Healthy Banana Brownies {7 Ingredients}
This Healthy Banana Brownie recipe is a delicious dessert that can be made in less than 30 minutes! The dense and gooey treat is gluten-free and paleo-friendly and can be made keto as well. This will be a new family favorite!
Not much can compare to a slice of homemade banana bread that is fresh out of the oven. However, adding in some chocolate chip morsels and thick, velvety almond butter will elevate this baking staple to a whole new level.
This healthy banana brownie recipe is a mash-up of my Sweet Potato Brownie Recipe and my Flourless Paleo Banana Bread, along with some other of my favorites.
The result are these amazing and healthy banana brownies that are so perfect and completely addicting!
Why I love these healthy banana brownies!
There are so many reasons to love these chocolate banana bread brownies! Just hear me out.
This recipe includes wholesome and simplistic ingredients that almost any household pantry or fridge might have already.
All ingredients are clean and accessible. I can almost bet that you have them all in your kitchen, and if not they are most likely on your shopping list because you ran out a few days ago.
These healthy banana brownies are Paleo, gluten-free, and grain-free.
My banana bread brownies are naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and a touch of coconut sugar, and if you wish, you can omit the added sugar completely.
When my husband and toddler need a quick, healthy and satisfying mid-morning snack during our busy weekend schedule, these healthy banana brownies satisfy in an instant. A little chocolate boost right before the mid-day blues is always a good idea, especially since these are packed with healthy fats and sweetened with coconut sugar.
What are the benefits of bananas and nut butter?
These brownies are a HIT for those who are looking for a paleo and gluten free alternative to a traditional brownie. You aren’t gluten free or paleo? No worries! This recipe will benefit you and your current lifestyle as well. Using a nut butter like almond butter can potentially help improve your heart health and brain activity, both of which are very important.
According to this article, “Many other nutrients in almond butter also help improve your heart health and lower your risk for heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent irregular heart rhythms.” Read more about the benefits of almond butter here.
Tools you need to make these healthy banana brownies.
7 INGREDIENTS and 5 tools! You read that right, no need to go back and double check! These brownies come together in a snap and only require a few ingredients.
Tools
- A mixing bowl
- A hand mixer (optional)
- Spatula
- Measuring cups
- A fork (to mash the bananas – or use the hand mixer = even fewer tools)
And about 30 minutes!
Dry Ingredients
- cacao powder or cocoa powder (sweetened or unsweetened)
- chocolate chips or 1 bar roughly chopped dark chocolate
- coconut sugar
Wet Ingredients
- eggs (room temp)
- almond butter
- ripe bananas (like, almost all the way brown, more spots the better!)
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Ingredients needed for these banana bread brownies
The ingredients needed for this delicious gooey and fudgy banana brownie recipe are all wholesome, clean, and really good for you! You will need:
Ripe Bananas
Patiently wait until your bananas are spotty and almost brown. Why? Because they will be sweeter and perfect for this refined sugar-free chocolate banana brownie recipe!
Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6. You can read more about the health benefits of bananas here.
Eggs
Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods out there! They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and proteins!
Did you know that 1 large egg contains 6 grams of protein? Read more about how incredible eggs are here.
Cacao Powder
You can use unsweetened cocoa powder as well if that’s what you have on hand.
However, cacao powder is the healthier choice. The main difference between the two is how and how much they have been processed. You can read more about cacao vs. cocoa powder here.
Almond Butter
Nut butter is packed with protein and good fats, and I eat some kind of nut butter in some kind of form every day. I just love it!
For this recipe, I have used smooth almond butter, but you will most likely be successful with any smooth nut butter as well. Simply use your favorite.
Chocolate Chips
Chocolate is a superfood since it’s made with cacao, or at least it should be. Get high-quality chocolate to make sure you get the good kind.
And also, chocolate is healthy for the soul!
Coconut Sugar (Optional)
If you are using really ripe brown bananas I don’t think you need to add any sugar at all. But sometimes, when I really crave something sweeter or the bananas aren’t sweet enough, I will add 2 -3 tbsp of coconut sugar (which is totally paleo-friendly) to this healthy banana brownie recipe.
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These banana brownies are grain-free, flourless, and paleo!
It still kind of surprises me that there is no flour in this healthy chocolate banana brownie recipe. But it really doesn’t need it!
That means that these Paleo-compliant banana bread brownies are completely grain-free, gluten-free, and flourless.
Not using any flour only makes this rich and decadent dessert even denser and gooier, which is exactly what we want in a brownie!
Steps how to make these banana brownies
Finally, bake for about 20 minutes, let cool, and enjoy!
