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Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it - healthy vegan peanut butter brownies? It's not though. Ever since my first attempt at making vegan rice cooker brownies when we were living in Thailand, I've been experimenting with different methods to make better, healthier, Clarabell*-friendly brownies. And guess what? I've done it - thanks to a secret ingredient.

OK, since I'm spilling the beans (almost literally!), perhaps it would be fairer to say 'surprising' ingredient, not 'secret'. Before I divulge all though, I want to tell you that as well as being vegan, my brownies...

are gluten-free
are low-GI
are rich
are really delicious
and healthy
and even a bit fudgy
have loads of flavonoids, which help with satiety - so a great snack for those of us watching our weight
have no refined sugar
have no added fat or oil
have no wheat flour

That's a pretty cool list, no? Guilt-free peanut butter brownies - although to be honest, one should never feel guilty about eating brownies. Am I right?

Vegan peanut butter brownies - the secret ingredient!

So what's my secret ingredient? Chickpeas. Yes, you read that correctly, chickpeas (garbanzo beans). Not only do these little powerhouses of goodness replace the need for flour but the proteins in them mean you don't need an additional binder, such as egg, butter, or oil. How cool is that?

Making my vegan peanut butter brownies is so simple too - simply whizz everything (except 2 tablespoon peanut butter and the chocolate pieces) together in a food processor, dump the batter into an oven dish, swirl in the aforementioned PB and chocolate, then bake for just over half an hour. It really is that simple.

I really hope you love these brownies as much as I do. Make them for your friends, relatives, colleagues - all the people! - and see if they can tell what they're made from. I bet they won't be able to.

Enjoy!

📖 Recipe

pinterest image - vegan peanut butter and chickpea brownies | yumsome.com

Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies - with a secret ingredient!

My delicious, healthy vegan peanut butter brownies are gluten-free, oil and fat-free, low-GI, protein-rich, and full of flavonoids, which are believed to help keep hunger at bay. Plus, y'know... they're brownies!

Print Rate

Course: Sweet

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 35

Total Time: 45

Makes (slide to adjust): brownies

Calories: 102kcal

Author: Nico

Ingredients

300 g cooked chickpeas warmed
9 tablespoon peanut flour made into a paste with water, divided
125 g agave nectar
2 tablespoon raw cacao powder
1 vanilla pod seeds only
¼ teaspoon ground sea salt
¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
100 g 60% dark chocolate 70% cocoa solids, broken into rough pieces

Instructions

Heat your oven to 180c.
Line a 15cm x 15cm baking dish with baking parchment or silicone paper.
Put everything - except 2 tablespoon peanut butter and the chocolate - into a food processor, and whizz together on high speed for 3-5 minutes, scraping the sides down as necessary, until you have a very smooth batter.
Transfer the batter into the oven dish, spreading out evenly, then swirl in the remaining peanut butter and the chocolate pieces.
Bake in the centre of the oven for 35 minutes; the brownies will still be a bit gooey but that's fine, they're supposed to be like that. The top should look cracked and dry, and should feel slightly firm when lightly pressed.
Set aside to cool for 15 minutes, and then score into 16 pieces.
Leave to cool completely before eating - they'll firm up as they cool. If you're really impatient, you could put them in the 'fridge to cool off!
Assuming they are around that long, these brownies will keep for a week if stored in an airtight container.

Notes

If you use ready-made peanut butter (you'll need 150g), you'll have to re-jig the nutritional data because I've calculated for peanut flour, made up with water. Likewise, if you choose to make up the peanut flour with oil, you'll have to do a bit of maths.I've found that the best agave nectars are the ones which are heated to lower than 47°C. Dark agave nectar is filtered less than its light (or mild) counterpart, and has a taste similar to that of maple syrup. If you are low- or slow-carbing, it's a great choice, since it has a lower glycaemic index than cane or beet sugar. Plus of course, unlike most traditionally-refined sugars, which are filtered using charred animal bones, agave nectar is completely vegan.

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies - with a secret ingredient!

Amount Per Serving (1 brownie)

Calories 102 Calories from Fat 23

% Daily Value*

Fat 2.5g4%

Saturated Fat 1.2g6%

Sodium 108.2mg5%

Carbohydrates 18.9g6%

Fiber 2.6g10%

Sugar 9.9g11%

Protein 2.5g5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Did you make this recipe?Do mention @yums0me and/or tag #yums0me - I'd love to see how yours turned out!

DisclaimerMeasurements in parenthesis are approximate; it is beyond the scope of yumsome to be able to provide pinpoint-accurate ingredient quantities for every type of measuring utensil. As a guideline however, I make the assumption that:

1 cup = US cup = 240 ml
1 tablespoon = US/UK = 15 ml
1 fl oz = US = 30 ml

Further information may be found here

If you like my Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies recipe, check out these choccy yums! Oh, my!

*Clarabell is the name of one of the Brahmin cows in Fallout 4 - she happily wanders around my settlement at Abernathy Farm, and sometimes nuzzles the little grey cat who also lives there. She has even been known to have a chat with my German Shepherd companion, Poochie Rex. OK, his in-game name is Dogmeat but I I don't like it. I just don't wike it!

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Vegan Peanut Butter Brownies - with a secret ingredient!

Vegan peanut butter brownies - the secret ingredient!

📖 Recipe