As someone who doesn’t go a single day without consuming some form of chocolate, brownies are one of my favorite ways to get my chocolate fix. These brownies are perfectly fudgy, chocolatey, and indulgent. And you would never know they are made with healthy ingredients!

Vegan Date Brownie Recipe Notes

These Vegan Date Brownies are naturally sweetened with dates. Allowing the dates to soak in boiling water for 10 minutes is the secret to giving these cookies an extra fudgy texture! Dates are loaded with health benefits, which is why I love using them as a sugar alternative in baking.

These Vegan Date Brownies call for oat flour, which is one of my favorite gluten-free flour alternatives. I usually make my own oat flour. You can make your own oat flour by placing oats in a blender and blending until a flour consistency is reached.

Additionally, this recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of unsweetened apple sauce. Apple sauce is used in this recipe as a vegan egg replacement. Plus, it also helps add moisture to these brownies. A good rule of thumb is that you can replace one egg with 1/4 cup of apple sauce.

If you love these brownies be sure to check out my recipe for Sweet Potato Brownies, which is one of the most popular recipes on my website!

Did you try this recipe? Feel free to share it with me on Instagram or leave a comment below! Happy baking!

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The Best Vegan Date Brownies

Course Dessert, Snack

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes minutes

Servings 8 brownies

Ingredients

• 1 cup of dates pitted
• 3/4 cups oat flour can be made by blending whole oats in your blender or food processor until you have a flour consistency
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 salt
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
• 2 tablespoons of natural nut butter I use peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/4 – 1/3 cup of chocolate chips
• Plus chocolate chips for topping

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 4×8 pan with parchment paper. Bring a small pot of water to a boil, once water is boiling remove from heat and allow dates to soak for 10 minutes until soft.
• While you are waiting for your dates to soak, add the rest of the ingredients (aside from chocolate chips) to your food processor and blend until combined. Stir in your chocolate chips.
• Drain your dates and add them to the food processor and blend until evenly combined (About 30 seconds to a minute). You may want to stop periodically and scrape the sides to ensure everything is evenly combined.
• Scoop out brownie batter into your prepared baking pan. The dough will be thick and sticky, but these brownies do not spread in the oven so try evenly spread the batter. Top with additional chocolate chips.
• Bake in preheated oven for 22-24 minutes or until the top no longer appear to be wet. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving and enjoy!

The post The Best Vegan Date Brownies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

These super fudgy Flourless Vegan Brownies contain a secret ingredient that makes this decadent recipe gluten-free, protein-packed, and secretly healthy.

Can you guess what the secret ingredient in these amazing brownies is? If you guessed chickpeas, you’d be correct! Also known as garbanzo beans, these legumes are not only filled with health benefits but are also an amazing flour alternative in gluten-free baking!

If you are familiar with my blog or any of my recipes, you know that I love finding ways to make decadent desserts that utilize healthy, vegan, and gluten-free ingredients! These brownies are no exception, but you would never know because they are extra fudgy and chocolatey!

Flourless Vegan Brownie Recipe Breakdown

These fudgy brownies are unbelievably easy to make and only call for a handful of healthy ingredients! But I have a few helpful tips and tricks to ensure your healthy brownies turn out perfectly!

This brownie batter comes together in your food processor. It is important to blend all of the ingredients together until the batter is completely smooth, this should take between 2-3 minutes. It is helpful to stop processing a few times to scrape down the sides to ensure that all of the ingredients are evenly combined.

I prefer to make these brownies in a muffin tin with cupcake liners because I love how they turn out when they are individually proportioned. Plus, just look how cute these are! If you do not have a muffin tin, you can feel free to make this recipe in an 8×8 brownie pan or a bread pan.

Key Ingredients

As I mentioned above, the base for this recipe is chickpeas. It is important to use canned chickpeas for these brownies. Additionally, be sure to rinse and drain them before adding them to your food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.

These brownies call for 3 tablespoons of natural peanut butter, but you may substitute any nut butter that you desire.

4 tablespoons of Maple syrup gives these brownies their source of sweetness. Although, if you prefer a sweeter dessert you may add an additional 1-2 tablespoons.

High-quality cocoa powder and high-quality vegan chocolate chips give these brownies their extra chocolatey flavor and fudgy texture. You can find my favorite chocolate chips at Trader Joe’s for only $1.99! They have an amazing flavor and they are made with vegan ingredients!

Looking for more chickpea recipes? Try out some of my favorites like these Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies, Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies, Healthy Edible Cookie Dough, or my Easy Homemade Hummus.

Happy baking!

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Flourless Vegan Brownies

Course Dessert

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 15 oz can Chickpeas rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ cup natural peanut butter or nut butter of your choice
• 2.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup you may an additoinal 1-2 tablespoons for a sweeter brownie
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (plus more for topping)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with 6-8 liners or grease an 8×8 pan with coconut oil or line with parchment paper.
• Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until completely smooth (about 3 minutes), stopping and scraping down the sides as necessary.
• Stir in desired amount of chocolate chips. Evenly divide brownie batter between into prepared muffin tin (these brownies do not rise too much so fill liners almost to the top). Top with additoinal chocolate chips.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the tops of the brownies no longer appear wet. Allow brownies to cool for 30 minutes on cooling rack. Enjoy!

