These flourless, fudgy chocolate chunk brownies will make your mouth water. So scrumptious you won’t believe they’re vegan and gluten free!
Happy Monday! Did you all have a Happy Halloween? Will and I hosted a costume party. I made this delicious lactose-free cheese ball (I used this recipe but subbed in Daiya Cream Cheese)…
…and thanks to all your votes, put on my best paper doll impression. Will was a ghost. He said it was classic. I said it was lazy. He bought a sheet and cut out eyes, but he could only see out of one eyehole because the sheet kept moving around. Then he got so hot under the sheet, he ended up cutting the head off and just being a giant napkin. #costumefail
Also, major big CONGRATS to everyone who ran the NYC Marathon! You all looked amazing at mile 8 in Brooklyn! WOOT!
Now I can’t believe it’s November, but I figure there’s no better way to kick off a new month than with a delicious new dessert recipe. Hello glorious Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies!
I’ve been on a major dessert kick lately. Fortunately, I try to make my desserts healthy, so I don’t feel too guilty about indulging.
These brownies are pure perfection. Crispy on the outside, dense and gooey on the inside. It’s hard to believe they’re gluten free, soy free and vegan! Yep, no eggs or flour in these babies.
The secret is really in the applesauce and the almond butter. The two ingredients combine to help bind everything together and create that ooey gooey goodness. The best part is, you can eat the batter! No eggs = no danger, though I suppose it could be dangerous to have a bowl of delicious batter at your fingertips…
Ok, I won’t tease you anymore! Here’s the recipe!


- 1/2 c all natural almond butter (I used Trader Joe's All Natural Almond Butter)
- 1/4 c maple syrup (or honey if not vegan)
- 1 tsp gluten-free vanilla extract
- 1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 c unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 c chocolate chunks + a few extra Tbsps for sprinkling on top (I mashed up a Trader Joe's Organic Dark Chocolate Bar)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8x8 baking pan with non-stick spray.
- In a food processor (or a bowl with an electric mixer), mix together the almond butter, maple syrup, vanilla and applesauce until smooth.
- Add in the cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and mix again until smooth.
- Gently fold in the 1/4 c chocolate chunks.
- Pour batter into the baking pan and smooth out evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chunks on top and bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the top is set. It's ok if the brownies look a little underdone. You want them to be gooey!
- Cool and then cut into squares.
Let’s Chat:
What’s your favorite type of brownie?
What were you for Halloween?
This post is linked up with Meatless Mondays.

I love your costume. I ended up not going out on Halloween because of a bum hip/back and needing to pout. Alex made his own costume and went as a Ninja Turtle. He did a great job!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Easy Applesauce Fit Body Bakery Muffins Recipe + Giveaway
I’m so sorry about your hip/back pain! I hope you are feeling better!
Adorable Halloween outfit!!!! You did a good job!!!
Will– you’ve got some work to do 🙂
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…5 Purse Essentials for a Healthy Holiday Season
haha thanks, Julie!
Love the costume! Vegan and GF?! These look too yummy to be vegan. Thanks for linking up with us today
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Cranberry & Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
Vegan and gluten free! The best combo 🙂
Super cute costume and delicious looking brownies! Save some for me when I come down this weekend?!
Annmarie recently posted…Meatless Monday Night: Chocolate Peanut Butter Football Pudding Dip
They’re long gone… but I can make more!
Love the costume and the recipe!
Thanks, Serena!
Will’s costume is killing me!! Napkin! LOL
carmy recently posted…Monday on the Run #33
haha! Total fail.
Omg those look amazing. *drool* and your costume is adorable!!
Bri recently posted…Forget focusing on goals: To get healthy and fit, focus on this instead
Thank you! 🙂
Yuuuum…I have not had fudge brownies in a very long time, and these look irresistible! I love your paper doll costume – I used to play with those, so that really takes me back! I think I have almost all the ingredients for this recipe, so I need to get on it! 🙂
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Weekly Meal Plan for 11/1/15
Yes! Make them STAT – so yummy!
That paper doll costume is freaking adorable! How unique and cute!
Yum on the brownies. You just can’t go wrong with fudge.
