Healthy Applesauce Brownies (vegan + eggless)

These one-bowl applesauce brownies are moist, decadent, and rich in flavor. A healthier twist on the classic, they are made without eggs or butter, and are naturally gluten-free.

If you love healthier versions of baked goods as much as we do, I recommend checking out my vegan protein brownies, aquafaba brownies, or tofu chocolate pudding.

Our go-to way to use up mushy apples is to make applesauce, a highly versatile ingredient that works especially well in healthy baking. It can replace both eggs and oil (or butter) to keep baked goods moist.

We often use it in recipes such as eggless coffee cake, applesauce oatmeal cookies, and zucchini applesauce muffins. Recently, we tried using it in brownies, which yielded super rich and gooey applesauce brownies that are also lighter than the traditional recipe!

💚Why you will love these applesauce brownies

• Gooey and rich without being overly heavy
• Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan
• Made in one bowl and only requires a handful of simple ingredients
• Much lower in sugar and fat than traditional brownies

🍫What you will need 

• Applesauce - Either store-bought or homemade will work, but go with unsweetened ones, or brownies might turn out too sweet.
• Oat flour - You can easily make your own by blending rolled or quick oats in a blender. Use certified gluten-free oats or oat flour if you want applesauce brownies to be gluten-free.
• Chocolate chips - Dark chocolate chips, like Enjoy Life's dark chocolate morsels, work best.
• Cocoa powder - A higher quality cocoa powder yields richer brownies; I personally love Cacao Barry's Extra Brute cocoa powder.
• Sugar - Any granulated sweetener will work. For a lower-sugar option, reduce the added sugar by ¼ cup, or replace ¼ cup of sugar with a sugar substitute (like erythritol or xylitol). 
• Oil - I am using light olive oil, but you can replace it with any neutral oils.
• Instant coffee - Intensify the chocolate flavor. Use decaf or omit for a caffeine-free recipe.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

🔪How to make vegan applesauce brownies

Step 1:  : Add water and sugar to a pot and heat until the sugar dissolves completely.

Step 2: Combine all wet ingredients (sugar solution, applesauce, oil, vanilla).

✅Helpful tips 

• Be careful not to overbake - Applesauce brownies are lower fat and dry out easily when overbaked. Insert a toothpick down the middle; it is done baking when the toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs clinging.
• Tips on slicing brownies - Let brownies cool completely, and slice with a straight-edge knife. Clean the knife between each cut to produce clean slices.
• Using leftover applesauce - If you want to use up your jar of opened applesauce, check out my applesauce baked oatmeal, applesauce banana muffins, and applesauce overnight oats next!

🍦How to serve

• Frosting or ganache of choice
• Vanilla ice cream
• Whipped cream (regular or plant-based)
• Side of coffee, like my soy milk latte or protein coffee

❄️Storing suggestions 

Fridge - Store brownies in an airtight container, and they will stay fresh for up to a week.

Freezer  - You can either freeze the entire tray or individual slices. Wrap in plastic wrap, then place them in a zip-top bag before freezing.

Reheating - Allow applesauce brownies to thaw overnight in the fridge and enjoy them cold, or heat them in the microwave for 10-20 seconds for warm brownies.