These easy, fudgy oat flour brownies have crinkle tops and are naturally gluten-free, super chocolatey, and made with simple ingredients. The best healthier brownie recipe!
Best fudgy oat flour brownie recipe
Brownies are my favorite sweet treat. Nothing beats a warm, fudgy brownie straight out of the oven with a warm glass of milk (or almond milk if you’re dairy-free). You guys love my brownie recipes, especially these flourless brownies, healthy avocado banana brownies, and strawberry brownies. So I am sure you’ll love these gluten-free, oat flour brownies!
This is seriously the best healthy brownie recipe! Why? Well, it’s made with oat flour. I love baking with oat flour because it’s light, gluten-free, and healthier than all-purpose flour. Try these oat flour chocolate chip cookies if you love oat flour too!
These oat flour brownies are sure to be your new favorite recipe! They are rich, chocolaty, and dense. You’ll never be able to tell they are made with healthier and gluten-free ingredients like applesauce and oat flour. The tops are crinkly, the middle is gooey, and the edges are crisp. I am seriously in love.
I am obsessed with this recipe and baking with oat flour. These are a staple in our household. We love to bake them on a cold winter day as a cozy treat or during the Summer for a cookout. I cannot wait to hear what you think of this recipe!
Why you’ll love this brownie recipe:
- Rich & Chocolatey: These rich oat flour brownies are extra chocolaty since we add melted chocolate to the batter.
- Healthy: These brownies are healthier than other recipes since we use applesauce and oat flour.
- One-Bowl Recipe: You only need one mixing bowl for these brownies.
- Gluten-Free: They’re naturally gluten-free since we use oat flour, not all-purpose flour.
- Fudgy & Soft: The texture is insane.
- Crinkle Tops: Everyone loves classic crinkle top brownies!
- Oat Flour: Instead of refined flour, we use homemade or store-bought oat flour made from rolled oats.
- Easy to Bake: Any level baker can make these fudge brownies.
- School-Friendly: These brownies are nut-free and gluten-free, which makes them perfect for school and bake sales.
- Try these flourless brownies or these fudgy healthy brownies next!
Ingredients needed
You only need simple ingredients to make these rich, fudgy oat flour brownies. They’re made with real melted chocolate, oat flour, applesauce, and cocoa powder. Plus, these brownies are healthy, tasty, and gluten-free. Here is a list of all the ingredients needed for this recipe:
- Eggs: This helps bind the brownies together and prevents them from crumbling.
- Applesauce: I promise, you can’t taste the applesauce! We use it in this recipe to help the brownies rise and get the perfect texture.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: I love using both cocoa powder and real chocolate. We melt chocolate chips and add them to the batter for extra fudginess and richness.
- Butter: Honestly, butter makes everything taste better! It makes these brownies soft and chocolatey.
- Sugar: For some sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: A dash of vanilla goes a long way, flavor-wise.
- Oat Flour: We use oat flour instead of refined flour for these brownies! It makes them healthier and gluten-free.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: This adds the best chocolate flavor you look for in a good brownie.
- Baking Powder: Just 1/2 a teaspoon to help them rise. Baking powder is not the same as baking soda.
- Salt: Just a tiny amount for that sweet and salty flavor.
Kitchen tools needed
Here is a list of kitchen utensils for making these easy oat flour brownies. Clean-up will be easy!
- 8×8″ Baking Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring Tools
How to make oat flour brownies from scratch
These oat flour brownies are incredibly delicious and so easy to make! You can make your own oat flour from rolled oats or buy a store-bought version. Here are step-by-step instructions with pictures:
Step 1:
First, preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease an 8×8″ baking pan.
Step 2:
Meanwhile, in a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and 1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in 15 – 20 second intervals so it doesn’t burn. Stir in between each interval until the chocolate is fully melted. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes.
Step 3:
Then, in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Then, fold in the apple sauce, sugar, and vanilla extract. Add the other wet ingredients to the bowl once the chocolate and butter are cooled. Gently whisk to combine.
