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    Home » Recipes » Brownies & Bars

    Healthy Buckwheat Brownies

    Published: Sep 22, 2023 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe  ↓

    These fudgy buckwheat brownies are a delicious, allergy-friendly treat. No eggs or dairy are needed, and they're lower in added sugar than most brownie recipes.

    Stack of three chocolate brownies.

    These days you can find a brownie recipe made from just about anything, and I do mean anything.

    Sweet potato, cauliflower, beans, pumpkin...I've even seen spinach in brownies!

    I'm going to pass on most of those, which is amazing considering the health nut I am.

    Though I already have recipes for Black Bean Brownies, brownies with a secret ingredient, low sugar brownies, and brownies that require no baking, I'm happy to post yet another recipe for one of my favorite desserts.

    This one is made with buckwheat flour!

    Choosing the right buckwheat flour

    If you go looking for buckwheat flour, you'll generally find two different kinds: the dark variety, which is unhulled and almost blue in color, and the light, almost white kind.

    Both are good for different reasons and act similarly in recipes, but the lighter type is much milder in taste.

    Personally, I like to grind the flour myself from raw buckwheat groats, as it yields a fresher flour.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Hand holding a brownie.

    Light buckwheat flour - This flour is pretty unique with how it absorbs moisture, so if you're looking to use a different flour, I'd search for a different recipe.

    Baking powder AND baking soda - The combination creates a slight rise and acts against the cocoa's bitterness.

    Sea salt, vanilla extract - Flavor

    Applesauce - Adds a natural sweetness and makes the brownies moist and fudgy.

    Oil - I like both coconut and grapeseed oils.

    Maple syrup - A modest amount gives the brownies their sweetness. I also like to add in some stevia!

    Warm milk - Slightly warm milk helps to create a smooth batter, as do room temperature ingredients. You can use whatever kind you like.

    And chocolate chips or chopped chocolate for the top!

    Recipe steps

    Start with room temperature ingredients, particularly if you're using coconut oil! Coconut oil will clump when mixed with anything cold.

    Stir together the dry ingredients, sifting the flour and cocoa, if necessary, to remove chunks.

    Flour and cocoa powder in a large white bowl.
    Flour, cocoa, and applesauce in a white bowl.

    Then, just stir the remaining ingredients into the same bowl. Mix until smooth!

    Pour the batter into a small, oiled baking dish.

    Top with the chocolate and bake just until set. Brownies are better when they're a bit under baked and will continue to cook a bit in the hot dish.

    Brownie batter in a large white bowl.
    Unbaked brownie batter in a small glass baking dish.

    Over baked brownies will be dry!

    One brownie on a white plate.

    FAQs

    How do you grind your buckwheat groats to make flour?

    I use a coffee grinder or my Nutribullet. I grind my buckwheat flour from these raw buckwheat groats. Don't use the pre-ground (dark) flour, as it has a different (stronger) taste.

    Can I use a different flour?

    This recipe was specifically created with buckwheat flour, so you would be better off searching the web for a recipe that uses your preferred flour.

    Any substitute for applesauce?

    One reader used two eggs, but I have not tried that.

    If you have pear puree, that would work. The recipe relies a lot on the applesauce for sweetness and texture, so I don't recommend traditional substitutes, like pumpkin and/or yogurt.

    I use applesauce A LOT in my recipes, so if you make them with any frequency, you might peek at my Instant Pot Applesauce recipe!

    Recipe notes

    This recipe makes a small batch of six good-sized brownies.

    To bake the brownies, I use this 7 x 5 inch Pyrex dish.

