Almond Butter Brownies

Almond butter brownies on the table with strawberries and a glass of milk

ALMOND BUTTER BROWNIES!!!  Yes, you heard me right, almond butter brownies, not chocolate fudge brownies, so I apologize for those of you that were looking for something chocolately, next time!  These are a bit of a healthier brownie, if there is such a thing as a healthy brownie. These brownies are made with 6 simple ingredients, almond butter, honey, an egg, vanilla, salt, and baking soda.  Yep, there’s no flour or sugar in these brownies and you honestly won’t miss the sugar or flour, as these brownies are gooey on the inside and a bit crusty on the outside. They’re super simple to whip up, (only takes 1/2 hour) super tasty, kid and co-worker approved (yes, my kids and co-workers loved these) and gluten-free to boot!

My friend Kimber introduced these brownies to my girlfriends and I on our recent girl’s trip.  We all absolutely loved them, and we agreed as we literally devoured the pan, that I needed to get this recipe posted on my blog sooner than later. I was super excited to bake these up and share the recipe with all of you, but I wasn’t excited to photograph them because although they taste great, they’re not the most attractive things to photograph.  So before I get to the recipe I thought it would be fun to show you two of the photographs that did not make it to the cutting room floor.

Take 1. Below is the photo I started out with. I really wasn’t a fan of the photo from the start, as it was dark and just looked lame in general, so I added in a cute font and tried to make it look good, but realized the font didn’t help it much and that it was just a lame photo. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Almond butter brownies with milk and almond butter

Take 2.  Here’s another attempt with the same theme in mind, but I threw down a fancy spoon and some parchment paper to lighten things up a bit.  I  was actually going to go with this photo because I just didn’t have anymore creative juices left in me, and basically I was tired of looking at the brownies.  I texted this photo to a few friends and said, “this is the I best can do today, what do you think?

Almond butter brownies with milk and almond butter jar with text.

All three of my friends texted me back right away with some great ideas, like add in a pop of color with strawberries, add some almonds to the photo and put the brownies on a pretty plate, so I took a tip from each one of them and came up with the cover photo.  I’m happy with the results and happy with how the photo turned out!  I’m learning that sometimes you need a fresh perspective on things!  Ok, enough with my failed attempts at food photography, let’s move onto this recipe.

Almond butter brownies on the table top view

almond butter brownies:

makes one 8×8 pan of brownies – To make a 9×13 pan just double the below recipe

prep and bake time is only 30 minutes, awesome!

  • 1 cup almond butter – I used raw almond butter from MaraNatha, which is my favorite nut butter in the universe!
  • 1/3 cup honey – I used a local honey, which  is wonderful for allergies, so it’s perfect for this time of year!
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly butter or oil a 8×8 baking dish.

ingredients for almond butter brownies
Measure out your ingredients and put them all together in a bowl.

Almond butter brownie batter with egg

Now here’s the part that gets tricky and messy!  These brownies are best when mixed by hand.  Yes, you are going to put your hands in there and  massage the mixture.  It’s a bit different and messier than massaging kale, but it’s also kind of fun as well.  Mix and massage the mixture until all of the ingredients are throughly mixed and kind of creamy.  The mixture will get pretty thick as you mix it.

Use your fingers to get the excess batter off of your hands and then use a spatula to get the rest off.  Like I said, this is messy, but I find that if you don’t mix it well with your hands then the texture changes, and the brownies are not as gooey and they may even have chunks in them.  By the way, Kimber mixes her batter for 3-4 minutes.  

 Using a spatula, scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish.  The batter will be pretty thick and you will have to press and smooth out the batter into the baking dish.

Almond butter brownies in a pan with spatula

Bake at 350 for 15-19 minutes.  Note:  It may take more time depending on your oven.

Almond butter brownies baked in a glass pan

Note:  The original recipe that Kimber sent me called for the brownies to be cooked for 35-45 minutes, but when I did that, they were way overcooked.  I then made another batch and checked them at 15 minutes and they were close, but finished cooking at 19 minutes.  So basically I would suggest checking the brownies at 15 minutes.

Another good tip is to check the oven when the brownies start to smell good.  You want the edges of the brownies to crust over and be a bit higher than the center.  You want the center to indent a little which means that the brownies will have gooey center. You can always do the toothpick test, and if a bit of moist crumbs stick to the toothpick, then the brownies are done. You really do not want to overcook these brownies, as they can be dry.  Ok, did I go into way too much detail there?

