These Fudgy Sweet Potato Protein Brownies taste like dessert but fuel your body like a high-protein snack. These gluten-free brownies are moist, dense, and full of chocolate flavor. The secret ingredient: sweet potatoes!
I first learned that brownies can be made from whole foods like sweet potatoes in the kitchens of a holistic nutrition school. At first, it seemed strange, like it did when making a chocolate dessert hummus or avocado pudding! But soon, I realized that you can make healthy food delicious- using real ingredients!
For another healthy protein treat, try our Snickerdoodle protein cookies or pumpkin energy balls! For more ways to make fudgy brownies, try our 30-minute dairy-free gluten-free brownies!
I always recommend setting a mindful intention before getting started. For guidance, don't miss our free guide on intentions and affirmations.
⚡ Quick Look: Fudgy Sweet Potato Protein Brownies
- 🎨 Flavor Profile: Rich, chocolatey brownies made with sweet potato for a moist, indulgent bite
- 🔥 Method: Oven Baked
- ⏱️ Prep Time: ~5 minutes
- ⌛️ Cook Time: Bake Sweet Potato 45 min, Bake Brownies 25 minutes
- 🍽️ Yield: 10 brownies
- 🌿 Skill Level: Easy
- 🔢 Calories: Approximately 295 cal each
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Sweet potato, almond flour, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, pure maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, dark chocolate chips
- 🌞 Best Time to Enjoy: Dessert after dinner, a post-workout treat, or a wholesome snack any time
- 🎯 Main Benefits: Gluten-free, dairy-free; packed with protein and made from whole-food ingredients for a clean-eating friendly dessert
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💛 Why You'll Love It
- Rich, fudgy texture with deep chocolate flavor that feels totally indulgent
- Made with sweet potato for natural sweetness, moisture, and added nutrients
- Packed with clean protein to keep you full and satisfied
- Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, perfect for mindful, clean eating
- Easy to make with simple, wholesome ingredients
- A healthy dessert that doubles as a post-workout or anytime snack
Ingredients
Sweet Potato: The star of these fudgy brownies, sweet potatoes add natural sweetness and moisture. Organic is best.
Protein Powder: A key player in boosting the nutritional profile, choose a high-quality, no-additive protein powder to complement the cocoa powder and enhance the protein content in these main ingredients. We like Naked Shake or Truvani.
Cacao Powder: For that rich, chocolatey taste that's central to any good brownie recipe, select an unsweetened cacao or cocoa powder. Raw cacao is best for the most antioxidants.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Vegan Options: For vegan sweet potato brownies, use a flax egg instead of regular eggs.
- Sweet Potato: No fresh sweet potatoes? Use canned sweet potato puree, but ensure it's organic and pure. Pumpkin puree is another great substitute for sweet potato.
How to Make Fudge Sweet Potato Brownies
Step 1: Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pierce the sweet potato with a fork several times for ventilation and place it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake it for 45-50 minutes until it softens. Once done, let it cool, then cut it lengthwise and carefully scoop out the flesh from the skin.
Step 2: After cooling the sweet potato, reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). In a large mixing bowl, blend the sweet potato flesh with eggs, almond flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, baking powder, and a pinch of salt using an immersion blender.
Step 3: For an extra chocolatey touch, gently fold dark chocolate chips into the batter.
Step 4: Grease an 8x8 inch brownie pan, then pour in the batter, spreading it evenly. Bake brownies in the oven for 25-30 minutes. After baking, allow the brownies to cool in the pan before slicing.
Expert Tip
The easiest way to ensure your sweet potato protein brownies are moist and fudgy is to not overbake them. Keep a close eye on the brownies in the last few minutes of baking and perform the toothpick test. If it comes out with a few moist crumbs, they're done.
Sweet Potato Protein Brownies FAQ's
Each sweet potato brownie, when cut into 10 pieces, contains approximately 295 calories. To lower the calorie and protein content, omit the protein powder and increase the almond flour slightly.
Sweet potatoes are not particularly high in calories. They are a nutrient-dense food, meaning they provide a lot of nutrients for relatively few calories. This makes them an excellent choice for incorporating into healthy recipes like these brownies.
To make a complete protein with sweet potato, consider pairing it with foods high in the amino acid methionine, which sweet potatoes lack. Examples include dairy products, eggs, and certain nuts and seeds. In the context of these brownies, the addition of protein powder and eggs helps complement the protein profile of the sweet potatoes.
More Protein Recipes
Looking for more protein-rich recipes? Try these:
Love these Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies? Give them a 🌟 review and let us know how it went in the comments below! Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest healthy, whole food recipes in your inbox! If you love sweet potatoes, try our sunrise sweet potato juice recipe for weight loss!
Recipe
Fudgy Sweet Potato Protein Brownies
Equipment
- Oven
- Baking tray
- 8x8 inch baking pan
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Immersion blender (or food processor)
- Whisk
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato
- 2 eggs
- ⅔ cup almond flour
- 1 cup protein powder your choice of flavor
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- A pinch of salt
- ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Sweet Potato Preparation: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the whole sweet potato on a baking sheet and bake for 45-50 minutes until soft. Let it cool, then slice lengthwise and scoop out the inside.
- Brownie Batter: Lower the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, blend together the sweet potato, eggs, almond flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, baking powder, and salt until smooth.
- Chocolate Chip Addition: If using, fold in the dark chocolate chips to the batter.
- Baking the Brownies: Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and pour the batter into it, spreading evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes. The brownies are done when a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean.
- Cooling: Let the brownies cool in the pan before slicing them into squares.
Video
Notes
- For vegan brownies, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs.
- For added texture, sprinkle some nuts into the batter with the chocolate chips.
- Use a toothpick to check if its done. It should come out clean with just a few crumbs on it. Do not over bake!
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