These healthy protein brownies are rich, fudgy, and come together in just one bowl! They are flourless, grain-free, naturally sweetened, and a have a rich chocolate flavor with a peanut butter swirl on top!

Why You’ll Love These Healthy Protein Brownies

all of the ingredients are mixed together right in one bowl for easy cleanup!
there are pieces of melty chocolate running through it
they are made with almond flour and chocolate protein powder, which makes them gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free
the added protein helps curb the blood sugar spike that can happen with sweet treats, you can even eat these for breakfast!
they are rich and fudgy, and you wouldn’t even know that they are made with healthier ingredients
and bonus: PEANUT BUTTER SWIRL

You NEED these brownies in your kitchen right now. They’re the perfect treat when you are craving something that tastes like a peanut butter cup.

Why use protein powder in baked goods?

I love using protein powder in baked goods because it can add so much nutritional value to something that can still taste like an indulgent treat. Protein is the macronutrient that keeps us full, helps us build muscle, provides essential amino acids, and helps curb sugar cravings. It is never a bad idea to add a little protein to pretty much any type of meal or treat!

Protein powder can also add great flavor and texture to baked goods if you are using a good quality protein that you enjoy the taste of. One of my favorite brands to use in this recipe is NOW Foods. They have a large variety of protein powder options, but one of my favorites is their Chocolate Mocha Plant Protein Complex. It gives great chocolate flavor, and does not have a chalky texture in baked goods. It is combined with almond flour in this recipe and yields a fudgy and moist texture.

Use code CANDACE to get 20% off all NOW Foods products!

Ingredients for Protein Brownies

Chocolate Protein Powder – of course I used Now Foods for this, but you can use your favorite chocolate protein powder
Almond Flour – this keeps the recipe grain-free, and also adds extra protein and healthy fats to the recipe
Cacao Powder – for the EXTRA chocolate flavor!
Coconut Sugar – coconut sugar is one of my favorite sugars to bake with because it is unrefined, but if you wanted to keep this sugar-free, you can use a sugar replacement like stevia or monk fruit
Eggs – eggs will help the brownies rise a bit and get slightly fluffy, I haven’t tried a vegan egg replacement for these like flax eggs, but if you do, let me know how they turn out!
Unsweetened applesauce – I replaced oil with applesauce, making this recipe completely oil-free! It adds a little extra sweetness as well as moisture to the brownies.
Dairy-Free Milk – I kept the recipe dairy-free, but you can use any kind of milk you want
Chocolate Chips – I used Enjoy Life dairy-free dark chocolate chips because I think it gives the brownies a richer flavor
Peanut Butter – you can omit this if you want, but I love to add a swirl of peanut butter on top to make them taste like a peanut butter cup!
Baking Soda – to help the brownies rise
Salt – I always add salt to baked goods because it helps bring out the flavor of sweet things

How to make healthy protein brownies

STEP 1 –

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, add the almond flour, protein powder, cacao powder, coconut sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.

STEP 2 –

In a smaller mixing bowl, add the eggs, applesauce, and milk. Whisk to combine.

STEP 3 –

Then pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a wooden spoon to stir until the batter comes together. Next, add the chocolate chips and give it one more stir.

STEP 4 –

Spray an 8×8 inch baking dish with cooking spray, then pour the batter into the dish. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out the top.

STEP 5 –

Use a spoon to dollop the peanut butter all over the top of the batter, then use a butter knife to swirl the peanut butter all over the batter. There is no specific technique to this, just swirl it in all directions.

STEP 6 –

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

How to serve protein brownies

I love to eat these brownies on their own, but if you want to kick it up a notch, here a few fun ways to serve them!

Brownie sundae – serve these brownies warm with vanilla ice cream!
Whipped cream – you can make your own coconut whipped cream to top the brownies, or use store bought
Yogurt – you can eat these brownies for breakfast by putting them on top of yogurt!
Fresh fruit – a chocolate brownie alongside fresh fruit makes for the most perfect snack!

How to store leftover brownies

These brownies will stay fresh at room temperature for about 2 days in an airtight container, but after that I recommend storing them in the fridge for another 2-3 days for a better flavor.

Thank you to NOW Foods for sponsoring this post! We appreciate your support of The Wheatless Kitchen, and the brands that we get to work with!

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