My 3 Ingredient Brownies are rich, fudgy and chocolatey. Made with no added sugar and pantry staples, it's a healthy dessert you need to try.
What if I said you could make the BEST healthy dessert with just 3 nutrient dense ingredients? You heard me right. These 3 ingredient brownies are here for the busy weeknights, late night studying, and afternoon snacks. They're so easy, so delicious and delightfully fudgy.
I pride myself on only sharing "healthy desserts" if they actually taste good. If you've tried my famous sweet potato brownies or chickpea cookie dough, you know. So trust me when I tell you that these brownies are a gamechanger when it comes to my post-dinner sweet treat!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Made with pantry staples. I'm willing to bet that you have all 3 of these ingredients already. No grocery store trip required, you can whip these brownies up whenever the cravings hit.
- Gluten-free and vegan. No eggs, dairy or flour required for these brownies.
- Nutrient-dense. These 3 ingredient brownies pack a nutritious punch! We have healthy fats, potassium and other key nutrients like magnesium and manganese. Not bad for a little sweet treat!
Ingredients
Peanut butter. Full of omega-6 fats and a little bit of protein, peanut butter keeps these brownies super fudgy. To help control the added sugars, look for a natural peanut butter with only 1 or 2 ingredients: peanuts (and salt).
Bananas. For natural sweetness! For best results, I recommend using very ripe bananas with brown spots. These are the sweetest and are easy to mash into a smooth batter.
Cocoa powder. Choose an unsweetened cocoa powder. As we are only using 3 ingredients in these brownies, I highly recommend using a high quality cocoa powder such as this one.
Mix-ins. These are optional, but I love a brownie with chocolate chips and chopped walnuts for crunch and gooey chocolate bites.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350F and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a bowl, add your bananas and use a fork to mash well. Make sure there are no lumps.
To the mashed banana add peanut butter and cocoa powder. Stir until fully combined. Mix in chocolate chips (if using).
Pour batter into the parchment paper lined baking pan, spreading evenly. Top with additional chocolate chips and walnuts (if using).
Bake for 17-22 minutes (I find about 20 minutes is perfect in my oven). Allow to cool FULLY before cutting.
Note that the brownies will be very soft when initially removed from the oven, but they will continue to cook while they cool. Slice into 9 equal sized squares and enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
To make vegan/dairy-free: This recipe is naturally vegan and dairy-free. If you add chocolate chips, ensure they are dairy-free.
To make nut-free: I do not have a nut-free substitute for peanut butter at this time. If you decide to try it with Wow Butter or sunflower seed butter, please let me know how they turn out.
I treat this 3 ingredient brownie recipe as a base and switch up the mix-ins. Here's how you can adjust the recipe to fit your tastes:
- Looking for sweeter brownies? Use 2 bananas and ¼ cup of maple syrup
- Looking for an indulgent option? Sprinkle with some flakey sea salt and drizzle with melted chocolate after baking
- Looking for protein-rich brownies? Substitute some of the cocoa powder with chocolate protein powder. I recommend: ¼ cup chocolate protein powder and 2 tablespoon of cocoa powder.
- Looking for a bit of spice? Add ¼ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper into the batter
Equipment
Storage
Brownies can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
Top Tip
The key to creating the most ‘brownie like’ texture is to ensure you are mashing your bananas VERY well. The best way to do this is by using an electric mixer to mix the batter. You want to avoid any lumps as that will create mashed banana pockets in your brownies. The goal is to create an uniform, smooth chocolate batter.
The brownies will be quite soft once the cook time is completed. Don’t worry as they are cooked, however due to the absence of flour or eggs they just need a bit more time to cool and ‘set’ after being removed from the oven. So please allow them to cool FULLY prior to slicing them. You can place them in the fridge to speed up the process if you can’t wait!
Frequently Asked Questions
Almond butter also works if you prefer the taste.
I do not recommend replacing the banana as I have not tested this recipe using anything else. As this is a very minimal ingredient recipe, every change will affect the recipe in some way. I recommend making the recipe as is for best results.
As these brownies contain very different ingredients than a traditional brownie they will not be the exact same. You will still have a fudgy, rich and chocolate-y dessert, however these will be much more moist and a bit less sweet than a typical bakery style brownie!
More Healthy Dessert Recipes
No day is complete without a sweet treat!
- Brownie Protein Bars (Nut-Free, Gluten-Free, No Bake)
- Super Fudgy Black Bean 2 Bite Brownies
- Healthy Oatmeal Cookie Bars
- Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies
See you in the kitchen!
I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these 3 ingredient brownies, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Fudgy 3 Ingredient Brownies
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas about 1.5 cups mashed
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Optional:
- ½ cup chocolate chips plus more for topping
- 2 tablespoon chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, add your bananas and use a fork to mash well. Make sure there are no lumps.
- To the mashed banana add peanut butter and cocoa powder. Stir until fully combined. Mix in chocolate chips (if using).
- Pour batter into the parchment paper lined baking pan, spreading evenly. Top with additional chocolate chips and walnuts (if using) bake for 17-22 minutes (I find about 20 minutes is perfect in my oven). Allow to cool FULLY before cutting. Note that the brownies will be very soft when initially removed from the oven but they will continue to cook while they cool. Slice into 9 equal sized squares and enjoy!
Ali says
I love how easy, healthy, and delicious these are! They are the perfect treat when you don't want to be too indulgent but want something sweet. I've shared these with friends who love them, too!
Ali says
I lo
Grace says
Yum! Such an easy and yummy healthy treat! I love ALL your recipes😊