these high protein brownies are soft, easy to make, and have over 10 grams of protein!

high protein brownies with bite taken out

the inspiration

If you are a frequent flyer on the blog you should already know by now that I love making high protein recipes. Whether it be things like bagels, pizza, vegan cheesecakes, or even high protein breakfast tiramisu! So, now it was time to add to the list with even more creations.

I love brownies so much, I could eat them everyday. However, while they are delicious and everything can be enjoyed in moderation, I like to make protein versions. So, here they are now!

We use vital wheat gluten and protein powder to add the protein into the brownies. The dates help to create a fudgy and chewy texture. Finally, we have a delicious protein frosting on top.

the ingredients

Chocolate Protein Powder: you can use any vegan chocolate protein powder that you like. I have been enjoying the Orgain x Justin’s Collab Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter one. Just make sure whatever you use, you enjoy the taste of it. I do like a pea protein blend.
Vital Wheat Gluten: the vital wheat gluten helps to add in extra protein and creates a nice consistency for the brownies.
All Purpose Flour: we will of course need some flour for our brownies.
Dates: the dates are used to also create a nice texture but also add sweetness.
Aquafaba: used in the brownies as an egg replacer. You can also use a flax egg, chia egg, or another egg replacer like Bob’s Red Mill. Aquafaba is the liquid found in a can of chickpeas.
Baking Powder: used in the brownies.
Vegan Chocolate Chips: we will melt down some chocolate chips to add richness to the high protein brownies. I like the Enjoy Life brand but you can of course use any vegan chocolate chips you like. (Look for it in food stores, it should be in the baking aisle) I also do prefer semi-sweet but you can use dark chocolate if you want.
Organic Powdered Sugar: we will use this in the frosting.
Vanilla Extract: we will use it in the high protein brownies.
Vegan Yogurt: this will be used to create the base of our frosting. You want to use a high protein vegan yogurt. Either Forager’s Greek-style, Siggi’s plant based, Silk made with soy milk, or Cocojune Greek-style. I used the the Cocojune one I have been loving it. You can either use an unsweetened or vanilla flavored.
Cornstarch: this will also be used in the frosting to help stabilize it a bit.

how to make the high protein vegan brownies

Before blending soak the dates in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Then, with a high-speed blender, blend the dates with ½ cup of the water from soaking and the aquafaba.

dry ingredients for high protein brownies

In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients: all purpose flour, vital wheat gluten, baking powder,, and chocolate protein powder.

wet ingredients in a bowl with dry ingredients

Then, add in the wet ingredients: blended dates, vanilla extract, water, and melted vegan chocolate chips.

Mix together to form a batter.

brownie batter spread out in a dish before baking

Pour brownie batter into a small baking dish.

Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes at 375°F.

the frosting

Once the high protein vegan brownies have cooled it is time to frost! The frosting is very easy to make. I wanted it to be very lightly chocolatey.

You will just combine the vegan yogurt, protein powder, cornstarch, and powdered sugar. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whip up. The frosting will be a little soft and only lightly hold its shape. However, it should very easily coat and stay on the back of a spoon.

After removing the brownies from the baking dish let them cool for at least 30 minutes. Then, spread the frosting out over the top. To add a little dimension to the top I actually dusted more of the chocolate protein powder on top but you can definitely use cocoa powder.

why you’ll love this recipe

First off, if you are a brownie lover like me but you want to enjoy them in a high protein way you are going to be so happy. Of course because this is vegan we don’t need things like eggs, whey, or any other animal products.

Also, I wanted to keep this recipe delicious and not made with the typical ingredients you may see like bananas, black beans, sunflower seed butter, or other nut butters like cashew butter or almond butter.

This recipe is a great blend of enjoying some traditional elements of brownies while incorporating some more protein-filled ingredients. They are easy to make and will definitely hit that brownie craving. I have been enjoying them with a little vegan ice cream and it is so good.

high protein vegan brownie faq

Is this recipe allergy friendly?

This recipe does not contain soy or nuts (depending on the vegan yogurt you use). It does contain gluten. Unfortunately, the recipe cannot be made gluten-free as it uses vital wheat gluten.

Is this recipe refined sugar-free?

No. It does use vegan chocolate chips and organic powdered sugar. However, it is much lower in refined sugar than traditional brownie recipes. You can use refined sugar free chocolate chips and powdered sugar.

How do I store the brownies?

I think it is better to store these in the refrigerator. While the base is baked I worry that the vegan yogurt would not withstand being out on a counter. If you would like to store these in the freezer then do not frost them.

Can I add other things to these brownies?

Of course. You can add in some nuts like walnuts. You can add in dried fruit or more vegan chocolate chips. Have fun.

over 75 amazing vegan recipes

Get My Cookbook, Plantiful!

“A fantastic cookbook that stands by itself outside a specific vegan genre. Inspirational and well thought out. I especially liked the early sections which have a great deal of explanation, clearly a lot of thought has gone into every page. If you are a vegan, vegetarian or just looking at adding in different ideas you should be this book! Essential for any kitchen library.”

Get your copy!