Ever since I started “healthifying” baked goods, I have had it in the back of my mind to create the best brownie. You know what makes a good brownie – soft and fudgy on the inside, a little bit of crisp on the edges. I thought maybe I had nailed it by now; there are some delicious brownie recipes on Healthified Mag, and I have a nutritious and delicious recipe in my cookbook. But this was before I made Lauren’s flourless chocolate peanut butter brownies. Not only was the process super easy, but these were love at first bite. I am humble enough to admit that the best brownies on the internet are not my own.
She positions them as PMS brownies, and if you want to read more about the nutritional intention behind this, and how this particular dessert can support your cycle syncing efforts, head on over to her post. Lauren is a hormonal health coach who knows all about how to use food during the four phases of your menstrual cycle. I loosely follow a cycle syncing protocol, so I refer to her recipes often for ideas. If you are someone who craves chocolate before and/or during your period, you will definitely want to save this recipe for when that time comes!
I want chocolate almost every day no matter what, so these brownies simply help to satisfy my sweet tooth. Each brownie is big (when using an 8×8 baking dish and divided into nine squares), so I have been cutting one in half and pairing it with a scoop of my favorite dairy-free ice cream or a slice of frozen banana (an upgraded option with a similar consistency and contrast). Here is a quick run-down of the ingredients. For the full recipe, check out her website.
- 2 cups organic, unsweetened creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs (pasture-raised organic if possible)
- 2 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
- 1 1/4 cups pure maple syrup
- ½ cup cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt + more for topping if desired (I used big flaky sea salt as the topping)
I will say, I bought a 16-ounce jar of Crazy Richard’s all-natural peanut butter (one of my favorite brands) to make these brownies, and I ended up using the whole thing (which equaled just about 2 cups). There is a lot of peanut butter in these brownies! I am not complaining – the chocolate peanut butter combination is my favorite food, just something to keep in mind.
I can’t recommend making these brownies enough. If you are someone who wants a more nutrient-dense dessert option, care about lower-carb sweet treats, or just want to have a little fun in the kitchen, this recipe is for you!
