Guilt-Free Beet Brownies: A Deliciously Healthy Chocolate Twist

Sweets made with beets.

It sounds like an oxymoron.

Honestly, I was in my late thirties before I ate beets. One fateful night, my chef friend David Keener came to dinner and prepared “beets three ways” to get me to love beets, and he won!

As a child, I recall falling asleep at the dinner table over beet soup (borscht). Yuck. I always thought that they tasted like dirt. I was right! However, as tastes become more sophisticated, beets bring depth to any meal, just not dessert, or so I thought.

You can make a bunch of different healthy honey recipes

Who would have thought? Seeing is believing, and they are surprisingly delicious. This delicious recipe will change your mind about beets with their sweet and earthy flavor. Consider using brown sugar or coconut sugar as an ingredient option to achieve a light and airy texture in the brownies.

Are you a cookie or brownie person?

You Need to Try Gluten-Free Beetroot Brownies

Beet brownies are a unique and delicious dessert option that can be easily made gluten-free. By incorporating roasted beets into the batter, these brownies not only gain a beautiful pink color but also a subtle earthy flavor that complements the richness of dark chocolate.

Gluten-free beetroot brownies are perfect for those with dietary restrictions or preferences, and they can be made using a variety of gluten-free flours such as almond flour, coconut flour, or rice flour. If you only have whole wheat flour, you can always use that, (the brownies will not be GF).

If you love the smell of brownies baking, you'll love our Haute Cocoa Soy Candle

Using beets in gluten-free baking offers several benefits.

The natural moisture content from the beets helps keep the brownies soft and fudgy, while their earthy sweetness reduces the need for excessive sugar. Plus, beets are packed with nutrients, making these brownies a healthier alternative to traditional ones. Whether you’re gluten intolerant or simply looking to try something new, these gf beetroot brownies are sure to impress.

Our Haute Cocoa Honey Body Butter keeps your skin hydrated and smelling sweet

What Are Guilt-Free Beet Brownies?

Beetroot brownies offer a unique twist on classics, adding vibrant color and flavor to desserts. One cup of beet puree creates a beautiful red hue and subtle earthy taste that complements dark chocolate's richness. Perfect for beet enthusiasts or anyone wanting to add excitement to their baking routine.

Discover how beetroot brownies can be a delicious gf treat.

A well-prepared almond flour mixture, combining almond flour, baking powder, and salt, is crucial for achieving the desired texture in the brownies. Plus, they’re a sneaky way to incorporate more veggies into your diet without sacrificing taste! Vegan brownies can be made using vegan substitutes like flax eggs made with flax meal and vegan butter, creating a guilt-free dessert that appeals even to those skeptical of beets.

Discover more gluten-free honey desserts

The Concept of Beetroot Brownies Escaped Me At First

We are all creatives. We are always trying to get more veggies and nutrition into our diets and our families’ diets. I remember the “drink your milk” daily nag in my youth. It’s funny how times and perspectives on health and nutrition have changed. You will never know that beets are in these brownies, as they add to the flavor.

Try topping your salads with pickled beets

Tips When Baking with Honey

• Baking with honey creates natural sweetness in recipes like beetroot brownies, which are often healthier alternatives to traditional brownies and are packed with nutrition.
• Vegan beetroot brownies can be made without eggs or dairy, using alternatives like apple sauce and ground flax.
• Brownies made with beetroot puree can be mistaken for traditional chocolate brownies due to their color and taste.
• The batter for beetroot brownies can be made in one bowl for easier preparation.

Our Honey Royale Set contains our most popular types of honey

The Benefits of Using Beets in Baking

Cooked beets and honey add moisture, sweet flavor, and a unique texture, reducing the need for refined sugars and oils. Beets are also rich in vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritious addition to your baked goods. Incorporating pureed beets into your recipes can enhance your treats’ flavor and nutritional profile.

Beets are a powerhouse of nutrients, making them a fantastic addition to your baking repertoire. The nutritional content of these brownies can include vitamins A and C. Rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals; beets can elevate the nutritional profile of your desserts. They are packed with antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation and boost overall health.

Beets also add moisture and a unique texture in baking, reducing the need for refined sugars and oils. This makes your treats not only healthier but also more flavorful and satisfying. So, when you make beetroot brownies, you’re not just indulging in a delicious treat but also doing something good for your body.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Dark Chocolate Dipped Honey Lollipop

Preparing Beets for Brownies

Cooking beets is an essential step in making delicious brownies with beets. To bring out taste and texture, beets can be cooked using various methods. Here are a few techniques to cook beets for brownies:

• Roasting: Wrap trimmed beets in aluminum foil and roast them in a 400°F oven for at least an hour until they’re soft.
• Boiling: Boil trimmed beets in water until they’re tender. This method is quicker than roasting but may result in a less intense flavor.
• Steaming: Steam trimmed beets until they’re tender. This method helps retain the beets’ nutrients and flavor.