Pair these brownies with a glass of almond milk or some coconut ice-cream and enjoy!

Almond butter brownies on the table with strawberries and a glass of milk

Love almonds?  Then try my almond flour pancakes. These are pancakes that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating because they’re made with almond flour, (which is basically ground up almonds) honey for the sweetener and coconut oil as a substitute for butter or vegetable oil. They’re also lower in carbs than traditional pancakes, and gluten and dairy free as they’re made with almond flour and almond milk. These pancakes are a guilt-free breakfast treat that are packed with fuel to keep you going for hours.

Almond flour pancakes

With love Jackie

Almond Butter Brownies

Recipe by Jackie
0.0 from 0 votes
Prep time

20

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup almond butter - I used raw almond butter from MaraNatha, which is my favorite nut butter in the universe!

    • â…“ cup honey - I used a local honey, which is wonderful for allergies, so it's perfect for this time of year!

    • 1 egg

    • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    • ½ teaspoon baking soda

    Directions

    • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter or oil a 8x8 baking dish.

    • Measure out your ingredients and put them all together in a bowl.

    • Now here's the part that gets tricky and messy! These brownies are best when mixed by hand. Yes, you are going to put your hands in there and massage the mixture. It's a bit different and messier than massaging kale, but it's also kind of fun as well.

    • Mix and massage the mixture until all of the ingredients are throughly mixed and kind of creamy. The mixture will get pretty thick as you mix it.

    • Use your fingers to get the excess batter off of your hands and then use a spatula to get the rest off. Like I said, this is messy, but I find that if you don't mix it well with your hands then the texture changes, and the brownies are not as gooey and they may even have chunks in them. By the way, Kimber mixes her batter for 3-4 minutes.

    • Using a spatula, scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish. The batter will be pretty thick and you will have to press and smooth out the batter into the baking dish.

    • Bake at 350 for 15-19 minutes.

    • Note: The original recipe that Kimber sent me called for the brownies to be cooked for 35-45 minutes, but when I did that, they were way overcooked. I then made another batch and checked them at 15 minutes and they were close, but finished cooking at 19 minutes. So basically I would suggest checking the brownies at 15 minutes.

    • Another good tip is to check the oven when the brownies start to smell good. You want the edges of the brownies to crust over and be a bit higher than the center. You want the center to indent a little which means that the brownies will have gooey center. You can always do the toothpick test, and if a bit of moist crumbs stick to the toothpick, then the brownies are done. You really do not want to overcook these brownies, as they can be dry. Ok, did I go into way too much detail there?

    • Pair these brownies with a glass of almond milk or some coconut ice-cream and enjoy!

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      37 thoughts on “Almond Butter Brownies”

      1. This is news to my ears Jackie! I have a gluten allergy and like to eat healthy so I can’t wait to try this one. Plus with the almond utter there is a good amount of protein. Going to try it tomorrow. Thanks!

        1. Hi Cindi! I hope you love them girl! I was so surprised that almond butter and honey could create such a tasty treat! The brownies are strangly addicting! Enjoy and let me know how they turn out for you!
          xoxo, Jackie

      2. Oh NICE! I’ve never liked chocolate(I know. People tell me I’m betraying our gender-not a fan of sweets in general )and indeed it is often chocolate world from a futime foods perspective! I’m going to try these tomorrow. Question though. I don’t like honey. And also would like for my baby to be able to try a bit.
        I’m thinking that for my tastes, the butter will provide enough sweetness.
        Thoughts about omitting the honey?

        Love the entire tone of your blog! Great pics, and I dig that you share so much of your process!
        Thanks!

