This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclaimer.Â
These Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies are made with just 4 ingredients and are a healthy paleo, vegan-friendly dessert that everyone will enjoy! They're super moist and you can't even taste the sweet potato.
If there's one thing I love, it's brownies. But, if there's one thing I really love, it's recipes with just 4 ingredients, and recipes that don't leave you feeling guilty afterward. These sweet potato brownies are actually good for you because sweet potatoes are the main ingredient and they're made with zero refined sugar.
Here's the thing: I don't crave sugar nearly as much as I used to. But, when I do, I prefer things that are sweetened with maple syrup/honey/dates rather than a ton of sugar. I know it sounds insane, but it's true. These sweet potato brownies are fudgy and moist and loaded with chocolate so you can't even taste the sweet potato!
Why these sweet potato brownies are the best
- They're made with just 4 ingredients
- The main ingredient is sweet potato, so they really are healthy
- There's no refined sugar--just maple syrup and almond butter
Ingredients
- Sweet potato: 2 medium or 1 large
- Cocoa powder: Unsweetened 100% cacao
- Almond butter: Go for the most inexpensive creamy almond butter. I tend to love the store brand kind (i.e. Whole Foods 365 or Trader Joe's creamy almond butter.
- Maple syrup: I know it's more expensive, but real maple syrup is going to make these taste even better (by "real" maple syrup, I mean syrup with no additives).
- Chopped chocolate: This is optional, but I HIGHLY recommend adding it, as it makes these taste more like traditional brownies. Opt for your favorite chocolate bar or chocolate chips, but if you want to keep these Paleo and/or vegan, choose dairy free chocolate
Step-by-step instructions
Cook the sweet potatoes: Use a fork to pierce several holes into the sweet potatoes, then place them on a microwave-safe dish and cook for 6-7 minutes until they're soft. Then, slice them down the middle and wait a few minutes for them to cool off before scooping out the sweet potato and discarding the skins. After that, use a potato masher to mash the sweet potatoes until they're no longer lumpy (or as best you can) and scoop the potato mash into a 1 cup measuring cup, because that's how much you'll need.
Whisk ingredients together: Start by whisking the syrup and almond butter together, then add the cocoa and last, stir in the mashed sweet potato. At this point, you can fold the chopped chocolate into the batter as well.
Line or grease baking dish: Everyone has their own preferred method on whether to grease a baking dish or line it with parchment paper. Personally, I like using coconut oil to grease the baking dish, but either method works!
FAQs and Expert Tips
Are these brownies vegan and/or paleo?
Yes! They're vegan because there's no eggs in them, and they're paleo because there's no flour or refined sugar. These brownies are going to be LESS sweet than traditional brownies because they only use maple syrup as the sweetener, so if you want them to be sweeter you can add 2 tablespoon coconut sugar OR simply add more chopped chocolate.
- Storage: I recommend storing these brownies in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Alternatively, you can store them in the refrigerator if you prefer your brownies cold like my husband does! With that said, be sure to wait at least 20 minutes after the brownies come out of the oven before cutting them.
- Substitutions: I haven't tried making any substitutions, so I wouldn't recommend it. With that said, if you aren't Paleo, you could use peanut butter instead of almond butter and that should work out just fine.
- Cooking sweet potatoes: When I'm using sweet potatoes in a recipe, I tend to microwave them because it's fastest. If you're not a microwave fan, you can cook boil them over the stovetop or roast them in the oven instead.
- Combining the ingredients: When baking, I usually reach for my electric hand mixer, but it's not necessary for this recipe! Instead, just grab a spatula and fold everything together that way.
More vegan/gluten free dessert recipes:
Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (1 cup, mashed)
- 1 â…“ cup almond butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup chopped chocolate or more
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Use a fork to poke holes into the sweet potatoes, then place them on a microwave-safe dish and microwave for 6-7 minutes until soft. Then, slice them down the center and wait a few minutes for them to cool off before scooping out the sweet potato flesh and discarding the skin. Alternatively, you can peel and roast the sweet potato in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Use a potato masher to mash the cooked sweet potato and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk almond butter and syrup together; then, add the cocoa and the mashed sweet potato. Last, stir in the chopped chocolate.
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper (or grease with coconut oil) and pour batter into the pan. Bake brownies for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Wait 20 minutes before cutting the brownies and enjoy!
Kellan says
Thoughts on baking these at a high altitude…I’m at 6400 ft.
Erin says
Hi! I'm sorry -- I don't have a ton of experience baking at high altitude.
Judith says
Hello, your recipes look delicious! I would like to make this brownie recipe, could you give me the measurements in grams because I am French. We don't have a cup. Thank you so much!!
