Fudgy Beet Brownies

These gluten free beet brownies are made with colorful roasted beet puree, almond flour, and cocoa powder. They’re fudgy, decadent, and downright delicious.

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Most of you probably know that beets are my favorite vegetable, or have read about my love for earthy, colorful beets in a previous post. I just adore them ;-)!

They add a gorgeous pop of pink to any dish, and can be combined with so many different ingredients. But this recipe is the first time I’ve attempted to turn beets into a dessert.

I got the idea of combining beets with chocolate when Will and I were on our honeymoon in Australia. We ate at a fantastic restaurant in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney and they had a chocolate beetroot dessert on the menu.

We got home from our trip a few months ago, but I just recently got around to experimenting with my version of a beet dessert for the Veg World. And I’m so happy to report that these Fudgy Beet Brownies are a winner! Here’s why you’ll love them:

They’re melt-in-your-mouth fudgy! Seriously, they taste a lot like fudge, and if you store them in the fridge (like I recommend), they firm up a bit more and melt in your mouth as soon as you take a bite.
They’re a yummy way to sneak in some extra veggies, especially for picky kids (or adults)!
And they’re gluten free, using super fine almond flour (I recommend Bob’s Red Mill brand).

How to Make Beet Brownies

While it may sound intimidating to make homemade brownies, let alone brownies that have beets in them, the process is actually very simple.

Roast 1 large or 2 small beets. Slice off the roots and tops, scrub the beets, and use your fingers to coat them in a tiny bit of olive oil. Wrap each whole beet in aluminum foil and put them directly on the center rack in the oven. Bake at 400 degrees F for 45-60 minutes, or until you can easily slice them in half. PRO TIP: save yourself some time and get Love Beets or another brand of pre-roasted beets (available at most grocery stores).
Puree the beets in a food processor or blender. I also found that you can grate them with a hand grater to add to the rest of the batter. They may be slightly more “chunky” this way, compared to if you blend them, but it doesn’t make a big difference.
In a double boiler or in a heat-safe glass bowl over a saucepan with 1/4-inch boiling water, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips with 1 stick butter, stirring occasionally, until smooth (about 10 minutes)
Combine the melted chocolate and butter, beet puree, 2/3 cup maple syrup, 3 eggs, and 2 tsp vanilla in a large bowl. Add the dry ingredients: 1 cup almond flour, 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Whisk together until smooth.
Pour into a greased 8×8 baking pan and bake for 25-27 minutes at 350 degrees F.

How long do beet brownies last?

Make sure you let the brownies cool completely before slicing them into squares. They can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Although, I’m not sure they will last that long if you like them as much as I do!

Possible Substitutions for Fudgy Beet Brownies

Butter: you can substitute melted coconut oil in this recipe for the melted butter in a 1:1 ratio.
Maple syrup: honey or any other liquid sweetener would work well.
Almond flour: please note that these brownies will likely not turn out well if you substitute coconut flour for the almond flour. I have not tried the recipe with any other gluten free flour, so please report back if you give it a try and have success!

For another sweet beet treat, try the Beet and Carrot Veggie Applesauce! The Zucchini Carrot Oat Muffins and Carrot Banana Breakfast Bread are other reader favorites.

If you make this recipe, be sure to rate and review it in the comments below, and don’t forget to tag @its_a_vegworld_afterall on Instagram! Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.