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    Home » Recipes » Snacks

    3 Ingredient Banana Brownies

    Published: Dec 21, 2022 by Janessa

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Calling all chocolate lovers! If you're looking for a healthy alternative to regular brownies, give this 3-ingredient banana brownies recipe a try! Made without any added oil or refined sugar, it is the perfect recipe to curb your chocolate cravings. You'll love the fudgy centers.

    Jump to:
    • The Ingredients
    • The Method
    • Leftovers and Storage
    • Make it Your Own
    • Serving Ideas
    • Dietary Notes
    • And if you liked this recipe...
    • 3 Ingredient Banana Brownies
    • Comments
    Healthy brownies on a green plate with bananas in the background.

    If you're a firm believer that chocolate can be a part of a healthy diet, then these healthy flourless brownies are for you.

    And if you sometimes bakes brownies just to enjoy some of the thick batter, then these are definitely for you. (Or try eating some Chocolate Hummus straight off the spoon).

    Made with wholesome, simple ingredients, you can even rationalize eating these for breakfast. (Chocolate Granola is another great way to start your day).

    Bananas provide all of the natural sweetness, nut butter makes them fudgy and contributes healthy fats and cocoa brings the chocolate. And that's it.

    Combine, bake and enjoy!

    Eat them warm, at room temperature or even frozen- they taste like a chocolate ice cream treat.

    The Ingredients

    Ingredients for healthy banana brownies.
    • Overripe Bananas- You need about 2 cups of mashed bananas for this recipe which is about 4 medium-large bananas or 3 very large bananas. This recipe is fairly forgiving though so if your bananas end up being a bit over 2 cups, just through them all in!
    • Nut Butter- Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter- whatever your prefer and have on hand. Ensure that you are using smooth nut butter that has been well stirred. This recipe should work with all natural or regular nut butters. You can also make them with sunflower seed butter instead to make these nut allergy friendly.
    • Unsweetened Cocoa Powder- (Or use cacao powder). If you love chocolate flavour, you can add up to ⅔ cup cocoa for extra rich chocolate flavour- the brownies may taste a bit less sweet though.

    The Method

    1. Mix. In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or fork to mash the bananas until smooth. Mix in the almond butter and cocoa.

    Or add all three ingredients to a food processor or high speed blender and blend until smooth.

    Bananas being mashed with a hand mixer and then the addition of almond butter and cocoa.

    2. Bake. Line a 9x9 inch baking pan with a silicone liner or parchment paper. Pour batter into the prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth out the brownie mixture into an even layer. Bake at 350 F for 18-22 minutes until the top of the brownies appear set.

    3. Cool. Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Then, using the liner, lift the brownies from the pan and cut into bars.

    Brownies before and after baking.

    4. Serve.

    Leftovers and Storage

    To Store: Cool completely on a wire rack and store leftover banana brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw or eat frozen (they make an amazing frozen treat!).

    Top view of 15 brownie squares assembled on a green plate.

    Make it Your Own

    Chunky Brownies- add up to 1 cup of:

    • Dark Chocolate Chips (Semi-sweet or white would also be delicious)
    • Chopped Nuts such as walnuts, almonds or peanuts
    • Peanut Butter Chips

    Add Frosting- For a healthier icing alternative, try spreading a layer of chocolate hummus on top

    Make the Sweeter- You can taste the batter before baking and if it is not sweet enough for your liking, you can add 2-4 tablespoon of sweetener such as coconut sugar, honey or maple syrup.

    Add Sea Salt- Alternatively, adding a bit of salt to desserts can help bring out their sweetness and give them more flavour. Try adding ¼ teaspoon fine salt the batter or sprinkling the brownies with coarse sea salt after baking.

    3 ingredient banana brownies stacked into a tower.

    Serving Ideas

    These brownies are the perfect healthy treat to satisfy a sweet craving. And since they are made with such wholesome ingredients, they don't have to be limited to dessert.

