Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (2024)

This really is the Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe! Fudgy, gooey, perfect squares of chocolate that cut easily and are easy to make. You’ll never buy a boxed brownie mix again!

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (1)

In the last two days, I’ve made three batches of vegan brownies. That’s right, three. A few weeks ago, I tried some other recipes I was playing around with. All in an attempt to create the most perfect vegan brownies recipe in the world. It has been such a struggle you guys! (And yes I have a freezer FULL of brownies)

All of the recipes were edible (I mean, come on, it’s chocolate people!), but NOT the brownie perfection I was looking for. Either they were too fudgy, or too cake-like (my biggest peeve). Or one batch that cooked fine on the outside but wouldn’t fully cook near the middle.

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (2)

I had to do some serious brownie research, read about ingredients, what makes a brownie cake-like, what makes them more fudgy, how to create the right balance for what I was looking for, and then think about the best vegan swaps for the result I wanted to achieve.

Finally, just a few days ago, I made one more batch of vegan brownies, after carefully creating the recipe on paper. I was SO excited as the batter tasted incredible, and after baking they looked good in the pan. Still having doubts, I let them cool a bit and then removed them from the pan and sliced them slowly.

When I looked inside and took the first bite, I knew, I had finally created the PERFECT Vegan Brownies Recipe! They are thick and hold together when you slice them. Fudgy, but not overly so, chewy, rich, ooey-gooey and full of chocolatey goodness. No one would guess they’re vegan!

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (3)

What kind of chocolate chips should I use for vegan brownies recipe?

I used Trader Joe’s semi-sweet chocolate chips because they happen to be vegan and are quite inexpensive. It can be difficult to find chocolate chips that don’t contain dairy, so just check the ingredients list. Enjoy Life is a good brand and you can order them on Amazon. You can also use your favorite chocolate bar and chop it into pieces.

What kind of cocoa powder should I use?

I used Trader Joe’s unsweetened cocoa powder in this recipe, Hershey’s unsweetened is also a good option. I would not recommend you use a dutch cocoa powder, as you will get different results.

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (4)

What is the best way to cut brownies?

If you are making vegan brownies for a party or to serve to others, it’s important to follow a couple of steps to get really nicely cut brownies. This is true whether they are vegan brownies or not!

It is helpful to line your pan with parchment paper that hangs out the sides for easy removal. After baking, let the brownies cool off for 15 minutes in the pan, then lift them out of the pan with the parchment paper and let cool 15-30 minutes more on a cooling rack. The longer you let them cool, the easier and cleaner cutting will be.

To cut, use a big, heavy knife. Run it under hot water for 30 seconds, dry it quickly and cut the brownies. Clean off the knife in between cuts, and you will have clean brownie squares.

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (5)

If you like this vegan brownies recipe, you may also want to check out these “best” dessert recipes:

The Best Vegan Chocolate Cake

Perfect Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you make this recipe, let me know how it goes! Rate it, leave a comment and tag a photo@noracooksveganon Instagram or find me onFacebook. Enjoy!

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (6)

4.84 stars (551 ratings)

Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe

This really is the Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe! Fudgy, gooey, perfect squares of chocolate that cut easily and are easy to make. You'll never buy a boxed brownie mix again!

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 55 minutes mins

Servings: 16 brownies

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Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons ground flax
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup vegan butter (earth balance brand), melted *see instructions
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup non-dairy chocolate chips OR roughly chopped chocolate pieces

Instructions

  • Make the flax eggs by stirring the ground flax and water in a small bowl. Set aside to thicken. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 7 x 11 pan with parchment paper.

  • Melt the vegan butter (earth balance brand preferred), and measure 1/2 cup. I do this by microwaving the vegan butter in a glass measuring cup, in 30 second intervals, until melted.

  • In a large bowl, whisk the melted vegan butter and sugars together. Add the flax eggs and vanilla, whisk until evenly combined.

  • Over the same large bowl, sift in the flour and cocoa powder. Add the salt and baking powder and stir with a large wooden spoon until just combined, do not over mix.

  • Fold in half of the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top with a spoon or your hands. Sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips on top of the batter.

  • Bake for 35-40 minutes. The brownies may still be bubbling and not look done, but they will firm up a lot as they cool.

  • Remove from the oven, allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then pull the brownies out, using the parchment paper and let cool for another 15-30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Video

Notes

  1. To sift, either use a sifter or a fine mesh strainer also works.
  2. Coconut oil does not work very well in place of the vegan butter; it makes them very oily so I don't recommend it. You could sub applesauce for the vegan butter if you are oil free.
  3. If you don't want the brownies as sweet, it is perfectly okay to reduce the sugar, even to 1 cup. They will still turn out well, just not as sweet.
  4. When you initially take the brownies out of the oven, they will appear underdone and soft, but give them time to cool. They are even better the next day; fudgy and rich. These are NOT cake-like brownies.
  5. You may also use dutch processed cocoa powder for slightly different results. They will be a little less fudgy, and darker in color.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 251kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 125mg | Potassium: 148mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Author: Nora Taylor

Did you make this recipe?Mention @nora_cooks_vegan_ or tag #noracooks!