Jenn recently posted…week in review: 10.25 – 10.31
Agreed!! Thanks, Jenn!
i swear these don’t look healthy at all, they look incredible! I love flourless desserts! Pinned 🙂
rachel @ athletic avocado recently posted…Apple Pie Yogurt Brûlée
Thank you! I love when healthy desserts look and taste sinful 🙂
These looks absolutely delicious! I went on kind of a Halloween candy bender (not even surprised) so I need some time away from chocolate- and by time I mean like a day- and then I’ll make these babies 🙂
Cayanne Marcus recently posted…Health(yezsweet) Survey Answers on Staying Balanced
after your hiatus, these will be ready for baking!
I love that paper doll costume and I may have to steal it for next year!
Fudgy brownies after Halloween? Why not? Yummmmm
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Full moon fever….and #fasterthanBOO10k
You have permission to steal the costume idea :). And exactly – why not! I can’t eat halloween candy since they all have corn syrup, so these were my treat!
Hello Nicole! Let’s make plans soon!
Margo recently posted…Brooklyn Fit Chick: News & Notes #Ryka #UnderArmour #TomTomSpark #Hello Fresh #Brooks #BelleFit
Absolutely! Let me know when you’re free!
Adorable costume!! And these brownies look TOO good. They look so perfect!
Liz @ The Clean Eating Coupole recently posted…Pretty Fit Protein Review
Thanks, Liz!
I think your costume is pretty cute! Pinned the borwnie recipe. I think I am going to try it with PB.
Elle recently posted…Holiday Sweat Challenge 2015
I bet they’d be great with peanut butter. I probably would have made them that way myself it I wasn’t allergic to peanuts.
LOL.. I love the paper doll costume! And brownies (well Ice Cream first.. then brownies) are my weakness. These look yummy!
Amy @ Will Run For Ice Cream recently posted…Still Workin’ On My Night Moves
How about a brownie a la mode?! Best of both worlds!
The paper doll turned out so adorable! My teenager was a ghost the past couple of years. It’s a total PIA to trick or treat in when it gets soaked though. Haha! I never met a brownie I didn’t love!
Marcia recently posted…Whip, Nae Nae and the Haunted Hip
haha thanks, Marcia!
These brownies look awesome!! And your paper doll is perfect. Nice execution! Haha!
Rachel recently posted…Meatless Monday: Stone Soup
Thank you! 🙂
I love that these are gluten and dairy free…they looked amazing anyway but that just takes it over the top!
Markita@Sweshfit recently posted…Did diet play a role in Jared the Subway Guy’s scandal?
Gluten and dairy free is the best way to go!
Cute costume! And you guys are killing me with all the desserts lately!
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Holiday Fitness Challenges
But desserts feed the tastebuds and the soul ;-P
Oh yum….these look so yummy and the gluten and dairy free is a huge bonus! i can’t wait to try these! And your costume was too cute!
Thank you!! Let me know how the brownies turn out if you make them 🙂
Chocolate is calling my name! So what’s new? haha And gluten free so I don’t have to tweak the recipe. Just bake and enjoy.
jill conyers recently posted…Books That Inspire
I made them with you in mind!
Your costume is the cutest!! I love it!!! These brownies look amazing and my kids will love that you can eat the batter!!!!
The batter is the best part!
Love your costume!! And hilarious about the ghost, I was LOL’ing on that one 🙂 Those brownies look amazing!! Can’t wait to try them out!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Chocolate Almond Butter Protein Cookies and a Fit Body Bakery Giveaway
haha – oh the ghost! I hope you make them. If you do, let me know how they turn out!
i have been trying to stay away from sugary treats this week after eating too much last week, this is not helping!!!
dixya | food, pleasure, and health recently posted…Carrot, Dates, and Mint Salad
haha SORRY!!
those look amazing! I have never tried baking with applesauce…can you taste the apple?
and nice costume! I actually saw lots of “ghosts” out on saturday night for halloween haha
Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Post-Marathon Blues – Where Do I Go From Here?
You can’t taste the apple at all! It just acts as a binder and makes the brownies super moist and gooey.
Those brownies look DELISH!!! I love brownies…favorite? Anything yummy, chocolatey and yummy 🙂
I didn’t dress up for hollowed…my daughters we some girls from Monster High or something like that. lol smh
Safari @ Tri-ing To Run Boston recently posted…Lose Weight AND enjoy Thanksgiving – Holiday Weight Loss Challenge
Yes to all the brownies! And I bet your girls rocked Monster High costumes haha!