A simple healthy cake like brownies recipe, using few ingredients that are dairy-free, whole foods and vegan. Mix it up quickly, no strange ingredients, and have hot brownies made from scratch on the table in 20 minutes.
Of course fudgy brownies are essential for life, but there is a place for cake like brownies. I actually prefer them, and like to serve them topped with a drizzle of warm chocolate fudge or even frost them like a cake.
In fact, I made these three times to be sure that this recipe resulted in cake-like texture, not fudgy and it worked! I share my tips on how to keep brownies cake like below.
I also feel I can say these brownies are healthy because of the raw cacao powder mostly, which is so much healthier than over-processed traditional cocoa that used to be a baker’s choice. Raw cacao powder – my favorite brand is Navitas Naturals – is full of anti-oxidants, iron, magnesium and is great for heart health. There are other reasons these ingredients are pretty nutritious, as I cite in my FAQS below.
How to Make Healthy Cake Like Brownies
Very easy. Line a loaf pan with parchment or rub with coconut oil and dust with flour. Gather the dry ingredients, and pop them into a large mixing bowl. Gather the wet ingredients and put them in a smaller bowl. Mix up both with a whisk for a hand-mixer. Pour the dry into the wet, mix again, and bake in a loaf pan. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.
Pro tip: Typically best baking practice is to weigh flour. But I personally find that at least with this recipe, if I spoon the flour loosely into the measuring cup to reach 1/2 cup. It worked three times in a row. I have a counter stacked with brownies to prove it, haha! So that is another reason this is an easy, breezy brownie recipe.
Questions Answered About Healthy Cake Like Brownies
- Does a brownie need eggs to be cake like?
- No! Of course not. Eggs cause the cake to rise, so I used apple cider vinegar and baking soda to do the same. And since I wanted an increase in rise to make them cake like, I also added baking powder, increased the flour a bit, and held back on the fat, the coconut oil in this case.
- Can milk be used instead of water in cake like brownies?
- Sure! The result might be a bit more fudgy though because of the added fat, depending on the type of milk you use. Oat might be the least fatty milk if you want to retain the cake like texture.
- Can Brownies be healthy?
- It depends on the ingredients you use. Since I used raw cacao powder – much healthier than cocoa powder which is process so much that the nutrients are gone. And I use coconut sugar, and coconut oil. My brownies have high levels of zinc, magnesium, fiber and other essential minerals. Of course, sugar is sugar, so this is definitely a dessert, not healthy meal substitute.
- What makes brownies fudgy?
- To make brownies more fudgy, increase the fat, the coconut oil in this case.
- What makes brownies cakey?
- To make brownies more cakey in texture, increase the flour and add baking powder.
I tried to create a happy balance in these brownies which I consider to be both fudgy and cakey.
- What does sugar do in brownies?
- Sugar locks in moisture and makes the texture soft. So while I tried to keep it minimal, a certain amount of sugar is necessary for the texture.
Try More Vegan Brownies Here
Sweet Potato Brownies
Vegan Gluten Free Brownies (buckwheat)
No Bake Fudge Brownies
Cake Like Brownies
Pumpkin Brownies
Brownie Bites
Mocha Brownies
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Healthy Cake Like Brownies
Ingredients
Large bowl
- 1 cup all purpose gluten-free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill's red-labeled baking flour)
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
Small bowl
- 1/8 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/8 cup brewed coffee
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
Pourable chocolate sauce
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
Prep
- Line an 8x4-inch loaf pan with a parchment paper, or rub it with coconut oil and dust with flour.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
Make brownies
- Mix up the dry ingredients in the large bowl. I used a hand-mixer but you can also use a whisk.
- Mix up the wet ingredients in the small bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix again.
- Pour the batter into the pan, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Lift it out of the pan if you used parchment to prevent it from further cooking.
- Cool 5-10 minutes.
- I served mine with melted chocolate. Just microwave chocolate chips for 60 seconds, and stir until all chips are melted. You can add a tablespoon of coconut oil to make it more pourable.
- Store covered at room temperature for 3 days. Or freeze in a sealed container for 3 months.
Nutrition
Dee Dine is founder of Green Smoothie Gourmet, a plant based recipe blog, and author of the recent cookbook, Crazy Healthy with 4 Ingredients . On this blog you’ll find incredibly easy recipes with hidden veggies for anyone wanting to eat healthier, regardless of diet. Dee has graduate degrees in sciences and journalism. More about Dee Dine here.
Ashlee T
This was a hit for us. They are very cake like, but have great flavor and much healthier overall.
Dee Dine
Thank you so much for your feedback Ashlee! Dee
Katie
I can’t find the recipe for the chocolate sauce
Dee Dine
Hi Katie, I just melted chocolate chips, but I added the procedure to the recipe now. It is to microwave 1 cup chocolate chips (I use Enjoylife chips) for 60 seconds using a glass measuring cup (I use pyrex), and stir until all chips are melted. You can add a tablespoon of coconut oil to make it more pourable. Dee
Cooker2
Such a fudgy texture anyway. Thank you for the tips.
Dee Dine
You are welcome!