3 Ingredient brownies are moist, delicious, healthy and made with only THREE healthy plant-based ingredients! The perfect gluten-free and vegan {healthy} chocolate dessert recipe for anyone who wants to eat healthier!
Watch the short video how to make these healthy brownies
Come on over and grab rich chocolate brownies that soothe a grain craving without the grains or any added sugars! What-The-What? I know, right? I mean who would guess just by looking at these chocolate beauties!
These 3 ingredient brownies are are not quite as good as my vegan bean brownies and paleo brownies but they are incredibly healthy, delicious (my kids vouch for that!) and soothe a sweet tooth for a Paleo diet when focusing on clean eating to the max!
My boys are obsessed and swooning over these brownies on a daily basis! I feel so good about feeding them these heavenly sweet treats too:-) Made with only 3 ingredients, they are a brownie recipe that is really something to talk about- so lets not waste (or shall I say waist...lol) any time and lets get talking! Ok, grab your cup of tea, coffee, detox water or wine and pull up a chair...
To start, these are a great treat for a healthy lifestyle!
I am so happy to share this recipe with you because I am totally obsessed with these healthy 3 ingredient brownies and have made (and almost consumed) about 4 batches of them in January alone! So I know you will love them too! Can I let you in on a little secret? The secret ingredient to making these brownies super moist? It is....
Oh, I have to tell you how they came about first. Because if I tell you the secret ingredient you might not understand how special these healthy brownies are.
My husbands cousin, sister and brother-in-law plus their three children started the Whole 30 diet in the beginning of January. I am so impressed and inspired by them getting the kids on a grain-free, sugar-free and dairy-free diet - not to mention getting them to stick with it. My sister-in-law has sent me pictures of her kitchen counter full of tons of fruits and vegetables they just purchased from the local farmers market. The fruit and vegetables were ready and waiting to be juiced into bountiful smoothies!
As everyone is on the Whole 30 diet, hubby's cousin had a birthday celebration and of course the menu theme was a Whole 30 meal. We show up at my sister and brother-in-laws to a delectable feast of lemon and herb baked chicken drumsticks, sautéed golden and sweet potato strips and a bountiful salad.
I was in charge of dessert.
Yes, I could have brought just fruit but this was the first time they were doing this diet - kids too! They were doing great but the carb and sugar cravings were making the kids cheat a bit.
No way was I going to be the instigator of cheating on a healthy diet and I figured everyone REALLY wanted something that tasted CAKE-LIKE at this point. A dessert that is slightly sweet, fluffy like bread yet without the guilt! It was the perfect dessert to transition into the diet when everyone was about to give up.
When I showed up at the party I brought my first round of these brownies. For those that "weren't cheating the diet" they drooled over the brownies thinking they were off limits. When I told them they were made with only 3 grain-free and dairy-free ingredients they were beyond overjoyed they could have chocolate! Following that the drool was being wiped off their faces:-)
My 3 ingredient brownies were delicious, I came home with an empty baking dish - but, in my opinion, they could have been better. They needed a bit more texture and chocolate. Everyone loved them but of course I was my own critic.
I have made these with both crunchy almond butter and regular almond butter and everyone agrees that the crunchy is much better! It just gives these brownies just the right texture it needs.
The next round I made for our Thursday guys night dinner. It was the birthday boy, uncle J and my crew. Everyone said this round was even better and they didn't know how that was possible (with more cocoa powder and crunchy almond butter) and again, the pan was almost completely gone! After that these had to be shared with you!
I made 2 more batches - 1 to do a video (which will have to come at a later time) then we ate them too quickly for me to take photos. So another batch happened for photos. I think I should lay off the brownies for a bit, but it is hard to do because when you crave chocolate- these babies are the golden ticket to healthy and they are SOOO EASY TO MAKE!
Let me side track a moment... in most of my vegan recipes I like to use either banana, pumpkin, chia seeds or flax in place of egg. All of which are plant based and nutrient dense. I have used almond flour in my paleo brownies, chia seeds in eggless banana bread and pumpkin puree in my vegan bean brownies. So for these vegan 3 ingredient brownies I use crunchy almond butter in place of almond flour which compliments the banana (think banana almond sandwich only with chocolate cocoa powder into the mix!).