The post Flourless Vegan Brownies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

Why Add Sweet Potatoes to a Brownie Recipe?

I know that the addition of sweet potato to a brownie recipe may sound a bit odd, but hear me out. Sweet potatoes are the versatile ingredient that gives these brownies their moist and fudgy texture. Plus, they provide some natural sweetness and other nutritional benefits.

Sweet potatoes are also loaded with a ton of nutritional benefits, which makes these brownies the perfect way to sneak in your healthy carbs!

Recipe Notes

These brownies are extremely easy to make because all you need to do is process everything together in a food processor!

It is important to remember to peel and steam your sweet potato until it is completely cooked before you add everything to your food processor.

This recipe uses 1/4 cup of oat flour, as a gluten-free flour substitute, which can easily be made at home by adding oats to a blender until you have reached a flour consistency.

This recipe also calls for 1/4 cup of nut or seed butter of your choice. I always use peanut butter, because that is what I usually have on hand, and no peanut butter flavor comes through once the brownies are cooked.

If you love these Sweet Potato Brownies, be sure to check out my recipe for Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies and my Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies.

Happy Baking!

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Sweet Potato Brownies

Course Dessert

Keyword brownies, chocolate, dessert, healthy, vegan

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 9

Ingredients

• 1 cup of steamed and mashed sweet potato about one small-medium sweet potato
• 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup of oat flour can be made by blending whole oats in your food processor or blender
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup of peanut butter or nut/seed butter of your choice
• 1/4 cup of maple syrup
• 1/4 cup of MELTED coconut oil
• 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup of chocolate chips plus more for topping

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper.
• Ensure that your sweet potato is peeled, rinsed, and and dice the before steaming. Steam until all pieces are completely soft and cooked through before adding to your food processor.
• Add all ingredients (leaving out the chocolate chips) to your food processor and blend until completely smooth and no lumps remain. If you want a sweet brownie, add another tablespoon or two of maple syrup.
• Stir in desired amount of chocolate chips. Add batter into prepared baking pan. Top with additional chocolate chips.
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

The post Sweet Potato Brownies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

These chewy blondies seriously melt in your mouth, which is why you would never guess that their main ingredient is chickpeas! Yes, chickpeas. These protein-packed legumes are what give these addicting blondies their amazingly fudgy texture and magical crackly top. Perfectly sweetened with maple syrup, these babies are filled with chocolate chips and packed with peanut butter flavor.

Did I mention that these blondies are almost TOO easy to make? All they require are 8 simple ingredients, a few minutes in a food processor, and BOOM! They’re ready for the oven in no time!

Blondie Ingredient Breakdown

Chickpeas

Let’s talk about chickpeas. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) are a member of the legume family that obtain a mild slightly nutty flavor and are packed with protein. They are also a great source of fiber as well as other vitamins and minerals. This means that chickpeas will help keep you feeling full and satisfied throughout your day! Plus, they are super affordable and versatile!

Peanut Butter

The next main ingredient in these blondies is peanut butter. Peanut butter is not only DELICIOUS, but it is also a wonderful healthy fat source! Nut butter is a great substitute in vegan baking for real butter, and offers far more health benefits! Peanut butter is another great source of protein and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. This amazing ingredient ensures that these blondies are chewy, soft, and flavorful.

For maximum health benefits, be sure to opt for “all-natural” peanut butter. When you look at the ingredient list on the jar, it should only state peanuts and salt. Many other name brand peanut butters will add in unnecessary oils and sugars that you might want to avoid.

Maple Syrup

Last but not least, maple syrup. Maple syrup is a healthier and natural sugar alternative that is full of antioxidants and has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar. Glycemic index ranks how fast foods will cause a spike in your blood sugar, which is why a lower glycemic index is better for your blood sugar levels. Maple syrup also has a wonderful flavor profile that obtains hints of vanilla and caramel, which is why it is one of my favorite sugar substitutes in healthy baking!

The last thing that you need to know is that this blondie batter is extremely addictive. I’m lucky if any of it even makes it into the pan! If you love peanut butter as much as we do, be sure to check out these recipes for more: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies and Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Enjoy these guilt-free blondies anytime you need to satisfy your sweet tooth or shock your friends with how amazing healthy vegan treats can be!

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies

These decadent guilt free blondies melt in your mouth and are SO easy to make.

Course Dessert

Keyword blondies, chickpea, flourless, healthy, vegan

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 9

Ingredients

• 1 15oz can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup of maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/3-1/2 cup of chocolate chips vegan if desired

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8 baking pan.
• Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender and blend until well combined and the batter has reached a thick and creamy consistency.
• Add desired amount of chocolate chips and mix in by hand.
• Evenly spread batter into baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until sides are slightly golden brown (be careful not to over bake).
• Allow blondies to cool for 120-30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

The post Flourless Peanut Butter Chickpea Blondies appeared first on Splurge with Ella.