Step 4:
Next, fold in the oat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Then, fold in the remaining 1/3 cup of chocolate chips.
Step 5:
Then, transfer the batter to a greased baking pan and top with a handful of additional chocolate chips.
Step 6:
Finally, bake for 24 – 28 minutes, depending on how fudgy you want them. I usually do 25 minutes. If you want more cakey brownies, bake them on the longer side.
Let them cool and enjoy!
Expert baking tips for oat flour brownies:
- Use good quality cocoa powder: This is my #1 baking tip for baking brownies, especially these fudgy oat flour brownies. Use a high-quality cocoa powder like Ghirardelli for the best-tasting, rich, chocolatey brownies. If you use a poor-quality brand like Trader Joe’s or Hersey’s, your brownies will lack the chocolate flavor and can be chalky.
- Spoon and level your flour (or use a scale): DO NOT scoop the oat flour straight out of the bag because you’ll pack it down and add too much. Spooning and leveling ensure that you don’t add too much flour to the brownie batter. If you do, the brownies will be dry.
- Make homemade oat flour: You can use store-bought or homemade oat flour for these delicious oat flour brownies. I left instructions below!
- Use chocolate chips and cocoa powder: This recipe calls for chocolate chips and cocoa powder, giving the brownies a super fudgy texture.
- Let your brownies cool before slicing: Make sure to let your oat flour brownies cool for at least 1 hour before cutting them into squares. If not, they will crumble and fall apart.
- Make them dairy-free: You can easily make this oat flour brownie recipe dairy-free by substituting the butter with vegan butter (like the Earth Balance vegan butter sticks) and using dairy-free chocolate like Lily’s Dark Chocolate Chips.
- Don’t overbake them: Overbaked brownies are dry and crumbly. Keep an eye on your brownies in the oven since each oven heats differently.
Easy ingredient substitutions:
Here is a list of the best ingredient substitutions if you’re missing an ingredient or two. I only recommend swapping one or two, so the original recipe doesn’t change too much.
- Applesauce: You can use mashed bananas in place of applesauce; however, the flavor will change.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: You can use dark chocolate or milk chocolate.
- Butter: Try using vegan butter sticks or coconut oil if you want to make these brownies dairy-free.
- Sugar: You can substitute with coconut sugar or brown sugar, but the brownies will be denser.
Oat flour brownie variations:
If you want to step up your brownie game and add some fun mix-ins, here are some ideas:
- Nutty: Add 1/3 cup of your favorite nut (like peanuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, or walnuts) into the brownie batter and sprinkle some extra on top.
- M&Ms: Add 1/3 cup of M&Ms to the brownie batter and sprinkle some extra on top.
- Chocolate Candy Bar: Add a 1/3 cup of chunks of your favorite candy bar – from Twix to Snickers, the sky is the limit!
- Pretzels: Sprinkle 1/3 cup of crushed pretzels or press ~10 mini pretzels on top of the batter before baking
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips: Add 1/3 cup of peanut butter chips to the brownie batter and sprinkle some extra on top.
- Salted Caramel: Drizzle homemade or store-bought salted caramel over the top of the brownie batter before baking for a sweet and salty combination.
- Mint Chocolate: Add a touch of peppermint extract to the batter.
- S’mores: Add mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers to the batter, and swirl in some chocolate chunks for a s’mores-inspired treat.
- Orange: Grate orange zest into the batter for a citrusy and aromatic flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make oat flour from scratch?
Absolutely! To make homemade oat flour, add around 3 – 4 cups of old fashion rolled oats or quick oats to a high-speed blender and blend on high for 30 – 90 seconds until it resembles a flour-like consistency. There shouldn’t be any oat grains left; make sure to blend it completely so it’s soft and smooth. Then, measure out what the recipe calls for by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it with the back of a knife.
Can I substitute oat flour?