Now that you know the secret to how I make my vegan brownies and breads so fluffy and delicious I can tell you the secret ingredient to these moist brownies. The secret ingredient in 3 ingredient brownies is BANANA! Bananas give the brownies natural sugar and sweetness, flavor, bold consistency, the ability to stick together and just all around goodness!
TIP: Make sure the bananas are very ripe and to use 3 large bananas (about 1 ½ cups mashed).
The kids love these brownies (who wouldn't?) and I really do not mind serving them for breakfast. So we eat lots of brownies for breakfast:-) But with banana, almond butter and antioxidant-rich cocoa powder- its an energy boosting meal with no refined sugars, they are rich in potassium, healthy fats, fiber and they keep you full from the protein and healthy fats!
Side Note:The Whole30 book reads this about mixing cocoa with fruit: "However, we highly discourage mixing cacao (cocoa) with dates, figs, or other fruits to make chocolate-y confections during your program." This is discouraged (not off limits) due to the fact that more sweets feeds more sugar cravings- with any diet. This recipe has not been approved by them. But it is out there because if you feel on the program you will falter and cave into a cookie or regular brownie, this is a great recipe to transition to keep the diet on-track as you detox from sugars, sweets and treats! [source].
Keep going friends, you've got this and I am cheering you on every step of the way! I want to make sure you stay on-track or just enjoy these brownies for a healthier diet in-general!
PIN 3 INGREDIENT BROWNIES AND SHARE!
Whole 30 and paleo recipes you might enjoy:
- Almond Pesto Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Tabbouleh
- Savory Roasted Sweet Potatoes Buddha Bowl
- Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Vegan Cashew Ricotta Cheese
- Easy Chicken Breast Recipe with Delicata Squash Pan Sauce
Now let's get to baking our 3 ingredient healthy brownies!
3 Ingredient Brownies (Whole30 & Paleo)
Ingredients
- 3 large bananas (about 1 ½ cups mashed) very ripe will give the best flavor
- ½ cup cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1 ½ cups raw almond butter crunchy, oil slightly drained
- (optional) ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 8-in. x 8-in. square baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray or rubbing coconut oil around the sides and bottom so the brownies do not stick.
- In a large bowl mash the bananas with a fork until smooth. Add the almond butter and mix until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and optional cinnamon and blend until no visible cocoa powder is seen.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until set and slightly dark on the top. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before slicing.
Sheri says
I just tried these and first, must say that I will eat almost anything. I love healthy food, I'm a nutritionist so I'm used to bitter flavours. These were terrible. I'm wondering if my bananas were smaller than what was used in the original recipe (perhaps add a cup conversion?) or perhaps my almond butter was less runny. They were so dry and so bitter I could barely get a bite down. I felt like this was a real waste of an $8 jar of almond butter.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Sheri! I am sorry these did not work for you. This sounds like it is not enough banana to add the natural sweetness. Do it exactly to the printable instructions and quantities. I am guessing it is not enough bananas and perhaps the almond butter was at the end of the jar? If that happens you can always add a bit more banana.
Kelsey says
These are SOOOOO FUDGY and so good! I think they’re super sweet. Next time I think I’ll use peanut butter instead of almond butter because the banana flavor is very powerful. I love them though and can’t wait to share with my mom.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Kelsey, I am so happy you love these brownies. Thank you for commenting and sharing!
C.Hubbard says
In surprised by all the negative comments! I believe you are quite clear... this is a HEALTHY version of a brownie.
I’m on day 16 of the whole 30 and was NEEDING something, anything that resembled sweets... this was perfect!!!
They are right in that it’s not terribly sweet but on the whole 30 you aren’t supposed to be eating sweets. I put 1tsp of date syrup and then did exactly as the recipe called for.
LOVED it. Thank you! 🙌🏼
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You are welcome! Thank you so much for sharing your experience too Christin:-).
Karen Simp says
These taste like straight cocoa powder and almond butter. They have a great consistency but there is not one ounce of sweet anything. Tried to make a date sauce but that was even worse.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Were the bananas used very ripe? That is what helps to sweeten the brownies naturally.
Cynthia Verolla says
Can these be frozen? Also do they need to be refrigerated? I made a batch, love them and want to know how to best store them. 😊
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
These are moist, so can spoil quickly after 2 days on the counter, so I suggest storing in the fridge and warming slightly in the oven. I have never frozen them, but assume they can be. Try thawing then heating at 325 in the oven until warmed.
