This three-ingredient brownie recipe is quick and easy to make with just ripe bananas, nut butter, and cacao powder – perfect for a delicious, wholesome treat that’s naturally sweetened without any added sugar.
There’s nothing better than a simple recipe that ticks both the taste and nutrition boxes. Plus, it seriously doesn’t get any quicker or easier than this.
Health benefits
These healthy brownies are a nourishing snack for active kids because the nut butter provides them with protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrate and the bananas, as well as being an amazing source of complex carbohydrate, are rich in minerals which are often depleted during heavy activity. The cacao makes them chocolatey good and is also a great source of antioxidants Together, they make for a balanced snack or dessert that satisfies without the sugar rush.
Ingredients
With only three ingredients—bananas, nut butter, and raw cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa powder)—these brownies are simple to make yet packed with flavour. I personally love these made with almond butter or hazelnut butter but you can use peanut butter. Be sure to use very ripe bananas to achieve the natural sweetness needed. The more ripe the bananas, the sweeter these will be. As there are no other sweeteners in this recipe, ripe bananas are a must.
How to make this three ingredient brownie recipe
The instructions just couldn’t be simpler and with a five minute prep time these are a no brainer. Start by preheating the oven and lining a small brownie tin with baking paper (parchment paper). Blend the bananas, nut butter, and cacao powder in a powerful food processor or high speed blender until smooth, then pour the brownie batter into the tin. Bake until firm to the touch (or a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean), then cool and slice.
Serving suggestions and how to store
Serve these gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free brownies as they are, or add a dollop of coconut yogurt or a sprinkle of crushed nuts on top. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for up to a month to enjoy later.
Vary this three ingredient brownie to suit your needs
To make these nut-free, swap the nut butter for sunflower seed butter.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit nut-free.
For more delicious, easy to make sweet treats, click HERE.
Ingredients
- 6 banana/s - very ripe (2 cups approx.)
- 250 g nut butter (1 cup)
- 60 g cacao powder (½ cup) unsweetened Dutch process or raw
Method
- Preheat your oven to 180℃/350℉ (fan-forced) and line a small brownie tin (approx. 17 x 27cm) with baking paper.
- Mix all of the ingredients together in a powerful blender or food processor. If using a Thermomix, blend 15sec, speed 5-6.
- Pour into the lined tin and bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm to touch.
- Allow to cool and slice into squares. These can be frozen for up to a month.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Variations
Nut-free
You could try sunflower butter (I've not recipe tested as yet). For 150 pages of nut-free recipes and lunchbox inspiration, take a look at my best selling ebook 'The Well Nourished Lunchbox'. Click HERE to find out more.I'd love to hear how you like these gorgeous, simple brownies. Post a comment or rate the recipe.
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Colin says
Love them Georgia! And not just for the kids…lol. I’m going to take some on my next sea kayak trip. The other group members will be very jealous…
Georgia Harding says
Yes they will, enjoy Colin!
Natalie says
I was very excited to find bags of ripe bananas for 99c at my local greengrocer today which were perfect for this recipe. It couldn’t be easier! I used hazelnut butter and got the thumbs up from the whole family.
Georgia Harding says
I love chocolate and hazelnut together – good choice and great pick up with the bananas G x
Shannon says
Amazing- Made twice already and my whole clan loves them, even the fussiest little one. Thank you. I just love your recipes, both your ebooks are permanently on the counter top. Love your work! Shannon
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Shannon – appreciate your support and thrilled you are enjoying G x
sinead says
can you freeze these?
Georgia Harding says
Definitely Sinead G x
Meredith Warner says
This is delicious, just what we needed on the dreary day. I only had 4 bananas so made the rest up with sweet potato purée and it worked brilliantly. Thanks for all the amazing work you do.
Georgia Harding says
Yay, glad you enjoyed them. You’re very welcome Meredith G x
Amy Holiday says
Hi, I made these brownies today, they were exceptional! I used ripe bananas, hazelnut butter and the full 60g of cacao powder. My blender broke this week but I was able to mix the ingredients with a potato masher with great results! They are great hot or cold. Thank you for the recipie!
Georgia Harding says
Thrilled you liked them Amy – I particularly love them with hazelnut butter too and great to know they were a success made without a blender too. Thanks for the pic G x
Demi Noakes says
where do you get your hazelnut butter from?
Georgia Harding says
My supermarket sometimes has it, also seen in health food stores x
Sandra says
Hello my son is allergic to peanuts and nuts, what can I use instead of nut buttet? Thank you.
