This recipe for rich and fudgy healthy brownies is so completely delicious that you will never believe the healthy ingredients!
The best healthy brownies
Imagine a homemade secretly healthy brownie recipe that can easily its own in taste and texture against any regular chocolate brownie.
There is no flour, no refined sugar, and more than five grams of protein packed into each and every super chocolatey fudge brownie.
The wholesome brownie recipe can be vegan, oil free, low fat, egg free, dairy free, and cholesterol free, with fiber, potassium, and iron.
Also try this healthy Frozen Yogurt Recipe
Flourless brownie ingredients
These super chocolatey low calorie brownies call for the following ingredients: unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, quick oats, pure maple syrup (or honey or raw agave), banana, nut butter, pure vanilla extract, chocolate chips, and black beans.
For flourless and grain free brownies, the half cup of quick oats can be replaced with an equal amount of almond flour if desired.
There is also keto and paleo brownie recipe option included in the recipe.
Feel free to use your favorite nut butter, such as almond butter, cashew butter, or peanut butter. Or for an allergy friendly option, sunflower butter also works well.
Use chocolate protein powder instead of the antioxidant rich cocoa if you want high protein brownies. Just be sure to choose a protein powder with a flavor you already know that you like for baking.
The gluten free brownie recipe calls for a standard fifteen ounce can of black beans. If you want to use cooked beans, measure out one and a half cups after cooking.
I have not tried any other beans or legumes in place of the black beans here. However, I do have a different recipe for Chickpea Brownies if you want to use garbanzo beans.
For the chocolate chips: I like to use Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips in the recipe, or you can use whatever chips you have on hand. My preference is for dark chocolate, but semi sweet, milk chocolate, and white chocolate all work too.
For a no sugar variation, Lily’s dark chocolate chips are a great option.
Or you can even make your own Sugar Free Chocolate Chips.
Liquid sweeteners that do well here include pure maple syrup, raw agave, honey (not for vegans), date syrup, or even keto syrup for sugar free brownies.
Healthy brownie recipe video
Above, watch the step-by-step video
Healthy brownies without banana
The recipe below uses banana to add natural sweetness without added sugar.
If you are allergic to the fruit, do not have any on hand, or just dislike the taste of banana brownies, make these popular Black Bean Brownies instead. It’s a similar recipe, but with no banana.
Or you might also really like these healthy Sweet Potato Brownies.
To answer a common reader question: You might be able to sub applesauce, avocado, or Greek yogurt for the banana if you also add some sweetener to replace the sugar from the banana. I have not tried this substitution so cannot say how it will taste.
Be sure to report back if you experiment.
How to make vegan healthy brownies from scratch
To make the plant based brownies, start by reading through the recipe instructions and gathering your ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line an 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or grease the pan well. Set it aside.
In a high quality food processor, blend everything until completely smooth. You can mix in the chocolate chips either before or after blending, but be sure not to leave them out!
Smooth the healthy brownie batter into the prepared pan. If desired, you can sprinkle some extra dark chocolate chips on top. Place the pan on the oven’s center rack.
Bake the healthy chocolate fudge brownies for fifteen minutes. Let them cool before cutting into bars or squares.
If you want them extra gooey and fudgy (definitely my preferred way to eat brownies!), you can eat them right away.
Otherwise, refrigerate the pan overnight, very loosely covered, and the delicious chocolate dessert will firm up considerably as excess moisture escapes.
They also have a deeper, sweeter, and richer taste a day after they are made.
Chocolate brownie storage tips
Store leftover brownies in the refrigerator for up to four or five days.
Or slice and freeze the brownie bars in a single layer or with parchment in between layers. Thaw the frozen brownies before serving, and enjoy for dessert or snack whenever a brownie craving hits in the future.
Try topping the recipe with cream cheese or chocolate frosting, melted chocolate chips or chocolate ganache, or Banana Ice Cream if desired.
With all the protein, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, who is to say you couldn’t even eat these wholesome chocolate brownies for breakfast???
