Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies Recipe
These Healthy Peanut Butter Brownies offer a deliciously rich and fudgy treat made with wholesome ingredients like almond flour, coconut sugar, and natural peanut butter. Perfectly baked to achieve a moist texture with a swirl of peanut butter on top, these brownies are an ideal dessert for anyone seeking a healthier twist on a classic favorite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup coconut oil (50 grams)
- 1/3 cup creamy unsalted peanut butter (plus more for topping)
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips (by weight, not volume)
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips (optional for mixing)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the brownies.
- Prepare the Pan: Line an 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring it covers the sides for easy removal.
- Cream Sugar and Eggs: Using an electric mixer, cream together the coconut sugar and room temperature eggs for about 1 minute until well combined and slightly fluffy.
- Melt Chocolate and Coconut Oil: In a small bowl, combine the coconut oil and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Melt them together in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring thoroughly between each until fully melted and smooth.
- Combine Melted Chocolate with Egg Mixture: Beat the melted chocolate and coconut oil mixture into the creamed eggs and sugar along with the vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- Add Peanut Butter: Beat in the creamy unsalted peanut butter until fully incorporated into the batter.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: Sift together the almond flour, cocoa powder, and salt to ensure no lumps, then gradually add them to the wet mixture.
- Fold Ingredients: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. If using, fold in the optional chocolate chips for extra chocolatey texture.
- Transfer to Pan and Swirl: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan, spreading it out smoothly. Add a few dollops of peanut butter on top and use a knife or chopstick to swirl it throughout the batter for a marbled effect.
- Bake the Brownies: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 16 pieces. Enjoy your healthy peanut butter brownies as a guilt-free treat!
Notes
- You can substitute coconut sugar with another unrefined sugar, but this may alter the flavor slightly.
- Room temperature eggs help to blend the batter more easily and improve texture.
- To enhance the peanut butter swirl, warm the peanut butter slightly before dolloping on top.
- Storing brownies in an airtight container at room temperature keeps them fresh for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to a week.
- For a nut-free version, almond flour can be substituted with oat flour, but texture will be different.
