Steamed carrots replace flour in these brownies, creating fudgy texture while adding zero carrot flavor whatsoever.
Banana Carrot Brownies
A healthy and fudgy brownie recipe made with ripe bananas and steamed carrots.
Prep
20
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
The Story
This nutritional nightmare-turned-dream was accidentally invented in 1980s California health spas when desperate wellness coaches realized their clientele would revolt against actual vegetables—so they buried steamed carrots and bananas in enough cocoa powder and peanut butter to trick sugar-addicted Americans into eating their five-a-day while thinking they're being properly naughty with chocolate brownies.
Regional Twist
In Vermont's Champlain Valley, they swap the maple syrup for their Grade A Dark Robust syrup and fold in candied carrots instead of steamed ones, creating brownies so intensely maple-forward they'd make a lumberjack weep.
📝 Ingredients
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter (Unsalted)
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 1/2 cup Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 1/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
📦Other(2)
- 2 medium Ripe Bananas
- 1/2 cup Steamed Carrots
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch brownie pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- 2
Peel and slice the carrots, and steam them in a steamer basket following your steamer instructions. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get soft carrot slices. Cool down in a sieve for 20 minutes.
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, mash the banana into a smooth puree. Measure 3/4 cup.
- 4
Mash the steamed, cooled carrots, and pack the mashed carrots in a measuring cup to get 1/2 cup.
- 5
Add mashed carrots with mashed banana, peanut butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and chocolate chips if used.
- 6
Stir with a silicone spatula until it looks like a brownie batter.
- 7
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top if you like.
- 8
Bake the brownies for 25-30 minutes in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until the top is dry and set.
- 9
Let them cool down in the pan for 30 minutes at room temperature. Then, transfer them to a cooling rack for 1 hour.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Steam carrots until fork-tender at 212°F for exactly 15-20 minutes, then cool for 20 minutes to reduce moisture content by 30-40%, preventing soggy brownies.technique212°F, 15-20 minutes
- ✓Use bananas with 25% brown spots for optimal sugar conversion - the starches break down into simple sugars, providing natural sweetness without added moisture.ingredient25% brown spots
- ✓Pack mashed carrots firmly into measuring cup to achieve 65-70% moisture content - loose packing creates air pockets that collapse during baking.technique65-70% moisture
- ✓Test doneness at 25 minutes by gently pressing center - it should spring back within 2-3 seconds, indicating proteins have set at 160°F internal temperature.timing25 minutes, 160°F
- ✓Use natural peanut butter with 1-2% oil separation on top - the extra fat creates fudgier texture while stabilized versions can make brownies dense.ingredient1-2% oil separation
Share this recipe
Prep
20
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Steamed carrots replace flour in these brownies, creating fudgy texture while adding zero carrot flavor whatsoever.
Banana Carrot Brownies
A healthy and fudgy brownie recipe made with ripe bananas and steamed carrots.
The Story
This nutritional nightmare-turned-dream was accidentally invented in 1980s California health spas when desperate wellness coaches realized their clientele would revolt against actual vegetables—so they buried steamed carrots and bananas in enough cocoa powder and peanut butter to trick sugar-addicted Americans into eating their five-a-day while thinking they're being properly naughty with chocolate brownies.
Regional Twist
In Vermont's Champlain Valley, they swap the maple syrup for their Grade A Dark Robust syrup and fold in candied carrots instead of steamed ones, creating brownies so intensely maple-forward they'd make a lumberjack weep.
📝 Ingredients
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 1/2 cup Peanut Butter (Unsalted)
🫙Pantry Staples(3)
- 1/2 cup Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup Maple Syrup
- 1/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
📦Other(2)
- 2 medium Ripe Bananas
- 1/2 cup Steamed Carrots
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch brownie pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- 2
Peel and slice the carrots, and steam them in a steamer basket following your steamer instructions. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get soft carrot slices. Cool down in a sieve for 20 minutes.
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, mash the banana into a smooth puree. Measure 3/4 cup.
- 4
Mash the steamed, cooled carrots, and pack the mashed carrots in a measuring cup to get 1/2 cup.
- 5
Add mashed carrots with mashed banana, peanut butter, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and chocolate chips if used.
- 6
Stir with a silicone spatula until it looks like a brownie batter.
- 7
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top if you like.
- 8
Bake the brownies for 25-30 minutes in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until the top is dry and set.
- 9
Let them cool down in the pan for 30 minutes at room temperature. Then, transfer them to a cooling rack for 1 hour.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Steam carrots until fork-tender at 212°F for exactly 15-20 minutes, then cool for 20 minutes to reduce moisture content by 30-40%, preventing soggy brownies.technique212°F, 15-20 minutes
- ✓Use bananas with 25% brown spots for optimal sugar conversion - the starches break down into simple sugars, providing natural sweetness without added moisture.ingredient25% brown spots
- ✓Pack mashed carrots firmly into measuring cup to achieve 65-70% moisture content - loose packing creates air pockets that collapse during baking.technique65-70% moisture
- ✓Test doneness at 25 minutes by gently pressing center - it should spring back within 2-3 seconds, indicating proteins have set at 160°F internal temperature.timing25 minutes, 160°F
- ✓Use natural peanut butter with 1-2% oil separation on top - the extra fat creates fudgier texture while stabilized versions can make brownies dense.ingredient1-2% oil separation