The results of our social media survey are in, and the number one dessert everyone voted to see healthy recipes for is…drumroll please…

BROWNIES!

I couldn’t agree more! I have never met a brownie I didn’t like. However, I have met a few that didn’t get along so well with my waistline. Which is why I set out to discover 5 healthy brownie recipes that not only taste delicious, but are also figure friendly.

Of course, one reason we love brownies so much is because of the #1 flavor ingredient: chocolate! Chocolate is often the first thing people reach for when their mood takes a downward shift. Even the scent of chocolate can instantly make you feel euphoric and has been proven to give you an intense mental high and get your heart pounding—even more than kissing does. It’s no wonder the scientific name for the tree that chocolate comes from, Theobroma cacao, means “food of the gods.”

Fun fact #1: During the iconic shower scene in the 1960 horror flick Psycho, it wasn’t blood that was pouring from the shower. It was chocolate.

Now, that your mouth is watering, it’s time to reveal the 5 healthy brownie recipes.

5 Healthy Brownie Recipes

1. Black Bean Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups black beans (one 15-oz can, drained and rinsed)
• 2 Tbsps cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• *optional: more chips to add on top

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Blend all ingredients except chips in a good food processor.
3. Stir in the chips and then pour mixture into a greased 8×8 pan.
4. Cook for 15 – 18 minutes.

Nutrition Information
• Calories: 115
• Fat: 5.5 g
• Carbs: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 2.5 g

*This black bean brownies recipe yields 12 brownies

2. Zucchini Brownies

What better way to get a full serving of veggies, with plenty of vitamins and fiber, than in a decadent chocolate treat? Enter zucchini brownies.

Fun fact #2: Bananas may be well known for being a great source of potassium; however, zucchini actually contains more potassium than bananas.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/3 cup applesauce
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsps pure vanilla extract
• 3 Tbsps flax meal
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 cup stevia
• *optional 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Whisk together the first 6 ingredients and let sit at least 5 minutes.
4. Stir remaining ingredients in a separate bowl.
5. Combine wet and dry ingredients and pour into the baking dish.
6. Bake for 19 – 20 minutes.

*You may need to flatten brownies before and after cooking with a spatula
*You may also substitute honey or agave for the maple syrup if you prefer.

Nutrition Information
• Calories: 83
• Fat: 6 g
• Carbs: 6.8 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 1.4 g

*This zucchini brownies recipe yields 24 brownies

3. Chickpea Blondies

Is it true what they say about blondes having more fun? Being that I’m a brunette, I wouldn’t be able to answer that, but I can tell you this healthy brownie recipes for a blondie is sure to be the life of any party.

Fun fact # 3: During WWII, there was a shortage of coffee, so ground chickpeas were used as a coffee substitute.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups chickpeas (1 can, drained and rinsed)
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup quick oats
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (I made my own with one ingredient: pureed peanuts)
• *optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Blend all ingredients (except chips) in a food processor.
3. Mix in chips, and pour mixture into a prepared 8×8 pan.
4. Bake for 30 minutes.

*I have found that if you remove them from the oven slightly before they are “done” and allow them to continue cooking in the pan while they are cooling off, this keeps them moist and prevents them from drying out. If you allow them to cook completely, or overcook them, they become too dry for my liking.

Nutrition Information
• Calories: 95
• Fat: 2.5 g
• Carbs: 15 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 2.5 g

*This chickpea blondies recipe yields 15 bars.

4. White Bean Snickerdoodle Bars

While there is much debate over how the Snickerdoodle got its name, one suggestion, printed in the Joy of Cooking in 1975, says Schneckennudeln, which is German for “snail noodles,” was the first creation of what we now know as a Snickerdoodle. It was described as a recipe for rolled-up cinnamon buns which were flattened into a cookie.

Regardless of how they got their name, I am convinced that had I not made these myself, I would never have known the secret ingredient was white beans.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups white beans (1 can, drained and rinsed)
• 3 Tbsps peanut butter (again, I made my own with 1 ingredient: pureed peanuts)
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 Tbsp applesauce
• 1/4 cup quick oats
• 2 1/4 tsps cinnamon
• *optional walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Blend all ingredients in a food processor.
3. Pour mixture into a prepared 8×8 pan.
4. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes.

Nutrition Information
• Calories: 92
• Fat: 2 g
• Carbs: 17 g
• Fiber: 1.6 g
• Protein: 2.2 g

*This white bean snickerdoodle bars recipe yields 15 bars

5. Brownie Batter Protein Smoothie

There is a local restaurant called Sweet & Savory that serves a homemade Tomato Basil soup that literally tastes like they pureed a piece of my grandmother’s lasagna and served it in a bowl. I don’t know how they do it, but everyone who knows me alerts me when it is on the menu as the soup of the day because I am that much of a fan of this deliciousness.

That is how you will feel about this smoothie recipe that tastes just like you blended your grandmother’s famous brownies and served it with a straw.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 scoops Milk Chocolate BioTrust® Low Carb
• 5 pitted medjool dates
• 1 1/2 Tbsp nut butter of choice
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 – 4 ice cubes

Directions

1. Throw everything into your blender and blend until smooth.
2. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information
• Calories: 600
• Fat: 26 g
• Carbs: 105 g
• Protein: 39 g

If you don’t have any dates on hand, you may substitute 3 packets of Stevia.

Another note is that I have also made this recipe omitting the nut butter and vanilla, and to be perfectly honest, I didn’t even miss it. If you wanted to save a few calories, this would be where I would do it. 😉

Nutrition Information (with the Stevia swap)
• Calories: 400
• Fat: 26 g
• Carbs: 33 g
• Protein: 37 g

Keep in mind, you can allow for healthy cheats in your nutrition plan. And each meal that is included cannot be viewed as independent of your nutrition plan as a whole. What I mean by this is that what you consume at one meal will directly impact what you eat at your next meal. This is an example of your metabolism in action, and you can use it to your advantage when you are creating your healthy meal plan.

You see, by fueling your body with the right types of foods (like healthy brownie recipes or smoothies), this allows you to sustain your energy for longer durations and will keep you feeling fuller, longer. This will ward off hunger and cravings, so you will end up consuming less in the long run. This will impact what you select as your next meal, and it will continue this way, allowing you to make smart choices.

A recipe such as the brownie batter protein smoothie, which may appear to be higher in calories and carbohydrates, may not seem healthy, but it is. It is important to remember, the concept of the smoothie is to provide great versatility in your efforts to eat healthy. It’s also to provide a meal with great nutrient density.

Simply put, nutrient density refers to the amount of nutrition (i.e., protein, antioxidants, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, etc.) that a food provides relative to its calories. And this smoothie packs a solid punch, and it also helps curb those sweet cravings. Bonus.

I hope you enjoy these healthy brownie recipes as much as I did.