
How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week?
The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends!
Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂
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I had the best time reading all the guesses when I posted this pic on Instagram.  So many great ideas; many are sure to inspire future #strangebutgood baking. 🙂
What is your favorite fruit to bake with?
Would you ever consider trying a tomato brownie? Â Be honest.
Wait, really? Tomato? Hmmm, totally intrigued by this idea.
Mmmmmm Ketchup. Yeah, that has nothing to do with your inventive brownies with tomatoes, but… You got me thinking about ketchup!
Oddly, I really hate ketchup.
Wow. So for my #strangebutgood creation this week I incorporated veggies in a sweet food, but a tomato?! That is amazing, I will HAVE to try that just for the lol’s.
PS- my iherb order just came this morning. With the goods I am attempting many of your creations, but firstly the elusive TVP oats!
I loved your concoction!!! Can’t wait to hear what you do with your iHerb goodies. 🙂
Yumminess!! I love veggies in baked goods. And whole oats as well!!
I would never think to add tomatoes in any baked good but then again, I wouldn’t have considered zucchini or squash either 10 years ago…anything goes eh!
I’m the same way – I would have NEVER eaten like this 10 years ago.
I’ve thought about popping a tomato in baked goods as a way to up the nutrient ante but thought it might be too seedy. Going to try to surprise and stump everyone with this!
I think it would be if you didn’t blend it. I just used a little Magic Bullet and it worked perfectly. 🙂
you know i would try it. Tomato is a fruit, i like tomatoes, i like brownies, i like strange but good!
I like YOU!
Oh what a fun idea! I love baking with banana and pumpkin so why not throw in some tomato too! I would have thought the tomato would have led it to a off texture but good to know it doesn’t!
Tomatoes in brownies… I would expect nothing less from you. 🙂
We aim to please. 😉
This is definitely strange! If you say it’s good, I believe you though.
Tomato?! Knock me over and call me Kat!
*Bam*
Kat!
🙂
You’re definitely emphasizing the strange on this one, aren’t you? 😉 Looks intriguing, I never would have thought to use a tomato in baking!
Right?! It’s unbelievable, but you can’t taste it at all.
You. Are. Crazy. In a strange but good way 🙂 These are kinda genius and perfect for those of us trying to fit a veggie into every single course.
LOL! I will take that as a compliment. 🙂
You are so creative!
I’ve seen recipes using canned tomato soup so this isn’t toooooo strange 😉 I love it!!
I saw one too long ago… you better believe that’s next on my list. 🙂
For sure, the tomato is a STRANGE addition to a cupcake recipe. But I’m definitely tempted to try it!! I’m addicted to healthy desserts–so fun to know I’m eating something good for me.
Same here Guilt-free seconds. 🙂
This I would definitely try – I love how creative your brain is. Much more than mine recently, I have got to get back into the game!
Competition eating will force that. 😉
Yummmmmmmmmmm!
I almost always put an italian tomato in my smoothies. Don’t taste it at all.
Which reminds me we must talk Italian wine. 🙂
Ohhhh… that is an awesome idea!!!
Yes. Italian wines are my favorite. 🙂
this is totally strange but good, I am intrigued by this….
Actually, one of my most memorable (restaurant) desserts was a tomato sorbet with baby coriander and goats cheese. It was incredible. That’s another restaurant I’ll take you to when we’re food-spouses and I take you home to meet my parents.
I get to meet the parents?! Eep! 😉
I completely forgot about a tomato sorbet I had a while back with balsamic syrup and a lttle basil. I be the goats cheese was awesome!
That is wild crazy!!! 🙂 OK< you know I remake every recipe! 🙂 Can I NOT use the tomato & what can I use instead of spelt flour which I don't have in the house…
I love the addition of the topping with sprinkles!!!! FUN!
LMAO! I think if you don’t use the tomato you’d need to add more moisture (maybe 1/4 C egg white?). For the flour, you could use anything. I just had spelt on hand. 🙂
You are right. These do sound a bit strange ;). But I always trust your strange but good combos!!
LOL! Thank you for trusting me. 🙂
oh yum tomato! I can see how that would work! Will have to give these a go. Yum 🙂
Let me know if you do! The tomato is oddly good. 😉
Just by looking at the brownie cakes I can’t tell they have tomatoes! You’re so creative.. in a strange but good way 🙂
I think you’re crazy, but I did hear you out, and I can see the logic. Tomatoes technically are a fruit and they are sweet. I’d try it, but you’re still crazy. It’s part of your charm though.
I literally laughed out loud when I read this comment.
ok, so i have to say… that’s pretty cool, girl! are you the first person in the world to make a brownie with tomato? did you try to google other “baking with tomato recipes??” because that’s really cool 🙂
I LOVE how creative you are! Totally trying these – mostly because they look delicious, but also just to say that I made brownies with tomatoes :).
Haha – I think that’s why I try things half the time too. 🙂
You’ve never let me down before, so you know I’ll try it!
Yay!!! Let me know what you think. 🙂
You always inspire me to push myself out of my comfort zone. I finally convinced my family to try avocado in their smoothies so I don’t know if tomato in brownies would work, then again the finished product resembles a normal brownie. So creative.
Thank you so much! That is such a big compliment. 🙂
Just don’t tell them what’s in the brownie until they eat it . That’s what I do to my co-workers. LOL!
I somehow linked up to this post without ever commenting. Did I do that in my sleep?
Either way, even I think this is strange. And you know that’s saying something.
However, I totally want to try them. Except long ingredient lists are too overwhelming for me right now. 🙂
I’m now dying to try this. Sounds so… Unusual. But in a good way. I love added veggies & fruits to my baking so this is a must! <3
Let me know what you think!!! If you like sneaky veggies, you should check out the chocolate zucchini muffins and the chocolate avocado cookies. I like chocolate… can you tell? LOL!