Once cooked, let the beets cool enough to handle before removing the peel and chopping them. Then, blend the beets into a smooth puree using a food processor or blender. This beet puree is the base for your brownies, adding a vibrant color and subtle beet flavor that perfectly complements the rich chocolate.

Essential Ingredients for Beetroot Brownies: Beet Puree and Cocoa Powder

To whip up a batch of these delectable brownies, you'll need a few key ingredients that bring out the best in this unique dessert:

• Beet puree: The star of the show! Add beet puree and add a beautiful color and subtle beet flavor to the brownies. You can cook fresh or frozen beets in the oven or on the stovetop.
• To save time, you can buy pre-cooked canned beets from the grocery store. The earthy taste of beets can be balanced by adding honey.
• Different cooking methods for beets include roasting, fast-cooking in an Instant Pot, and steaming in a pressure cooker.
• Chocolate chips: Dark chocolate chunks are essential for any brownie recipe, and they pair wonderfully with the earthy notes of beets. Chocolate chunks can be added to the batter
• Baking powder: This leavening agent ensures your brownies have a light and fluffy texture.
• Honey: A touch of honey adds moisture and depth of flavor to your brownies.
• Food processor: Or blender is crucial for mixing and pureeing the ingredients to a smooth consistency.
• Melted chocolate: Melted chocolate helps bind the ingredients together and adds a rich, fudgy texture to the brownies.
• Cocoa: A sprinkle of organic dark cocoa powder enhances the deep, chocolatey flavor of the brownies and supplements the use of chocolate chunks.

Gather these ingredients, and you'll be well on your way to creating a unique and nutritious brownie recipe.

Our Coffee Blossom Honey has caramel-like flavor notes that would taste delicious in this recipe

Preparing Beet Puree for Brownies Using a Food Processor

These brownies can be made with beet puree mixed into the batter. Preparing beet puree is a simple process that adds a vibrant touch to your brownies. Follow these steps to get it just right:

1. Cook the beets: Wrap them in foil and roast them in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 45 minutes, or until they're tender when pierced with a fork. This method brings out their natural sweet flavor.
2. Peel and chop: Once the beets have cooled, peel off the skins and chop them into small pieces. This makes them easier to blend.
3. Puree: Transfer the chopped beets to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. You want a silky consistency to blend seamlessly into your brownie batter.
4. Strain: For an extra smooth puree, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve to remove excess liquid. This step ensures your brownies have the perfect texture.

With your beet puree ready, you can add a nutritious and colorful twist to your brownies. Baked in a preheated oven, beet brownies are a delicious treat. This recipe, just like all brownie recipes, calls for greasing or lining the baking pan with parchment paper.

While you have your blender out, make this Bee Green Smoothie

Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients

Perfect GF Beet Brownies: Mix dry ingredients (GF flour, cocoa, baking powder, sugar) in one bowl. Blend wet ingredients (beet puree, coconut oil, eggs, vanilla) until smooth in another bowl. Combine wet and dry mixtures, stirring just until combined to avoid dense texture. The beet puree maintains moisture for fudgy brownies.

How to Make Beet Brownies with Beet Puree

First things first, you’re going to need to gather your ingredients for these gf brownies. This beet brownie recipe uses oat flour instead of a regular mixture, so these are gluten-free brownies! The natural flavor of beets enhances the flavor of these brownies. Here’s your shopping list:

• Raw cashews
• Bee Inspired Honey
• Sea salt
• Vanilla extract
• Organic butter or coconut oil
• Mashed banana
• Roasted beets or cooked canned beets
• Filtered water
• Eggs
• Cocoa powder
• Gluten-free oat flour
• Baking soda
• Arrowroot powder
• Coconut flour: This gluten-free flour helps create a fudgy texture and adds a wholesome touch to your brownies.
• Butter and chips: Melt these together to create a smooth brownie batter. Dark chocolate pairs wonderfully with the earthy notes of beets.

Our Wild Strawberry Body Scrub is made with beet powder

Follow these steps to make beet brownies

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and prep a 9-inch square pan generously with butter (or alternative oil).

2. Add the first eight ingredients, including roasted beets, and blend until the beets and cashews are well chopped. The roasted beets help maintain the moisture content, keeping the beet brownies moist. Scrape down the sides of the blender as necessary.

3. Add eggs and cocoa and pulse a few more times.

4. Add oat flour, baking soda, arrowroot, and chocolate chips. Blend on medium until well blended.

5. Pour into prepared pan. Baking times for beet brownies typically range from 25 to 35 minutes. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Plastic-Free Honey Lip Balm is a treat for your lips

Baking the Brownies

For perfect gluten-free beet brownies: Bake at 350°F (180°C) in a parchment-lined 8x8-inch pan for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. For extra fudginess, bake 23-25 minutes. The beets naturally enhance the sweetness while keeping the brownies moist. Cool completely in the pan before slicing—this crucial step ensures they set properly, delivering rich, chocolatey squares everyone will love.

For something a little less healthy, try this Homemade Brownie Sundae

Enhancing the Brownies Taste

Beet brownies are a unique and delicious dessert, but there are ways to enhance their flavor profile. Here are some techniques to try:

• Add a hint of spice: Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom complement the earthy flavor of beets and add depth to the brownies.

