Avocado brownies…I know what you might be thinking, perhaps something along the lines of, “avocados…in brownies?! Have you gone mad!?” And at some point, not even that long ago, I would have agreed with you. But I’ve since seen the light, I’ve since realized that nothing can be made worse by adding avocado to it…nothing. Avocados are the perfect addition to brownies, and here’s why: they’re creamy; they’re moist; they’re fudgy and fatty in all the best ways. And when paired with a rich semi-sweet dark chocolate and earthy walnuts, these avocado brownies become an experience: a velvety, blissful square of easy-to-make brownie goodness that melts in your mouth and riles up your endorphins to dance a surging tango.
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
– Charles M. Schulz
Avocados in Baking
Avocados act somewhat similar to how bananas do in baking (like for these vegan banana brownies). They provide moisture, are a fatty binder, and are also the main body for these avocado brownies; but unlike banana, they do this all without imparting any of their flavor. You won’t be tasting anything even remotely like chocolate-covered avocado, don’t you worry.
I know that it may seem rather bizarre to use an ingredient as beautifully robust and amazing as avocado in a recipe where you can hardly taste it, but the ‘cad serves all the aforementioned essential function without which these chocolatey squares of sheer delight wouldn’t be able to exist.
In order to reap the most benefit out of your avocado during baking, make sure that you can find a ripe one, as in slightly soft when squeezed lightly, or at most a day away from eating. Using an avocado that is any less ripe, and you run the risk of not being able to mash it well, and thus compromising the texture of your avocado brownies.
“You would be amazed by what you can give up, lose, or break, and yet still be a person who gets happy over brownies.”
– Augusten Burroughs
Avocado Brownies: A Recipe Video
The Best Chocolate Chips To Use
My personal favorite brand of vegan chocolate chips that I use in nigh all my chocolate-y recipes are Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips.
In these avocado brownies, this particular brand of chocolate chip will melt super easily for the incorporated chocolate mixture and the quick ganache on top, while at the same time hold their shape on the inside of the brownie, too.
If you can’t find Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips, just look for another brand of semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips; a lot of them tend to be dairy-free already.
Typically, since the all-natural cocoa powder in these avocado brownies can be incredibly bitter and desiccating on its own, you’re going to want to find chocolate chips that contain some sugar. While this recipe has a very nicely balanced brownie that is neither too sweet nor too bland, if you’re using a chocolate chip that is too dark of a chocolate, then these avocado brownies have the potential to be more bitter than sweet.
So look for a brand of choco’ chips that retains a bit of sweetness, either the one listed above (my go-to) or something like it.
“A basic rule of baking is that, in general, it’s almost impossible to make an inedible batch of brownies.”
– Linda Sunshine
Avocado Brownie Recipe
If you’re looking for rich, decadent squares of chocolate brownie goodness, then this avocado brownie recipe is for you. They’re quite simple to make, only a few easy-to-follow steps. Plus, they’re a wonderful baked goodie to share with others; the sheer astonishment on their delighted faces when you tell them their brownie is made from avocado is in itself reason enough to make these.
So don’t miss out on the magic of avocado brownies. They’re an enjoyable bake whose supreme unctuousness will likely surprise your tastebuds, and possibly leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about avocados and their boundless potential.
“Anyone who tries to make brownies without butter should be arrested.”
– Ina Garten
Avocado & Walnut Brownies
Equipment
- Small Sauce Pan
- 8×8 baking dish
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup vegan butter
- ½ cup semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips, divided
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour, or gluten-free flour mix
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 ripe medium avocado, like a haas avocado, mashed well
- ⅓ cup ground walnuts
For the ganache & walnut topping:
- 1 tablespoon vegan butter
- ¼ cup semi-sweet vegan chocolate chips
- ¼ cup ground walnuts, as garnish
Instructions
- Combine ⅓ cup vegan butter, ¼ cup of the chocolate chips, and cocoa powder in a small sauce pan over low-medium heat, and melt until smooth, stirring frequently. Remove the sauce pan from the heat, add the vanilla extract, and then let cool for 5 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, brown sugar, the other ¼ cup chocolate chips, and mashed avocado together. Once cooled, add the melted chocolate mixture, and fold all the ingredients together well, adding ⅓ cup ground walnuts halfway through.
- In a lightly greased 8×8 baking dish (with cooking spray or rubbed with vegan butter), spread the avocado brownie batter evenly throughout the dish, and bake for 26 minutes, until slightly firm to touch.
- When the brownies are nearly finished baking, melt about 1 tablespoon of vegan butter with yet another ¼ cup vegan chocolate chips until smooth for a quick ganache. Spread the ganache over the top of the baked avocado brownies evenly, and then add an addition ¼ cup ground walnuts as garnish.Cut the brownies into 9 even squares, let cool for another 10 minutes or so, and then serve!
Video
Nutrition
I hope that you enjoyed these amazing avocado brownies. If you did, consider leaving me a comment and recipe rating before you go.
May you have good food in good company,
That Vegan Nephew
These are delicious. Moist and crunchy at the same time and not too sweet. Nice work Vegan Nephew