Maple Tahini Low Carb Brownies are made with healthy substitutes for butter, sugar, and carbs, so this is a healthier brownie recipe! These fudgy paleo friendly avocado brownies are low carb, refined sugar free, grain free, and delicious!
You have been warned. The next 2 recipes posts are baked treats, healthier refined sugar free treats, but still —> baked treats. What can I say? Fall baking mode has hit me hard already. Well, and Fall Air Frying Food. that’s a thing, right? Kidding. Anyways, let’s all pretend it’s a crisp 55F out and crank on the oven some more. Mmm k?
You see, when it comes to making brownies, there are certain things that, IMHO, shouldn’t be messed with. For example, brownies should always be fudgy. If I want cake-like brownies, I’ll bake a chocolate cake, or make any of my no bake chocolate cake bites; I don’t usually mess with perfection.
But, I admit that I wouldn’t be your favorite place to get dessert recipes if I didn’t make them HEALTHIER desserts, amiright? That’s why I took a vegan avocado brownie recipe and made some simple, healthy substitutes for butter, sugar, and grains, so these Maple Tahini Low Carb Brownies are even healthier for you!
You’re about to get mesmerized by the swirly chocolatey tahini goodness. Ohhh and ahhhh…
Well the tahini chocolate swirly topping was the easy part! Finding the right balance of fudgy and not too cakey was hard part. First world problems here ya’ll. But alas, 3rd times a charm on these bad boys! But phew, I did it! Finally. Low Carb Brownies… so worth it! You’ll see why in a minute.
The Making of Healthy Chocolate Brownies
To make this a gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free, and low carb brownies recipe, a few healthy ingredient swaps were needed. Here’s what we did.
Healthy Substitutes for Butter
We use avocado instead of butter. Avocado brownies are extra fudgy anyway, and leaving the butter out of the recipe makes them dairy free avocado brownies! Don’t worry, I have a vegan avocado chocolate sugar cookie recipe too. All bases covered here ya’ll!
Other healthy substitutes for butter in dairy free and/or vegan dessert recipes:
- coconut oil
- unsweetened applesauce
- pumpkin
- banana
More Healthy Swaps in the Low Carb Brownies
To make the Maple Tahini Low Carb Brownies recipe grain free, we use Monk Fruit Sweetener and/or maple syrup instead of brown sugar. This swap also makes the brownies low carb and refined sugar free.
Using melted dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate pumps up the antioxidant properties and lowers the sugar.
Okay, who’s hangry? *Raises hand, both hands* One for a brownie, one for high fiving you for reading all the way through to the recipe. LOL!
PrintMaple Tahini Low Carb Brownies
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 9–10 1x
Description
Maple Tahini Low Carb Brownies are made with healthy substitutes for butter, sugar, and carbs, so it’s a healthier brownie recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 small ripe avocados
- 2 eggs (room temp is best)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 6 Tablespoons almond flour
- 1 Tablespoon arrowroot starch or coconut flour
- ½ cup xylitol sugar or other sugar substitute (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- pinch of ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (to melt)
- ⅓ cup tahini
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
- optional chopped nuts to top
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
- Line a square 8×8 baking pan, with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a mixing bowl or food processor, blend together the avocado, eggs and cocoa. This will create a fudge-like texture.
- Next add in the almond flour, arrowroot starch and sugar blend or mix again until batter is smooth. Use a spatula to scrape down the mix and mix again if needed. Just be sure not to over mix or the batter they will not be fudgy.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Next mix in the vanilla, baking soda, salt, and pinch of cinnamon.
- Pour batter into baking pan and smooth out to edges.
- Melt the dark chocolate chips, either by stove top or in microwave using a microwave-safe bowl.
- Mix in the tahini and maple syrup and gently swirl together.
- Spread this on top of the brownie batter. Optional nuts to top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center comes out clean with toothpick
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes on counter then 5 minutes in fridge to set.
