Fudgy, moist, and decadent, these vegan protein brownies will perfectly satisfy your sweet cravings! They are a one-bowl recipe that is easy to make and ready in an hour. A great meal prep recipe that is freezer-friendly.
These delicious vegan protein brownies are a great treat to have around! I particularly love them as a light pre-workout meal alongside my protein-iced coffee. They are also great as a quick snack or dessert, served with a scoop of your favorite ice cream.
If you prefer smaller batches or single-served desserts, I recommend checking out my chocolate protein mug cake or protein mug brownie instead.
💚Why you will love this recipe
- Moist, rich, and incredibly decadent
- A one-bowl recipe that is quick and easy to make
- Meal prep friendly and freeze well
- High in protein - A serving (2 brownies) contains 10g of protein
🍌What you will need
📃Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Banana - Work as the main sweetener and binder in this recipe. Use ripe and spotty bananas to ensure brownies are sweet enough.
- Milk - Any plant-based milk (such as almond, oats, or cashew) will work in this recipe.
- Peanut butter - This can be substituted with other nut butter, like cashew or almond butter. To make this recipe nut-free, use sunflower seed butter.
- Maple syrup - You might need to reduce the amount added if your protein powder is particularly sweet. To make this recipe low sugar, use sugar-free syrup instead.
- Oat flour - If you do not have any on hand, you can make your own at home by blending oats in a high-speed blender or food processor.
- Protein powder - I am using Nuzest's chocolate protein powder. Feel free to use your favorite chocolate (or vanilla) plant-based protein powder.
- Cocoa powder - Higher quality protein powder will yield richer brownies. I am using Cacao Barry's extra brute cocoa powder.
- Baking soda - As this recipe is made without eggs, adding a small amount of baking soda slightly lifts the brownies.
🔪How to make
In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas until fairly smooth, either using a fork or potato masher. Then, add the rest of the wet ingredients and give everything a quick stir.
Now, add in dry ingredients and mix until everything is well combined. The batter will be thicker than regular brownie batter.
Transfer brownie batter to the lined baking pan. Using a spatula or the back of a spoon, smooth out the batter. Top with more chocolate chips if desired.
Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out fairly clean with a few moist crumbs clinging onto it. Let your vegan protein brownies cool completely before slicing and serving.
✔Helpful tips
- Adjust the amount of sweetener added - Depending on the sweetness of your protein powder, you might need to use more or less. Once mixed, give the batter a taste to gauge the sweetness.
- Baking time - For gooier brownies, slightly underbake them. If you prefer brownies, bake them for longer, but be careful not to overbake them. Toothpick should come out fairly clean with a few moist crumbs when brownies are done baking.
- Allow brownies to cool completely before slicing - Warm protein brownies are delicate and might break when cut. Allow brownies to cool for at least an hour, and use a non-serrated knife to slice brownies for a clean cut.
- Customize the mix-ins - Other than chocolate chips, you can also add crushed walnuts, coconut flakes, or chopped candy bars.
- Brownie toppings - Optionally, you can top brownies with toppings such as sliced strawberries or more chocolate chips before baking. Or, you can top brownies with the frosting of choice or my chocolate hummus.
❄Storing suggestions
Fridge - You can refrigerate vegan protein brownies for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freezer - Brownies can be frozen for up to 3 months in a sealed container. Place a piece of baking paper between each layer to prevent them from sticking together.
Reheating - Allow frozen brownies to defrost overnight in the fridge. You can enjoy them cold or heat them in the microwave before enjoying them.
❔Commonly asked questions
These vegan protein brownies are naturally gluten-free. However, cross-contamination might occur during the processing of oat flour, so if you are sensitive to gluten, make sure to get one that is certified gluten-free.
Overbaking is the most common cause of dry, crumbly brownies. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick down the middle. If it comes out fairly clean with a few moist crumbs, your brownies are done baking.
You might also inaccurately measured the ingredients, and added too much dry ingredients. I highly recommend weighing ingredients using a kitchen scale for the highest accuracy.
I would not recommend omitting or substituting protein powder with more flour in this recipe. If you want brownies made without protein powder, I recommend checking out my aquafaba brownies or oatmeal brownies instead.
🍨More high-protein vegan desserts
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📖 Recipe
Fudgy Vegan Protein Brownies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 medium banana about 225g/8oz
- ½ cup almond milk or any other milk of choice
- ¼ cup cashew butter or another nut/seed butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup or any other liquid sweetener*
- 1 cup oat flour
- ½ cup chocolate protein powder
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8x8 baking pan with baking paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash banana with a fork or potato masher until smooth.2 medium banana
- Add the rest of the wet ingredients and stir to mix.½ cup almond milk, ¼ cup cashew butter, ¼ cup maple syrup
- Now, add all dry ingredients into the bowl and gently combine until a batter forms. The batter will be slightly thicker than regular brownie batter but still fairly easy to stir.1 cup oat flour, ½ cup chocolate protein powder, ½ cup cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips
- Transfer batter to the baking pan, and gently smooth it down using a spatula or back of a spoon. Optionally, top with more chocolate chips.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out fairly clean with a few moist crumbs clinging. Let it cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Baking time - For gooier brownies, slightly underbake them. If you prefer brownies, bake them for longer, but be careful not to overbake them. Toothpick should come out fairly clean with a few moist crumbs when brownies are done baking.
- Allow brownies to cool completely before slicing - Warm protein brownies are delicate and might break when cut. Allow brownies to cool for at least an hour, and use a non-serrated knife to slice brownies for a clean cut.
- Customize the mix-ins - Other than chocolate chips, you can also add crushed walnuts, coconut flakes, or chopped candy bars.
Nutrition
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.
Shruti Gupta says
This is wonderful, guilt-free, sweet tooth satiating dish. It tastes scrumptious. I personally like peanut butter so I didn't change anything in the recipe and followed all the steps to get the awesome result.
If you have such healthy options around then there are no worries of gaining weight. Thank you Meesha for sharing such recipes.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
My mouth is literally watering. My family would love this..
Leslie says
Perfect Healthy Brownie recipe!
Natalia Soto says
I did this recipe today and is so so yummy and fudgy, I’m really glad I found this page. Will definitely do it again. Thanks 💕
meesha says
I am really glad that you like it ! 😊
Alena says
I love how fudgy these brownies are!
meesha says
Really glad you like it !
Chef Dennis says
This Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies is making me drool!
Jill says
Thanks for this recipe! I'm always looking for healthy options for desserts, I like that you're using ingredients I already have at home! Plus I still have leftover sweet potatoes from Thanksgiving. I'm going to give this recipe a try this week!
meesha says
Yay ! I really hope u like it !
Ksenia Prints says
Sugar-free + brownies = the recipe to my heart.
Christina says
This was so delicious!
Sabrina says
What a great vegan recipe!
Raquel says
I am going to make these! They look delicious!
Chloe says
Delicious- what a great idea for a healthy brownie!