Erin says
Hi! I don't have the exact conversion, but here's an article with several conversion charts that might help: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/cup-to-gram-conversions/
Rachna says
I’ve made this couple of times and it’s delicious. I replaced the chocolate chips with chopped walnuts and added a teaspoon vanilla extract.
Erin says
Ohhhh I love that idea! So glad you like them.
Daniel Z says
simply delicious! especially with a little bit of ice cream!
Annette Kastner says
I may try this with canned pumpkin puree instead of the sweet potato, cacao powder for the chocolate, and stevia for some of the maple syrup.
E. Ross says
I make these in mini muffin tins, about 1TBLS in each, to make Two Bite Brownies.
Online Spanish Teacher says
I haven't tried these yet. I LOVE how the recipe is SO simple! Wow! Can you taste the almond butter? I want to taste CHOCOLATE. 🙂 Also, I need to back off my sugar intake. Is it possible to omit the maple syrup completely or replace it with something else? Thank you so much! 🙂
Erin says
Hi! These are pretty low in sugar as far as brownies go, so I wouldn't omit anything... the maple syrup is what makes these taste good 🙂 I also DO recommend adding the chocolate chips (they def make these taste more chocolatey!).
Annette Kastner says
I plan to substitute liquid stevia for some of the maple syrup.
Becky says
how much liquid stevia would u use?
Paige says
I use chunky natural PB for added crunch, but plan to add walnuts next time.
Dani says
these are addicting! soo good and fudg-y!
Elaine Alswanger says
Really easy to make it and it’s very delicious!
I’ll be making it again.
Thanks
joanna says
If I dont have a microwave should I bake them and for how long? Or cook them?
Erin says
You can either roast them in the oven or, I like to peel the sweet potato then boil them with water over the stove, like you're making mashed potatoes.
Sophie says
Just did this recipe with my friends and we LOVED it! So delicious! We drizzled some melted dark chocolate at the end and topped with sea salt Yum!!!
Erin says
That sounds AMAZING -- glad you liked it and thanks for the comment!
Patricia Suhr says
Have made these! They are sooooooo good! Have shared with others and have them to guess the ingredients! They are so surprised! Have a question: since the sweet potato is baked, why is it necessary to bake this mixture! Could it be served as a pudding? Thank you!
Erin says
Hi! Baking it altogether just helps to hold everything together, but yes, it could definitely be served as pudding! So glad you like the recipe 🙂
Cheryl Dennis says
Made these today, turned out pretty good ! Will make again .... They do help with occasional sweet cravings. Curious if anyone tried adding nuts and if they turned out ok. Thank you for the recipe
C.Hill says
I made today and added walnuts. The brownies are good.
Sabrina says
I love these brownies, you've created something very special by adding my favorite ingredient, sweet potatoes! Who needs zucchini when you can add sweet potatoes, thank you!
Gracie says
So, I have to stay away from certain foods that can cause bladder stones and almonds are one of them.
If I substitute peanut butter, which I can eat, would this recipe still work?
I hope so as they look delicious and seems so easy to make.
Thanks!!
Erin says
Hi -- yes! Technically any nut butter should work in these 🙂 They may have a little more of a peanut butter-y flavor, but I don't think there's anything wrong with chocolate-peanut butter.
Jacq says
Could I use canned pumpkin instead of sweet potatoes? Would I need more sweetener?
Erin says
Yes pumpkin should work, but you may need to add a little more cocoa powder since pumpkin is a little thinner in texture than sweet potato. These brownies aren't super sweet on their own, so if you want to add more sweetener you could add 1-2 tbsp cane sugar.
Tena Biggins says
What could I substitute for the almond butter? We have a number of family members with nut allergies.
Erin says
You could use sunflower seed butter or I bet tahini would work great too!
Erica Sanford says
Hi.I live the newest quick.easy.low sugar idea. However. I read the recipe for Nutella 3 times.I can't find the amount of unsweetened chocolate to put in the recipe.Maybe, it's there? I just woke up.I didn't see it at the start or end of the recipe? Only hazelnuts and midday thru.Not being nasty, I am interested for once.Im trying to bake more.Im food retail industry for almost 30 years.not a hater.Thank you
Erin says
Hi -- are you referring to my homemade Nutella recipe? Because the recipe calls for 1/2 cup chocolate chips, not cocoa powder.
Angie says
These look delicious! Bit could you please give a measurement, in cups, as to how much mashed sweet potato there should be? 2 medium sweet potatoes could be very different to different people.
Thanks!
Erin says
Great question! It should be around 1 cup.