I don't know how many brownie recipes I have tried in the past and just have not come up with one that my family likes.  We had been used to the Aldi brownie mixes...and yes they are delicious but in my quest to provide healthier options, I have been trying to find a homemade brownie recipe that tastes really good.  Guess what...I think I have come up with one!  I actually got the original recipe out of a book I had read aloud to the kids.  I made the original recipe, then made it again with some changes to it.  This is the recipe I came up with...and they are SO good!  Yes, they do have sugar in them.  You can substitute Sucanat or organic sugar if you want for a little healthier version.  But for homemade brownies I am very satisfied and my family loved them.  So...this recipe is making it into my Dessert Recipe Notebook!  It's a keeper!

Brownies

1/2 cup butter
6 Tablespoons cocoa
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Melt butter and cocoa in a saucepan. 

Add oil and sugar; mix well. 

Add in eggs and vanilla and mix well.

Stir in dry ingredients (except chocolate chips).

Stir in chocolate chips or sprinkle on top of batter after it is put in the pan.

Spread batter in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. (This makes pretty thin brownies.  If you want thicker brownies, use a small pan.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.