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Vegan Tahini Brownies

Gluten-freeGrain FreeNo OilPaleoVegan

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One-Bowl Vegan Tahini Brownies. Gluten-Free, Easy to make and Delicious!

Close up of tahini brownie with bits of chocolate and walnuts.
Rich and chocolate-y…YUM!

Brownies. In one word I got your attention! Seriously, who doesn’t love a rich, gooey, chocolate-y brownie? I know I do! I searched for a healthy recipe, but couldn’t find one that was vegan, gluten-free and also didn’t use any refined sugar or oil. Vegan Tahini Brownies, a recipe born out of my love for chocolate and my desire to not compromise my health and wellness.

Brownies from scratch? Who has time? YOU DO!

Chopped chocolate, dry ingredients, and flax eggs
Mix dry ingredients, chop the chocolate and walnuts…such an easy recipe.

The second best thing about these brownies is that they’re ridiculously quick and easy to make. Did you guess the BEST thing about these? Great chocolate taste! What I really like is that you can get these in the oven in 5 minutes…and then there is little clean up. What’s not to like about that?

Rich tahini is added to brownie mixture.
Tahini is added to brownie mixture.

Not only that…..but it’s WORTH THE INVESTMENT IN TIME. These vegan tahini brownies are healthy. Say what? Yes…you heard that right. My goal here is to get you to stop and think about your health goals…that doesn’t mean you have to totally give up all your favorite desserts. No way am I giving up on brownies….BUT I’m also not giving in. Not giving in to the box mix. Not giving in to recipes that call for ingredients I don’t want to put into my body. It’s possible to have your brownie…..without compromise, and without guilt.

Step by step. Mix in tahini, add in chopped chocolate and nuts and then brownie batter is ready for the pan.
One Bowl. Mix in tahini, then chopped chocolate and nuts…and you’re ready to pour into the pan and bake.

What are the nutritional benefits of tahini?

  • Protein: tahini contains more protein than milk and most nuts
  • B Vitamins: boost energy and brain function.
  • Vitamin E: protects against heart disease and stroke
  • Rich in minerals: copper, selenium, magnesium, iron, calcium.
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Anti-bacterial

Oh tahini, is there anything you don’t do well? When was the last time you met an ingredient that was equally at home in savory and sweet recipes? Tahini is a paste that’s made from ground sesame seeds. You can find it raw, or toasted, similar to peanut or almond butter. It’s a great substitution for those who are allergic to tree nuts or peanuts, but not seeds.

Brownies cut into squares.
Cool. Cut. Serve.

What else can you use tahini for?

I guess you could say I’m a fan of tahini! Not ashamed to admit it, either.

One brownie up close.
Bet you can’t stop at just one.

I keep a stash of healthy treats in my freezer. I like to be prepared for last minute guests…but it’s tough with a recipe this good. Hubby finds the delicious brownies in the freezer, no matter where I hide them! PRO TIP: make a double batch!

close up you can see the chocolate bits and rich fudge like texture.
Fudgey rich and delicious. You’ll want to make a double batch of these.
Yield: 16 Brownies

Tahini Brownies

Brownies cut into squares with one missing.

Delicious Vegan and Gluten-Free Brownies. Easy to make, in ONE BOWL. Wholesome ingredients with no refined sugar or oil.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons flax meal
  • 6 Tablespoons water
  • 1 3-oz bar dark chocolate*
  • OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup walnuts 
  • 1/3 cup almond flour
  • 1/3 cup cacao powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup tahini

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together flax meal and water. Set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 and line a 9 x 9" baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.
  3. Roughly chop chocolate and walnuts (if using), set aside.
  4. In a medium sized bowl, mix dry ingredients: almond flour, cacao, baking powder, sea salt.
  5. Mix in maple syrup and vanilla and then incorporate the flax mixture.
  6. Add in tahini and mix until smooth.
  7. Fold in nuts and chocolate, pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with spatula.
  8. Bake for 30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Cool in pan for 30 minutes and then lift gently onto cutting board.
  10. Cut into 16 squares.
  11. Brownies can be store in air tight container at room temp for 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months.

