3 Ingredient Brownies

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5 from 1259 votes
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These 3 ingredient brownies are a healthy and easy chocolate dessert recipe that bakes in just 20 minutes! There is no flour or eggs needed.

3 ingredient brownies.

Healthy desserts with just a handful of ingredients? Count me in.

If you’ve tired our sugar free cookies, protein mug cake, or flourless mug cake before, you will adore this recipe.

These 3 ingredient flourless brownies were developed by a complete accident. I was in the midst of making a smoothie and had put some banana, cocoa powder, and peanut butter into a blender. It was only then I realized that I had run out of milk.

Instead of throwing out the contents of my blender, I gave them a quick blend and was left with something that resembled batter. I decided to take a chance and transfer them to a baking pan and baked them as though they were brownies.

What resulted from this experiment was a fudgy, rich brownie-like treat, perfect to satisfy any chocolate fix or sweet tooth.

Recipe highlights

I call these brownies my guilt-free chocolate fix and make them at least once a week!

  • No flour or grains. Unlike coconut or oat flour brownies, these don’t have any of the basics.
  • Healthy. Bananas and peanut butter are two of the healthiest foods ever, and unsweetened cocoa powder is just perfection.
  • Ready in 20 minutes. From prep to plate, these brownies bake in less than 20 minutes.
healthy 3 ingredient brownies.

How to make 3 ingredient brownies

When baking these brownies, I recommend choosing a baking dish or pan that is typically smaller than what you’d use for traditional brownies. This way, you’ll be left with thicker and richer brownies that are just that much more satisfying to eat.

The ingredients

  • Bananas. Ripe bananas add sweetness to the brownies and keep them super fudgy. Opt for riper bananas as are naturally sweeter.
  • Peanut butter. Smooth and creamy peanut butter with no added sugar. If you love the sweet and salty combination, use salted peanut butter.
  • Cocoa powder. 100% unsweetened and Dutch processed cocoa.

Substitution idea

For a richer chocolate flavor, use dark or black cocoa powder.

The instructions

Step 1: You’ll start by preheating your oven to 180C/350F. Line a square pan with parchment paper and set aside. Then, add your bananas into a large mixing bowl, and mash them completely. Alternatively, you can blend them using a blender for an even smoother texture (highly recommended). 

mashed overripe banana in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add your peanut butter/almond butter and cocoa powder.

banana, peanut butter and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Mix your ingredients until fully incorporated. If desired, add chocolate chips to it and fold them through.

3 ingredient brownie batter.

Step 4: Transfer your brownie batter to the lined pan. 

pre-baked brownies.

Step 5: Bake your 3 ingredient brownies for 17-20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out just clean. Allow brownies to cool in the pan completely, before slicing them into 9 pieces. 

Tips to make the best recipe

  • Do not over-bake the brownies. These will continue cooking as they cool down.
  • As there are no eggs or flour in them, you can undercook the brownies a little and still enjoy them as is.
  • While you can make the batter by hand, I recommend using a blender or food processor. This ensures the banana is as smooth as it can be and there are no chunks throughout.

Dietary swaps and substitutions

This brownie recipe is actually pretty easy to adapt to a plethora of diets or food preferences out there. Here is what we’ve personally tried (and can vouch for!).

  • Swap out the banana. If you aren’t a fan of bananas, you can use unsweetened applesauce or pumpkin puree. Be wary though, the brownies won’t be as sweet. To compensate, add 1/4 cup of sugar or a liquid sweetener, like maple syrup.
  • Use another nut butter. Almond or cashew butter will work well.
  • Make these nut free. Tahini or sunflower seed butter instead of the peanut butter.
  • Add frosting. I love to add a thick layer of my 2 ingredient or healthy frosting.

Ways to sweeten brownies

If you taste-test the batter and find it to be not sweet enough to your liking, you can add one of the sweetener options below-

  • Liquid Stevia. Add 1 serving to your batter (5 drops) and give it a taste test. If it still isn’t sweet enough, add a few more drops. 
  • Maple Syrup. For a refined sugar-free brownie, add 1/4 cup pure maple syrup and an extra 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. The brownies using maple syrup will be extra gooey. 
  • Agave nectar. Like maple syrup, add 1/4 cup and increase cocoa powder by 2 tablespoons. 
  • Coconut palm sugar. Add 2 tablespoons of coconut palm sugar to the batter. You won’t need to amend any of the other ingredients if you use this. 