    Pack them along for a quick snack or even enjoy them as an easy breakfast.

    In the summer, I like to keep a batch of these frozen in the freezer for a satisfying cool treat- they remind me of a fudgesicle!

    Hand holding a brownie.
    Can I use frozen bananas?

    Yes! Allow frozen bananas to thaw completely and then use them in this recipe. Ensure that you are freezing bananas that are very ripe and using those so that they provide enough sweetness.

    Can I make these nut free?

    You bet! To make 3 ingredient banana brownies friendly for those with nut allergies, use sunflower seed butter in place of the nut butter. Ensure that it is well stirred.

    Do these taste like traditional brownies?

    While these are super fudgy and delicious, you can definitely notice the taste of bananas. I love them and think that they make the perfect snack when I am craving a sweet treat. But if you're looking for something to taste exactly like a decadent dessert, these might not be it. Instead, try these Coconut Flour Brownies which are sweetened with maple syrup and taste like a classic brownie.

    Dietary Notes

    If you have dietary restrictions, check the packaging of specific ingredients that you use to ensure they are compliant. This recipe is:

    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Nut Free- If you use sunflower seed butter in place of nut butter.
    • Paleo- If you use almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan

    And if you liked this recipe...

    ...you might also like:

    • Banana Oat Pancakes
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
    • Lava Cakes
    Stack of brownies on a plate.

    3 Ingredient Banana Brownies

    With fudgy centers, these 3 ingredient banana brownies are quick to make and are a healthier way to satisfy your sweet tooth!
    5 from 40 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16
    Calories: 98kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium ripe bananas (2 cups mashed)
    • ⅔ cup nut butter
    • ½ cup cocoa powder
    US Customary - Metric
    (Prevent your screen from going dark)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 350 °F. Prepare a 9 inch square baking pan by lining it with parchment or a silicone mat..
    • Mix the batter by adding all of the ingredients to a food processor and processing until smooth. Alternatively, if you don't have a food processor, you can mash the bananas until smooth in a large bowl. Add the nut butter and cocoa and mix until well combined.
    • Pour brownie batter into the baking pan and use a spatula to smooth into an even layer. Bake for 17-22 minutes until they appear set on top.
    • Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Cut and move to a wire rack to cool completely (or enjoy warm!).

    Notes

    Leftovers
    Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Let me know what you thought in the comments below!

    More Sweet Treats!

    • Cream Cheese Frosting Without Butter (3 Ingredients!)
    • White Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
    • How to Reheat Apple Crisp
    • Apple Crisp Storage
    « Turkey Spinach Lasagna
    Rice Cooker Coconut Rice »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Tayler

      December 21, 2022 at 9:13 am

      5 stars
      I made these brownies today and oh my goodness were they delicious! Love that they’re only 3 ingredients!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        December 21, 2022 at 1:11 pm

        I'm glad you liked this recipe, Tayler!

        Reply
    2. Toni

      December 21, 2022 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      This dessert is totally irresistible!! I will definitely make it again!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        December 21, 2022 at 1:11 pm

        I'm glad you enjoyed these brownies, Toni!

        Reply
    3. Ned

      December 21, 2022 at 10:29 am

      5 stars
      Oh these are great for camping! I love that I can cook them in my Dutch Oven. Thank you for sharing this!

      Reply
      • Janessa

        December 21, 2022 at 1:10 pm

        Thank you for your kind review, Ned!

        Reply
    4. Tara

      December 21, 2022 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      Oh yum! You had me at just three ingredients. That texture looks absolutely amazing and I love the addition of the banana.

      Reply
      • Janessa

        December 21, 2022 at 1:10 pm

        Thank you for your kind review, Tara!

        Reply

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    Janessa

    Hi, I'm Janessa and I'm passionate about sharing recipes that are made with wholesome ingredients, are quick and easy and most importantly, delicious!

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