One-bowl Brownies that are ooey-gooey chocolatey delish. Plus, these Vegan Tahini Brownies are also grain-free, use no oil and no sugar…oh yes, the BEST VEGAN BROWNIES in every way!
Brownies. In one word I got your attention! Seriously, who doesn’t love a rich, decadent 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.
The bigger question….are you a middle or a corner person? Just throwing it out there for a bit of debate.
Brownies from scratch? Who has time? YOU DO!
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?
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. (oh, these are so much better than what the box produces!!) Not giving in to recipes that call for ingredients I don’t want to put into my body. It’s possible to have an awesome brownie without compromise. Yes, it is!
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.
What else can you use tahini for?
- Hummus
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Halva Bliss Balls
- Eggplant with tahini drizzle
- Glaze for donuts
- Chopped Salad with tahini dressing
- No Bake Energy Bars
- Falafel with Tahini
- Chocolate Trail Mix Bars
I guess you could say I’m a fan of tahini! Not ashamed to admit it, either.
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!
Tahini Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons flax meal
- 6 Tablespoons water
- 3 oz bar dark chocolate*
- OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup walnuts
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup tahini
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together flax meal and water. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 and line a 8 x 8" baking pan with unbleached parchment paper.
- Roughly chop chocolate and walnuts (if using), set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, mix dry ingredients: almond flour, cacao, baking powder, sea salt.
- Mix in maple syrup and vanilla and then incorporate the flax mixture.
- Add in tahini and mix until smooth.
- Fold in nuts and chopped chocolate, pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with spatula.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan for 30 minutes and then lift gently onto cutting board.
- Cut into 16 squares.
- Brownies can be store in air-tight container at room temp for 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
Notes
Nutrition
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.
Yes, tahini is a terrific whole food substitute for oil in some baked goods, like brownies.
A mixture of ground flax and water works well to replace the eggs in tahini brownies.
Petra
I am gluten-free and this looks good. I will have to give it a try
Debra Klein
Excellent recipe for you! They are so good, you won’t miss the gluten.
Trent Peek
This recipe looks fantastic! I can’t wait to try this soon, as in tonight!
Debra Klein
No time like the present! I’m with you.
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
Debra Klein
I’m all about texture and crunch, so I agree on the walnuts.
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!
Debra Klein
Always smart to make a double batch when chocolate is involved.
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!
Debra Klein
Yes….good for the holidays….where we MAY over indulge in other areas…and good for EVERY day….because who doesn’t want brownies EVERY DAY????
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Chocolate and tahini is one of the best combos
Debra Klein
Totally agree….but I don’t think I’ve ever tasted something with chocolate and thought it was a bad combo.
Krystin
These look amazing! Brownies are my favourite but I can’t usually eat them since I can’t eat dairy. Thanks for sharing this vegan recipe!
Debra Klein
You’re welcome……there’s always a way around dairy….happy you can still enjoy the brownies!
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!
Debra Klein
You definitely won’t be able to pass up one of these brownies!
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!
Debra Klein
Awesome……this is a great way to eat brownies while keeping your health and wellness in mind.
Chelsea Pearl
Holy yum! I would have never thought to try tahini in brownie batter, but the consistency and flavor profile makes so much sense. I’ve got to try these!
Debra Klein
Right? Makes perfect sense and the taste is unbeatable.
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!)
Debra Klein
Whatever it takes….and these are WAY better than the box!
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!
Debra Klein
Thank you! You will love these for a delicious vegan sweet treat.
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!
Debra Klein
This is BY FAR my favorite brownie recipe….you’ll never go back to another.
[email protected]
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!
Debra Klein
Tahini is a great choice when you don’t want to add any more oil…..look for varieties that have just one ingredient: sesame seeds.
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 😉
Debra Klein
Yeah…..trying to hide them hasn’t worked here…they’re delicious straight from the freezer.
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!
Debra Klein
I totally agree about the walnuts….omega 3s plus the awesome crunch…nothing optional about that.
Trish Bozeman
Okay, you had me at brownies. But in the oven in just 5 minutes? MUST MAKE. Love the tahini in there! I just happen to have all these ingredients in my pantry. 🙂
Debra Klein
Fortuitous you found the recipe when you didn’t even need to run to the store. Enjoy these super yummy treats.
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
Debra Klein
Awesome! We have them on repeat over here too.
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 🙂
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.
maureen
These brownies get 5 stars….my celiac daughter and I have always had a hard time making brownies that actually tasted like normal brownies…These are the ones….took these on a family trip and now everyone wants the recipe and they dont eat gluten free…
Delicious at its best
Debra Klein
Thank you so much! I love hearing success stories like this.
Barbara
This may sound like a dumb question but the recipe doesn’t state to melt the chocolate. Do you just melt it in the microwave and then add or do you just add the chopped chocolate?
Debra Klein
Not a dumb question at all…I’m sorry it wasn’t clear. Just chop the chocolate and then stir it into the batter. SO delish to have chocolatey bites that have more chocolate in them! I’ll go back and make sure it’s easier to follow. Thank you, Debra
Shirley Creitz
Is there a substitute for the almond flour? I’m highly sensitive to almonds
Debra Klein
Can you use any other type of nut flour? Walnut flour is great in this recipe.