- Slice and serve. Freeze or keep in fridge for best storage.
Notes
- Feel free to use raw sugar, coconut palm sugar, or date sugar instead of xylitol. Calories and carb count will vary.
- If you are baking at altitude, check brownies at 22 -25 minutes. Oven times vary.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: dessert
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 138
- Sugar: 1.1 g
- Sodium: 127.2 mg
- Fat: 10.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.6 g
- Fiber: 3.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 37.3 mg
Want to try another great dark chocolate brownie recipe? Make a batch of Dirty Chai Dark Chocolate Flourless Brownies, and then try not to eat them all in one sitting.
You see, these are so healthy you can have them for breakfast. Or did I take that too far? Possibly, but either way you’ve got a low carb brownies recipe that is easy to make, delicious, fudgy, refined sugar free, and better for you! That’s winning in my book.
Favorite Brownie Recipe? Avocado/oil free or real butter? You decide!
Cheers!
LC
Lorraine
Sadly, I’m allergic to sesame seeds. What would be a good substitute for tahini in this recipe?
Sammi (Cotter Crunch Test Kitchen)
Hi Lorraine, you can substitute any nut butter (almond, cashew, peanut, etc) in place of the tahini. Happy baking!
Vittoria
I’d love to try this recipe but currently living in a country where avocados are VERY hard to come by! Have you tried this with butter and if so, what would be the approximate amount to replace the avocado? 1/2 cups perhaps? Any advice appreciated!
Lindsay Cotter
Do you have full fat greek yogurt? Or pureed pumpkin?
Vittoria
I have full fat yogurt – yes! Puréed Pumpkin is also not readily available. Shall I try the yogurt? How much would you suggest? 1/2 cup?
Lindsay Cotter
That’s a good question! Start off blending together 1/2 cup. If batter looks too thick, add 1/3 cup more. Does that make sense? KEep me posted!
Teresa
Hi Lindsay is there a substitute for almond flour possibly coconut flour i would absolutely love to try these brownies but can’t have almond anything….?
Lindsay Cotter
I’m not sure the coconut flour would work. Possibly a mix of oat flour and maybe 1 tbsp flaxseed ground, added. Can you have hazelnut flour?
Teresa
Yes ma’am, i’ll try that… thank you so much (I’m getting SUPER excited over brownies again!!!) 🙂
Teresa
1:1 ratio with the Hazelnut Flour?
Cassie Autumn Tran
A warning in regards to baked goods? PUH-LEASE…..I can demolish those all day any day. And I know that warning was meant to caution me NOT to eat all these tahini brownies, but let me just say that I wouldn’t sacrifice ANYTHING for chocolate and tahini together. One brownie just wouldn’t do it justice for me! – from, Cassie’s Inner Fatty
run 3
The food is great, I’ll save the recipe for the weekend
Lindsay Cotter
Woohoo! Enjoy:)
Jess @choosingchia
These look MEGA fudgey! I’m also feeling in baking mode for the Fall. Bring on the comforting goodies:)
Lindsay Cotter
These are comforting AND semi-healthy! So you’re in luck. 😉 Ah I’m with ya, Autumn just brings that out in me.
Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish
Oh we love tahini brownies over at my house! Such a unique and rich flavor
Lindsay Cotter
I love it, Suzy! Like nothing else (k now my mouth is watering…I need to go make more brownies;)
Kellie
I have never baked with Tahini before but I always have some leftover from my hummus….I can’t wait to try these so now I have something else to use up my leftover tahini!
Lindsay Cotter
Ah, I’m with ya there, tahini gives a whole new level to hummus. It’s a must! I’m excited for you to use it in baking. Let me know how the brownies turn out! 😀
evelyn
It looks pretty good.
Lindsay Cotter
Thanks, Evelyn!
Emily Swanson
Ya know. I LOVEEE your brownie recipes so much; I definitely think I would like this just as much.
