Fudgy gluten-free brownies made with simple ingredients. These brownies are also vegan and sweetened with dates and applesauce!
It’s taken me 2 months and countless attempts, but I’m finally sharing my fudgy brownies that also happen to be gluten-free. I’ve been teasing you guys long enough.
They may be gluten-free, vegan AND sweetened with dates, but trust me, that doesn’t make them any less good. They’re soft, rich and perfectly sweetened with fruit, including dates and apple sauce. Honestly, these may just be the fudgiest brownies you’ll ever try.
Like I said, I’ve tested them countless times over the past months and none of them were good enough to my liking. I mean, they were delicious enough to eat and enjoy over the past months (I’m not going to say no to fudgy brownies!), but I wanted them to be more than just good. I needed them to be the best brownies I’ve ever tasted. And I’ve tasted some good brownies in my life (these sweet potato brownies being my other favorites).
So these are what I came up with.
Add the dates, applesauce and other liquid ingredients to a blended or food processor. Process until smooth, then add the dry ingredients. Blend a little longer to combine and you’ll get the most delicious fruit-sweetened brownie batter. Seriously, the best part is always licking the spoon.
I also added a bit of chopped unsweetened chocolate for added richness, but of course you can omit that or use dark chocolate. Walnuts could also be a good addition.
Bake it all together in a bread pan and you’ll end up with warm, fudgy brownies.
It’s best to let it cool 30 minutes in the pan first, but I won’t judge you if you scoop it out when warm and top it with ice cream (yum). It might just make more of a mess, but that’s fine, it’ll taste incredible.
If you make these brownies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
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fantastic! tastes just like real brownies. only down point is that you dont get too much out of one recipe :)
Yes! It's definitely not a large batch. Thank you for the feedback though! Maybe 2 batches next time. :)
Yum! Could use a little less time in the oven (maybe 25min instead of 30) and a little larger portion size, but tastes great for a brownie that's vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free! Thanks for the recipe :)
Hi Alex, I'm so happy you loved them! And thank you for the 5 stars. :) I agree the portion is on the small size (you can never have enough brownies). I may have to add a note on doubling the recipe. And all ovens are a little different, so that could be the difference in baking time. But it's always a good idea to check in the last 5 minutes. Thank you again and enjoy!
Hello, what is the applesauce for?
With what can i substitute it?
Hope i can malle this recipe for xmas.
Thank you ?
Hi! The applesauce helps with the fudgy texture, adds moisture and a light sweetness to the recipe. I haven't tried alternatives, but I'm guessing a mashed banana, pumpkin puree or sweet potato puree would give a similar result (maybe with a slight change in taste). Again, I can't guarantee it will be as good, but it's worth a try! Hope you'll love them. :) Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the reply, will let u know ?
Best wishes for 2020
No problem. Thank you and happy New Year! :)
Just made these, with mashed banana instead of apple sauce and it turned out delicious. I got 4 parts with the portions. I would tho use less dates next time to make it less sweet.
Thanks for the recipe
Hi Laure, I'm so happy you like them! It's great to know that it worked well with bananas. They may have made the recipe extra sweet, so I can imagine less dates could be better. Thank you for the feedback, I'll have to try them this way too. :)
These taste just like real brownies! I am always amazed by your recipes. Every recipe I have tried has been delicious. You have such a talent for creating delicious recipes. Yum!!
You're so sweet Danica! Thank you :) I'm always so happy to hear that you're loving my recipes!
Thanks for the recipe it looks great? What size pan would you recommend using? If I was to double it and use a larger pan (as some people said it doesn't make very much) do you think it would still cook ok or would you suggest baking it in two separate batches? Thanks so much!
Hi Lucy! You're right, it is a small batch recipe. If you double it, the safest thing would be to bake it in two batches. However, it should work with an 8x8 inch pan (which is about double the size of a bread pan). You can bake it for the same amount of time, but add a few minutes at the end if they're too soft. Though keep in mind that they will be a little softer when they're warm. I hope this helps!
Have you ever tried freezing them?
Hi Sharon, no I haven't. But it should work well. From past experience, date-sweetened baked goods tend to freeze well and keep their texture. But I can't guarantee! Let me know if you try it. :)