4 Ingredient flourless brownies packed with protein and 100% guilt-free! These gooey and fudgy protein brownies are your new post-workout snack!
After a heavy workout, I often enjoy flourless protein brownie bites, homemade protein bars, and these fudgy protein brownies.
Are protein brownies good for you?
Not often do you hear a recipe with the words brownies in it healthy, but these are good for you!
Made with healthy and wholesome ingredients, they are PACKED with protein (over 68 grams in the entire recipe!) and contain healthy fats and are super low carb.
Unlike commercial protein brownies (store-bought ones!), these have no fillers, no additives and take 20 minutes to whip up.
Can I add protein powder to baked goods?
When it comes to using or adding protein powder in baked goods, you need to be incredibly careful as to what brand, type, and consistency you use.
I must admit, I’ve had MANY failures in which the successful result was achieved by simply replacing the protein powder used. There is the assumption that baking with protein powder results in hockey pucks or a hot (non-edible) mess.
Whey Protein Powder Brownies
From experience, I do not recommend using whey protein powder for any of my recipes. Whey tends to make the batter extremely liquid-like but once it is cooked, it becomes dry and brittle- not something we want in a recipe.
Instead, I trialed this with 3 different types-
All three options work, but only the vegan protein powder produced the crackly tops that you find on fudgy brownies.
To ensure you achieve this crackly top, sprinkle some granulated sweetener on top (either coconut palm sugar or another granulated sweetener).
Craving chocolate? Make these Brownie Bites– They taste like raw brownies!
Best Protein Brownies Recipe
These flourless protein brownies need just four ingredients to whip up! They are rich, soft and decadent, you’d be fooled into thinking they were actually healthy!
Protein Brownie Ingredients
Unlike traditional brownies, these contain no butter, flour, sugar or oil. Instead, a combination of mashed fruit (or vegetables), nut butter and protein powder gives it the extremely dense and creamy texture!
Unlike traditional brownies, these fit ALL the major diet groups- They are 100% paleo, vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly and super low carb!
How to make fudgy protein brownies from scratch
You’ll start by adding all your ingredients into a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend the ingredients together very well, until fully combined. If desired, add some chocolate chips. Then, transfer the batter into a lined pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out ‘just’ clean. While the brownies are still hot in the pan, lightly press your hand over the top, to form un-natural cracky tops.
Allow the brownies to cool in the pan completely, before drizzling with chocolate and slicing up.
Ingredient Substitution and Swaps
To lower the carbs and make these brownies keto-friendly, swap out the banana for mashed pumpkin. If you do opt for this, be sure to add some sweetener to it (keto maple syrup, liquid stevia etc).
Swap out the almond butter for any smooth/drippy nut butter- Peanut butter works great. Keep it nut-free by using sunflower seed butter.
Want to leave out the protein powder? Make these brownies instead.
How to enjoy protein brownies- Storing and Freezing
These taste 200% more amazing once cooled and refrigerated. I swear they get so much more dense and fudgy, it takes it to another level!
Store leftover protein brownies in a sealed container in the fridge. Leaving them at room temperature will see them spoil easily. They will keep fresh for at least 2 weeks.
Protein brownies are freezer friendly and can also be stored in the freezer. Place wrapped brownies in individual ziplock bags or place them all in a freezer-friendly container.
PS- These protein brownies are great for kids, so throw a few in a lunchbox or as an after school snack!
Still craving more chocolate? Try this Homemade Nutella.
More high-protein recipes
Watch the step-by-step video below
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Four Ingredient Flourless Protein Brownies
Ingredients
- 6 bananas can substitute for pumpkin (2 cups)
- 1 cup almond butter can substitute for peanut butter or alternative
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder more = richer taste
- 2 scoops protein powder See post for protein powder recommendations
- 1 cup chocolate chips of choice Optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven the 180C/350 degrees, grease a square pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a blender, food processor or large mixing bowl, combine the bananas, cocoa powder, protein powder, and almond butter and blend/mix until smooth. Fold through chocolate chips if using them.