Lindsay Cotter
I love you more! <3
Gaby Dalkin
Swirly chocolatey tahini goodness is an UNDERSTATEMENT!
Lindsay Cotter
I feel ya on that! 🙂
Alex Noelle
I LOVED these. I halved the recipe because I only had one avocado and made them in a smaller pan. They were gone in less than 12 hours. ? I only planned on having one for a late night snack….but my hubby and I ended up eating half the pan, with the remaining half for breakfast the next morning. So fudgy and gooey and delicious. ?
Lindsay Cotter
Ha I love it! Glad they were a fudgy hit. 🙂
2pots2cook
So beautiful and so healthy ! Thank you so much !
Lindsay Cotter
Well thank you! I hope you enjoy:)
Katie
Love love love these! Texture is perfect and all the ingredients are in my kitchen !
Lindsay Cotter
Woohoo, love it! Love that all the ingredients are handy…it makes it easy for brownies every day, right? 😉
Cassie Autumn Tran
These brownies look GREAT! Tahini with chocolate is the best pairing ever, aside from chocolate with EVERYTHING. But in all seriousness, I would never pass on a new brownie recipe any day! Avocados in a brownie batter are intriguing, though I am certain it will add a lovely creaminess to everything!
Lindsay Cotter
Tahini and chocolate are like peanut butter and jelly 😉 Love it! haha. It definitely makes them moist and adds that element of fudginess.
Katie
I love the use of maple syrup- these brownies look amazing!
Lindsay Cotter
Adds just the right amount of sweet. Thank you, friend! 🙂
Jennifer Blake
I’ve been wanting to try an avocado based brownie recipe for a while now. This flavor will be amazing!
Lindsay Cotter
The fudginess is out of this world. 😉
Carolyn
They look so dreamy and fudgy!
Lindsay Cotter
I knew you’d approve Carolyn!
Leigh Ann
They look so fudgey and perfect! I love a healthier dessert option!
Lindsay Cotter
Thanks Leigh Ann!
Brittany Audra @ Audra's Appetite
I literally have 2 extra avocados in my fridge right now; bought too many this week. Perfect timing for some weekend baking! And agreed, fudgy brownies all the way 🙂
Lindsay Cotter
Woohoo! Happy baking, Brittany:)
Sarah Fennel
oh my goodness these look AMAZING!!
Lindsay Cotter
Awww shucks. Thanks so much, Sarah! Enjoy:)
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
You KNOW I’m down for avocado in baked goods! These sound amazing. I could literally live on chocolate.
Lindsay Cotter
You and me both, kid;) Thank you Laura!
Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy
Low carb? Tahini? Maple? Gimme!
Lindsay Cotter
Alllll the good stuff;)
Stacey
these look really good. I love adding avocados to baked goods!! I will be substituting this I will tall though because it is extremely definitely toxic to dogs. I don’t even keep it in the house
Lindsay Cotter
avocado is toxic for dogs? Oh wow! I ddin’t know that
RunnerGirl
I think she’s referring to the xylitol being toxic to dogs
Lindsay Cotter
Oh haha that makes more sense! Thanks
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
What a creative recipe Lindsay! And I’m always trying to cut out some carbs here or there! On my list!
Lindsay Cotter
Thank you Mary ann!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
LOVE adding avocados to baked goods for healthy fat! They make things super fudgy and creamy.
Lindsay Cotter
You and me both! Ohhhh yeah, so unbelievably fudgy. YUM
Liz S.
OMG the maple twist for these brownies = epic. I’m all about using real butter for brownies. Can you make a healthier version of brownies featuring hazelnut spread or white chocolate? Is my challenge accepted? 😉 xoxo
Lindsay Cotter
Ohhh yes! I remember way back when Made a white chocolate pumpkin cranberry bar. Maybe I should make it into a blondie?
Liz S.
MAJOR YES, PLEASE!!!! You know me well 🙂