These healthy banana brownie are an indulgent treat without the guilt! Made with just four ingredients, likely already in your pantry, these flourless brownies will be your new favorite weeknight dessert or midday snack. Have them ready in under 45 minutes.
If you know me, you know I love a good brownie! I am a chocolate lover and enjoy brownies in all forms. I even rounded up my favorite 25 dairy free brownies, which includes my biscoff brownies and my slutty brownies, which are a chocolate chip brownie oreo combo!
Sometimes, I love to make a brownie that is simple and easy and these brownies are it! No need for flax egg, baking powder or vegan butter. With just four ingredients and a quick prep time, these brownies are my go to weekday chocolate gooey treat that won't throw off your week.
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
Allergy Friendly. These chocolate banana brownies are vegan, dairy free, gluten free and friendly for most allergies! They are made with four simple wholesome ingredients - banana, nut butter (or sunflower butter), dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Because they are allergy friendly, they are the perfect treat for school potlucks and for an chocolate lover!
Four ingredients. These healthy vegan banana brownies are made with a handful of ingredients, likely already in your pantry! They are a truly no-fuss brownie that can be made at anytime.
Decadent. These vegan brownies are fudgy, moist and extremely decadent. They are the absolute best for anyone who wants healthy brownies. Add a scoop of ice cream to these healthy banana brownies and it will be pure heaven! If you also want to make more traditional brownies as well, try my famous dairy free brownies or if you want some extra protein, try my protein brownies.
No Added Sugar. If you have a sweet tooth, but want to cut down on sugar, these peanut butter banana brownies are for you! The base of the chocolate brownies is banana making them extra sweet and delicious with no added sugar needed!
INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSITUTIONS
Banana - Mashed bananas are the main ingredients for this recipe and give it its extra sweetness! Make sure to use overripe bananas to ensure they are the sweetest they can be and mash the easiest. If you bananas are not ripe, do not worry, they will still work! Learn how to ripen them in this post.
Dark Chocolate Wafers - I prefer to use dark chocolate in this recipe, but you can also use milk chocolate if you are not dairy free and vegan. Chocolate chips or chocolate chunks will also work, so long as they can melt easily. If you have trouble melting them, add ½ tbsp of coconut oil.
Nut Butter - Natural peanut butter works perfectly for this recipe and adds nice, healthy fats to it! Almond butter will work or sunflower seed butter if you need it to be allergy friendly! Make sure to use a drippy nut butter that is easily pourable. If your peanut butter is dry, your brownies will not come together as easily.
Cocoa Powder - Unsweetened cocoa powder provides the best, rich chocolate flavor for this healthy banana brownie recipe. You can also use cacao powder at a 1-1 ratio. Cocoa powder is naturally dairy free and vegan!
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a brownie pan or line it with parchment paper. Add the bananas into a large bowl and mash the bananas until they look like puree.
Step 2. Add the chocolate chips in a microwavable safe bowl then microwave until melted, mixing often. If they are not melting well, add in ½ tsp of coconut oil.
Step 3. Add the melted chocolate, cocoa powder and drippy nut butter into the same bowl and mix until the ingredients are fully combined. If the nut butter is not drippy, microwave it in a microwavable safe bowl with ½ tsp of coconut oil for 20 seconds to loosen it up. The batter will be very wet.
Step 4. Pour the brownie batter into the brownie tray and smooth out the top with a spatula so it is one even layer. If you want to jazz them up a little, you can add a pinch of salt over the top. Bake for 27-30 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick in the center and remove it cleanly.
For best results, allow the brownies cool for 10-15 minutes before cutting. I always recommend using a hot, clean knife when cutting brownies. If you want to add extra chocolate, drizzle 1-2 tbsp melted chocolate on top of the healthy banana brownies.
STORAGE
Store these gooey brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Because of the fresh bananas in the brownies, I do not recommend storing them in a room temperature cabinet, unless you kitchen runs on the colder side or if you plan to consume the brownies on the same day or even the next day.
I have not tried freezing these healthy banana brownies yet.
To heat the brownies, add them to a microwave safe bowl and microwave them for 15 seconds. Be careful not to overheat them or they will deconstruct.
TOPPINGS
If you are like me, and want to uplevel you brownies, drizzle melted chocolate on top or drizzle melted nut butter after they are baked. You can also sprinkle sea salt on top or sprinkles on top before baking them.
FAQ
Your banana needs to be ripe in order for the brownies to be sweet! Luckily, you can ripen your banana in the oven. Learn how to ripen you banana in this post.
It is a good idea to refrigerate these banana brownies. Due to the fresh, ripe banana in the brownie, they are moist and are subject to going bad quicker if left on the countertop or in a warm place.
Yes! While these brownies are delicious on their own, you can also add a topping to them such as flakey sea salt, melted chocolate, melted nut butter or extra banana slices.
EXPERT TIPS
- Use ripe bananas. The natural sweetness of bananas make these vegan treats extra sweet without any sugar. Ripe bananas are much sweeter than green or even yellow bananas. Wait until your bananas are brown and spotty.
- Store in the fridge. Because these healthy banana brownies are made with ripe bananas, they store best in the refrigerator.
- Cut the brownies with an clean, hot knife. Run your knife under hot water and cut into the cooled brownies. Clean the knife and run it under hot water between each cut for best results.
MORE HEALTHY TREATS
Four Ingredient Healthy Banana Brownies (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Equipment
- 1 potato masher or fork
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 9 inch brownie tray
Ingredients
- ¼ cup dark chocolate wafers
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ¾ cup nut butter must be drippy!
- 3 ripe bananas
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9 inch brownie tray.
- Add the bananas into a medium mixing bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork.
- Place the dark chocolate wafers into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30-45 seconds, mixing halfway through.
- Add the melted wafers, droopy peanut butter and cacao powder into the mixing bowl and mix until all ingredients are fully combined.
- Pour into the greased brownie tray and smooth out the top with a spatula. Bake for 27-30 minutes or until you can insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies and remove it cleanly.
- Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.You can melt extra chocolate and drizzle it on top like I did in the photos!
This recipe was absolutely delish!! I couldn’t believe that a 4 recipe dessert would be so good! I don’t even feel guilty giving it to my kids!! I’m curious how it would take with a strawberry 🍓 base rather than banana!!
Thank you so much!!!! Oh, I love that idea!!!!!!