- Pour the mixture into the greased pan and bake for around 18-20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven gently press down with your hands to create crinkly tops. Allow to cool before drizzling with chocolate and slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
3 Ingredient No-Bake Rice Crispy Treats
Healthy No Bake Giant Cookie for ONE
3 Ingredient No-Bake Oatmeal Bars
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Yes, I love kohls! I also agree that most brownies are so much better and fudgier when they’re left to cool for a good amount of time. And cracked top for me 🙂
YES! Thanks Michele!
How many calories are they? per 1 brownie
Hi Amy! For sure- If you add the ingredients into myfitnesspal and then divide it by the number of brownies, it will provide it for you! 🙂 Enjoy!
Yay- I loved the originals, but these crinkle tops are my favorite thing to see on a brownie. I wonder if my soy protein would work? I’m so clueless when it comes to protein powder. .
Hmm. I haven’t tried it with soy but the ones people have tried already use Vega? It tends to work with most protein powders but only a few elicit the crackly top 🙂
I’m going to try my Arbonne protein powder (that’s what I searched in Pinterest for this to pop up), I know they use brown rice and pea protein so fingers crossed!!! I’ll be making them with my almost four year old daughter!
Hi Amber! Please let me know how it turns out- I’ve had a few requests regarding if that particular brand works 🙂
Hey! Okay I tried responding on my phone last time but that didn’t really work….. We did end up using that brand of protein and it turned out amazing! Although I forgot to mix the nut butter in beforehand so it was quite marbled, but that’s okay. We (meaning I) ate the brownies way too fast, to take pictures, but we’ll be making them today and will update with a picture if you’d like! Thanks. (Oh and good luck on the book deal, that’s great news!)
OH yay!!! I’m so glad it turned out so well for you, Amber- The fact that you ate it too fast makes me so happy 😀
And thank you so much 🙂
I am using Arbonne as well so this is great to know! I actually haven’t used mine in a shake yet because its so perfect for baked goods. Thanks for sharing!
Healthy brownies!! You have me from the word go!! I love these and am definitely booking-marking this recipe! 🙂
Please do 🙂
Ugh, I want these right meow. And YAY KOHL’S. You rock.
Thanks buddy!
Oh my gosh I want these like now!!
YAAAS 😀
Brownies without cracked topping just aren’t brownies! I really should try this refrigerator trick of yours…you’ve been loving on that lately! Brownies for the win! Can I have brownies for breakfast?
YES! Seriously, they have this amazing richness, denseness, awesomesauce?
Love how rich and fudgy these look! Have you ever baked with Sunwarrior protein powder? That’s the kind we use at home (for our shakes) but I have yet to bake with it…
I haven’t made these specific brownies with them sorry, P! But, most people who’ve made it so far used vega which I think is plant based like sunwarrior 🙂
I love that these aren’t super sweet and Riley loves brownies. I wonder how I could make them and convince him that they’re bad for you? That’s the only way he’ll think dessert tastes good.
hhahahahaha serve it with a side of hershey’s syrup 😀
I haven’t eat breakfast yet and now I’m craving brownies. These look perfect and I love a good brownie from the fridge!
Right? Thanks so much, Megan!
Wow these look exactly like regular brownies. At first I had a hard time believing that they were flourless.
They are so good, Emily!
Arman you had me at brownies – love this simple recipe – and I seriously can’t believe these are no flourless – amazing!
Thanks so much, Sam 🙂
Those crackly tops are perfection!
They sure are 🙂
Do they taste like the almond butter at all? If so, I’m absolutely sold on them!
They have a slight flavour, but it’s mostly cocoa 🙂 Rich and dark 🙂
I’ll have Brownies for breakfast tomorrow. Those are already chilling outside 😀
😀 YOU ROCK!
Holy shiitake balls, these look insane!! Those crackly tops are wha brownie dreams are made of. I can’t believe they don’t have any refined sugar or eggs! I’m telling you, you’re a magician.
Thanks Sarah! 🙂 It took a few tries with different protein powders but yes- the crackly top IS possible 😀