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    Home » Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

    Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

    Published: Jan 15, 2022 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    These healthy peanut butter brownies are fudgy, and chocolatey. Made with 8 nutritious ingredients (no flour) in less than 30 minutes, they’re an easy & gluten-free & dairy-free dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.

    a stack fo 6 Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies with peanut butter on top and one brownie leaning on the stack

    This healthy peanut butter brownie recipe was born out of my love for healthy baking and the chocolate peanut butter flavor combination.

    These healthy peanut butter brownies are fudgy, and chocolatey and made with 8 nutritious ingredients (no flour) in less than 30 minutes, which means they're easy to make when the craving strikes!

    They’re an easy, gluten-free and dairy-free dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.

    Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies with peanut butter on top

    Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies: Ingredients & Substitutions

    • Creamy peanut butter. You could substitute crunchy peanut butter if you like little bits of peanuts in your brownies. Really, any nut or seed butter should work well in this recipe.
    • Honey. Maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
    • Applesauce. You can replace applesauce with and equal amount of butter, coconut oil or mashed banana.
    • Cocoa powder. be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Sea salt. If using iodized salt, decrease the amount by half.
    • Chocolate chips. Great subs for chocolate chips are: peanut butter chips, chopped peanut butter cups, chopped chocolate bars, etc.
    overhead photo of the ingredients in this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies recipe

    How to make healthy peanut butter brownies

    This recipe comes together in one bowl in 5 minutes! Don't forget to watch the video and follow the step-by-step photos!

    Begin by combining the wet ingredients in a medium-sized bowl until the mixture is smooth.

    two photos showing how to make Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies -  combining wet ingredients

    Then, add the dry ingredients and stir until the batter is smooth. Next, fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

    If you prefer a different mix-in, here are some suggestions:

    • Peanut butter chips
    • chopped peanut butter cups
    • chopped chocolate bar
    • White chocolate chips
    • nuts
    • dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, etc.)
    • a swirl of peanut butter
    two photos showing how to make Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies - adding dry ingredients & chocolate chips

    Next, pour the batter into a prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is set (it will still be shiny) and the brownies are only slightly jiggly.

    Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.

    two photos showing how to make Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies in the pan before and after baking

    Serve

    Serve these healthy peanut butter brownies slightly warm with a dollop of peanut butter (try this homemade peanut butter), a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or healthy chocolate peanut butter ice cream), or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

    Store/freeze

    Let the healthy chocolate peanut butter brownies cool completely. Then, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    I suggest gently reheating them in the microwave to restore their fresh-from-the-oven, melty chocolate taste and texture.

    a plate of 8 Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I double this recipe?

    Yes, double the ingredients and bake the brownies in a 9x13" glass baking dish.

    Can I use a different nut butter if I'm allergic to peanut butter?

    Yes, you can use almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, tahini, etc.

    Can I replace the egg?

    You should be able to use egg replacer or make a flax/chia egg but combining 1 TBS ground flaxseed or ground chia seeds with 2.5 TBS hot water.

    a stack fo 4 Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies, top one has a bite taken out of it

    If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don't forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube - be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

    Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies

    Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies

    Laura
    These healthy peanut butter brownies are fudgy, and chocolatey. Made with 8 nutritious ingredients (no flour) in less than 30 minutes, they’re an easy & gluten-free & dairy-free dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 9 brownies
    Calories 187 kcal

    Equipment

    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • spatula
    • glass batter bowl
    • 8x8" baking pan

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 egg beaten
    • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • ¼ tsp fine sea salt
    • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8x8” baking dish, set aside.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, mix together peanut butter, honey, applesauce, vanilla and eggs until smooth.
    • Add cocoa powder and sea salt and stir to combine.
    • Fold in chocolate chips.
    • Pour batter into prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the top is set (it will still be shiny) and the brownies are only slightly jiggly.
    • Remove from oven and cool completely before cutting.

    Video

    Notes

    *Nutrition information calculated for this recipe making 9 brownies.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    • Creamy peanut butter. You could substitute crunchy peanut butter if you like little bits of peanuts in your brownies. Really, any nut or seed butter should work well in this recipe.
    • Honey. Maple syrup can be used in place of honey.
    • Applesauce. You can replace applesauce with and equal amount of butter, coconut oil or mashed banana.
    • Cocoa powder. be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder.
    • Sea salt. If using iodized salt, decrease the amount by half.
    • Chocolate chips. Great subs for chocolate chips are: peanut butter chips, chopped peanut butter cups, chopped chocolate bars, etc.

    Serve

    Serve these healthy peanut butter brownies slightly warm with a dollop of peanut butter (try this homemade peanut butter), a scoop of vanilla ice cream (or healthy chocolate peanut butter ice cream), or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

    Store/freeze

    Let the healthy chocolate peanut butter brownies cool completely. Then, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    I suggest gently reheating them in the microwave to restore their fresh-from-the-oven, melty chocolate taste and texture.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1brownieCalories: 187kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 5gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 139mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 3gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 33IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Betty

      July 31, 2022 at 7:29 pm

      Can I use cocoa powder that is not unsweetened ? That is what I have. Thanks

      Reply
      • Laura

        August 01, 2022 at 7:06 am

        I don't recommend sweetened cocoa powder.

        Reply
    2. Jasmine-Maucieri

      April 04, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      Just made these and Omgosh sooo good. I’m waiting for my taste tester. Told him they were “real brownies”.
      Only complaint they look nothing like yours.

      Reply
    3. Michelle E

      March 01, 2022 at 5:23 pm

      5 stars
      I just made these with my granddaughter. I had not idea what to expect. These were really good!!! I used milk chocolate chips and a sprinkle of semi sweet because that is what I had . We will definitely be making these again!

      Reply
    4. Joanna

      January 15, 2022 at 8:24 am

      This looks delicious! Quick question -- the instructions in the recipe card say to add baking soda with the cocoa powder and sea salt, but I don't see baking soda anywhere else in the recipe. Should there be baking soda?

      Reply
      • Laura

        January 15, 2022 at 2:23 pm

        Hey Joanna! NO! I'm so sorry! I fixed that! No baking soda or powder in this recipe! Thank you for bringing that to my attention!

        Reply
        • Joanna

          January 15, 2022 at 5:40 pm

          Thanks for getting back so quickly! I have a friend who has a gluten intolerance but loves fudgy brownies, so these look like a great treat to make for her. Thank you!

      • Liz

        January 17, 2022 at 11:38 am

        Hi, I would like to try this. Can you please add grams please. Thanks alot.

        Reply

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    About Laura

    I’m Laura, a former chemistry teacher turned homeschooling mom of six beautiful babies! I create simple and delicious recipes that are tested and perfected to make cooking and baking joyful and fun!

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