Dani says
These were good. They’re not really sweet, like the author says, but they’ll do the job if you’re looking for something to help your chocolate cravings. They’re also very filling.
I wasn’t able to find crunchy almond butter, so I bought the creamy kind from Costco and did 1c of that with 1c of chopped walnuts. I also added a 1/2tsp of vanilla extract and a tbsp of coffee grounds.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Love your tweaks to these brownies, thank you for sharing!
Lisa says
Dying for something sweet on my Whole 30 and had to try these!
They came out looking beautiful but they seemed a little chalky tasting. I’m guessing the almond butter ( as almonds are pretty dry/bland). What kind of almond butter do you use when making yours?
I will make again!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
That does make a difference. I use Trader Joe's Almond Butter or Costco's Organic. I have also used Trader Joe's Raw Almond Butter, which I found has a slightly sweeter taste naturally.
Archana says
These are delicious!! Thank you so much! Any tips for making them even more fudgy?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
So glad you enjoy! Sugar helps with fudginess, so if you are doing Whole30, I don't have a suggestion but if you are not you can try adding 2 tablespoons maple syrup.
Heather says
Can you sub almond butter for peanut butter or regular butter?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
You can sub almond butter for peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter. But I would not recommend regular butter as that is too heavy with little nutrients.
Cyndi Johnson says
that sub
sounds really good to me!
Christina says
Absolutely love them! Amazing brownie texture. Dense and satisfying. Just sweet enough! This will be a favorite around here.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Christina thank you for the raving review! So glad you enjoy!
Jessika says
Oh my goodness!!!! These are amazing. Thank you so much for this recipe. I'm pregnant and following whole30 and was looking for something to satisfy that sweet craving. THESE ARE PERFECT! Thank you so much 🙂 My 3 year old son loves them tooooo. YAY.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
That makes my heart beam! Thank you for rating the recipe and glad you all enjoy. Congratulations on the pregnancy!
Pattie says
The first time I made these I really didn't care for them. Whole30 is tough for someone with a sweet tooth when they get bored with fruit.
So, on my bakers thinking cap went and I decided to add something natural and allowed on the program to see what happened. I added 4oz of pureed prunes and cut the cocoa powder to 1/3 of a cup.
It was complete success! They were much moister and had just enough sweetness.
The prune puree can be found easily in stage one baby food. Nothing but prunes which are allowed.
I may try applesauce in the next batch!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Love how you added to this recipe. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Jassie says
Are these brownies sugar free and gluten free?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
There are no added sugars, the only sugar comes from bananas.
Jeffrey W Rosenberg says
I know the diet discourages making things like this, but people like me need these to feel like we aren't completely on a diet. Looking forward to making this. When I make "regular" brownies, I sometimes add some coffee or espresso, I'll experiment to see how that would work with this.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Enjoy! And thank you for the comment!
Stephanie says
Just made these and loved them! Almond butter is hard to find in my local grocery store, would crunchy peanut butter work as well? Thank you for this easy recipe!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Awesome, so glad you made and love them! Thank you for rating the recipe. And yes, crunchy peanut butter works too!
Kayla says
Hi- what are you thoughts on sweetening with honey instead of stevia??
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Kayla! You can use honey, but I would just use about 1-2 tablespoons or use a confectioners powdered sugar. Too much honey may make these too moist (they already are moist) where they won't bake into a brownie consistency.
Leigh Taylor says
These blow my mind! I am completely new to baking and vegan and decided start with brownies. This page and recipe came up first when Googling. I did this recipe straight away and liked them a lot. But I also didnt have any experience to compare them to. So the next day, I tried the more ‘traditional’ method with flour and baking power and woah, couldnt believe how crap they were compared to these! Haha. The density and moisture to these are amazing! So so different to ‘traditional’.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Thank you Leigh, I am so glad you enjoy these brownies!
Grace says
Really delicious for only being banana, coco and almond butter! And so easy - I did the whole recipe in my blender!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Love that you make it in the blender!
Val says
Love these brownies!! My husband and I have finished the whole 30 and are now reintroducing things, but still wanting to keep added sugar out of our diet. These are a wonderful treats. Question I have is, can you freeze them? Lots of brownies for just two of us!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
So glad you are enjoying these healthy brownies! You can freeze them right away in a sealed freezer bag or container with air removed. To serve, thaw then heat in the oven at 325 for about 10 minutes to remove extra moisture.
Haley says
Hi there!