        LouLou

        1. Hi LouLou! You know that I have been meeting more and more people that are not fans of chocolate. I on the other hand LOVE chocolate, but I’m ok to have a break from it every so often.
          Maybe you can try agave nectar in lieu of the honey or maple syrup? I’m not the best with baking substitutions, so sorry! The honey does add flavor and sweetness to the brownies, and it helps to thicken the batter. I’m not sure that butter will do that. I actually think using butter on top of almond butter will make the brownies kind of flat and too buttery tasting. You could give it a try and report back, but I would hate to see you waste a cup of almond butter (which is not cheap) if the brownies didn’t turn out well.
          Thanks for your sweet comments on the post! It was fun pulling it together! xoxo, Jackie

        1. Hi Kelli! I hope Debby likes them! I know, my friends are the best, and it’s always nice to have a fresh perspective on things, as I tend to get stuck in a rut with my photos! 🙂 xoxo, Jackie

      3. I LOVE these almond butter brownies… Great post Jackie! I also wanted to share that these delicious brownies are allowed on the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet), which is thought to be helpful for people with Colitis, Crohn’s, and other GI disorders, as well as for kids on the Autism Spectrum. Bon Appétit!

        1. KIMBER!!! Thank you for this recipe girl! I don’t think I would have ever tried these if you hadn’t made them last weekend. Thanks for letting my readers know about the SCD info, I think that will really be helpful! Love you soul sister! 🙂 xoxo, Jackie

        1. Hi Kristina! Thanks sweetie! That photo is actually my first professional photo! 🙂 The ingredients are super simple and all pantry ingredeints in my house! I would totally make you some if you lived a bit closer 😉 Enjoy your week girl! xoxo, Jackie

        1. Hi Christy! I know, I was shocked that I actually liked a brownie that didn’t have choocate in it. My co-workers were a bit hesistant to try these, but loved them in spite of there not being any chocoalte in them. Glad you liked the post as well. I hope all is well on your end 🙂 xoxo, Jackie

      4. I love the simple ingredient list! I always crave desserts but I don’t allow myself to indulge in them often, I think this one will have to make an appearance soon though. Sounds amazing!

        1. Hi Tess. I think I have an electric stove? I’m not really sure. I say check the brownies at 15 minutes, but they need to cook for 4-5 more minutes. I like them on the chewier side. xoxo, Jackie

      5. Hi! I was wondering if you buy organic almond butter? It is $20 at the wf by my house which seems really expensive – is this normal? Would this work with peanut butter?
        Thank you- this looks amazing!

        1. Hi Kara! I sometimes buy it when I can get it on sale, but I usually just buy the normal raw almond butter or normal almond butter. It’s still pricey though. I’m sure it would work with raw peanut butter, but not a type of peanut butter like Jiff or Skippy. If you try it with regular peanut butter let me know how it turns out! xoxo, Jackie

      6. I too was a bit turned off by the prices at WF but found an 8 oz jar for $8 and went with it. This recipe really intrigued though I have no need of Paleo or gluten-free recipes. So glad I went with it! Really tasty and so easy. I mixed it up in my KitchenAid mixer for a few minutes instead of by hand. I am squeamish on mixing with my hands.

        I would say these are more like blondies than brownies though. But very good!! Made them Friday night and they were all gone by Saturday evening. My hubby loved them too! Might try with peanut butter.

        1. Hi Charity! Yes, they are more like blondies and I realize now that I should have called them almond butter blondies, but Google has already caught onto the name and I can’t change it at this point, oh well 🙂 I’m glad you liked them. Let me know how they taste if you use peanut butter! I woudl love to try that as well as I’m addicted to peanut butter, like seriously addicted! Have a great week! xoxo, Jacquelyn

      7. i have been trying to get by there for like the last 3 days but time just gets away from me! So let me first say LOVE LOVE the brownies but then lets talk girl talk! How have you been! I loved your sweet comment you left me last week. I miss you but I am okay with it because I know you are so happy and doing what you love which is taking time for yourself, your family and your other interests.

        We are planning a trip to Cali for next year and you bet I AM SOO HOPING we can meet up if not for anything but coffee! The men can come along too:)

      8. Hey Jackie! Let me say that I love your site and have been following it for almost a year. So happy you decided to come back to it and do posts every now and then. Also my family loves everything I’ve made from here!

        My store was out of the raw almond butter, so I just picked up MaraNatha’s creamy almond butter. I subbed this in the recipe not realizing that the raw butter had no added salt and that the recipe calls for salt because of that. So, I ended up with kinda salty bars, lol. My hubby still likes them, which is good, but next time I make it with the regular butter (with salt) I will definitely remember to omit the 1/2 tsp salt! ><

        1. Hi Leah! Awwww… so happy that you love my blog and have been following it for a year, and that you’ve made some family approved recipes! Wow, you made my day 🙂 I promise I will get more recipes up this summer as life slows down!

