Description
These Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies offer a delightful combination of rich cocoa and creamy peanut butter, sweetened naturally with maple syrup and applesauce for a healthier twist. Perfectly fudgy, these brownies are easy to make and ideal for satisfying your chocolate cravings with a gluten-free, lower-sugar alternative.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (or almond butter)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/3 cup oat flour (or almond flour)
Optional Add-ins
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the brownies evenly.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, pure maple syrup, unsweetened applesauce, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until you have a smooth, homogeneous mixture.
- Add dry ingredients: To the wet mixture, add cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and oat flour. Mix carefully until the batter is fully combined and smooth without lumps.
- Incorporate chocolate chips: If you choose to use them, gently fold in the mini chocolate chips into the batter, distributing them evenly.
- Prepare the baking dish: Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper. Spread the brownie batter evenly across the pan for uniform baking.
- Bake the brownies: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20–22 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out mostly clean, indicating fudgy brownies.
- Cool before slicing: Remove the pan and allow the brownies to cool for at least 10 minutes to set properly before slicing into servings.
Notes
- For a nut-free option, substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter.
- Using almond flour instead of oat flour will make the brownies slightly denser and add a nuttier flavor.
- The mini chocolate chips are optional but add an extra chocolate boost and texture contrast.
- Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- These brownies are naturally gluten-free if using certified gluten-free oat flour.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
