Perfect Vegan Brownies « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2024)

By Sarah 68 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Perfect Vegan Brownies with AQUAFABA! Fudgey, dense, sweet, chocolatey—and a perfect crackle top! (Scroll all the way down to see the new VIDEO I made—these brownies are so easy to make!)

Perfect Vegan Brownies « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (1)

Perfect Vegan Brownies

Ok, I’ve been teasing you with these brownies long enough. It’s time to share the recipe. I had actually hoped to share the recipe last week, but realized I needed to test it a couple more times to get it just right. I am happy to say that it is now just PERFECT! Perfect Vegan Brownies to be exact. They are rich, chocolatey, chewy, gooey, fudgey, crunchy, with the perfect signature crackle top that we have come to expect from a good brownie. You can make them in one pot on the stove. And they are AMAZING!

I have actually made these brownies 7 times now in the past 3 weeks. I know—dangerous. But somebody’s gotta do it. I actually started off with a recipe from an old not-veganWilliams-Sonoma Dessertcookbook, but I’m pretty sure the only thing they have in common now is flour and chocolate. I swapped out (and reduced) butter with coconut oil, subbed in some unrefined maple syrup, added cinnamon because it is my favorite with chocolate, and of course subbed out the eggs for magic bean juice, aka Aquafaba.

Perfect Vegan Brownies « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (3)

Aquafaba

I’m sure you’ve heard of Black Bean Brownies, but have you ever had Black Aquafaba Brownies? Probably not. Instead of an egg, I used the liquid from a can of black beans. I have seen lots of people using chick pea liquid in macarons and meringuess, and I’ve been using white bean liquid (due to Jonathan’s allergies), so I thought that brownies would be the perfect spot for the black bean liquid. It works not only as a great binder, but also adds moisture and allows me to reduce the oil in the recipe to just 1/4 cup!

(A note about the liquid—I have just been freezing mine in ice cube trays each time I need to use beans and storing it in the freezer until I need it. I just thaw what I need and I’m good to go. And if you’re looking for somewhere to use up those black beans—try these Frijoles de Cabo!)

^^^ These are incredible served “a la mode” with my Cinnamon Coconut Whipped Cream (recipe at the bottom of this post.)

I use a combination of brown sugar and maple syrup to give the brownies just the right amount of sweetness and chewiness. The sweeteners were actually what held me back in my experimenting. I used maple syrup the first 3 times and it was great, but I thought that maybe brown rice syrup might be better—chewier maybe. It’s not. Let me just save you the time and tell you right now. Don’t do it. I tried it 3 times. The brownies still taste amazing but bake up to have the texture of the moon. I’m not sure why, but I know it doesn’t work. Stick with the maple syrup—it’s what gives it the perfect crackly top!

Look how easy they are to make!

Ready for the recipe? Here you go! If you make these…and I KNOW you will, please take a picture and tag #frieddandelions on your favorite social media platform. Can’t wait to see how they look!

Perfect Vegan Brownies « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (6)

Perfect Vegan Brownies « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (7)

Print Recipe

4.17 from 6 votes

Perfect Brownies

Perfect Vegan Brownies with AQUAFABA! Fudgey, dense, sweet, chocolatey—and a perfect crackle top!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time35 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Servings: 16

Author: Sarah De la Cruz

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil plus extra for greasing the pan
  • 3 ounces ~1/2 c semi sweet chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup aquafaba liquid from a can of black beans—your can will probably have closer to 2/3 or 3/4 c—make sure you measure
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons instant coffee
  • 3/4 cup all purpose white flour
  • 4 1/2 ounces 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 inch baking pan* with extra coconut oil and set aside.

  • In a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat, melt 3 ounces of chocolate chips and 1/4 c coconut oil.

  • When melted, remove from heat. Add in brown sugar, maple syrup and pinch of salt and whisk together.

  • Measure out the aquafaba and whisk with a small whisk until slightly foamy.

  • Pour the aquafaba into the chocolate mix and whisk together.

  • Add vanilla, cinnamon and instant coffee and whisk to incorporate.

  • Add the flour to the chocolate mixture and mix well. Fold in 4 1/2 ounces of chocolate chips.

  • Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes. The brownies will be moist but set.

  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for about an hour before serving.

  • These taste delicious topped with my Cinnamon Coconut Whipped Cream! Enjoy!

