The brownie has become in recent years perhaps the most popular dessert in the world. This chocolate cake of American origin is, unlike our grandmothers’ usual cake, Crispy on the outside but juicy and tender on the inside, Someone might even say undercooked. But the brownie recipe has countless variations and some brownie recipes are healthier than others and equally delicious, a chocolate lover’s dream!

Of course, the brownie can be, and usually is, a filling and satisfying dessert, rich in fats and sugars. The original recipe is prepared with butter, chocolate, eggs, sugar, cocoa and white flour; a type of dessert that should be reserved for special occasions. Among the hundreds of recipes that vary the original recipe we will also find many hearty versions, but we can also prepare this dessert in a healthier version and enjoy it without guilt. We can make whole wheat brownie, vegan brownie, keto brownie, sugar-free brownie, oatmeal brownie, chickpea brownie, banana brownie…, to name just a few examples.

In fact, thanks to its juicy, slightly spongy texture and its chocolate color, it is a dessert that allows us to use a variety of healthy ingredients that would be difficult to use in other types of desserts. Furthermore, if it is so juicy inside it is because, according to legend, the brownie was born by a mistake, because a cook forgot to add the yeast to the chocolate cake he was preparing. We can take advantage of that mistake and take advantage of it!

How to make healthy brownies

Here are the tricks to make your brownie recipe healthier:

• Whole wheat or gluten-free flour. As a base we can use a variety of healthier flours such as whole wheat flour, gluten-free flours (brown rice flour, certified gluten-free oats, buckwheat…) or even prepare the flourless brownie with nuts (such as almond flour or green banana or cassava flour).
• Healthier sweeteners. Instead of white sugar, we can use a variety of healthier sweeteners such as brown sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, honey, stevia, bananas or dates or erytrilol for a keto version.
• Legumes instead of flour. To prepare the dessert with less fat and more proteinIn general, we can use legumes as a base in desserts, for example black beans or chickpeas, and brownies are no exception.
• «Hide» vegetables in the brownie recipe. In the same way that we can also prepare desserts with vegetables, we can hide vegetables in our brownie such as cooked pumpkin, sweet potatoes or zucchiniwhich provide fiber and nutrients and also allow you to obtain a juicy texture with less fat.
• Eliminate or reduce butter. Another option is to add nut butters such as peanut, hazelnut or almond instead of fats such as dairy butter. Another option is to replace part of the fat with yogurt or applesauce or mashed banana, and also use olive or coconut oil instead of butter.

We therefore have many options to enjoy this delicious dessert using healthier ingredients than those included in the original recipe and many of the usual variations.

Finger-licking brownie recipes

Below we leave you three brownie recipes in which we resort to some of these tricks to make them lighter and healthier, without losing flavor or juiciness.

1. Recipe for whole-grain chocolate brownie with yogurt

This version is healthier than the traditional recipe, because it contains more fiber and less fat.

2. Keto brownie recipe with almond flour

This is a low carb brownie recipe, a Protein brownie with a subtle aroma of almonds and coffee.

It is delicious accompanied by a little coconut yogurt.

3. Vegan oatmeal brownie recipe (ideal for breakfast!)

A brownie for breakfast? And why not? This ultra-healthy version of the brownie is low in fat and rich in fiber and protein thanks to peanut butter and rolled oats. So why not enjoy a slice of this guilt-free deliciousness first thing in the morning to start your day off right?