I’ve just made these and they are going to get me through whole30 cravings!
I was wondering how long these will last in the refrigerator for?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Awesome Haley! They will last for 3 days in the refrigerator.
Cindy says
Yum! Since almond butter is so expensive, I altered it a bit..... cut the almond butter way back to maybe half a cup or a little over, subbed 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce and an egg instead. Also threw in a little instant coffee and super happy with this. Not sure I’d the other ingredients work for the plans but if they are available to you it was a good cost saving swap. Thanks for the recipe, I’ll watch for more,
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
So glad you enjoy these brownies and I love your swaps- yummm!
Katherine Nonn says
I am responding to Cindy's post. I really like the idea of cutting back on almond butter and doing 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce and egg. The instant coffee sounds good, too. All these different ingredients are compliant. I am going to make it today I will let you all know how they turn out! Being on Whole30 is tough and I like to have a dessert a couple times a week. This recipe will save me 🙂
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Let me know how any adjustments go! This recipe has saved lots of people on Whole30, so I am glad to help:-)
Kim says
Hi there
Could Sunbutter be used in place of almond butter?
Kim
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Yes, you can use Sunbutter, although I have not tried it myself. If you try it with it, comment about how it turned out:-).
Rebecca Patterson says
How did your sunbutter alternate work out? I’m thinking about trying that.
Barb says
These turned out perfect. I added unsweetened coconut flakes.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Oh good! So glad you enjoyed and I love the addition of coconut flakes in the brownies! If you can, I would really appreciate a rating in the recipe area too- thank you for the 5 stars!
Alexis says
These were delicious! I used cashew butter and added the cinnamon + vanilla and lilies dark chocolate chips ! The hubby even approved 😉 also I'm not on the whole 30 diet..we just like eating healthy just FYI For all the whole 30 police lol... jk !
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Alexis! So glad you enjoyed these brownies with cashew butter- yummm!!! If you have a moment, would you also rate it in the recipe card. It helps others find the recipe too:-). Thank you so much!
Nancy says
These brownies saved me from starving/cheating when I did the microbiome diet and I've made a batch every other week since February! After phase 2 was complete, my cheat was to add a teaspoon of vanilla and half teaspoon of almond extract and then added a scoop of coffee ground finely. I much prefer them baked 5 minutes LESS and then chilled. Reminds me of chocolate cheesecake! Thank you so much for a recipe that doesn't have any weird ingredients or fake sugar.
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Nancy! This is wonderful to read- you made my day! I am so glad you were- and are - still making them to incorporate into your healthy diet! Thanks for sharing your tips how you baked them to a cheesecake-like delicousness!
Jamie says
Hi! I usually grind my fresh grind my almond butter at Whole Foods (cost effective, fresh and yummy). Anyway, there really isn’t any associated oil - should I add some coconut oil to the brownies to makes them a bit moist? I wonder how it would work if I added in some avocado? Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Jamie says
Haha - I didn’t realize I had already commented on your recipe back in February (my co-worker made these brownies for me) ... anyway, I still super love them! ❤️ Also wondering if I should add in coconut oil to make it more moist? Thank you!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Lol! Well Jamie I am so glad you are enjoying them again! They get natural moisture from the oil in the almond butter (even if you don't visually see the separation) and natural sugars, when heated, from bananas. You should be good! But if you feel you want to try more moisture, you can try 1 tablespoon of coconut oil if it seems you need more moisture (also depends on size of bananas). Please come back and comment on your results:-).
Felicia says
Hii, since you recommend to store these in the refrigerator, do I have to reheat them or is it ok to consume it cold?
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
These are totally fine cold, but taste best slightly warm. I suggest storing in the refrigerator so they last longer since they are a moist baked good.
Jamie says
Hi! my co-worker made me these brownies for my birthday (which coincidentally was also day 30 of my Whole30). I enjoyed 2 brownies with absolutely ZERO guilt - and have eaten them in the days since. I actually almost like them more than traditional brownies - the cocoa gives it the rich taste without the sugar - perfect! And,I feel like they are way more filling/satisfying than traditional brownies 🙂 Anyway, I wonder how it would turn out if you added in some avocado or a bit of coconut oil? She used fresh ground almond butter from Whole Foods - so no added oil. Thank you!!
