Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies

Who says you need flour, eggs, butter, and sugar to make truly satisfying brownies? If you've been looking for a treat that checks all the boxes—rich, fudgy, chocolatey, delicious and good for you—you're going to love these vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free sweet potato brownies.

These aren't just any brownies. They're a game-changer for anyone with dietary restrictions or who simply likes to make more nourishing food choices without sacrificing taste.

The star of the show is sweet potato. This unexpected ingredient adds natural sweetness, moisture, and a boost of whole-food nutrients, all while giving the brownies their signature melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Let's dive into what makes sweet potatoes such a powerful addition to brownies, why they work so nicely with chocolate, and how you can whip up your own batch of delicious, fudgy sweet potato brownies at home.

What are the health benefits of sweet potato?

Sweet potatoes are often referred to as a superfood, and for good reason.

• They are rich in fiber. Sweet potatoes provide both soluble and insoluble fiber, which supports digestion, helps maintain already-healthy blood sugar levels, and contributes to feelings of fullness.
• These orange tubers are rich in beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that supports eye health, skin, and immune function. They also add color to recipes like chili and potato salad.
• Boiled sweet potatoes are low on the glycemic index. They provide a naturally sweet taste without causing sharp spikes in blood sugar, making them an ideal whole-food sweetener alternative in refined sugar-free recipes.
• Finally, this superfood is nutrient-dense. Sweet potatoes have a high concentration of bioactive compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids. They also provide protein, potassium, vitamin C, iron, and calcium. This makes them a powerhouse addition to any recipe, especially desserts where you want to sneak in some extra nutrition, like this delicious brownie recipe.

Why do sweet potato and chocolate go together?

You might not expect a root vegetable and rich cacao to be a culinary match, but sweet potato and chocolate share an amazing harmony. Baked sweet potatoes have a natural caramel-like sweetness that pairs well with the deep, slightly bitter tones of dark chocolate. When mashed, sweet potatoes add a creamy texture that enhances the fudgy quality of brownies, giving them that unique dense and chewy bite without the need for eggs or butter.

Chocolate desserts rarely come with a boost of vitamins and fiber, but sweet potato-infused brownies are a combination made in heaven, elevating that sweet experience without the guilt! Whether you're trying to sneak more veggies into your diet, support healthy blood sugar levels, or just indulge without a sugar crash, this recipe is what you're looking for!

How to cook brownies with sweet potato (recipe)

This recipe makes 12 brownies.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked and mashed sweet potato
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter
• 1 ½ tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup cacao powder
• 2/3 cup oat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup chopped raw pecans or walnuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)

Preparation

1. Cook the sweet potato.

   Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F. Wash and cut the sweet potato in half (lengthwise). Lightly spray or brush each flesh side with a little avocado oil (or coconut or olive oil). This helps with the caramelization of the sweet potato. Place the sweet potato halves onto a parchment-lined baking sheet with the flesh facing down. Bake 25-30 minutes or until tender to the touch. Remove from the oven, and allow them to cool for a few minutes, then peel away the skin and mash in a medium-sized mixing bowl using a fork.

   Note: You can also cook the sweet potato in the air fryer. Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes until tender.

2. Adjust oven temperature and prepare the baking pan.

   Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8" square or round baking pan with parchment paper on the bottom and sides.

   Note: To help keep the parchment paper in place, lightly massage a bit of oil on the bottom and sides of the pan.

3. Mix wet ingredients. To the mixing bowl with the sweet potato puree, add the maple syrup, almond butter or peanut butter, vanilla extract, and avocado oil. Stir to combine.
4. Mix dry ingredients. In another medium bowl, add the oat flour, cacao powder, sea salt, and baking powder and stir to combine.
5. Incorporate all ingredients. Incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until a thick batter is achieved. Do not overmix.
6. Bake. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth into an even layer using a spoon or a rubber spatula. If desired, top with chopped nuts of choice and/or chocolate chips.

   Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-32 minutes. The edges of the brownie should appear slightly dry, and when a toothpick is inserted into the center, it should come out mostly clean (a few crumbs are okay, but it should not be overly gooey). Remove it from oven and let cool in the pan for 30 minutes.

7. Enjoy the brownies! These delicious and healthy sweet potato brownies are best eaten warm or at room temperature. These brownies are a delight on their own, but you can enhance the experience with a scoop of dairy-free ice cream.

Nutritional Values*

Serving size: 1 brownie

• Calories: 200
• Fat: 10 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Carbohydrates: 21 g
• Fiber: 7.5 g
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 2 g

*All nutritional information in this recipe is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes.

Tips for success

This recipe is easy to customize to your tastes and dietary preferences.

• Don't have or like avocado oil? Coconut oil or olive oil are good substitutes.
• This recipe calls for cacao powder, but cocoa powder also works. Cocoa powder is processed at higher temperatures, which reduces its nutrient profile, but gives it a milder and sweeter flavor.
• Gluten-free all-purpose flour can replace the oat flour in this recipe.
• The raw nut and vegan chocolate chip add-ins are optional in this recipe, and you can add whatever suits your taste. Coconut flakes, vegan caramel and vegan butterscotch chips are all perfect ingredients to add to or on top of these brownies.

How should I store my sweet potato brownies?

One of the best things about this brownie recipe, aside from the flavor, is its versatility and shelf life. Here's how to store your brownies for optimal freshness:

• Room Temperature

  : Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

• Refrigerator

  : Store the brownies in the fridge for up to 7 days. They'll firm up but remain moist and fudgy.

• Freezer

  : These brownies freeze well! Store them in a freezer-safe container for one month. Just let them thaw to room temp or warm slightly in the microwave when ready to enjoy.

Does sweet potato give you enough vitamins?

While these delicious sweet potato brownies can nourish your wellness journey, there are less calorie-dense ways to fill your nutritional gaps, such as a daily multivitamin. Look for a supplement that delivers clinically studied vitamins and minerals; this can help you get the nutrition you need, especially if you follow a restrictive diet or avoid animal products.

A quality plant-based multivitamin can offer a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals and plant-derived nutrients to support your nutrition from A to E. And it fits into a vegetarian lifestyle with vitamin D from algae, as well as the other nutrients to support your health from head to toe.

References

• Jain R. "Glycemic Index 2500 Items." November 2021. https://www.diabetesasia.org/magazine/glycemic-index-2500-items/ 
• Laveriano-Santos EP, et al. "Sweet Potato Is Not Simply an Abundant Food Crop: A Comprehensive Review of Its Phytochemical Constituents, Biological Activities, and the Effects of Processing." Antioxidants (Basel). August 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9495970/
• "Sweet Potato: GI Search." The University of Sydney. https://glycemicindex.com/gi-search/?food_name=sweet+potato&product_category=&country=&gi=&gi_filter=&serving_size_(g)=&serving_size_(g)_filter=&carbs_per_serve_(g)=&carbs_per_serve_(g)_filter=&gl=&gl_filter= 
• "Sweet potato, raw, unprepared (Includes foods for USDA's Food Distribution Program)." U.S. Department of Agriculture. April 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/168482/nutrients
• "Vitamin A and Carotenoids." National Institutes of Health. March 2025. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/