Vegan Carob Brownies

Vegan Carob Brownies are a decadent chocolate treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth. They’re made with real ingredients and contain no refined sugars, so you can feel good about eating them!

I was ready to take on the challenge this morning when Daevyd woke up and requested that we make brownies. I opened the pantry and was happy to find just enough Carob powder remaining to make a batch. He helped me to measure the ingredients and he couldn’t wait for them to bake.

I used a combination of oat flour and almond flour as the base. For the sweetener, I used coconut sugar.  I wanted to make a really moist brownie without using any carob chips. I prepared flax eggs with almond milk and then added coconut oil, vanilla, and almond extract. You could substitute it with applesauce.

I allowed to carob to cool slightly while in the pan, then top it with carob frosting. The frosting further made the carob brownies really moist.

The results were amazing and we all enjoyed it. These Gluten-Free Vegan Carob Brownies had the perfect balance of flavor!

You might be wondering what is Carob. To find the answer and more recipes check out Dr. Axe’s article:

Carob Chips: The Caffeine-Free Chocolate Substitute that’s Actually Good for You

As always, I request you read the complete article for useful information included in the blurb. However, you can find the detailed recipe with exact ingredients and step-by-step instructions below.

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Why You’ll Like These Vegan Carob brownies?

Vegan Carob Brownies are the world’s best brownies and are so addictive you’ll be asking yourself why you haven’t made them before!

• These vegan carob brownies are a healthy alternative to regular chocolate brownies.
• These brownies are infused with the goodness of carob powder, giving them a rich chocolatey flavor that makes them the perfect chocolatey treat and is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
• This is an easy and delicious recipe that’s perfect for people watching their weight.
• The almond flour gives a nutty flavor to these brownies.
• These brownies can be made sugar-free so if you are avoiding sugar then you can enjoy these without worrying about it interfering with your health.
• They can be enjoyed as a snack or a regular dessert recipe.
• These brownies are great for breakfast and can really complement your coffee.
• The recipe also works well with other flavors such as carob chips or almond/coconut extract if you want more of an explosion of tastes.
• The perfect vegan dessert for any occasion!
• Additionally, carob powder is healthy to consume. (SCROLL DOWN TO READ MORE ABOUT THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND POSSIBLE HEALTH BENEFITS)

Ingredients

Almond Milk – For this recipe, I used unsweetened almond milk but you can use the sweetened kind if you do then lower the amount of added sweetener.

Ground Flax Seeds: Flaxseed act as an egg replacer, helping to keep these brownies together.

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil nicely binds all the ingredients. It also adds moisture and a buttery flavor to the brownies. You can also use any type of oil (olive or vegetable) or vegan butter.

Vanilla: Used in both the brownies and frosting to infuse the flavors with warmth.

Almond extract: Like vanilla extract, it is also used in brownies as well as frosting, and just a small amount of it goes a long way. Many people who enjoy the pleasantly nutty flavor of almonds dislike the flavor of almond extract.

Oat Flour: It’s not only high in fiber, but it’s also gluten-free, making it ideal for gluten-free individuals. Oat flour is widely available in supermarkets. Additionally, you can prepare it at home by grinding oats. I made my own.

Almond Flour: This flour is usually used as a binding agent in savory recipes. You can use store-bought or make your own Almond Flour.

Coconut sugar: Liquid sweeteners can be used in place of coconut sugar, such as maple syrup, brown rice syrup, and agave syrup.

Carob Powder – Made from the pods of the carob tree, the pods are dried, roasted, and ground into a powder. The powder doesn’t taste exactly like chocolate, it is milder and sweeter but it is an exceptionally great alternative to chocolate. Carob powder doesn’t contain caffeine or theobromine, stimulants found in chocolate.

It is used both in brownies and frosting.

Carob powder can be used as a one-to-one substitute for chocolate powder in recipes. You can purchase the carob in health food stores or online.

Baking powder:  Baking powder is a leavening agent.

Salt: To balance out the flavors.

Almond Butter: I used almond butter to make frosting for these brownies. However, you can use non-dairy butter.  In comparison to traditional butter, plant-based butter often have less saturated fat and more heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

Maple Syrup: I absolutely love maple syrup’s sweet, caramel-like, warm flavor.     

How To Make Vegan Carob Brownies?

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare an 8×8 inch baking pan and set aside.
2. Combine, almond milk, flax seeds, coconut oil, vanilla, and almond extract in a medium bowl. Sit for 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, mix together oat flour, almond flour, coconut sugar, carob powder, baking powder, and salt.
4. Stir the wet mixture with the dry ingredients and mix well. Scoop batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, mix the frosting.