Georgia Harding says
Sunflower seed butter Sandra G x
Katherine Prior says
These look delicious, I’m going to make some today. Should I avoid giving my 1 yr old cacao for another year or so?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Katherine. Everyone is different in their response to cacao. You could sub with carob though. G x
Katherine Prior says
Thanks Georgia, I’ll see how he goes
Deb says
Hi Georgia,
My son is anaphylactic to nuts, peanuts and seeds, anyone used any other substitute than sunflower?
Well Nourished Team says
Hi Deb, it might not be the right brownie recipe for you. You could try this Berry Nice Brownie recipe instead HERE.
Natasha says
Hello, just wandering is there any substitute you could use for the bananas?
Georgia Harding says
You could try stewed apple, but I’ve only tested the bananas G x
Shelly says
Hi there, as my son has type 1 diabetes I need to know the sugar and carbohydrates count in everything. Do your receipes have this information.
Thanks
Shelly
Georgia Harding says
No sorry Shelly they don’t I’m afraid G x
Helen Barnett Hodges says
Hi Shelly, you could enter the ingredients into an app like CalorieKing or MyFitnessPal (or equivalent) and that should give you an idea for the whole recipe. To get an exchange you can just work out how much you’re going to have to divide the slice by (ie if the slice has 150g of carb in total then to get a 15g carb exchange you’ll just need to cut the slide into 10 slices. However, these days, with more of the dose adjustment for normal eating models being taught for T1DM, the 15g exchange may not necessarily be needed – depends what model/treatment plan you’re working with – everyone is different. Hope that helps.
Unfortunately you may also find that the riper the banana the higher the carb content – but this may not be reflected in the calorie/carb apps (they’re all just an average anyway) – so with a recipe like this you may find that your sons glucose response is higher than expected, or higher more quickly than expected because of the ripeness of the bananas.
Victoria Hunt says
Successfully halved this recipe and used frozen bananas. Added a heaped Tblspn Superfoods Choc chunk with cocoa. Topped with a sprinkling of dark choc drops. Cooked a bit longer in a 20x20cm tray. Delicious warm and even better straight from the fridge. I’d better save some for the kids! Thanks Georgia.
Georgia Harding says
Sounds great Victoria – thanks for sharing your awesome variation G x
Rosie says
Love these!! Absolute winner. And nearly always have the ingredients either in the cupboard or can make in thermo! So quick & easy. Thanks again. R x
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Rosie – yes they are a winner in my household too, on high rotation. Appreciate your comment and rating G x
Debbie says
How big is a small brownie tin?
Debbie says
And can they be served warm?
Georgia Harding says
Absolutely Debbie G x
Georgia Harding says
about 25 x 15cm Debbie G x
Debbie Tsagatos says
Yum, yum, yum, hot or cold!
Georgia Harding says
So pleased you enjoy it Debbie, thanks for your feedback and rating the recipe too G x
Frances says
we made them with peanut butter as my daughter is allergic to tree nuts.
The children love them, big hit in my house!!
Thank you for a great recipe.
Georgia Harding says
Fabulous – so pleased they were a hit Frances. You’re very welcome, thanks for taking the time to comment and rate the recipe G x
Sophie says
Hi Georgia,
Thanks for the amazing, delicious, healthy inspirations !
Have you tried this recipe with you raw cacao instead of cocoa?
Thank you.
Georgia Harding says
You’re welcome Sophie. Yes, I personally use raw cacao in all of my baking G x
Sam says
These are delicious and so easy. My son is eating the raw mix as a mousse as well. Two in one recipe! I’ve tried a number of recipes like this but this is by far the easiest and healthiest. Thank you.
Georgia Harding says
Ah that’s so fabulous to know, love it Sam. Thanks for sharing and the 5?s G x
Carly Welburn says
These have become very popular in my house. Thanks for the recipe ?
Georgia Harding says
So great Carly, thrilled you love them. Cheers for the 5 ?s too G x
Susan says
My son was very sceptical about this recipe (because of the bananas), but I insisted on his help anyway…its so yummy that he’s taking it to school tomorrow, instead of the store bought packet of snack?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Susan, I’m so thrilled he enjoyed it. You’ve made my day and thanks for the 5 ?s too, Georgia x
Elle says
Very ripe bananas and a jar of dark roasted peanut butter to use up – perfect with the full amount of cacao. Kids couldn’t wait for cool so warm it was – and still good!
Georgia Harding says
So glad they loved it
Elle ?? G x