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
This is by far the sweetest comment I have seen! Thank you so much! I am so happy your co-worker made these brownies for you and you enjoy them so much! That is their job! Happy Birthday and I hope you had a wonderful celebration.
Love your suggestion! I am in the process of testing a keto brownie recipe using avocado, cocoa powder and monkfruit - just like how you described- so look out for that recipe!
Kim says
Can I use avocado butter instead? I’m allergic to almonds and peanuts
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
I have not tried that. Can you have cashew butter? One reader said it turned out delicious with cashew butter! If you use avocados- will you please comment back on how it turned out, for other readers:-). I would love to hear!
Stephanie Kempton says
I didn’t have almond butter, so, I used cashew butter instead and added walnuts! Mmmmmm! So good!
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
I was just going to write to you and say I think cashew butter will be amazing in these brownies! That is my favorite nut butter:-). I am so glad you enjoyed!
brooke says
Do you think I can make these with cashew butter? I'm doing Whole30, but have an almond allergy!
Jill Black says
So easy and delicious! I added some honey and that rocked too! Mmmmm.
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
Thank you Jill! So glad you loved these, they are so healthy!
Carlye says
I love these!! I have made them twice (both times when I've been on a diet/trying to eat better), and they help me so much!! Otherwise, it would be far too easy to fall into the trap of the chocolate truffles sitting on my coffee table!
Side note: I've used creamy almond butter the times I've made it, and I think it is pretty good that way! But I haven't tried it with crunchy so I don't have anything to compare it to 🙂
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
Carlye, so glad you enjoy these brownies!
Nichole says
What diet?🤪🥴 These look great, and I love the ease. Guilt free goodies, I am all over it! Great recipe-Thank you!
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
Thank you Nichole! Enjoy!
Robbi says
does it matter what almond butter you use or do you have a favorite? they vary so much from brand to brand on consistency.
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
Robby that is a great question. I use the almond butter from Costco or the one found at Trader Joe's with the oil slightly drained out first then stirred with a slightly thick consistency. I hope that helps!
Pooja Pujari says
Loved this recipe. Just wanted to know if I can replace banana with apples. Also did you use sweetened cocoa powder or unsweetened?
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
I would not suggest replacing the banana with apples. It will give it a different flavor and consistency. Use unsweetened cocoa powder:-)
Gina says
These look amazing but sadly are not Whole30 compliant. I will be saving the recipe to enjoy on day 31.
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
If you are on a roll with the diet and sticking to it- awesome job!!! Yes, save it for day 31!
Glaurea says
Hello, can I used peanut butter too or is that a no,no?
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
Peanut butter is not allowed on a Whole 30 diet as it is a legume. However if you are making these brownies for fun and not for a specific diet (or have a nut allergy) then you can swap the nut butter and use peanut butter instead:-)
Beth says
Hi! How did you store these? Are they still good if you make them a day ahead?
I'm planning a first birthday party for my son and trying to avoid too much cooking on his actual birthday.
Thanks so much!
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
How fun for his birthday! I had them left out for 1 day and then stored in the fridge. So you are fine to make them a day ahead but store them after that in an airtight container in the refrigerator:-)
Anitha says
This is not correct. One of the Whole30 plan rules states “ “DO NOT RECREATE BAKED GOODS, “TREATS,” OR JUNK FOODS WITH APPROVED INGREDIENTS”
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Anitha! Thanks for your comment- you are correct and I state that in the post, with a link to where it is written in the Whole30 about mixing ingredients into sweet desserts. This is if you are finishing the program and want to stay on track or are wavering and to offer a healthy 3 ingredient natural brownie recipe so you keep going. Because it is doable! Wishing you all the best!
Sarah says
These look delicious, However they are not Whole30. While the ingredients maybe compliant, mixing them into a brownie is not. The book specifically says not to do this.
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
Sarah, great comment! Although these ingredients are all Whole30 it just says "However, we highly discourage mixing cacao (cocoa) with dates, figs, or other fruits to make chocolate-y confections during your program." This is only discouraged due to the fact that more sweets (even with fruit) feeds more sugar cravings- with any diet. If you feel on the program you will falter and cave into a cookie or regular brownie, this is a great recipe to transition to keep the diet on-track.
Karly says
These are going to SAVE me while I'm dieting. They look SO good- a great solution for my dessert cravings!
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
You will love them! And with only 4 grams of natural sugar - your body will thrive! I ate FOUR of these brownies for breakfast this morning! haha!