1. To prepare the frosting, add almond butter, maple syrup, carob powder, vanilla, and almond extract to a food processor and process until smooth.
2. Remove from the oven and allow brownies to cool for about 5 minutes in the pan.
3. Spread frosting on top of brownies and allow to completely cool before slicing. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy the brownies just as they are, or bundle them up and give them away to those who will savor them.

It tastes great with a cup of tea or coffee (I especially like to eat these carob brownies without frosting when having them with tea or coffee). Serve with a bowl of fresh cherries on the side. Or eat them alone these brownies are very tasty and delicious.

Can You Freeze Carob Brownies?

Yes! These vegan brownies made with carob can be frozen.

To freeze the leftover brownies, individually wrap each bar in 2 layers of plastic wrap and then aluminum foil.  Because of the metal foil, the bars will not absorb any additional flavors or scents from the freezer. For up to three months, freeze.

Recipe Variations

• Almond butter is the greatest choice for flavor and texture, but you could also use natural, sunflower seed butter or drippy cashew butter.
• You are free to substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar. Brown sugar is good for the brownie’s texture and flavor.
• To make these brownies dairy-free, low in calories, and fat, I used almond milk. However, you can replace it with any other plant-based milk.

Fun Brownie Mix-Ins (If You Want!)

I usually enjoy making more… adventurous recipes. To truly make your brownies your own, feel free to top or mix in any of the following:

Brownies with chopped nuts: pecans or walnuts? I support it wholeheartedly.

Frosting and sprinkles: cosmic brownies can also be birthday cakes.

Caramel and sea salt: Mix a few tbsp. of caramel, and when the brownies are done, sprinkle them with sea salt.

Mint brownies: Add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint or mint essence to the brownie dough, then bake!

Raspberry jam swirl: Mix in a tbsp. or two of raspberry jam. It’s kind of like a chocolatye jelly sandwich.

Butterscotch chips: go crazy, you crazy animal.

Other Delicious Carob Recipes To Try:

• Vegan Chocolate Mousse
• Carob Truffles
• Gluten-Free Vegan Carob Zucchini Bread
• Carob Cake
• ‘Chocolate’ Date Ball
• Carob Energy Bites

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m Allergic To Almonds But Not Other Nuts. Can I Replace The Almond Flour With Another Type Of Nut Flour?

Yes! You can use another nut flour in place of the almond flour. If you decide to buy it, I suggest switching it out for Fisher Nuts Pecan Flour or Bob’s Red Mill Hazelnut Flour/Meal.

Is Carob Healthier Than Chocolate?

Carob, unlike cocoa, contains neither caffeine nor theobromine. Both of these substances, which are methylxanthines, are stimulants, however, caffeine primarily affects the neurological system whereas theobromine mostly impacts the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

As compared to chocolate, which has more fat and caffeine, this vegan, gluten-free, and naturally sweet alternative has 25 calories per tablespoon, with no cholesterol nor saturated fat, and 6g of carbohydrates.

Carob contains lots of antioxidants and fiber. Fiber helps keep you fuller for longer, minimize constipation, maintain bowel health, regulate your blood sugar, and reduced cholesterol.

No sodium is present in carob powder. It’s a fantastic choice for those who follow a low-sodium diet.

It also contains fatty acids, amino acids, and polyphenols, all of which can improve heart health and brain function.

Carob has three times the amount of calcium than chocolate, making it great for strong bones and teeth.

Additionally, people use carob instead of chocolate because it helps in depressing your appetite, makes you feel fuller, and thus helps in weight management.

It is easy to see why carob is experiencing enormous popularity as an alternative to chocolate.

What Do Carob Brownies Taste Like?

These brownies have a chocolaty/carob flavor, due to the addition of almond flour, they have a crumbly texture, and are rich, satisfying, and gooey when you bite into them.

Is Almond Meal The Same As Almond Flour?

You might have noticed that I frequently use almond flour in my recipes. When making gluten-free or grain-free recipes, it’s an excellent flour to utilize.

Almond meal made from whole almonds differs significantly from blanched almond flour.

If one is called for in a recipe, do not substitute the other because it will alter the recipe totally!

Almonds that have had their skins removed and blanched are ground into fine flour to make almond flour.

In contrast, almond meal is prepared from whole almonds, including skins, and has a somewhat different texture. In baking, they will produce significantly different results, so follow the recipe!

Bottom Lines!

You can really taste the difference between these carob brownies and traditional brownies. Making these vegan carob brownies is an excellent substitution for bringing sweet treats to children, elders, and guest service. They’re quick and easy to whip up and take practically no time to bake—exactly what you want from a brownie recipe. 

If you like and enjoy this recipe, please leave a comment to let me know your feedback.

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