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    Home » Healthy Sweet Treats

    Healthy Oatmeal Brownies

    Published: Jul 22, 2022 by Meesha · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    2 images of a tray of oatmeal brownies slices on a parchment paper with text between the images.
    Slices of oatmeal brownies arranged on a parchment paper with text at the bottom half.
    A tray of sliced brownies with chocolate chips and flaked salt beside with text overlay.

    Rich and fudgy, these oatmeal brownies are mouthwatering good! A healthy sweet treat that is naturally gluten-free and vegan. These oat flour brownies are easy and quick to make too! 

    A tray of brownie slices with chocolate chips, glass of milk, flaked salt, and knife beside.

    These brownies taste pretty darn close to the real thing but are made with oats instead of regular wheat flour! Hence, they are rich in fiber and nutrients and are naturally gluten-free. Ultra fudgy and decadent, no one will know they are secretly healthy! 

    If you are looking for a healthy brownie that is higher in protein, I recommend checking out my vegan protein brownies!

    Jump to:
    • 💚Why you will love this recipe 
    • 🍫What you will need 
    • 📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 
    • 🔪How to make 
    • ✔Helpful tips 
    • 🥜Fun add-ins 
    • ❄Storing suggestions 
    • ❔Commonly asked questions
    • 🍨More healthy vegan desserts
    • 📖 Recipe

    💚Why you will love this recipe 

    • Fudgy, chocolatey, and irresistibly yum 
    • Healthier version of brownies that are vegan, gluten-free, and lower in sugar 
    • A fuss-free recipe that is one bowl and easy to fix 
    • Stores well and are freezable 

    🍫What you will need 

    Ingredients needed like applesauce, oats, milk, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, vanilla extract, and instant coffee.

    📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 

    • Oats - Rolled oats or quick oats will both work in this recipe, and use certified gluten-free ones if needed. You can also use an equal amount by weight of oat flour in place. 
    • Cocoa powder - If possible, use higher quality ones like Ghirardelli cocoa or Cacao Barry Extra Brute. It does make a huge difference! 
    • Sugar - Although I am using coconut sugar here, feel free to substitute it with regular white sugar or brown sugar. 
    • Applesauce - I highly recommend using unsweetened ones. You can even make your applesauce at home! Check out this post on how to make applesauce by The Stay At Home Chef. 
    • Cashew butter - Can be substituted with other nuts or seed butter like peanut butter, almond butter, tahini, or sunflower seed butter. 

    🔪How to make 

    In a high-speed blender or food processor, blend oats until they turn into flour.

    Oats in a blender on a grey background.
    Oat flour in a blender on a grey background.

    Transfer it to a mixing bowl, and add the rest of the dry ingredients. Stir to mix. 

    Next, add all wet ingredients into the mixing bowl. Using a spatula or spoon, stir until everything is well incorporated. 

    Dry ingredients in a glass bowl with a fork with applesauce and a glass of milk beside.
    Batter of oatmeal brownies in a glass bowl with a fork with a ramekin and glass beside.

    Transfer batter into a lined square baking pan. Optionally, top with a handful of chocolate chips. 

    Bake at 180C/350F for 22-25 minutes or until the brownies appear to be set. 

    Brownie batter in a lined square baking pan topped with chocolate chips.
    Oat flour brownies in a grey square baking pan lined with parchment paper.

    Let it cool down completely, before slicing and serving. Enjoy your oatmeal brownies! 

    ✔Helpful tips 

    • Weigh out ingredients with a scale to yield the best result. You can easily change the unit by clicking on the ‘metric’ button above the ingredient list. I am using this inexpensive Ozeri scale and highly recommend it! 
    • Avoid overbaking these oat flour brownies, as they tend to dry out easily. Do not wait until the toothpick is completely clean when inserted down the middle before removing it from the oven. Chances are you had already overbaked them! 
    • Remove oatmeal brownies from the baking tray and transfer them to a cooling rack 10-15 minutes after baking to prevent soggy bottoms. 
    • Let brownies cool completely before slicing into they tend to crumble easily when warm.
    • To produce a clean cut, it is recommended that you use a sharp non-serrated knife or plastic knife to slice your brownies. 

    🥜Fun add-ins 

    • Nuts - Chop up pecans, walnuts, or almonds and throw them into the batter for extra crunch and flavor! 
    • Chocolate chips or chunks 
    • Candy bars or marshmallows - Chop up your favorite vegan candy bar and add them to the batter! Marshmallows work great too in these oatmeal brownies. 
    • Pretzels - If you like that sweet and savory combo, I highly recommend adding some crushed pretzels! 
    Slices of oatmeal brownies on a parchment paper.

    ❄Storing suggestions 

    Fridge - These oatmeal brownies can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you could wrap them in saran wraps and keep them in zip-top bags. 