• Use high-quality chocolate: Dark chocolate, in particular, pairs well with the sweetness of beets. Look for high-quality cocoa powder or chocolate chips or chunks to add to your brownies.

• Add a splash of vanilla: Vanilla extract enhances the sweetness of the beets and adds a creamy flavor to the brownies.

• Use different types of sugar: Brown sugar, granulated sugar, or maple syrup can add unique flavors to your brownies. Experiment with different types of sugar to find the perfect balance.

By incorporating these techniques, you can elevate the flavor profile of your beet brownies and create a truly unique dessert that will impress your friends and family.

Honey is a great alternative for sugar in many recipes

Tips for a Perfect Beet Brownie Recipe

Creating the perfect batch is an art, but with a few expert tips, you can master it quickly. Here’s how to ensure your baked goods turn out perfectly every time:

• Use high-quality cocoa powder: Opt for a premium ingredients to give your beet brownies a rich, intense chocolate flavor that stands out. High-quality cocoa also helps maintain the right moisture content.

• Don’t overmix: Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to tough, dense beet brownies, which we want to avoid.

• Use the right type of sugar: A combination of granulated sugar and maple syrup balances out the earthy flavor of the beets, adding just the right amount of sweetness.

• Don’t overbake: Watch as you bake them until they’re just set in the center. Overbaking can cause them to dry out, and we want them to stay moist and fudgy.

• Use melted chocolate: Melt the chocolate chips with the butter to create a smooth, creamy batter that blends beautifully with the beet puree.

• Add-ins are optional: Feel free to get creative with nuts, dried fruit, or other mix-ins to create a unique flavor combination that suits your taste.

• Use a food processor: Puree the beets and mix the batter in a food processor for a smooth, even texture that ensures every bite is delicious.

• Don’t skip the resting time: Allow to rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This allows the flavors to meld together and for the recipe to set properly.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating perfect, delicious, healthy chocolate beet brownies that everyone will love.

Raw Honey Sticks are great for a quick energy boost

The Benefits of Using Olive Oil

Olive oil is a popular ingredient in baking, and for good reason. It adds richness and moisture to baked goods, making them more tender and flavorful. In the case of this recipe, olive oil can enhance the earthy flavor of the beets and add a velvety texture. Here are some benefits of using olive oil:

• Moisture content: Olive oil helps retain moisture, making them more tender and fudgey.

• Flavor enhancement: Olive oil complements the earthy flavor of the beets and adds richness.

• Health benefits: Olive oil is a healthier alternative to other oils, making it a great choice for those looking for a guilt-free dessert.

When using olive oil in your baking, be sure to use a high-quality oil with a mild flavor. This will help enhance the flavor of the beets without overpowering them, resulting in a delicious and nutritious treat.

How to Make This Recipe Your Own

The most rewarding thing about making your food at home is adapting it to your tastes. If you need some inspiration to get started, here are some ideas:

• You can substitute 1/2 cup of almond or cashew butter for the raw cashews, enhancing the flavor of the beets.

• You can make your own oat flour by placing rolled oats in a blender and processing on high speed until they reach a fine, flour-like consistency.

• You can mix this recipe in a blender.

• You can bake this recipe in a muffin tin to serve small muffins for breakfast!

Customizing and Storing

One of the joys of baking at home is the ability to customize your creations to suit your tastes. Consider adding some of these extra ingredients:

• Nuts: Add a handful of walnuts or pecans for a delightful crunch and extra flavor. The beets help maintain the moisture content.

• Dried fruit: Mix in some dried cranberries or cherries for a sweet and fruity twist.

• Coconut flakes: A sprinkle of coconut flakes can add a lovely texture and tropical flavor.

• Chocolate chunks: You can never have too much chocolate! Add extra chocolate chunks for an indulgent treat.

Do you know when National Chocolate Day is?

To keep them fresh, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

• Cool completely: Allow to cool in the pan this recipe should cool completely before being sliced into squares, which helps them set properly.

• Store in an airtight container: Transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days. This keeps them moist and delicious.

• Freeze: For extended storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.

With these tips, they will stay fresh and tasty, ready to be enjoyed whenever you crave a delicious and healthy treat.

Honey is for more than just eating - try honey skincare

We are "rooting" for you to enjoy these sweets!

And there you have it! With these simple tips, you can create delicious and healthy chocolate treats that satisfy any sweet tooth. Whether you're a beet enthusiast or seeking a fresh twist on traditional desserts, this recipe won't disappoint.

Remember, baking is a journey. Experiment with different flavors and ingredients to discover your perfect creation. Don't hesitate to get creative with add-ins to make your desserts truly unique.

So go ahead, indulge in this rich, chocolatey goodness. Your taste buds (and health) will thank you! Share your baking adventures and encourage others to try these veggie-based treats.

Looking for more ideas for incorporating vegetables in your dessert? Try this Raw Chocolate Pudding