Storage instructions

To store: Place cooled brownies in a sealable container and keep them in the fridge at all times. They will keep for at least 5 days.

To freeze: Wrap the cooled brownies in parchment paper and place them in individual ziplock bags. Frozen brownies will keep for 6 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight or at room temperature. 

three ingredient brownies.

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3 ingredient brownie recipe.

3 Ingredient Brownies

5 from 1259 votes
These 3 ingredient brownies are a healthy and easy dessert recipe that doesn't need any eggs or flour. They bake up in under 20 minutes.
Servings: 9 brownies
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 17 minutes
Total: 22 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 3 large bananas
  • 1/2 cup almond butter can substitute for peanut butter or another nut/seed butter
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven the 180C/350F. Line a square pan with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add your bananas and mash well. Alternatively, you can blend them. Add the rest of your ingredients and mix well.
  • Pour the mixture into the lined pan and bake for 17-20 minutes, or until set on top.
  • Allow brownies to cool in the pan completely, before slicing up.

Notes

TO STORE: Place cooled brownies in a sealable container and keep them in the fridge at all times. They will keep for at least 5 days.
TO FREEZE: Wrap the cooled brownies in parchment paper and place them in individual ziplock bags. Frozen brownies will keep for 6 months. Thaw them in the fridge overnight or at room temperature. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1BrownieCalories: 131kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSodium: 2mgPotassium: 302mgFiber: 3gVitamin A: 29IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 11g
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. I made these tonight, and success! They didn’t look too ugly and tasted delicious! Great for that sweet tooth, without the sugar! thanks so much!

    1. Hi Lori! I’m not sure but if you add the ingredients into a calorie calculator it should provide it for you 🙂

  2. Anyone know how many servings this makes? i kind of like to know these things to punch them into my food journal app.

    1. Hi Denise! These are easy to customise any size you want, so try them out and then it can give you a better calculation based on how many pieces you slice them into!

  3. These look amazing! I was just wondering if there is a secret to cutting them. I have had trouble in the past with very moist fudgy recipes sticking to the knife & making a terrible mess. I run a B&B & am always on the lookout for Gluten free recipes for my guests, plus I love dark chocolate fudgy brownies myself!!! Pinning it!

    1. Hi Candee! Thank you! What I always do with brownies is that I let them cool completely then refrigerate completely- It then makes it so much easier to cut 🙂

      1. Really sharp. Serrated is for something harder to cut through. Chill the brownies before cutting and use a sharp, thin knife. 🙂

    2. I know that this is an old question, but I do have a brownie cutting trick. Use a plastic knife! The brownie doesn’t stick to it as much as it does to a metal knife.

  4. Confession. I get bummed out whenever there are no sad-looking brown bananas at the grocery store. They are the BEST! Love the idea of these healthy brownies, definitely trying them out on my little taste tester!

    1. Hi Julia! It isn’t TOO dominant but you can tell it’s sort of there- I’d recommend using peanut butter which masks it SO much better AND the darker cocoa 🙂

  5. I made your brownies yesterday and they turned out SO GOOD. They were delicious and so simple to make! Thank you for a great post!

  6. When you read a piece like this and just happen to have 3 bananas in the fruit bowl, it’s a sign. Made them tonight and can confirm; a) no sign of ugly when you blend the heck out of the mix (not that they were in the first place but just saying), b) peanut butter is a good sub, c) heavy on the cocoa is a great idea, d) they are ?. An excellent recipe. Thank you?

  7. I made these last night with peanut butter. SO GOOD. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but they hold together beautifully and taste wonderful! I’m so stinkin’ excited!!!

    1. 😀 THIS makes me so happy, Kelly 😀 I’ve got a few twists on this to share- It’s so good straight out of the fridge texture wise 🙂

  8. I have never left a comment on a recipe before but you actually had me cracking up when I read this, they definitely don’t look ugly though, they look delicious. All the other sugar and flourless brownie recipes I’ve seen are full of dates which is 93g sugar for a cup as opposed to the 28g in bananas. I am so excited to try this recipe! Thank you can’t wait to look at your other recipes.

    1. hahahahaha you’re too kind, Shauna. My ugly brownies say thank you 🙂

      Don’t get me started on dates. I’m not a fan of them…unless it involves another person 😀