    Freezer - To freeze, simply place them in a sealed container, layering on a piece of parchment paper between each layer. They will stay well in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

    Reheating - For frozen oat flour brownies, let them thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for a couple of hours. If you like your brownies to be warm, heat them in the microwave for 10-second bursts, or the oven for 5-8 minutes at 180C/350F. 

    ❔Commonly asked questions

    Are brownies gluten-free?

    These oatmeal brownies are naturally gluten-free as they are made with oat flour instead of regular wheat flour. If you have gluten sensitivity, I recommend getting certified gluten-free oats, as cross-contamination might occur during processing.

    When should I slice the oatmeal brownies?

    It is highly recommended that you slice the brownies after they have cooled down completely, as warm brownies are fragile and will crumble easily. Use a sharp, non-serrated knife or plastic knife to slice your brownies for a cleaner cut.

    Why are my oat flour brownies dry and hard?

    If your brownies turned out to be dry, it might be that you had overbaked them. Do not wait until the toothpick comes out completely clean before removing it from the oven, as they will continue to cook out of the oven. 

    When brownies appear to be set with a few moist crumbs attached to the toothpick when being inserted down the middle, it is done cooking.

    Tray of oatmeal brownies on a parchment paper.

    🍨More healthy vegan desserts

    • Eggless Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie (Vegan)
    • Healthy Protein Cinnamon Rolls
    • Moist Zucchini Apple Carrot Muffins
    • Vegan Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    A tray of sliced oat flour brownies arranged on a parchment paper.

    Healthy Oatmeal Brownies

    Meesha
    Rich and fudgy, these oatmeal brownies are mouthwatering good! A healthy sweet treat that is naturally gluten-free and vegan. These oat flour brownies are easy and quick to make too! 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 23 mins
    Total Time 33 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 16 slices
    Calories 96 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    Dry ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups oats quick or rolled (use gluten-free if needed)
    • ¾ cup coconut sugar or another granulated sweetener of choice
    • ¾ cup cocoa powder *
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon instant coffee

    Wet ingredients

    • ¾ cup applesauce **
    • ½ cup milk plant-based or regular
    • ¼ cup cashew butter or another nut butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Line a 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper.
    • In a high-speed blender or food processor, place in oats and blend until a flour-like consistency forms.
    • Transfer oat flour to a large mixing bowl along with all the dry ingredients. Mix well.
    • Next, add in all wet ingredients until everything is well incorporated.
    • Carefully pour brownie batter into the lined baking pan. Optionally, top with a handful of chocolate chips.
    • Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until the brownie appears to be set. You can also insert a toothpick down the middle to check for doneness. The toothpick should be fairly clean with some crumbs attached to it.
    • After 10-15 minutes, remove brownies from the baking pan and transfer it to a cooling rack to cool down further. Once it is cooled down completely, slice them with a sharp non-serrated knife or plastic knife, and your oatmeal brownies are ready to be served!

    Notes

    *Cocoa powder - If possible, use higher quality ones like Ghirardelli cocoa or Cacao Barry Extra Brute. It does make a huge difference! 
    **Applesauce - I highly recommend using unsweetened ones. You can even make your applesauce at home! Check out this post on how to make applesauce by The Stay At Home Chef. 
     
    Helpful tips 
    • Weigh out ingredients with a scale to yield the best result. You can easily change the unit by clicking on the ‘metric’ button above the ingredient list. I am using this inexpensive Ozeri scale and highly recommend it! 
    • Avoid overbaking these oat flour brownies, as they tend to dry out easily. Do not wait until the toothpick is completely clean when inserted down the middle before removing it from the oven. Chances are you had already overbaked them! 
    • Remove oat flour brownies from the baking tray and transfer them to a cooling rack 10-15 minutes after baking to prevent soggy bottoms. 
    • Let brownies cool completely before slicing into they tend to crumble easily when warm.
    • To produce a clean cut, it is recommended that you use a sharp non-serrated knife or plastic knife to slice your brownies. 
     
     
    Storing -These oatmeal brownies can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Alternatively, you could wrap them in saran wraps and keep them in a zip-top bag.
     To freeze, simply place them in a sealed container, layering on a piece of parchment paper between each layer. They will stay well in the freezer for up to 3 months.
    Reheating - For frozen oat flour brownies, let them thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for a couple of hours. If you like your brownies to be warm, heat them in the microwave for 10-second bursts, or the oven for 5-8 minutes at 180C/350F.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 3gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 46mgPotassium: 133mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 16IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.

    Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

    More Healthy Sweet Treats

    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
    • Healthy Banana Flapjacks
    • Oatmeal Protein Bars
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amelia

      January 21, 2023 at 12:10 am

      Do you think substituting the nut butter for more applesauce in order to decrease fat would work?

      Reply
      • Meesha

        January 24, 2023 at 9:58 am

        I have yet to try that, but I think it will work! The brownies might turn out a bit dry due to the lack of fat.

        Reply

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