No, I don’t recommend using a different flour other than oat flour for this recipe. Try these strawberry brownies if you are looking for brownies that use all-purpose flour.
Are oat flour brownies gluten-free?
Yes, oat flour brownies are gluten-free. Make sure to buy gluten-free certified oat flour or use gluten-free certified rolled oats if you make homemade oat flour.
Can I make them dairy-free?
Yes, you can make these brownies dairy-free by using vegan chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate and coconut oil or vegan butter instead of butter.
What is the best substitute for cocoa powder substitute?
Unsweetened cocoa powder is best for baking; however, you can substitute it with cacao powder, hot chocolate mix, dutch processed cocoa powder, or sweetened cocoa powder.
Are these brownies healthy?
Yes, these oat flour brownies are healthy. First, we use applesauce rather than extra butter and milk, which makes them lighter. Second, they are made with oat flour, which is healthier and better for you than refined flour. Third, they are gluten-free.
How to store and freeze brownies:
Storing: For best results, store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
Freezing: Place leftovers in a freezer-safe bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
If you loved this recipe, try these next!
- Strawberry Brownies
- Flourless Brownies
- S’mores Brownies
- Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Fudgy Healthy Brownies
- Healthy Avocado Brownies
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don’t forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
Best Oat Flour Brownies
Ingredients
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, room temperature
- ⅔ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup oat flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, spooned and leveled
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and lightly grease an 8×8” baking pan.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and 1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips in 15 – 20 second intervals so it doesn’t burn. Stir in between each interval until chocolate is fully melted. Allow it to cool for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Then fold in the apple sauce, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Once the chocolate and butter are cooled, add to the bowl with the other wet ingredients. Gently whisk to combine.
- Fold in the oat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- Fold in the remaining 1/3 cup of chocolate chips.
- Transfer batter to greased baking pan and top with a handful of additional chocolate chips.
- Bake for 24 – 28 minutes, depending on how fudgy you want them. I usually do 24-25 minutes for a denser/gooier. If you want more cakey brownies, bake them on the longer side.
- Let cool completly before cutting. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Hadley says
These are certainly one of the best brownies I have had in a while. I am very (pleasantly) shocked that there is applesauce in them. You can’t tell. They have a great chocolate flavor. I cooked mine for 24 minutes and they were denser which I liked. If you want a more cake brownie then cook them for longer. Thank you for this delicious recipe. I will make it again.
Saskia Chermayeff says
super rich and delicious !!
Mary Kate says
Very good recipe! Found it on Pinterest and it was a home run with my kiddos. Thank you and I will make more of your recipes.
Liz says
The flavor is amazing and the texture is so nice for a gf baked good. I was thrown off because when I tasted it before pouring in the pan it was super bitter, then I realized the sugar was missing from the instructions list so I had forgotten to put it in lol.
I baked for 25 mins for a cakey brownie and it was perfect
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi! Thank you so much for pointing that out; I try my best but not perfect 🙂 so happy you enjoyed!!
Tara says
Could chocolate protein powder be used in this recipe?
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi! I would not since I have not tested this. Protein powder will have a different effect than cocoa powder. But, if you try, let me know how it turns out!
Danish says
10/10
The recipe is amazing! Had to make it a couple times to get it right! Stoked to try out other recipes as well!
Kayleigh says
I’ve looked for healthy brownies for ages and then found your recipe and it’s incredible! Thank you for creating this x
Jazlin says
I made these brownies the other day for something sweet after dinner that I didn’t have to feel guilty over. They were delicious! I had some frozen bananas in the freezer and blended them with nut butter and topped these brownies with some banana Nice cream. Totally recommend trying these out!
Lupe says
I didn’t have semi-sweet chocolate chips, so I used part of a milk chocolate bar, and this came out so chewy and delicious. Almost like cake! I would definitely like to make this again!
Tati Chermayeff says
So happy to hear that worked! These are my favorite.
Erika says
I was wondering if I can use cacao powder instead of cocoa powder?