Best Vegan Chocolate Brownies Ever are topped with creamy chocolate peanut butter frosting and filled with chocolate chips and pecans. Making this easy brownie recipe with cocoa powder just seems like the right thing to do.
Chocolate is my nemesis. Not in the way that you think because I can conquer any form of chocolate and whip it into a tasty and beautiful presentation.
Chocolate is gorgeous in a slab or a bowl, but it's not so beautiful on my clothes. I think I have had chocolate on every piece of clothing that I own.
You would think that I would use an apron or 'cooking clothes' for my job. Not so. I dress for the day as if I was going to go out and then I go to the kitchen and get dirty.
Not unlike my husband when he decides to spread elastomeric on the roof in his best jeans. We have no sense.
So let's get started! Just look at these incredibly rich, fudgy brownies with that creamy chocolate peanut butter frosting.
The brownies are made in one saucepan - no bowl at all.
Table of Contents
How to Make Vegan Chocolate Brownies
There are quite a few ingredients but nothing difficult at all. Just measure out your ingredients and you're on your way.
A medium-sized saucepan will take care of the production of the batter.
You start by melting the dairy-free butter then add in the cocoa powder and instant coffee granules. Make sure it is all melted and mixed together well.
Remove from the heat and start to add in the ingredients one at a time in the order that is listed in the recipe card.
You even stir the chocolate chips and pecans into the pan. Mix them in quickly. It will have cooled down considerably so the chocolate chips will hold their own in the batter.
Pour the mixture into the prepared 8"x8" pan and bake. See how pretty and glossy it is on the pan below.
You can either grease the bottom and sides of the pan or lay parchment paper on the bottom for easy removal.
It's also a very simple clean-up job.
After the brownies have cooled you can add the chocolate frosting. You know how this is an easy brownie recipe with cocoa powder.
How to Make Chocolate Frosting for Brownies
- The recipe for the frosting is also simple and straightforward.
- The deep chocolate flavor is enhanced with just that little bit of coffee. It's a baking trick.
- There is a bit of peanut butter in the recipe and this chocolate frosting for brownies is the best!
- In about 5 minutes when all of the ingredients are mixed tigether you are ready to ice.
- You may even share some of the brownies before the frosting has been added because they are just that good.
- Now clip the corner of a plastic sandwich bag (or piping bag) and fit in the basic star tip. Pipe in a spiral on top of each brownie square.
- If you'd like to forego the piping go ahead and just spread it on like cake icing.
Do you see the sprinkles on top of the frosting? All I did was grind up a tiny bit of chocolate chips and sprinkled it over the top. It's just pretty.
If you love chocolate brownies like I do then you're going to love all of these recipes. Each is unique and irresistible.
Crazy Brownies
Autumns Oreo Brownies
The recipe title is a mouthful - but Best Vegan Chocolate Brownies Ever with Pecans & Chocolate Frosting is the kind of mouthful you want to have!
📋 Recipe
Best Vegan Chocolate Brownies Ever
Ingredients
For the brownies
- ⅔ cup dairy-free butter
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee crystals
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup coconut sugar coconut sugar
- 2 egg substitutes - you can use any type that you like - I use chia eggs - see below*
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder baking powder
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
For the frosting
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons dairy-free milk
Instructions
- Lightly grease an 8x8 baking pan.
For the brownies
- Mix your two egg substitutes and set aside. Use any of your favorite.
- *A chia egg is actually made with chia seed meal/flour not the bare seed. The way you make meal/flour is by grinding the chia seed in a processor such as one for your coffee beans or a spice grinder. I use mine to strictly grind seeds so that I do not mix flavors. Grind until it is a fine meal. I do about 4 ounces at a time and keep it in a little freezer safe canning jar - in the freezer. When I need a tablespoon or so it is all ready to go.
- Melt the dairy-free butter in a medium sized saucepan.
- Add the cocoa and instant coffee.
- Stir until well blended.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the sugars.
- Mix in the prepared egg substitutes and vanilla.
- Mix until combined and then stir in the flour and baking powder.
- Stir in the pecans and chocolate pieces.
- Pour into the prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and flip over on a wire rack to cool.
- When cooled cut into 16 2" squares.
For the frosting
- In a medium bowl mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
- If it seems too stiff you can add another tablespoon of non-dairy milk.
- Place the frosting in a piping bag with your favorite tip.
- Pipe the frosting on the top of each brownie.
- I sprinkled a little bit of ground up semi-sweet chocolate chips over the frosting.
Jill
Can you use a different flour other than wheat?
Susan
Of course you can use what ever flour you want in any recipe. Flour is flour. I substitute it all the time
Ginny McMeans
Yes, almost all of them. I wouldn't use coconut flour as that probably needs more liquid. Hope you get to make these 🙂
The Food Hunter
they look amazing!
Martha @ A Family Feast
Your clothing dilemma sounds like mine - but all for a great cause...these brownies look AMAZING!!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition
These look incredible! Best combination ever 🙂 And I have this fleece jacket that I call my "cooking jacket"!
Amanda @ The Kitcheneer
I am definitely going to have to try these soon! Definitely going to use coconut sugar!
Lora @cakeduchess
Chocolate is my nemesis some days of the week and today is one of those days! Could you please save me one of these brownies? Love the combo with peanut butter!
Laura O @PetiteAllergyTreats
I'm with you Ginny! I cannot stop with things and chocolate, it's just engrained in me. I know I'd want to eat the entire pan of these in one sittting!
Paula - bell'alimento
I need to get some coconut sugar. Yum!
Ginny McMeans
That's a great way to look at it Martha! A good cause 🙂
Ginny McMeans
You are a smart cookie Lauren!
Lucie
Ahhhh! Chocolate and peanut butter is way too irresistible of a combination. Can't wait to make these.
Nutmeg Nanny
I can NEVER resist chocolate. Especially if it's super dark or paired with peanut butter. Watch out I want these brownies.
Kim Beaulieu
I like the way you think. This is something I would whip up for company in a heartbeat! So fun.
Claryn
These look delicious! You really can't beat a brownie topped with frosting. 🙂
Jagruti
Very nice and tasty looking brownies, the addition of Peanut butter can't be a bad thing.. Thank you
Cliona Keane
Those look simply to die for! I know I wouldn't stop at just one though...the whole batch would be polished off in no time at all!
Dahn
Yes!! Chocolate and peanut butter are made for each other. These brownies look like they are going to be my evening snack tonight 🙂
Lauren
I'm drooling. Those look fantastic!
Veronica
I love peanut butter so I was of course a fan of this recipe after reading it and when I tasted the chocolicious brownies, the pecans and peanut butter frosting together I simply fell in love!
Nancy
These are divine! Used an old recipe for a quick dark chocolate frosting that I could just pour on top. I made these for a party that was called off at the last minute & I’m wondering how well they will freeze. Any suggestions?
Thanks for sharing!