    Stack of three chocolate brownies.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Healthy Buckwheat Brownies

    Delicious, fudgy brownies made with buckwheat flour! NO gluten, eggs, or nuts!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time20 minutes mins
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Dairy-free, Gluten-Free, Nut-free
    Servings: 9 brownies
    Calories: 135kcal

    Ingredients

    • 5 Tablespoons light buckwheat flour (see Recipe Notes above)
    • 4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/16 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 6 Tablespoons applesauce
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • 4 Tablespoons melted coconut oil (grapeseed oil also works well)
    • 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
    • 3-4 Tablespoons warm milk of your choice as needed
    • chocolate chips or chunks for topping
    • stevia as desired for extra sweetness

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    • Start with room temperature ingredients.
    • Mix the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, salt). Sift the ingredients if they need it to prevent clumps.
    • Mix in the wet ingredients (applesauce, vanilla, oil, sweetener, milk).
    • Stir until well combined. Add a little stevia if you desire extra sweetness; I use about 10-12 drops.
    • Pour the batter into a well-oiled 7 x 5-inch glass Pyrex dish.
    • Top with chocolate, as desired.
    • Bake 10-15 minutes, just until the top is set. Remember, it is better to UNDER bake brownies than over bake them.
    • Cool completely, cut, and enjoy!

    Notes

    Nutrition facts based on using unsweetened almond milk.
    Weight Watchers points: 7

    Nutrition

    Calories: 135kcal | Carbohydrates: 12.8g | Protein: 1.5g | Fat: 9.9g | Fiber: 1.9g | Sugar: 5.8g

    If you have a chance to try this recipe, please leave a star rating and a comment below letting me know how you liked it!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Joy

      June 06, 2023 at 3:29 am

      I love how healthy these brownies are and my family loves the taste!! Thank you!! I used 2 xl eggs instead of applesauce, didn't add stevia, used a handful of chocolate chips and some cacao nibs. I think I overbaked it but my family didn't care! My husband has requested I make a much larger batch next time.

      Reply
      • Lauren

        June 06, 2023 at 6:43 pm

        Thanks, Joy! I'll have to try them with eggs sometime. 🙂

        Reply
      • Elaine Q

        September 22, 2023 at 9:12 am

        Thank you, Joy, for your helpful comment about the applesauce. I ignore recipes with applesauce, because I got tired of using a little then throwing the jar away. I never know what they're substituting it for: eggs, sweetener, fat? So it's great to know this works with eggs, and low sugar, too.

        Buckwheat has lots of beneficial phytochemicals that support the immune system. This looks yummy. Thank you, Lauren!

        Reply
    2. Beth Lyford

      September 29, 2020 at 12:22 pm

      I really want to make these but grain free...could I use almond or coconut flour instead?

      Reply
    3. Emily Braun

      January 07, 2018 at 7:20 pm

      I need to make these. After 4 years of viewing your recipes you never fail to inspire!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        January 07, 2018 at 7:22 pm

        Aw, thank you Emily! That means a lot. 🙂

        Reply
    4. LoriJo

      April 23, 2017 at 1:57 pm

      My girls LOVE these! You are awesome girl!!!!!

      Reply
    5. Raia T.

      October 11, 2016 at 9:07 am

      You're buckwheat treats get me every time! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Allergy Free Thursdays! I'm going to feature it at this week's party.

      Reply
    6. kimmythevegan

      October 07, 2016 at 7:23 pm

      Ah! I was scrolling thinking "please be vegan, please be vegan, please be vegan". YES! I am so making these next week... if I can wait that long haha!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        October 08, 2016 at 8:46 am

        Haha, I'm so happy you can eat them, I just love these! If you do try them out, let me know what you think! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Bethany

      October 06, 2016 at 9:24 am

      Yummy! Love how healthy these are.

      Reply
    8. Susie

      October 03, 2016 at 3:43 pm

      How do you grind your buckwheat groats? Thanks for the help! ~Susie

      Reply
      • Lauren

        October 03, 2016 at 7:27 pm

        Hi Susie,

        The easiest way is with a clean coffee grinder. 🙂

        Reply
    9. [email protected] a Dash of Cinnamon

      October 03, 2016 at 2:39 pm

      Neat use of buckwheat flour!

      Reply
    10. Lynda

      October 03, 2016 at 10:20 am

      These sounds amazing and quite easy to make! I might try it with Buckwheat flour since that's what I have and let you know how it turns out:)

      Reply

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    Hi there, I'm Lauren Goslin, and I've been a food blogger for over ten years. My goal with this blog is to show you healthy, lower sugar recipes that my family and I enjoy.

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