These vegan sweet potato brownies are soft, fudgy and with a delicious chocolate flavor. Plus with no refined sugar, and being gluten free, you have every excuse to enjoy more!
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I imagine this is true for pretty much anyone with kids, but I feel like the words "can I have a snack" are almost constant. True, sometimes they get distracted for a while, but it's still always a few times a day.
I am pretty lucky in that my two are generally pretty happy with some fruit or something else healthy, but if a treat is remotely on offer, you can be sure they'll go for it.
These tasty little bites are great for ticking the treat box while still being pretty healthy. They're gluten free, vegan, and even have veggies in them. But don't worry, they are still very much delicious, as tried, tested and approved by a number of discerning kids (and adults).
Healthier brownies
Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoy a 'real' brownie now and then (and I recommend my mini skillet brownie if you want a small batch). But sometimes they are just too sweet or I feel we should balance out the treats.
These are a great solution: still a great flavor and texture but much better-for-you ingredients.
I previously made some relatively healthy beetroot brownie bites that are both dairy and gluten free. They are tasty, but relatively cake-like so I was keen to make a slightly fudgier brownie that was still on the healthier side.
I was fairly sure sweet potato as a base would give a fudgy brownie, which is definitely did. Dates, too, add that lovely stickiness and also a lot of the sweetness.
I added a little cinnamon which helps enhance the flavor, and if you're up for it, I recommend the optional dash of chili too (think Mexican hot chocolate).
The chia seeds help hold the texture together and give a slight crunch in there. I think you could miss them out if you prefer not to have that, but personally I feel like it makes the texture a little more interesting (and I've yet to have a complaint).
I had originally thought I would put more almond flour in there, but when I first made them I ran out so ended up with the below which has now stuck.
If you don't have rice flour, you could use another flour (such as more almond, wheat or eg spelt) - you might just want to play around on quantity since different flours absorb differently.
It was love at first bite for us, and they have been pretty well shared with friends since we first made them who also enjoy them.
A bonus of no eggs
One other great thing about these brownies is that since you aren't using eggs, you don't have to worry about cooking them through. Instead, the cooking is more about getting the texture you like.
They will almost certainly always be relatively soft and squidgy, but if you wanted them a little less fudgy you could try cooking them a little longer.
Personally I love everything about these vegan sweet potato brownies, from the flavor, texture and fact they are pretty healthy. And I have to say they are probably the most consistently enjoyed healthier treats I have tried out on people, too. In other word, make any excuse you can to gibe them a try: you'll soon love them too.
Try these other healthier treats:
- Apple oatmeal cookies
- Carrot cake energy bites (also GF/vegan)
- Chocolate zucchini muffins
- Plus get more snack recipes, sweet ad savory, in the archives.
Vegan sweet potato brownies
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- ¼ cup water 60ml
- 12 oz sweet potato (12oz/340g giving approx 9.5oz/270g once baked - see notes)
- 3 oz medjool dates weight without stones
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup almond flour ground almonds
- ½ cup rice flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (or raw cacao)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder optional, mine is relatively hot - if yours is mild you may want a little more if using
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F/190C. Line a baking dish, approx 19 x 14cm (7 ½ x 5 ½ in), with parchment paper.
- Put the chia seeds in a small bowl with the water and stir. Leave them to swell up into a jelly while you get other things ready.
- Blend the cooked sweet potato and dates in a food processor or with a hand mixer in a bowl.
- Melt the coconut oil (either in small pan on stove or in a small bowl in the microwave at 20sec intervals) and add this to the sweet potato along with the maple syrup and vanilla and mix in.
- Separately, whisk together the almond flour, rice flour, salt, cinnamon, chili (if using) and baking powder. Add the soaked chia seeds and sweet potato-date mixture and mix well (you can put all in your food processor if big enough, though try not to over-mix).
- Bake for approx 25 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. They will still be soft (don't overcook so it loses this) but there will be a firmer top etc.
- Allow to cool 5min or more before cutting into small chunks.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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This recipe was first shared in February 2016 but has been updated, primarily with new photos and video.
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Kechi says
I love sweet potato everything and this brownie recipe looks like a delight! I want this tonight, thanks for sharing.🙏🏾
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, hope you enjoy! Sweet potatoes are a great ingredient and work well here too.
Suzanne Cristinacce says
Just made these for the first time - didn't have any maple syrup, so left it out - they're still amazing!
Caroline's Cooking says
So glad you liked them Suzanne - actually I can imagine they are still sweet enough without the maple syrup and the flavors will still be great.
tentimestea says
These are stunningly creative Caroline! My first reaction to gluten-free and vegan and refined-sugar free things is to wonder if they taste as good. But then when I look at the ingredient list and see all the really delicious sounding alternatives (sweet potato! and medjool dates!) they sound so delicious in their own right!
I especially love your thought about egg-free brownies--you don't have to worry about underbaking them in the quest for the perfect fudge-y consistency! Haha, that is a definite selling point!! 🙂
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks. I know what you mean, but I like to try to make sure the 'replacements' are tasty and in fact often they can be tastier, like the dates and sweet potato here. And yes the no-issues fudginess helps too 🙂
Andrea | Cooking with a Wallflower says
I'm a huge fan of brownies and I love that this is a healthy take on them! Hppy FF!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Andrea, I love trying to make things a bit healthier but still tasty and these definitely are!
Joy @ Joy Love Food says
What a great idea to use sweet potatoes to make brownies, these look so moist and delicious!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Joy, they really are!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
I never would have thought to put sweet potato in brownies, but now that I've seen your recipe it makes so much sense! They look amazing, I definitely need to try these soon!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Jhuls, they're great. We need to make another batch already 🙂
Analida's Ethnic Spoon says
I love spice and hot flavors with chocolate! I had some dark chocolate with cayenne and it rocks!
Caroline's Cooking says
That sounds tasty, and I agree they work so well together - I hope you'll try these too as they are delicious!
Kristen says
What a great recipe. I love incorporating sweet potatoes in creative dishes.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Kristen, we always have a good supply of sweet potato for all kinds of dishes too!
Denise Wright says
These look awesome. I just made some brownies I saw on FB which had bananas and peanut butter. They were horrible to be honest. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Mexican hot chocolate twist. That is a new thing for me that I really like....the combination of chocolate and heat. These look great!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks Denise, it's not over the top spicy but you can tell and it goes so well. They're an immediate favorite!
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
Sweet potatoe brownies? I can only imagine how moist and delicious these are.
Caroline's Cooking says
They really are so delicious, you must try them Julie!
Life Diet Health says
These sound absolutely gorgeous... and I have all of the ingredients! I might just go and stick some sweet potatoes in... 🙂
Caroline's Cooking says
Perfect! Go on, give them a try...;)