5-Ingredient Brownies

4.77 from 17 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These brownies are fudgy, chocolatey, and so yummy. They’ll just melt in your mouth. They’re vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30, and Paleo.

These brownies are fudgy, chocolatey, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. They’re also decadent and sweet, but not too sweet.

And they’re super easy to make. You could even make them with your kids. But make sure you make enough batter. Your kids may want to gobble the batter all up.

stack of brownies

And the batter is safe to eat. That’s because you’re not using any eggs in the batter. There’s no dairy in the brownies either. In fact, these brownies are gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free.

So they’re great for vegan, gluten-free, whole 30, and Paleo diets. Yay!

And best of all, you’re making these brownies with wholesome ingredients. So you can feel good eating these brownies – and sharing them with your kids.

holding up brownie to camera

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Brownies

Ripe bananas (4) – You know those bananas that have spots all over them and are super squishy? Those are the bananas you want to use.

Ripe and over-ripe bananas are brimming with natural sweetness. And they’re super easy to mash.

Almond butter (1/2 cup) – It makes your brownies rich and moist as well as adds a pleasant nuttiness.

Almond butter is quite nutritious too. It contains a ton of Vitamin E. Make sure you use creamy almond butter like this. That’s so you don’t have lumps in your brownies.

Cocoa powder (1/2 cup) – Cocoa powder makes the brownies nice and chewy. It also adds bitterness.

So the cocoa powder balances out the sweetness of the ripe bananas. To ensure your brownies aren’t too sweet, make sure you use an unsweetened cocoa powder like this.

Apple pie spice (1/4 tsp) – Ever heard of Apple Pie Spice? It’s simply a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom. So it adds warm, comforting notes to your brownies.

Besides using it to make brownies, you can add it to your pancake batter. You can even add it to your morning oatmeal or smoothie. If you need to stock up on apple pie spice, you can get some here.

Almond flakes (2 tbsp) – These brownies wouldn’t be the same without almond flakes. Almond flakes add a lovely crunch and nuttiness. So make sure you don’t skip them!

ingredients for brownies

How to Make 5-Ingredient Brownies

Step 1. Start by preheating your oven to 350F. Next, place your ripe bananas in a large bowl. The recipe calls for 4 medium bananas.

But if your bananas are large, you can use 3 instead. Mash your bananas with a fork. Mash your bananas until you get a really smooth texture.

Step 2. Open up your creamy almond butter. Make sure you mix the almond butter in the jar first.

That’s so the solids and liquids/fat are mixed well. Add your creamy almond butter to the mashed bananas, mixing gently.

Step 3. Add cocoa powder and apple pie spice. Mix well to ensure the batter is as smooth as possible. Don’t worry if your batter isn’t perfectly smooth. The bananas make this virtually impossible.

Step 4. Add your almond flakes and fold them in. I really love the addition of the almond flakes – it really adds more oomph to the brownies.

However, if you need to, you can skip the apple pie spice and almond flakes. You will still have a lovely, yummy brownie.

steps to prepare brownie batter

Step 5. Then grease your baking pan. You can use any shape of a baking pan. But make sure your baking pan isn’t too big. I recommend using a 9 x 9-inch baking pan like this.

Use a silicone brush dipped in olive oil to grease your pan. You’ll want to grease the bottom and the sides. You can also use olive or even butter if you don’t need it to be vegan.

Step 6. Pour your batter into your greased baking pan. Make sure you distribute it evenly.

Step 7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350F.

Step 8. Check your brownies with a toothpick to make sure they’re fully cooked. Your toothpick should come out crumbly. This ensures your brownies are fudgy – but not too dry.

Step 9. Finally, let your brownies cool before cutting them up. Once cool, cut into 9 slices.

Enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee – or even vegan ice cream! Or, to keep it light and fresh, serve with some berries. Yum!

steps to make brownies

How to Store Brownies?

To keep these brownies tasting fresh, longer, you want to pack them in an airtight container. I recommend these glass storage containers because they keep your brownies fresh longer.

After packing your brownies, you can store them at room temperature. They should stay nice and fresh for 3 to 4 days.

Or you can store them in the fridge. They will last longer there – about two weeks. Or you can store the brownies in your freezer. They will last in the freezer for up to 3 months. Yay!

picking up brownie off stack

Ingredient Substitutes You Can Use

Instead of almond butter – If you don’t have almond butter, you can use peanut butter. It will give your brownies the same consistency and a lovely nutty flavor.

Instead of apple spice –  Chances are you may not have apple pie spice on hand. But you probably have pumpkin pie spice. Good thing pumpkin pie spice is a great substitute.

Instead of almond flakes – Do you have a nut allergy? You can use these sunflower seeds or crispy rice cereal to add texture. This crispy rice cereal is not only organic but certified gluten-free too.

stack of brownies topped with almonds

Other Recipes You May Like

Watch: Full Brownies Tutorial

4.77 from 17 votes

5-Ingredient Brownies (Paleo, Whole30)

By Karo @ AllNutritious
This vegan 5-ingredient brownie is easy to make. Fudgy, soft, chocolatey, sweet, and filling - a perfect dessert even the kids will love. It's paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 9 brownie squares

Ingredients 

  • 4 medium ripe bananas or 3 large
  • 1/2 cup creamy almond butter
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp apple pie spice
  • 2 tbsp almond flakes

Instructions 

  • Heat the oven to 350F and grease your baking sheet (I'm using 9" x 9").
  • In a large bowl, mash bananas until it's smooth.
  • Add almond butter and mix it in gently.
  • Now, add cocoa powder and apple pie spice. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together.
  • Finally, add almond flakes and gently fold them in.
  • Pour in the batter and evenly distribute it.
  • Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Use a toothpick to check; it should come out crumbly.
  • Let it cool down before serving.

Recipe Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 brownie square | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 9.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7.4g | Sodium: 11mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 7.1g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below with your rating! I love the feedback and respond to every comment!

You May Also Like:

4.77 from 17 votes (17 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




3 Comments

  1. Estelle says:

    I am going to try these but wonder how they rise? I am new to GF recipes.
    Thank you. Estelle

    1. Karo @ AllNutritious says:

      Brownies are fudgy so they don’t rise much. ๐Ÿ™‚ They’re soft, sweet, and fudgy. Some of the best brownies I’ve ever eaten.

    2. Estelle says:

      @Karo @ AllNutritious, Thank you I will try them soon!