Ah, chocolate and peanut butter. This classic flavor combo is one that I will never get tired of. There is something so magical about salty nutty peanut butter when paired with sweet dark chocolate. I am happy to say that these brownies are what every peanut butter and chocolate lover dreams of – rich, moist, chewy, chocolatey, and packed with peanut butter flavor. Did I mention they are dangerously addicting? This dessert is always a crowd pleaser and never lasts more than 24 hours.

Not only are these brownies beautiful, but they are also SO easy to make. No electric mixer required! What’s the secret to obtaining the perfect peanut butter swirl pattern? It’s all in the fork! All you have to do is drop dollops of the peanut butter around the surface of the brownie batter, grab your fork and gently swirl the two mixtures together until you have a pattern you’re satisfied with. Creating the swirls on these brownies is my favorite part of this process!

Why this recipe works

This recipe is 100% vegan, but no one would ever know because these brownies are SO decadent. The richness in these brownies comes from the combination of coconut oil and boiling water. These two ingredients are a power couple for making moist, chewy, and chocolatey desserts.

Why use boiling water? You may have come across boiling water listed as an ingredient in other chocolate cake or brownie recipes before. This is because boiling water helps the cocoa powder to bloom. What does it mean to bloom cocoa powder? Cocoa powder is bloomed when it is mixed and thoroughly combined with a hot liquid. This will help the cocoa powder to dissolve and release all of the chocolatey flavor particles into the hot liquid. This baking technique will intensify and enhance the chocolate flavor in these ultra-rich brownies!

I know that you will love this easy and indulgent recipe, so let’s get baking! If you’re a peanut butter and chocolate lover, be sure to check out these recipes too: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies, Peanut Butter Granola Bars, and Flourless Peanut Butter Blondies.

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Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

This decadent dessert perfectly combines peanut butter and chocolate to result in chewy, rich, and and beautiful brownies. Plus, they are almost too easy to make.

Course Dessert

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Ingredients

Brownies

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips dark or semi sweet
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Optional: 1/3 cup of chocolate chips

Peanut butter swirl

• 1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 1 heaping tablespoon of powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon of melted coconut oil

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8 baking pan with coconut oil.
• Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until combined.
• Combine one cup of boiling water with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, vanilla and coconut oil – whisk until all ingredients are melted and combined.
• Gently pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir until just combined (add in optional chocolate chips). Evenly pour batter into your greased baking pan.
• In a separate small bowl combine peanut butter with powdered sugar and coconut oil until smooth.
• With a spoon, evenly distribute peanut butter mixture onto the top of the brownies in lines or just small spoonful – use a fork to swirl the peanut butter throughout the brownie batter until desired appearance and the mixture is distributed evenly.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes in or until a toothpick comes out clean – let cool for 15 minutes and enjoy!

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These Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars will bring you right back to your childhood. We are definitely big peanut butter lovers in my household and my little brother has been asking me to create a peanut butter granola bar recipe as long as I can remember, and I finally have the perfect recipe for him and all of you.

Granola bars are one of my favorite healthy snacks, but the processed bars are usually hiding unwanted and unhealthy ingredients. Sometimes they even have as much sugar as a candy bar (yikes!), but I am happy to say that these homemade bars are made with nutritious and wholesome ingredients you can feel good about.

Why this recipe works

These granola bars require no time in the oven. All you have to do is combine the ingredients, press the mixture firmly into a pan, and pop in the freezer to set! Once they have set for about an hour, you can remove and slice each bar into whatever size you desire. Not baking these bars help to add to their chewiness, as well as make this recipe SO easy! These bars make the perfect summertime treat because you don’t need to turn on the oven.

Note: it is better to store these bars in the fridge or freezer after slicing to make sure that the peanut butter does not melt.

The addition of adding shredded coconut to this recipe also helps to make these bars extra chewy and flavorful. I prefer to use slightly sweetened coconut because it is often softer than unsweetened varieties. The honey and peanut butter work together to create a wonderful texture and salty and sweet flavor profile. If you love granola bars, chocolate, and peanut butter – you will adore these healthy treats! Be sure to check out these recipes for more: Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies and Vegan Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

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Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars

These granola bars are chewy and filled with peanut butter flavor. This recipe only requires 6 simple ingredients and no time in the oven, which makes them the ultimate snack!

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Ingredients

• ½ cup all natural peanut butter 
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon softened/melted coconut oil
• 1 ¾ cups old fashioned oats
• 3 tablespoons shredded coconut (I prefer sweetened)
• 3-4 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (vegan if desired)

Instructions

• Line an 8×8 pan with one sheet of parchment paper.
• Combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well combined. 
• Pour all ingredients into lined baking pan and spread evenly. Use the bottom of a cup or another flat surface to firmly press down mixture until it is firmly packed. 
• Place pan into the freezer to set for 1-2 hours. Remove from freezer, remove the granola bars from the pan by lifting up the parchment paper and cut or slice into desired sizes. 
  Store granola bars in a container in fridge or freezer.

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