Name: Vegan Brownies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed; 5 tablespoons water; 1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled); ¾ cup granulated sugar; ¾ cup powdered sugar (sifted); ⅔ cup cocoa powder (sifted); 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon fine sea salt; ½ cup vegan dark chocolate chips (reserve some for topping); ½ cup melted coconut oil; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Flaky sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

These vegan brownies will satisfy any chocolate craving! They're fudgy, decadent, and rich - you'd never guess they're made without eggs or butter.

vegan — Jump to recipe

I am OBSESSED with these vegan brownies! They’re chewy, gooey, and rich – everything you want a brownie to be. The edges are crisp and the middles are fudgy. Tasting them, you’d never guess that they’re made without eggs or butter.

I’ve developed a vegan brownie recipe before (see the Vegan Date Brownies on page 245 of Love & Lemons Every Day!). That recipe was on the healthy side – I sweetened it naturally with Medjool dates and maple syrup, and I used oat flour to make it gluten-free. If you’re craving a lighter vegan treat, check out the cookbook! That vegan brownie recipe is the one for you.

By contrast, these vegan brownies are sweet and decadent. They’re the sort of thing you make when a serious chocolate craving strikes or when a special occasion (say, Valentine’s Day…) is right around the corner. I think you’re going to love them.

Vegan Brownie Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this vegan brownie recipe:

All-purpose flour – This vegan brownie recipe creates a really thick batter, so make sure to measure your flour properly. Instead of scooping flour straight from the canister or bag, use the spoon-and-level method. It’ll prevent you from accidentally packing too much flour into your measuring cup.
Ground flaxseed + warm water – Our egg replacement! It binds the batter together.
Granulated sugar and powdered sugar – To make the vegan brownies nice and sweet. The powdered sugar also contains cornstarch, which helps create that irresistible chewy brownie texture.
Cocoa powder and chocolate chips – Thanks to these ingredients, these vegan brownies have a delectable dark chocolate flavor. Use your favorite brand of dairy-free chocolate chips. I like Enjoy Life.
Baking powder – To help the brownies rise.
Coconut oil – For richness.
Vanilla extract – It enhances the rich chocolate flavor.
Sea salt – To make all the flavors pop! Mix fine sea salt into the batter, and if you like, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Vegan Brownies

Heads up: making this vegan brownie recipe is NOT like making traditional brownies. While the results are pretty darn similar – fudgy, rich, and delicious – the batter is totally different. If you think something’s gone wrong while you’re making the recipe, don’t freak out! It probably hasn’t. Here’s how the process should go:

First, make the flax egg. In a small bowl, combine the flaxseed and water, and set them aside for 5 minutes to thicken.

While you wait, combine the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another. When the flax mixture is ready, whisk it into the bowl of wet ingredients.

Then, combine the wet and dry ingredients. Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and use a spatula to fold the mixture together.

It will be thick! Instead of making a pourable batter, you’ll end up with a fudgy dough. It will be crumbly, but hold together when pinched.

Next, add the batter to the baking pan. Transfer the crumbly mixture to a greased 8×8 baking dish lined with parchment paper. Use your hands to press it into an even layer at the bottom of the pan.

Sprinkle some chocolate chips on top, and bake! Bake at 325° for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with just a few crumbs attached. The brownies will seem underdone when you take them out of the oven, but they’ll set up as they cool. For the best texture and flavor, wait at least 45 minutes before slicing and serving. Finally, enjoy!

Best Vegan Brownies Tips

The batter will be thick. Keep going! Don’t worry if your brownie batter is thick – it should be! In fact, it’s not really a batter at all, but more like a cookie dough. When you first combine the wet and dry ingredients, it might not seem like the batter will come together. It will! Keep folding until there are no dry spots remaining and the mixture is crumbly, but holds together when pinched. It might seem stiff, but it will bake into perfect fudgy brownies – trust me!
Take them out before you think they’re ready. These vegan brownies are best when you bake them for right around 25 minutes. They’ll be super soft when you take them out of the oven, and they’ll seem underdone, but don’t let them fool you. They set up as they cool, taking on a rich, chewy texture. Resist the temptation to bake them any longer. If they’re in the oven for too long, they’ll end up dry and crisp.
Let them cool completely. See that tip above? These brownies are way too soft to slice and eat when they’re hot from the oven. For the best fudgy texture, allow them to cool for at least 45 minutes before you slice and serve them.
Store them in an airtight container. These vegan brownies are best on the day they’re baked, but they’re still tasty on days 2 and 3, too. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature, or, for longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.

More Favorite Vegan Treats

If you love these vegan brownies, try one of these delicious treats next:

Vegan Brownies

rate this recipe:

4.92 from 24 votes

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 25

Serves 16

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These vegan brownies are fudgy, chewy, and rich - you'd never guess they're made without eggs or butter! We like them best on the day they're baked, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They also freeze well.

Equipment

Ingredients

2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
5 tablespoons water
1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup powdered sugar, sifted
⅔ cup cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ cup vegan dark chocolate chips, reserve some for topping
½ cup melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Flaky sea salt for sprinkling, optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 325°F, grease an 8x8-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, stir together the flaxseed and water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugars, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chips.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, vanilla, and the flaxseed mixture. Pour the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients and use a spatula to fold the mixture together, until moistened. It will be extremely dry and crumbly but will come together in the next step where it’ll be pressed into the pan. This mixture is very different from traditional brownies where a wet batter is pourable.
Transfer the crumbly mixture to the prepared pan and use your fingertips to press it into an even layer. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips on top and gently press into the dough. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if using. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few crumbs. Cool on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes before slicing and serving.