Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Brownies (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Now that I'm into my last semester of grad school and my schedule is packed with activities (and let's be real - stress), I'm all about the chocolate...which is why these chocolate peanut butter protein brownies emerged on a blizzardy Sunday morning.

After all, while I enjoy my fair share of traditional, sugary treats, I'm also trying to get a little more protein in my diet and enjoy more nutritious desserts when I can. That's why this protein brownie recipe - which might also be called protein fudge, because it is suuuuper fudgy - is the best of both worlds. It's gooey and full of chocolate and peanut butter flavor...but also vegan, high in protein and free from added sugar besides what's in the protein powder.

So whether you're looking for high protein dessert recipes or just some yummy gluten free brownies that are also pretty easy to make, I hope you enjoy this dessert as much as I have been lately.

The Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Brownie Recipe: 

Protein Brownies Ingredients:

1/4 cup cacao
1/4 cup your favorite chocolate protein powder (I used chocolate pea protein. LivWell and Nutzest are two of my favorites)
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tbsp aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas)
3 TBSP peanut butter, or allergy-friendly nut butter (the more drippy, the easier to mix)
1 chia egg (1 TBSP of ground chia + 3 TBSP water)

Directions for This Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Brownie Recipe:

Like most of my gluten free recipes, the instructions for this one are pretty dang easy!

Begin by setting your oven to preheat for 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In one bowl, combine your cacao and your favorite chocolate protein. I have only tested these protein brownies with vegan protein powder, but if you use a different option, please comment on how it turns out at the bottom of this page!

In another bowl, create your chia egg. If you don't already have ground chia on hand (I love ordering mine from Foods Alive, who I'm an ambassador for!), you can easily grind chia seeds in your coffee grinder or high-speed blender. Either way, combine one tablespoon of chia powder with three tablespoons of water in a large mixing bowl. Give it five minutes or so to gel.

Once your chia egg has gelled, mash your bananas in the same bowl. The riper, the better! Then come the peanut butter and your dry ingredients. Mix everything well before adding the aquafaba for your last step. Once all the ingredients are well combined, it's time for you to pour your batter into a parchment-lined baking tray.

I baked my brownies in an 8X8 baking tray for 16 minutes, which is when a toothpick came out cleanly. After letting them cool, I cut them up into squares and they were good to go!

How to Enjoy Your Protein Brownies:

Store your protein brownies in the fridge, and they should be good for at least one week refrigerated (all of mine have been eaten before then).

You can eat them straight from the fridge (like I've been doing allll the time), or crumble them up as toppings for yogurt or smoothies. You do you...and I'm sure it will be delicious however you add these protein brownies into your day. ;)

Just like I'm sure your protein brownies will come out just as delicious if you sub peanut butter for sunflower butter (or another allergy-friendly option) or even swap chocolate protein powder for vanilla. At the end of the day, I hope this protein brownie recipe inspires you to come up with your own perfect healthier dessert.

And if you do try this protein brownie recipe for yourself and share the results on Instagram or other social media channels, be sure to tag me (collegeceliackc) and let me know what you think!

Until then...you know where I'll be:

Standing in the kitchen, eating another gluten free protein brownie. ;)




 What's your favorite healthier dessert recipe? Tell me in the comments!