This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Healthy pumpkin brownies are the best fall dessert. Flourless, fudgy, gluten-free, and extremely easy to make, these from scratch brownies taste better than any box mix!
Happy fall everyone! I know what you’re thinking… brownies don’t really scream fall. But what about when they are loaded with canned pumpkin? If you’re looking for other brownies to make try these super fudgy brownies or these paleo brownies.
I’m starting with these delicious flourless pumpkin brownies that honestly you probably wouldn’t even notice have pumpkin in them if I didn’t tell you. These pumpkin brownies are gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo so if you or someone else in your family eats that way, I got you covered.
The pumpkin is there for more texture, kind of like adding sweet potato or applesauce to a baked good. It helps to keep them really moist. Canned pumpkin on its own isn’t very flavorful, however, it’s the spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger that really give us that fall flavor.
Before making these brownies, you can also make your own almond butter from my recipe here.
Pumpkin Brownies Video
Healthy pumpkin brownies recipe
These pumpkin brownies are made with chocolate chips and with cocoa powder, giving them a rich chocolate flavor. Since there is no flour in them at all, they turn out fudgy, but also light in texture. That also makes these pumpkin brownies low carb so if someone in your life is watching their carb intake, make them these brownies!
We strongly suggest eating these brownies with pumpkin ice cream and extra melted chocolate chips on top in order to satisfy your sweet tooth. No one will believe these brownies are healthy.
The ingredients in pumpkin brownies are simple.
- almond butter – gives these brownies the fudgy texture and a subtle hint of nutty flavor. Make sure your almond butter is natural and only has two ingredients: almonds + salt. Or just one ingredient: almonds.
- canned pumpkin – brownies made with canned pumpkin are deliciously rich. pumpkin also helps with the fudgy texture but also adds a healthy nutritional kick.
- honey – the only sweetener we use is honey, but this can be replaced with maple syrup as well.
- egg – the binding agent in these brownies. We haven’t tested a flax egg but let us know if you do!
- cocoa powder – along with the chocolate chips, what gives these brownies their rich chocolate flavor.
- a few other baking necessities like vanilla, salt, baking soda, and chocolate chips.
How to make pumpkin brownies
The best part about these brownies is that you only need one bowl. Seriously. ONE BOWL. That’s it. I always appreciate a recipe that requires minimal equipment so I can definitely get behind these.
You’ll want to preheat your oven, get all your healthy pumpkin brownie ingredients out, get your measuring cups and mixing bowls out, and then get to work.
Step 1.
Mix together your almond butter and pumpkin until completely combined.
Step 2.
Add in your egg, honey, and vanilla and stir until creamy.
Step 3.
Throw in the cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Then add the chocolate chips.
Step 4.
Pour into a greased 8×8 and bake. Twenty minutes later and you have fudgy pumpkin brownies that are actually good for you. Amazing and seriously as simple as that.
How to store brownies
Storing brownies isn’t meant to be complicated. In fact, I follow a general rule of thumb whenever it comes to brownies. Leave them on the counter for 24 hours still in the baking dish or in a tupperware covered with aluminum foil.
After 24 hours is up, move them to the fridge. Brownies are so. much. fudgier. when they are directly out of the fridge. Just do it and thank me later.
You can also freeze brownies! Wrap them up tightly in saran wrap or aluminum foil (or both for extra precaution against freezer burn) and into a plastic gallon bag. Freeze brownies for up to three months.
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment below and let me know how it was! Also tag @erinliveswhole on Instagram and use the hashtag #erinliveswhole so I can see it and feature you!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Flourless Pumpkin Brownies
This easy recipe for flourless pumpkin brownies takes only 5 minutes to get in the oven and is made with only one bowl. These brownies are completely gluten free and dairy free.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup almond butter (or other natural nut butter)
- 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honeyย
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 8×8 baking dish with grease or parchment paper.ย
- In a large bowl, mix together almond butter and pumpkin.
- Whisk in the eggs, then add the maple syrup and vanilla.
- Add cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, and stir till combined.
- Add in chocolate chips.
- Pour into pan and bake for 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Different size pans will yield different baking times.
- Let cool before serving (For topping, melt chocolate chips in microwave with 1 tsp coconut oil)
Pro Tip: store in fridge after completely cooling and they will become very fudgy.
Notes
This recipe has been updated from the original to fit an 8×8 pan.
There may be affiliate links in this post!ย By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat ๐
Sophia says
LOVE these! omg so fudgy
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sophia, so glad you enjoyed them!!
Kimmy says
These are the fudgiest gf brownies Iโve had to date! Meal prepped these to have after my salads for lunch this week, bc every meal needs a dessert ๐ canโt wait to try them with flaked sea salt!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kimmy, so happy you loved them so much! ๐
Jaime says
These brownies are THE BEST. As someone who is trying to stay as healthy and gluten free as possible, these were super simple and so delish. I used honey almond butter to give it some extra sweetness too!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jaime, so glad you loved them so much and great idea!!
