These 5-ingredient vegan protein brownies make the perfect sweet treat to satisfy any chocolate craving and at just 90 calories each, they’re easy to fit into any nutrition plan.

Stack of 3 chocolate brownies on a small white plate.

Features

  • amazing decadent fudge-like texture
  • quick and easy to make with just 5 ingredients
  • just 90 calories each!
  • vegan, nut-free and gluten-free
  • can be made sugar-free

What You’ll Need

Visual list of ingredients for making chocolate chip protein brownies. Each ingredient is labelled with text.

Complete list of ingredients with amounts and full instructions is located in the printable recipe card below. This section covers ingredient and substitution considerations.

  • Protein Powder: Use a chocolate or vanilla pea protein-based vegan protein powder such as Vega Performance Protein, Bob’s Red Mill, Orgain or NuZest. Most vegan protein powders are made from pea protein, so just check the ingredients if you’re not sure.
  • Applesauce: Sweetened or unsweetened applesauce works. I used unsweetened.
  • Cocoa Powder: Any cocoa powder or raw cacao powder works.
  • Banana: Ripe or slightly overripe banana works best. The riper they are, the sweeter the brownies will be.
  • Chocolate Chips: If you want the recipe to be vegan, use dairy-free chocolate chips such as Enjoy Life or Camino. If not, any chocolate chips work.

Step-by-Step Instructions

You can mix up the batter in a bowl or use a food processor. Instructions below show making it in a bowl. To use a food processor, add everything but the chocolate chips and blend into a batter, then stir in the chocolate chips.

Step 1. Place the banana in a bowl and mash into a smooth paste using a fork or immersion blender. Get is a smooth as you can so there are no large chunks remaining.

Mashed banana in a glass mixing bowl.

Step 2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix into a thick batter.

Quick Tip: It will seem dry and powdery at first but will turn into a wet batter after 1-2 minutes of mixing.

Thick chocolate batter in a mixing bowl.

Step 3. Either line a standard-size loaf pan with parchment paper or give it a light coating of non-stick cooking spray. Using parchment paper is handy so you can easily lift the brownies out once they’re baked.

Quick Tip: Sprinkle with 2-3 tablespoons additional chocolate chips for an extra treat (optional but recommended!).

Raw chocolate chip brownie batter in a loaf pan.

Step 4. Bake for 20 minutes then let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes.

Once they’re baked, either cut them in into 8 pieces in pan and lift out one by one or use the parchment paper to lift the whole pan out, slice and enjoy!

  • A loaf pan-sized tray of chocolate chip brownies on a cutting board with a knife.
  • A tray of chocolate chip brownies cut into 8 pieces on a cutting board.

Notes

  • These are not like traditional brownies. We can only ask so much from 5 ingredients with no flour, added sugar, oil or fat. The brownies have almost a mousse-like texture but once they chill in the rich they’re wonderfully rich, dense and decadent.
  • These have somewhat of a banana flavour to them so if you don’t like banana, you may not like them. It’s not super overpowering but it is noticeable.
  • These are not super sweet but it will depend on the protein powder you use. The sweeter the protein, the sweeter the brownies will be.
  • Crushed walnuts make an amazing addition if you want to add something!
  • Once they come out of the oven, try spreading the melted chocolate chips to create a thin layer of chocolate glaze.
  • To make these sugar-free, use sugar-free chocolate chips such as Lily’s.
Stack of 3 chocolate brownies on a small white plate.

FAQs

Can I use whey protein?

I’ve never tested these with whey protein so I can’t guarantee how they’ll turn out as whey has different characteristics than plant-based proteins.

That being said, a number of readers have successfully made them with whey protein and you can find their feedback in the comment section below.

Stack of 4 chocolate brownies with one on top with a bite out of it.

For a quick single-serve chocolate dessert, try this chocolate mug cake!

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a review.

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Stack of 3 chocolate brownies on a small white plate.

Vegan Flourless Protein Brownies

  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

These easy vegan protein brownies are under 100 calories and made with just 5 simple ingredients for a healthy dessert you can enjoy any time.

★★★★★

4.6 from 17 reviews
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Ingredients

  • 2 medium ripe bananas (240 g)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce (60 g)
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder (60 g)
  • 1 scoop chocolate or vanilla vegan protein powder (30 g)
  • 3 tbsp dairy-free chocolate chips (45 g, plus 2–3 tbsp for sprinkling on top, if desired)
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt, optional
  • 1 tsp vanilla, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Prepare a standard-sized loaf pan with a light coating of non-stick cooking spray or line with a strip of parchment paper so it sticks out over the edges. This will make it easy to lift the brownies out once they’re baked.
  3. To use a food processor to prepare the batter, add everything but the chocolate chips and blend into a thick batter then stir in the chocolate chips.
  4. To prepare the batter in a bowl, mash the banana in a smooth paste using a fork or immersion blender. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix into a thick batter. It will seem dry and powdery when you start mixing and may take 1-2 minutes of stirring until you have a wet batter.
  5. Spread the mixture into the prepared loaf pan. The batter will be quite thick so use a spatula to spread evenly until flat.
  6. Sprinkle evenly with an additional 2-3 tablespoon of chocolate chips. Optional but recommended!
  7. Bake the brownies for 20 minutes then let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes.
  8. If you lined the pan with parchment, use the edges to lift the brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Slice into 8 squares. If you didn’t use parchment, slice the brownies in the pan and pop them out one by one using a knife or fork.
  9. Place them in the oven. After a few minutes, remove and use the back of a spoon to spread the melted chocolate chips. Place back in the oven.
  10. The brownies will continue to firm once they cool and are best after they’ve chilled in the fridge.

Notes

Recommend storing in the fridge. Let cool completely then store up to 1 week in a sealed container.

I haven’t tried this recipe with whey protein so I can’t guarantee how they’ll turn out if you use it. Some readers have used it with success and you can find their feedback in the comment section below.

These are not like traditional brownies. We can only ask so much from 5 ingredients with no flour, added sugar, oil or fat. The brownies have almost a mousse-like texture but once they chill in the rich they’re wonderfully rich, dense and decadent. 

These have somewhat of a banana flavour to them so if you don’t like banana, you may not like them. It’s not super overpowering but it is noticeable.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 87
  • Fat: 3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 5 g

Keywords: protein brownies, vegan protein brownies

Originally published March 13, 2016.