Tips on making the best healthy banana brownie
It’s hard to fail with this easy and quick recipe, but I have a few tips up my sleeve to make these fudge chocolate banana brownies even better.
Under-bake the brownie
I always used to over-bake most of my recipes just to make sure everything was cooked. Now that I have discovered the magic of the word “gooey“, I switched to team under-bake and I will never go back.
There is really no downside in cutting a few minutes in baking desserts, other than the excessive gooeyness, like in this brownie recipe.
Wack the pan halfway through the bake
This trick is a game changer! Halfway through baking, take the brownie pan out of the oven and slam it hard on the kitchen counter.
This helps with even out the brownie batter and it will also give it a crack on top. It just makes the final result so much more perfect and makes it look professionally made.
Then we put it back in the oven to finish baking.
Toppings
For this recipe, I also sprinkled some sea salt on top of my banana bread brownies, which just compliments the chocolate brownie so well. Of course, it’s optional, but honestly, never skip the flaky sea salt
You can also sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top or some chopped-up nuts like walnuts on top as well. It will definitely make this healthy banana brownie fancier.
Lastly, you could swirl in some extra almond butter on top. It will make a beautiful pattern and look so cool.
How to serve this chocolate banana brownie
There are so many ways you could serve this rich and gluten-free dessert. Some of my favorite ways are:
- Warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- With more nut butter on top
- Together with a big glass of cold milk
- With some powdered sugar and whipped coconut cream
- Serve with fresh strawberries and blueberries
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR MAKING THESE BROWNIES RIGHT FOR YOU
I have successfully used peanut butter (note that peanut butter is not paleo) instead of almond butter.
And I mean. Peanut butter banana brownies…that is an award-winning combination! And- if you love peanut butter, and bananas, then these Peanut Butter Banana Cookies will be right up your alley!
If you are following a low-carb diet, you can use a Keto-friendly sugar instead of coconut sugar. Click here and here for keto friendly sugar options.
I have also made this recipe without adding any sugar. And it really works!
And honestly, I personally think the bananas are sweet enough.
How to store my chocolate banana brownies
You can store these healthy banana brownies in the fridge for up to 5 days – if it can last that long that is…
You can freeze them too! I prefer to wrap each brownie square individually for an easy access single serving.
Now it’s time to scroll down to the recipe and start baking these delicious healthy banana brownies! And when you are done, leave me a comment below!
OOO ALSO I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS
Get the recipe:Healthy Banana Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas **
- 1/2 cup smooth almond butter
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 2 – 3 tbsp coconut sugar **
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup chocolate chip, divided
- A pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- In a large mixing bowl, mash ripe bananas with a fork or hand mixer
- Add almond butter and eggs to the mashed bananas
- Mix the wet ingredients well until smooth and well combined
- Add cacao powder, coconut sugar, baking soda, and a pinch of salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until combined.
- Gently fold 2/3 cup chocolate chips into the batter
- Add the brownie batter to a parchment paper-lined 8×8 baking pan, then add the rest of the chocolate chips on top. Swirl a few spoonfuls of almond butter (optional).
- Bake for 12 minutes
- Take the brownie out of the oven and "slam" it on your kitchen counter gently and sprinkle sea salt on top (optional)
- Bake for 9-10 more minutes (or until the preferred doneness).
- Cut the brownie into squares once it cools down.
Notes
The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.
Dry ingredients list calls for almond flour – but the actual recipe does not. Should I use almond flour? Thank you.
Hi Eleanor!
Thank you for catching that- this recipe is actually flourless. We have updated the blog post accordingly 🙂
Happy Baking!
Constance
Made this with peanut butter instead of almond, some nuts and a little of honey. Just amazing and veeery easy (and quick!)
Thank you, girls! You made my Saturday
Hi E-
we are so happy you enjoyed the Banana Brownies– they are one of our favorites as well 🙂
Happy Baking!!
-Constance
Love the nutritional chart at the bottom as I’m currently tracking calories. The serving size though says 1g?
Hi Dana-
Thank you for catching this. This recipe makes 9 brownies, so 1 serving would be 1 square. We have updated the nutritional facts accordingly- and we hope you enjoy!
Happy Baking 🙂
-Constance
Can you use crunchy almond butter instead of smooth?
Hi JD,
Of course, that would be a good substitute for this!
Happy Baking!
-Constance
If I don’t have access to cacao powder can I use cocoa powder?
Hi Bekah,
Yes- you absolutely can use cocoa powder as a substitute 🙂
Happy Baking!