Notes

Or use 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips. I can usually find better quality chocolate (higher cacao, less sugar) in bars, so I just chop it myself.

Nutrition Information

Yield

16

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 172Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 0mgSodium 71mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 2gSugar 9gProtein 4g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag me @dkhealthcoach and use #debraklein on Instagram so I can see it!

© Debra
Cuisine: Grain-Free / Category: Dessert
Is tahini vegan?

Yes. Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds. Make sure to read the label to be sure there are no other ingredients in the tahini.

Can you use tahini in brownies instead of oil?

Yes, tahini is a terrific whole food substitute for oil in some baked goods, like brownies.

How do you make tahini brownies without eggs?

A mixture of ground flax and water works well to replace the eggs in tahini brownies.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. jenna

    Love the added walnuts for a nice bite :) These look so tasty and I really appreciate that they're vegan, so I can enjoy them!! Tahini is such a great ingredient, can't wait to give these a try
    Reply

  4. Gloria

    I need to make some brownies for a party this Sunday. These look fantastic. The flavours sound amazing. I bet my guests are going to love them. Better make a double batch LOL!
    Reply

  5. Chel

    Yes! You for sure had me at brownies!! Who doesn't love brownies? Very interesting to hear the use of tahini in them. I've never heard of that before, but clearly I haven't looked up healthy brownies in a long time. Rofl. These pictures look amazing as well. Talk about mouth watering! I will need to look up where I could get this and perhaps add this to my list to make during the holiday season. Thanks again!
    Reply

  8. Tina

    This is great info. I keep forgetting there's more ways to use up extra tahini. Seriously, I don't have a sweet tooth but I can never pass up a moist, gooey brownie. Saving this!
    Reply

  9. Christa

    Brownies are my absolute favorite and this recipe looks amazing! I have been slowly transitioning my eating to include healthier alternatives to my recipes. This one is perfect!
    Reply

  11. Molly

    I love tahini chocolate chip cookies, but haven't tried tahini brownies yet. I mean...YUM! I'll be making these soon and tricking my husband with them (he loves brownies, but won't try them if I tell him they aren't standard box brownies, ha!)
    Reply

  12. Christie

    These look DELICIOUS! I'm new to the vegan lifestyle and really struggle with sweets so this is perfect. Your photography is beautiful - I'm officially hungry!
    Reply

  13. Aarika

    These sound incredible! I love the addition of Tahini. Wow! These are both healthy and scrumptious. I can't wait to try this recipe!
    Reply

  14. Sean@Diversivore

    Nuts to box mixes! (And nuts in brownies, if that's your thing). These look incredible, and I'm fascinated by the idea of putting tahini in brownies! I'm going to have to think about what other baking would benefit from its inclusion too. I'm very glad your persistence and love for chocolate drove you to develop these!
    Reply

  15. Dana

    These look SO fudgy and chewy and perfect.Seriously, who needs a box mix? This looks so easy. I've never used tahini in baking and I'm really into the idea now. I'm not vegan but in my experience, vegan desserts done right are SO amazing. Can't wait to eat this entire tray. (Just being honest.) Ha ;)
    Reply

  16. Jenni LeBaron

    These Vegan Tahini Brownies look so delicious! I have yet to experiment with flax eggs but I am anxious to try this as a sub for traditional eggs because I've heard such great things. Also, the walnuts are not optional for me. Such a good way to add layers of texture! YUM!
    Reply

  18. Donna

    These are amazing, so moist, and the flavours are just perfect! My kids loved them and have already asked me to make a second batch this weekend. Love the ingredients
    Reply

  19. Jersey

    Hello. Does it matter which tahini? I see there is raw or roasted. I want organic but not sure of the other things. Thanks :)
    Reply

    • Debra Klein

      Good question. Either is OK and my biggest tip is to THOROUGHLY mix the jar of tahini after you open to assure consistency. I can't stress this point enough. My experience has been that roasted tahini is a bit more liquidy because the roasting brings out the oils. You'll want to check the label of whatever type of tahini you buy to make sure there aren't any sneaky ingredients beside sesame seeds. I have used both raw and roasted with great results in this recipe.
      Reply

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