Vegan Brownies

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These vegan brownies are rich, indulgent, and full of chocolatey flavors. Not only are they simple to make, but the recipe is incredibly versatile and forgiving. Made with cocoa powder and chocolate chips, this one is for all the chocolate lovers out there!

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Full of chocolate: Each bite hits your tastebuds with intense chocolate flavors. Plus, the chocolate chips are perfectly melted and dispersed throughout.
• Crowd-pleaser: Make vegan brownies for a dinner party, and we promise you’ll be the most popular one there. A tray of these never lasts!
• Easy to make: Don’t be afraid of vegan baking! If you follow our simple steps, your brownies will turn out perfectly every time.
• No sneaky ingredients: You won’t find chickpeas, black beans, sweet potatoes, or avocado snuck into this recipe. We kept things classically sweet and indulgent!

If you love all things chocolate, definitely check out our chocolate gluten-free mug cake, double chocolate muffins, 3-ingredient chocolate, and edible brownie batter.

🍫 What are vegan brownies?

Vegan brownies are a simple plant-based recipe that features all the flavors and textures of traditional brownies, just without the use of eggs or dairy.

This quick and easy recipe results in perfect brownies every. single. time. They’re rich, tender, and not too fudgy, making them ideal for anyone who loves chocolate!

Whether you’re making them during the week or bringing them to a family gathering, you won’t have to worry about people liking them. The only thing you’ll need to think about is making a double or triple batch!

🌱 What is a vegan brownie made of?

Brownies are such a classic treat, there is no way we could ever give them up! Luckily, the following swaps will keep your vegan brownies tasting ultra-decadent:

• Replace the eggs with flax eggs to bind the brownies together.
• Use plant milk (like soy) instead of cow’s milk for your liquid.
• Replace dairy butter with vegan butter.

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• All-purpose flour: Results in a chewy-yet-tender texture while keeping the brownie structure. For a gluten-free option, substitute the flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend like from King Arthur Baking.
• Cocoa powder: Provides rich, decadent flavors. We prefer unsweetened natural cocoa powder, but Dutch-processed cocoa powder will also work.
• Coconut sugar: Use all coconut sugar, all organic brown sugar, or a combination of the two. Both impart rich, complex, caramel-like flavors, and give the brownies structure.
• Baking powder: Gives the brownies a slight lift. Omit for extra-dense brownies.
• Salt: Just a pinch to bring out the other flavors.
• Fax egg: The perfect egg replacement to bind the brownies together! Just combine ground flaxseeds and water.
• Vegan butter: We prefer the rich, buttery, and creamy flavors of vegan butter. You can try using coconut oil, but the final result will be quite oily and flat in taste. Use brands like Earth Balance, Miyokos, or Melt.
• Vanilla: For the perfect amount of chocolate flavor enhancement, use pure vanilla extract. It’s worth the splurge! You can also add a touch of espresso powder.
• Soy milk: Other dairy-free milk can be used like cashew milk, coconut milk, or almond milk.
• Chocolate chips: Folded into the batter for melty bites of chocolate all throughout the brownies. Use dark chocolate chips that are vegan-friendly like Enjoy Life or Trader Joe’s.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make vegan brownies

Step 1: Make the flax eggs

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 baking pan, then line it with parchment paper. In a small bowl, mix the flaxseed and water. Set that aside to let the mixture thicken.

Step 2: Whisk the dry ingredients

Combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl, whisking it until well combined.

Step 3: Add the wet ingredients

Add in the melted butter, vanilla, soy milk, and thickened flax mixture. Stir the batter until just combined, being careful not to overmix it.

Step 4: Fold in the chocolate

Gently fold in the chocolate chips, then pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle some more chocolate chips on top for good measure, then pop it into the oven!

Step 5: Bake the brownies

Bake your vegan brownies for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean.

Step 6: Let the brownies cool

Let brownies cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer them onto a wire cooling rack for another 10-15 minutes before cutting. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making vegan brownies, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🍦 Topping ideas for vegan brownies

These vegan brownies are decadent as-is, but you might want to kick things up a notch by trying them with extra toppings. Here are some of our favorites:

• With ice cream: Dollop a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top of freshly baked brownies for the ultimate warm and cool contrast. We’re drooling just thinking about it!
• Frosted: Make vanilla or chocolate icing to top your brownies with.
• Caramel: Serve each brownie with a drizzle of salted caramel sauce.
• Peanut butter swirl: Before baking the brownies, swirl the top with peanut butter for a flavor combination that goes back as far as we can remember.
• Raspberry sauce: The contrast between rich brownies and sweet-tart raspberries is out-of-this-world delicious!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

Leftover vegan brownies are a rare occurrence in our house, but they do actually store well! Follow these simple tips:

• Room temperature: Vegan brownies last on the countertop as long as they’re stored in an airtight container. They’ll last up to 4-5 days this way.
• Fridge: You can keep them in the fridge for up to a week, but we find they lose some of their moisture. We suggest just keeping them on the countertop.
• Freezer: Once completely cooled, store vegan brownies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
• Thaw: If frozen, thaw the brownies in the fridge overnight and they’ll be ready in the morning. You can even warm them in the microwave in 15-second bursts to make them warm and gooey again. 

♻️ Variations

• Espresso: Use espresso powder or instant coffee powder to bring out the natural chocolate flavor, resulting in an even richer brownie.
• Powdered sugar: For a chewy brownie consistency, replace half of the brown or coconut sugar with powdered sugar. It contains cornstarch, which helps with that quintessential brownie chew we’re all after.
• Oil-free: Even though the final result will differ, you can replace the vegan butter with melted natural peanut butter, cashew butter, or almond butter.
• Add nuts: Instead of, or in addition to, the chocolate chips, add chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunch factor.
• Flavor essence: We love a classic vanilla extract, but you can make mint chocolate brownies with peppermint extract, or try almond, coconut, or orange extract!

🧑‍🍳 Tips for the best vegan brownies

• Grease the pan: Rub a little butter in the pan before lining it with parchment paper, which will secure it in place. Once it’s secured, grease the parchment paper with a little more butter so there’s no chance of your brownies sticking.
• Cool before cutting: It may be tempting, but don’t cut into the brownies right away. If they don’t set, they will end out like a gooey mess.
• Oven temperature: Make sure you have the right oven temperature by purchasing a portable oven thermometer. All ovens vary slightly, so a thermometer helps ensure more accurate and consistent brownie results.
• High-quality ingredients: Using quality ingredients results in the best-tasting brownies. From the cocoa powder to the chocolate chips, choose the highest quality ingredients you can afford.
• Don’t overmix: Mix your dry and wet ingredients just until you don’t see flour streaks. If you mix too vigorously you’ll end up with dense or dry brownies.
• Don’t overcook: Overcooking results in dry, crumbly, and crispy brownies. Take them out just before you think they’re ready. They may look slightly underdone, but they will set as they cool.

    💬 FAQ

🍴 More baking recipes

If you enjoyed these vegan brownies, be sure to check out some more of our favorite baked goods:

• Vegan Banana Bread: The perfect balance of moist, sweet, and tender.
• Vegan Oatmeal Rasin Cookies: Soft, chewy, and sweet cookies perfect for dipping in plant-based milk.
• Pumpkin Banana Muffins: Tender muffins made with pumpkin spice.
• Banana Almond Flour Muffins: Easy muffins made vegan and gluten-free.
• Vegan Mug Brownie: A similarly rich and decadent dessert, but in a mug!

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.