{"id":223,"date":"2020-05-16T20:27:51","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T20:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/?p=223"},"modified":"2021-03-12T08:42:13","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T08:42:13","slug":"healthy-brownies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fueledwithfood.com\/healthy-brownies\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthy Pumpkin Brownies (102 Calories + Gluten-Free)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re here, it\u2019s probably because you love chocolate \u2014 I do too! I eat some type of chocolate every day, whether it\u2019s a piece of a candy bar or a few chocolate chips sprinkled in oatmeal breakfast cookies<\/a> or on top of banana bread<\/a>. So naturally, I\u2019m constantly looking for new ways to treat my sweet tooth that are somewhat healthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many \u201chealthy\u201d brownie recipes out there and I must have tested nearly all of them. The black bean brownies I\u2019ve tried are too dense and not chocolatey enough (though maybe I\u2019ll workshop them another day). The easy healthy brownies tend to have a ton<\/em> of nut butter in them, so calories and fat, even if it is unsaturated fat, add up quickly.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted something lower calorie, but still satisfyingly chocolatey, and finally landed on this healthy pumpkin-based brownie recipe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Makes These Brownies \u201cHealthy\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While even healthy desserts consist of sugar, carbs, and fats, we can choose ingredients that are better than the empty calories in refined sugars<\/a> and flours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This healthy brownie recipe has minimal refined sugar (it\u2019s only in the chocolate chips), no butter, and is gluten-free and dairy-free (assuming you don\u2019t use milk chocolate). I prefer the flourless version of these brownies, though depending on what type of brownie texture you like, you might want to throw a little in \u2014 more on that below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nut butter substitutes butter or oil. It contains healthier fats and more vitamins, minerals, and protein. Almond butter provides a more neutral flavor, and you can easily make your own with a blender or food processor. It\u2019s also a good source of vitamin E, iron, and calcium. Peanut butter is also a great option, though gives the brownies a more nutty flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These brownies use pumpkin puree as the base, but don\u2019t worry, it doesn\u2019t give them a strong pumpkin flavor. Even better, pumpkin is nutrient dense but fairly low calories! It\u2019s also rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best part about these brownies? Each one is 102 calories with 5.1 grams of fat, 14 grams of carbs, and 2.6 grams of protein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Texture Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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These brownies are gooey<\/em> and slightly cakey, especially when they first come out of the oven. I tried a bunch of variations to get a denser texture, but kept coming back to this version where the sweetness and chocolateness really shine through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend storing these in the refrigerator, which will make them firmer and help them keep for longer. People even mentioned they liked the brownies better after being refrigerated!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you prefer a denser brownie, add half a cup of flour. I\u2019ve tested out oat flour and almond flour, though any flour will do. You can make oat flour by blending up oats until they\u2019re a fine consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for Making Flourless Brownies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are so many substitutes, additions, and variations that could work for these brownies! Here are a few tips to help you modify them based on your preference and what\u2019s in your pantry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n