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Read my full disclosure here.

About Nora

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Posted In: Bars and Brownies, Dessert, Nut Free, Popular Posts, Special Dietary Needs

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Best Ever Vegan Brownies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does adding milk instead of water do to brownies? ›

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 are vegan brownies made of? ›

Vegan Brownie Ingredients

Sugar: Make sure the package is labeled “vegan,” as some store-bought white sugars aren't strictly vegan. Cocoa powder: You'll need ¾ cups of good-quality unsweetened cocoa powder. Baking powder: Baking powder acts as a leavener, which means it helps the vegan brownies rise.

Why are my brownies never fudgy? ›

Achieving a fudgy brownie is all to do with the ratio of fat to flour. A fudgy brownie recipe will use more fat than flour. Generally this is achieved by adding more butter or real chocolate to your brownie recipe. A cakey brownie recipe on the other hand will call for more flour in the ratio of fat to flour.

Which Betty Crocker brownie mix is vegan? ›

The Betty Crocker chocolate fudge brownie mix and tempting chocolate brownie mix are both accidentally vegan. Betty Crocker's triple chocolate chunk brownie mix, gluten-free chocolate brownie mix and salted caramel brownie mix are not vegan. They're not vegan because the actual mixes contain milk.

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.

Can I use almond milk instead of water in brownie mix? ›

Below is a simple brownie recipe that uses almond milk. If you use cake mix kits, you can simply replace the amount of water specified with almond milk for tastier results.

What is a vegan substitute for butter in brownies? ›

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

What is a vegan substitute for eggs in brownies? ›

1 egg = 1/4 cup (62 g) applesauce

Using unsweetened applesauce is my favorite vegan egg replacement for vegan pancakes, breads, and if I don't have yogurt, then cakes as well! I actually prefer applesauce to yogurt in brownie recipes as well. Applesauce is a wonderful way to lock in moisture in cakes and cookies.

Can vegans eat eggs? ›

People who follow a vegan diet don't eat any animal foods, including dairy, eggs, and honey. About 3% of Americans follow a vegan diet. Their reasons for eating this way vary. Some vegans do it to improve their health, as research shows that a plant-based diet could lower the risk of certain diseases.

Can I bake brownies at 350 instead of 325? ›

Most recipes call for baking brownies at 350°. If a fudgy inside and crackly top is your goal, stick with that temperature. Brownies baked at 325° will take longer to bake and will become chewier in texture.

What makes brownies fudgy vs cakey? ›

Fudgy brownies have a higher fat-to-flour ratio than cakey ones. So add more fat—in this case, butter and chocolate. A cakey batch has more flour and relies on baking powder for leavening. The amount of sugar and eggs does not change whether you're going fudgy or cakey.

Can I use pyrex for baking brownies? ›

Because of this, brownies baked in a glass pan will need more time to bake. That slow heat-up and additional time can result in brownies with hard, overly-baked edges and a questionably “done” center. Glass can also be a bit heavy and cumbersome and unlike metal, can break when dropped.

Is Ghirardelli brownie mix vegan? ›

This product contains 1 ingredient that is not vegan and 8 ingredients that may not be vegan. Which diet do you follow? Follow more than one?

What is a substitute for eggs in Duncan Hines brownie mix? ›

Egg Substitutions That Worked

¼ cup yogurt: I used 2 percent plain Greek yogurt. I was wowed. By far my favorite! ¼ cup applesauce: The texture of the brownies wasn't compromised.

Which cake mix is vegan? ›

Country Crock, Earth Balance, and Miyokos make great vegan options. My go-tos are flax eggs or a unsweetened applesauce and corn starch combo. This is great because it works well for everything from cookies to cakes to pancakes and muffins. I use this trick to make my vegan Triple Chocolate Cake and (my favorite!)

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

Yes, you may make cakes with milk instead of water. Because fat provides richness and solidity to the cake, milk can increase the cake's moisture content and flavor. 1) Use the same quantity of milk as water called for in the recipe.

Why is milk so good with brownies? ›

Milk calms down the intense sweetness from the chocolate, according to Harting, and the emulsifiers “help to smooth out the chocolate as you're eating it,” giving you the perfect creaminess-to-cookie flavor ratio.

What does adding milk instead of water do to cake? ›

Milk's fat and protein add tenderness, structure, and flavor to a cake — all great attributes you want in your baking!

How to make brownie mix more chewy? ›

The path to brownies with a fudgy, chewy center — so dense their crumb becomes fine enough to almost (but not quite) disappear — is the combination of melted butter and sugar. Cookbook author Jesse Szewczyk details the science behind using melted (rather than solid) butter in cookies in the secret to fudgier cookies.

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