Notes

I find that they keep their best texture when stored in the fridge—they stay extra fudgey this way!

* I have baked these in ceramic and glass pans.

Don’t Forget to Pin this Recipe!

Previous Post: « Carrot Muffin Cakes—Happy Birthday Jonathan!

Next Post: Easy Enchilada Sauce »

Perfect Vegan Brownies « Fried Dandelions — Plant Based Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is flour important in brownies? ›

Flour provides the structure in baked goods. Wheat flour contains proteins that interact with each other when mixed with water, forming gluten. It is this elastic gluten framework which stretches to contain the expanding leavening gases during rising.

How to pimp brownies? ›

Add a teaspoon of instant coffee or espresso powder. Throw in a handful of nuts—pecans, walnuts, macadamia, whatever you have on hand. Scoop in a palmful of dried or frozen fruit. Add an extra splash of the top-shelf vanilla extract, or a dab of vanilla paste, or a dash of vanilla powder, to the batter.

Why eat black bean brownies? ›

They are loaded with protein and fiber and are gluten & dairy-free! So you can feel good about enjoying a little chocolatey treat. These are the only black bean brownies I have ever made that taste good directly out of the oven, and I've made my fair share over the years.

What is a substitute for flour in brownies? ›

Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. It's easy to find in shops and commonly used in plenty of sweet and savoury dishes, including brownies, pancakes, puddings, cakes, falafel and more. Made from ground blanched almonds, it's high in protein, rich in fibre and gluten-free.

What's the best flour to use for brownies? ›

What flour is best for brownies? Plain flour, also known as all purpose flour, is best for brownies. You can use self raising flour, but you will end up with cakey brownies that are much less fudgey.

What does adding an extra egg to brownie mix do? ›

If you want to get a little more creative with your brownie mix hacks, add an extra egg to the batter. The extra protein will help thicken up the batter and make it fluffier, creating a more decadent, fudgy texture. You can also add the yolk by itself in addition to the 2 eggs a box brownie mix typically calls for.

What can I add to brownies to make them better? ›

Fruits and Nuts

“When I make brownies or blondies, I like to add toasted nuts for extra crunch and flavor,” says culinary editor Genevieve Yam. “Any nut will do, but my favorites are pecans and walnuts.” Feel free to chop them up and mix them into the batter, or add them on top for even more visual appeal.

What happens if you use milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

One change is to use milk or heavy cream instead of water. This change will make brownies more moist and gooey since milk is more fatty and flavorful than water. A second change is to use butter instead of oil. For similar reasons to using milk, butter adds a rich and more decadent quality to the batter.

What is the forbidden brownie? ›

It doesn't get much more decadent than this! Indulge in Forbidden Chocolate ® ice cream with brownie chunks, signature hot fudge, Swiss Chocolate, and sprinkles.

Why do you put coffee in brownies? ›

The trick: Replace the water with coffee. You don't need much, generally ¼ to ⅓ cup. We already know that adding espresso and coffee flavor to chocolate desserts supercharges chocolate flavor, and the same principle applies here. Using coffee in your brownie mix will result in better, more chocolaty brownies.

What ethnicity eats black beans? ›

Black beans, like the other common beans, are native to South and Central America. Black beans are common in South American, Mexican, Spanish, and Caribbean dishes. While they are popular in stews, soups, and dips, they are also used in salads. They are frequently served with rice.

What happens if you forget to put flour in brownies? ›

Weirdly, they came out fine… very, very gooey but they held their shape and are delicious. I'm so surprised as I thought flour was a key ingredient in brownies. Just wanted to share my fail turned to win.

Why is flour so important? ›

Flour is important because it is a key ingredient in bread and other flour-based foods, providing energy, protein, minerals, and other nutrients . It is also used as a raw material in various industries and for household needs, such as baking cakes and bread .

What is the purpose flour for baking? ›

All-purpose flour is a versatile and general-use wheat flour. It is milled from hard red wheat or a blend of hard and soft wheats, typically at a 80:20 ratio. As the name suggests, all-purpose flour is suitable for all types of baked goods, such as bread, biscuits, pizza, cookies, muffins, etc.

Do brownies contain flour? ›

Beat together sugar and butter in a medium bowl. Add eggs and mix well. Combine flour, cocoa, and salt; stir into sugar mixture. Mix in vanilla, then stir in walnuts.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 6316

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.