Karen says
This recipe is honestly amazing. I donโt eat sugar so I replaced maple syrup/honey with 1 super ripe banana. Tastes just like moist chocolate cake.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Karen, so glad you loved them and made them your own!! ๐
Annette says
Love these brownies. I used half butter and half hazelnut spread. For sweetness i used maple syrup and dark chocolate chips but melted them. I had to bake longer than expected as brownies came high. I chilled and cut. Very fudgy and satisfying
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Annette, so glad you liked them and made them your own!! ๐
Sherryerhardt says
Love the recipe however I had no almond butter on hand so I used natural peanut butter and they are still amazing!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi, so happy you loved the brownies and made them your own!! ๐
Verรณnica says
Hi Erin! These brownies are FABULOUS!!!
This is the 3rd GF recipe Iโve tried & your recipe is the BEST!!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful GF recipes. I substituted sweet potato for the pumpkin and added chopped pecans because I love nuts in my desserts . Godโs blessings to you!!!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Verรณnica, so happy you loved them and great idea!!
Verรณnica says
Hi
May I sub sweet potato for the pumpkin?
Erin says
Hi Verรณnica, I haven’t tried that but feel free to and let me know how they come out!!
Kayla says
Iโve been making black bean brownies for years and tried these ELW pumpkin brownies and LOVED them! These will probably be my new go-to. You canโt taste the pumpkin or almond butter which is what I was hoping for.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kayla, so happy you loved these too! Thanks for all your support!
Fran says
Ok. These are legit the best healthy brownies! They are definitely fudgy and cake-like and you canโt taste the pumpkin at all. I used 1/4 c maple syrup and 1/4 c Swerve and they were the perfect sweetness! Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Fran, so happy you loved them so much and made them your own!!
Daniela says
SO delicious! Just like all of Erin’s recipes!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Daniela, so glad you loved them! Thanks for your support!!
Hanna says
Best brownies ever! I omitted the chocolate chips and poured it into a ramekin to make a personal birthday cake for a friend. Topped it with df chocolate ganache and raspberries, she loved it! Thank you so much for sharing, I’ll be making this for all of my friends
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hanna, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
Kaitlin Stevens says
Iโve been making these for years now and theyโre just my absolute favorite. I always use peanut butter cause thatโs what I have lol I never buy almond butter! And I always make it in a loaf pan for extra thickness. My most recent batch came out extra thick. I even eat them for breakfast since they are kinda healthy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kaitlin, so happy you loved them!! Thanks for sharing!!
Jody says
I wanted to Thank-you for this delicious recipe. I made it with Flax eggs. I did 3tbsp of Milled Golden Roasted Flax with 1/2 warm water.It was soft, very chocolatey. Perfect brownies for those who cannot have certain, flours, eggs and certain sugars. I also added 2 tsp pumpkin spice
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jody, thanks for sharing and happy you loved them and made them your own!! ๐
Jody says
I wanted to thank-you for this great recipe and to let you know I made it with Flax egg
I did 3 tbsp of Milled Golden Roasted Flax from Costco with 1/2 cup warm water and let sit. This equals 3 eggs
I wanted to make sure it was not too goopy. It was still soft and tasted like fudge.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jody, I am so glad you liked the brownies and made them your own!!
Alyssa says
Made this for my gluten free cousins for thanksgiving and ended up making a second batch just for our family. So good! Ended up swirling some pumpkin butter into it as well to give it a little extra fall flavor and it was wonderful. 10/10
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alyssa, so happy everyone enjoyed the brownies so much and great addition with the pumpkin butter!! ๐
Brittany says
I used I table spoon of sugar instead of honey since I didnโt have any. I added hemp seed , flax seed and chia seeds, also used 3 tablespoons of peanut butter.
Erin says
Hi Brittany, so happy you made them your own!! ๐
Leslie says
Have these in the oven and canโt wait to try them!! The batter was delicious!! What amount of chocolate chips do you recommend melting with the coconut oil for topping?
Erin says
Hi Leslie, thanks so much and how dud they come out!! I would do half a cup!
Jojo says
Hello – I did a search for brownies made with pumpkin puree and found your site. Your brownies look so delicious. A question I have (and forgive me if this is not how you usually bake) but for the sweetener, if I didn’t use honey or maple syrup, how much sugar would I use? Thank you for your input.
Erin says
Hi Jojo, so glad you found them and you’ll need the liquid sweetener for this! Hope you can use honey or maple syrup! Let me know how they come out!
Jas says
These look amazing! Do you think they could be made into blondies by omitting the cocoa powder and replacing with oat flour or similar for volume? Any ideas?
Erin says
Hi Jas, I think that might work! I’d add a little extra vanilla for flavor. Let me know how they come out!!