Banana Protein Brownies
Healthy banana protein brownies packed with 7.5 grams of protein per bar! The best part is, these gooey brownies are only 107 calories each. They’re the perfect post-workout treat!
There’s always that one part of the day where some of us crave sweets. For me, it always happens a few hours after dinner. But this can be a dangerous time to eat junk food.
That’s why I designed these guilt-free banana protein brownies to help satisfy my sweet tooth. They’re also low in calories, so you don’t have to worry about feeling sluggish after.
The truth is you can enjoy these brownies any time of the day, because they also make a great post-workout snack. Using ripe bananas creates the best texture for a moist brownie.
Ingredients
- Cocoa powder – This ingredient will add rich chocolate flavor, without all that sugar. Cocoa is very bitter on its own, but it pairs well with sweeter ingredients.
- Eggs – Whole eggs are an important component for baking. They will help thicken the banana protein brownies, build volume, and help provide stabilization.
- Bananas – You can’t make banana protein brownies without this key ingredient. Using very ripe bananas will work best with this recipe.
- Protein – Using synthetic whey helps increase the amount of protein in the brownies. I like the unflavored version, because it doesn’t interfere with any of the other flavors.
- Flour – Using enough flour is crucial when making baked goods. You can either use regular all-purpose flour, or gluten-free flour (like I did for these brownies).
- Honey – I love baking with honey because it helps retain moisture. In other words, you won’t have to worry about dry brownies, as the texture will be very moist.
- Vanilla extract – Vanilla extract may seem insignificant. But it’s great for enhancing the flavors of other ingredients in the recipe – so why not add it?
Instructions
Making these banana protein brownies is fairly easy. You can scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here’s an overview of the general steps:
Start off by preheating your oven to 350° F. Spray a 9×9-inch square pan with non-stick cooking oil and set it aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla extract, honey, and mashed banana. If you want small chunks of banana, make sure to mash for a longer amount of time (and vice versa).
In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, whey protein and flour. Then sift the dry mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients and gently fold them all together until combined.
Transfer the brownie batter to your square pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350° F, or until a toothpick poked into the center of the brownies comes out with no wet batter (some moist crumbs are fine).
Allow the brownies to cool and slice them into 9 square bars. Check out the nutrition facts below the recipe card for more detailed information.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are banana protein brownies good for you?
Yes, banana protein brownies are good for you (see nutrition facts below). They are much healthier than a traditional brownie recipe commonly loaded with butter, sugar, and other heavy ingredients.
- Can I add whey protein to brownies?
Some people think that adding whey protein powder to baked goods will make the texture dry. And while this can occur, the bananas in this recipe will help retain moisture and creates a more gooey brownie.
- How do I store banana protein brownies?
It’s best to store these banana protein brownies in the refrigerator. Because the recipe contains bananas and eggs, you should avoid keeping them at room temperature for an extended period of time. They will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the fridge
Banana Protein Brownies
Equipment
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 9×9 baking pan
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 2 large bananas (270 grams)
- 2 scoops unflavored whey protein powder
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and spray a 9×9-inch square pan with non-stick cooking oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla extract, honey, and mashed banana.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, whey protein and flour.
- Sift the dry mixture into the bowl with the wet ingredients, then gently fold them together until combined.
- Transfer the mixture to your square pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350° F, or until a toothpick poked into the center of the brownies comes out with no wet batter (some moist crumbs are fine).
- Allow the brownies to cool and slice them into 9 even bars.
