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A brownie with nuts and strawberries

Healthy Ways to Indulge in National Brownie Month

We’re not sure why national brownie month isn’t considered an important enough holiday to warrant an entire month off work, but that’s another story. In the meantime, if you’re trying to stick with a diet, it doesn’t mean that you have to deprive yourself of delicious brownies during the month of August. All you have to do is make a few adjustments, and you can get your perfect chocolate-y fix, no matter what your dietary restrictions are. 

Brownie Batter Smoothie

So simple and delicious. A brownie batter smoothie is the perfect on-the-go breakfast or snack, and you can completely enjoy every second of it without even a twinge of guilt. So go on, blend up that smoothie.
  • 2 cups skim or almond milk
  • 4 tsp dry brownie mix
  • 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
  1. Add all ingredients to blender and pulse for 30 seconds. Then, blend for about 2 minutes, or until smooth.
  2. Pour into glass or tumbler and serve.

Go Bite-Sized

Even if you don’t want to change a single thing about your favorite brownie recipe, you can still make those brownies better for you by decreasing the serving size. Instead of pouring your brownie mix into a baking dish, pour it into a mini muffin tray and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. The key to this technique is making sure that you don’t eat twelve of these little guys. Have one or two or even three, and you shouldn’t feel any guilt.

Substitute Black Beans for Flour

Did you know that you can substitute healthier, pureed black beans for flour and not even taste the difference? This substitute adds some much needed nutritional value to the chocolatey classic. Here's our favorite recipe for black bean-based brownies.

  • 1 (15.5 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained.
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray an 8x8 pan with cooking spray.
  2. Add beans to food processor and blend. Add remaining ingredients to food processor and process until smooth. 
  3. Pour mixture into pan, sprinkle chocolate chips on top, and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Substitute Avocado for Almost Everything

Take your love for avocado to the next level: dessert. Avocado can replace just about half of the ingredients in a brownie recipe, thus making it much easier to whip up. Plus, avocados are delicious even when turned into a chocolate dessert.

  • 1 (10-20 oz) package of brownie mix
  • 2/3 cup mashed avocado
  • 1/3 cup water
  1. Spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add brownie mix, water, and avocado and stir until combined.
  3. Bake according to package directions.

Brownie Batter Oatmeal

Because what’s better than having brownie batter for breakfast? By turning your breakfast oatmeal into a decadent, healthy version of a brownie you basically get to eat dessert for breakfast and start your day off the right way. Below is a quick and easy recipe.

  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 1 banana, mashed
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • Toppings (chocolate chips, shredded coconut, nuts, etc)
  1. In a small pot, bring milk to a boil, then add oats and reduce to medium heat.
  2. Stir in mashed banana, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and salt.
  3. Once the oatmeal reaches your desired consistency, transfer to a bowl and add toppings (optional).

Enjoy with Fruit

While fresh, warm brownies and cold, vanilla ice cream make a great pairing, it isn’t the healthiest of desserts. Instead, try out topping your brownie with a handful chopped strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or any of your other favorite fruits. You can even add a little Cool Whip or ice cream if you want, and you will save at least a couple hundred calories.

Brownie Protein Balls

Protein balls are great snacks that can be eaten almost anytime of day. You can enjoy them after a workout to replenish your muscles, as a late night. 

  • 2 tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate protein powder
  • 2 tablespoons oats (for gluten-free, be sure to use certified gf oats. For grain-free, use almond meal)
  • 2 tablespoons chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (plus more as needed to texture)
  • Pinch of sea salt
  1. Combine all ingredients in a small food processor.
  2. Pulse to until all ingredients are mixed and you have a dough-like texture. Grab a little with your hand and pinch to see if it will hold together. If not, add a little more maple syrup and pulse until it reaches the right texture. (Depending on how drippy your nut butter is, you may need an extra tablespoon or so.)
  3. Separate into 5 servings, roll into balls and store covered in the fridge for up to one week.
Last Updated: March 29, 2016