Health benefits
When cut into nine servings, each brownie is just 150 calories.
And the recipe contains 5.6 grams of protein and 5.7 grams of heart healthy fiber.
They are low in saturated fat, low sodium, and high in iron, with calcium, quercetin, and potassium.
Plus, the superfood black beans and unsweetened cocoa powder provide nutritious vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Easy healthy brownie recipes
Healthy Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 can black beans
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup quick oats (for low carb, try these Keto Brownies)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup or honey or agave
- 1 banana (see banana free options listed above)
- 1/4 cup nut butter of choice or coconut oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (not optional)
Instructions
- To make healthy brownies, first preheat the oven to 350 F. Blend all ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor until completely smooth. (A blender can work if you must, but the texture and taste will be better in a food processor. I use this food processor.) Stir in the chips. Smooth into a greased or parchment lined 8×8 inch baking pan. If desired, add extra chocolate chips on top. Bake on the oven's center rack for 15 minutes. Let cool before cutting. If they are too fudgy and gooey for your liking, you can place them in the fridge overnight, during which time they firm up even more. View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
Healthy Dessert Ideas
O…..M…….G!!!!!! These look AMAZING. I JUST DIED!!!!
Oh no! I hope not! Well, unless you go to cookie heaven… hmmm, that could be fun, right?
Wow, you are just on the brownie/ fudge ROLL– loving it and one of these days I’ll catch up with all your amazing recipes and make them 🙂 Maybe that time is now since i’m on summer now 🙂
Your teeth are perfect and oh so white– what’s your trick? 🙂
I’ve always been lucky with white, straight teeth… and yet somehow they still managed to force me into braces for three years! Ugh. (Because my teeth were so straight, my mom was surprised when they told me I needed braces at all!)
Anyway, I also never drank soda or coffee, even when I was little… so maybe that’s what kept them so white? I know my sister drank a lot of soda, and she now uses whitening strips. The dentist told her that if she drinks soda, she should drink it through a straw, because less will get on your teeth.
It’s weird because, in my world, whatever the question, chocolate’s almost always the answer… but I usually choose non-chocolatey puddings! Like my mum’s apple crumble, bannoffee pie, this amazing honeycomb ice cream I had the other day… I couldn’t choose a favourite… 🙂
Cute pic of you and your Daddy. That fudge does look goooood.
I’m speechless! 😉 Yum…..I really want one of your brownies right now. Time to bake and celebrate Friday!
I’m more of an actual meal girl than a dessert girl, to be honest (although I have dark chocolate everyday!), but upon occasion, I start craving a satisfying vegan dessert. I’m really an amateur baker, to be honest, and haven’t made a lot of desserts, but I do make a mean batch of whole wheat, naturally-sweetened lemon-blueberry cheesecake bars (vegan, of course!). When I get home from France in July, I’m going to try my hand at raw desserts. So excited!
Oh wow, those sound good!
P.S. I just checked out your blog. The photos are beautiful!
Wow! Your brownies already looked good enough, but with that chocolate drizzle..that makes them even more amazing.
I’ve yet to try them, although I did just recently try your red velvet pancakes…so kind of like brownies! The omni-fiance loved them as well 🙂 What a great breakfast!
Aw Lauren, I didn’t know you were back to blogging! Congratulations on getting engaged!!! 🙂
fudgey and fudge-iness are SO totally real words.
picking a favorite dessert for me is like choosing a favorite child… they all have a special place! carrot cake is a childhood favorite – mom’s fave as well. I have a couple of faves from a neighborhood restaurant i’ve been going to my entire life: strawberries in vodka carmel sauce drizzled with chocolate, and bread pudding. I’d kind of like to try a vegan bread pudding, though. This may become a project.
My favorite dessert is probably a deep dish cookie pie with ice cream. mmmm.
As always, those brownies look AMAZING! You also look gorgeous in your photo!
Happy Friday:)
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Oh Liz, you always have the sweetest things to say! You put a smile on my face from ear to ear! Happy Friday to YOU, sweet girl!