It’s tough to find a healthy brownie with no oils and refined sugars. It seems like you’re asking wayyy too much to have something so delicious actually be good for you. Good enough to eat as a healthy breakfast, for instance, if that’s what you fancy.
Well, it’s your lucky day today because we have a sweet potato brownie recipe made super fudgy and decadent that will please you endlessly and scratch that brownie itch.
How Do I make A Brownie Healthy?
Now, that’s a great question!
In our delicious, plant based brownie recipe we don’t used any margarines, refined fats, or dairy products. Just plant foods straight from source with no messing about.
You definitely don’t need to add any nasty ingredients to these brownies to make them just as delicious and completely GUILT FREE, unlike regular versions.
Our chocolate brownie recipe contains just 4 main ingredients that are bursting with health benefits and nutrients.
These are:-
1.SWEET POTATOES
Sweet potatoes make these fudgy brownies moist and, well, FUDGY. Sweet potatoes have a unique sweetness and texture that really works in a brownie. They’re also high in nutrients, such as dietary fibre, antioxidants, vitamin C and beta carotene to name just a few.
Using sweet potatoes in this plant based brownie recipe is a great way to add bulk with a low glycemic index. These, along with wholegrain oats, make these brownies low GI, with zero need for the refined, white flour you find in your average brownie that is so unhealthy.
If you want a twist on this brownie, you could try the same recipe with this delicious, homemade Nutella and omit the sweet potatoes.
2. PEANUT BUTTER
The fats in these oil free brownies actually comes from smooth, peanut butter. Using peanut butter (or any smooth nut butter you prefer) is a great way to add a whole foods fat without needing any refined oils.
Whole foods fats are so much healthier because they are just that, in their whole form, unrefined and therefore so much better for the body.
You must be sure to use nut butters that contain no added oils or refined sugars, maybe just a little salt is acceptable. So, be sure to read LABELS, you don’t want any rubbish in there if you want this brownie to be healthy and whole foods plant based!
3. OAT FLOUR
Oat flour seems to work best in this fudgy brownie recipe, and is super simple to make at home. You literally just whizz your oats up into a flour using your blender or food processor. It takes only minutes and is a far less expensive way than buying pre-floured oats in the supermarket.
Oats are also high fibre, high in B vitamins, and a source of antioxidants. They fill you up for longer as they release their energy gradually into the system, thus making them a great weight loss food too.
Just so you know, yep, we’re actually saying that these sweet potato brownies can be eaten as a weight loss food, in moderation!
4. CACAO OR CAROB POWDER
Cacao is a whole food, so long as you buy 100% cacao powder (again, check labels for refined sugars and oils). Basically pure cacao powder is simple the whole cacao bean ground into a flour, that’s it.
Cacao is also super high in health benefits such as poluphenols, flavenols, fibre and magnesium.
As a substitute for cacao powder, you can also use the lesser known carob powder too. The benefits of using carob as opposed to cacao is the fact it has zero caffeine. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, then go for carob instead.
As well as being a great cacao substitute, carob has a myriad of health benefits too, if not more. These include, high fibre, antioxidants, and that all important calcium for bones.
High calcium plant foods are great for those leading a fully plant based lifestyle as their needs may be higher.
Fudgy, Decadent Brownie Recipe With Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Baking tray roughly 12" by 9"
- Wooden spoon
- 2 Mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked sweet potatoes Microwave a medium sized sweet potato until soft, leave to cool, then scoop flesh from skin.
- ¾ cup smooth, peanut butter Make sure it doesn't have added oils or refined sugars, just 100% peanuts.
- ½ cup cacao Carob can be used as a substitute for caffeine free option.
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ⅔ cup oat flour Make oat flour by blitzing rolled oats in your high speed blender.
- 2 Tbsp plant milk Any kind
- 1 Tbsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch salt
- 100 g , chopped dark chocolate (75%+ cacao content) Optional
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven on 180 C (356 F).
- Line a baking tray roughly 12" by 9" with either tin foil or parchment paper.
- Add all wet ingredients, including sweet potatoes) to a large mixing bowl and blend together thoroughly.
- Add all dry ingredients to another bowl and mix together.
- Now fold in your dry (including dark chocolate if using) and mix together gently. Don't over mix as you'll make your batter too tight, just gently mix until combined.
- Pour into your baking tin and make sure the mixture is spread evenly.
- Bake for around 22-23 minutes. Go for the shorter time if you want them more fudgy.
- Cool and refrigerate for up to 10 days.
Video
Thanks for visiting ZestForever today!
We hope you enjoy our 100% healthy, whole foods plant based and utterly delicious treats.
If you love this ultimate chocolate brownie recipe as much as we do, why not share it with your friends via you social media channels?
Let’s spread the plant based word!