-Constance
The flavor is great but even though I followed the recipe, the center of the whole dish was very soft creamy like texture. Any idea how to prevent that from happening? Maybe I should’ve added a little flour?
Hi Alina,
Yes- this could be because the total amount of flour used was too little. Let us know how it turns out the next time you make it!
Happy Baking,
Constance
I am making it now as well and it’s been baking for way longer because the inside is very soft.. but I noticed it was flourless recipe, should I have added flour?
Hi Rebecca,
Oh no I’m sorry that is happening! I have made this recipe for my family too many times, I can definitely help troubleshoot here! The only “flour” in this recipe is the cacao powder. 1/2 cup should be 50g (if you are using a scale). Sometimes if the cacao powder isn’t enough, it could make baking time a bit longer. Another more common issue I have seen is the oven temperature. A lot of times, our ovens aren’t up to the actual temp (I use an oven thermometer), so it takes longer. And lastly, it is 25 – 30 minutes total (i realize the 2 parts of time can be confusing. if so, please let me know, i will update the recipe to be more clear). Hope this helps!
Shuang
Thanks for sharing, made this twice now and it will be my go to brownie recipe whenever I have ripe bananas. I added a little bit of bran this time as my bananas were very ripe.
Hi Rose-
We are so happy you love the recipe and have found ways to elevate it also!
Happy Baking!
-Constance
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made these brownies…and they are so good it’s scary. I could literally eat an entire pan in one day! Pace yourself though; I’ve subbed half applesauce for part of the bananas, done half peanut butter to half 0% Greek yogurt, done a combo of coconut sugar, maple syrup and/or Truvia, added vanilla etc and followed the rest of the directions to a T and they always turn out awesome! Highly recommend…that is, if you’ve got self control! 😅👍
Tasted great, I substituted maple syrup for the coconut sugar, so it became a bit too wet. I added flour (sorry lol) to compensate for this. Also added vanilla extract. Thank you for the recipe.
I just made these brownies and they are so good! I did change two ingredients. I used natural peanut butter instead of almond butter and honey instead of coconut sugar because that was all I had on hand. A nice moist slightly dense cake that is only slightly sweet…thank you so much for the recipe!
Hi Robin!
That sounds amazing, wish I could try some 🙂
Happy Baking!
-Constance
This was the best “healthy brownie” I’ve stumbled upon that meets balanced and tasty! I followed the directions exactly as instructed. My bananas were overly ripe and essentially mashed into a soup like texture and I think that made all the difference. The ingredients blended into a perfect batter consistency. Baked, slammed and baked again… it was PERFECT!
I made these with peanut butter and liquid stevia drops, and only sprinkled a few chocolate chips on top instead of the full amount throughout. They turned out good, as far as I’m concerned. I cut it in 9 pieces and each square was about 7 total carbs. Not too bad for a brownie!
Hi Angela! So happy that you enjoyed the brownies with your changes! Thank you for sharing 🙂
-Constance
Hi,
I tried this recipe when I had my friends for dinner and it turned out very bitter. Not sure what went wrong 😑 Can you suggest what I can transform these bitter brownies to?
Thanks 🙏
Hi Sarijay, I’m so sorry to hear that the brownies did not turn out as expected. It’s hard to say where it went wrong. Maybe your bananas weren’t ripe enough (we like to use very very spotty bananas) or the cacao powder or chocolate chips you used was very bitter. Anyhow, I’m sorry to hear about the bad experience. To transform the brownies into something else you could try to make cake pops and add extra sweetener (maple syrup would be great). There are tons of great recipes online. Good luck and I hope you will be able to make something you enjoy out of the brownies. All the best, Emmelie
Made these tonight and they are delightful! Super chocolatey, rich and satisfying. Didn’t add any sugar and they are plenty sweet from the bananas. My 3 year old loves them too! Highly recommend!
Your recipe never tells when to add the first amount of chocolate chips
Hi Judy, Please see step 6 in the recipe card’s instructions. “Gently fold 2/3 cup chocolate chips into the batter”. The remainder of the chocolate chips should be sprinkled on top of the batter before being baked in the oven (please see step 7). I hope this helps!
Emmelie
Could you use honey or maple syrup instead of coconut sugar?
Hi Stefanie, Yes, you can use honey and/or maple syrup. I would suggest adding no more than 2 tablespoons. Hope you love this recipe! -Emmelie
What a great treat! And A perfect way to use up my last three bananas. The texture was really nice too – both fluffy and fudgy. Yum!
I was skeptical at first, especially after I made up the batter and it was very runny. But holy cow, these came out AMAZING. I followed the recipe to a T. They are simply irresistible.