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Vegan Brownies are so rich and fudgy! These brownies are made with applesauce instead of eggs but you’d never guess – they are just as decadent as regular brownies – no black beans in sight. And you can make them gluten-free!
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Best Vegan Brownies EVER
I like to keep a few vegan dessert recipes up my sleeve because you never know when you might be making dessert for someone following a vegan diet. Case in point: vegan brownies. They’re rich, they’re fudgy, they’re SO GOOD. You’d never guess that they’re applesauce brownies without eggs.
The first time I made this vegan brownies recipe was several years ago for a school cookie exchange I organized for the teachers. I wanted to make sure everyone would enjoy the exchange so made a batch of these fudgy brownies. Since then, they’ve been my go-to when I need a chocolatey vegan treat!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy vegan brownies are simple to make: one bowl, no mixer needed
- You can make them into gluten free brownies easily
- Skip the black bean brownies – these are better!
- I love when recipes are accidentally vegan, like my chocolate cupcakes!
Ingredients Needed
- Vegetable oil – This is the fat needed to make nice and fudgy brownies. While traditional brownies use melted butter, that’s not vegan, so we’re using vegetable oil. You can also use coconut oil.
- Unsweetened applesauce – This is used in place of the egg. Since I’m not a regular vegan baker, I’m not versed in using flax eggs or things like that, so applesauce is a great substitute. It also helps keep the brownies moist.
- Chocolate – this recipe has THREE kinds of chocolate! Unsweetened cocoa powder, unsweetened baking chocolate and chocolate chips. You can also use Dutch Process cocoa if you want. Be sure to use natural cocoa powder and vegan chocolate chips.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour, but it’s easy to make these gluten free flour. I like to use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1:1 AP Flour (in the light-blue bag!).
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions and below the recipe card for process shots.
How to make Vegan Brownies
- Combine the oil and sugar in a large bowl. Add the vanilla, cocoa, applesauce, melted chocolate and salt and stir.
- Slowly add the flour and then fold in the chocolate chips.
- Bake the brownies in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 28 minutes – cool them in the pan before slicing.
- I also like to dust the cooled brownies with some powdered sugar for a pretty presentation.
Expert Tips
- If you’re not used to vegan baking like me, be sure the ingredients you purchase are actually vegan. Things like chocolate chips and baking chocolate might not be – so check the labels.
- Don’t over bake the brownies – you want a rich fudgy texture. They should just lose their glossy sheen and not look wet in the center when they’re done.
- I often line my pan with foil but you can also use parchment paper.
- Make Cosmic Brownies vegan by using this brownie recipe.
FAQs
Store these in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.
I wouldn’t consider these healthier, with all the sugar, but they do have a better oil and applesauce, so they’re good if you’re following a vegan diet.
Vegan Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4 ounces unsweetened applesauce (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate , melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (Vegan ones, to keep it vegan)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Stir together oil and sugar. Stir in vanilla, cocoa, and applesauce. Add melted chocolate and salt, stir until smooth. Slowly stir in flour. Add chocolate chips.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake 25-28 minutes. Cool before cutting.
- Top with a sprinkling of powdered sugar for a pretty presentation!
Recipe Notes
- If you’re not used to vegan baking like me, be sure the ingredients you purchase are actually vegan. Things like chocolate chips and baking chocolate might not be – so check the labels.
- Don’t over bake the brownies – you want a rich fudgy texture. They should just lose their glossy sheen and not look wet in the center when they’re done.
- I often line my pan with foil but you can also use parchment paper.
Recipe Nutrition
Special Diet Recipes
You will never know these are egg free brownies! These are still rich and fudgy, but made with applesauce instead of egg – the perfect vegan dessert recipe.
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The brownies are very, very oily and seem to not be done Baked them for 28 minutes. Oven thermometer said 350 degrees. Used whole wheat flour and some brown sugar as was short on granulated sugar but that shouldn’t make a difference. Hmmm….
Whole wheat flour can for sure make a difference in baking (the sugar sub won’t matter)
They have an amazing taste but they keep falling apart and are a bit too moist. What should i do to fix this? Reply quick please!! I have a date in two hours and need three batches done before tomorrow!!
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