          You know, I didn’t even realize that there wasn’t any salt in the raw almond butter, so good call on your part. I will note that in the recipe. I tend to like salty things, so I may not have even noticed. I’m glad your hubby ate them though! Let me know how they turn out the next time you make them 🙂 xoxo, Jacquelyn

      9. My family and anyone in my vicinity who has tasted these babies are in love. So so yummy. I didn’t have quite 1/3 c of honey yesterday when I made these (third time), but I figured it would be a good experiment. They turned out fine, slightly less sweet, which was fine. A question for you: twice I’ve actually set the timer and massaged the batter for 3.5 to 4 minutes. Those times, at about 16 minutes, the brownies were done and were fairly cakey. The one time I didn’t set the timer, I feel certain that I massaged the batter no more than 2 minutes. That time, I removed them from the oven at 15 minutes and they were quite gooey in the center. Almost too gooey to eat without a fork. So… Is the cakey character a product of the longer massaging? (Four minutes is a long time!) love your recipes, love your blog, thank you for all the heart and soul and effort you put into it!

        1. Hi Robin! I’m glad you all loved the brownies or should I say blondies 🙂 You know, I’ve never massaged the batter for 4 minutes, so maybe that did make them cakey. I might change the post. Kimber is adamant that the key is massaging the mixture that long, but I think I honeslty only do it for 2 minutes, as I feel like its enough, so maybe she has her time off, I think I will change it in the post. I like them to be gooier as well. I also think it could depend on the type of almond butter that is used. Some brands are drier than others. Anwya, stick to your 2 minute massage time as that seems to work!
          Thank you for your super sweet comment regarding my blog. I’m so happy that you’re a fan! Thanks sweetie 🙂 xoxo, Jacquelyn

      10. I absolutely love your blog! I’m a 14 year old, and just tried out these brownies with raw peanut butter instead of almond because I couldn’t find any at our grocery store :/ These turned out so good, but because the peanut butter was salty I didn’t add any salt to the batter. Thank you so much for this recipe- I’m probably never going to make chocolate brownies again!

        1. Awww…. You’re so adorable, and I love that you’re 14 like my daughter! It’s awesome that you love to cook, and I’m pretty impressed that you whipped up a pretty heathy recipe, which is not too typical for a 14 year old 🙂 Great and creative idea using peanut butter, I will have to try that as I’m a HUGE fan of peanut butter. Next to kale, peanut butter is one of my favorite things! You’re a chef in the making being able to substitute so easily! I can’t wait to hear what you make up next! Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hi 🙂 I’m going to be posting a broccoli rabe pizza tomorrow, so stay tuned, I bet you will LOVE it! I’m also posting these no-bake dark chocolate and peanut butter granola bars that I bet you will be a big fan of. Zoe loves them and begs me to make them! They’re healthy as well, which I think you will appreciate! Take care sweetie! xoxo, Jacquelyn

            1. Awesome girl! I’m so happy to hear that both of these recipes were a success for you! Yippee! xoxo, Jacquelyn 🙂

      11. Hi Jacquelyn,

        I can’t wait to try this recipe! Could I use salted almond butter (it’s what I have in the cabinet) or does it have to be unsalted?

        Thanks!

        1. I think salted almond butter would be totally fine! I’m not even sure that my almond butter was unsalted? I don’t have a container of the almond butter I used in my cabinet, so I can’t check the label, but my instructions did not say to use unsalted almond butter, so I think you’re totally fine! I hope you love these girl! You’ve got me craving a batch of these, so I think I’m going to have to get me some almond butter and make a batch this week! 🙂 xoxo, Jacquelyn

      12. I just made these yesterday and they were so good and so easy to make!!! I may add chocolate chips next time to try something new!

        I love your recipes and all the pictures and instructions you provide. Thanks for all the work you do to share awesome recipes with us!

        1. Hi Molly! AWESOME! I’m so happy you loved the brownies! They’re one of our faves as well, and chocolate chips would be awesome in them! Great idea! I’m so happy you find the step-by-step recipes helpful and easy to follow! Thanks so much for reading my blog and making the recipes. I always love hearing from readers, so thanks for saying “hi” as well 🙂 xoxo, Jacquelyn

      13. Love your authenticity, no cocoa added. The internet has been needing non-cocoa brownies of an authentic kind, and you’ve done it! Your photography, graphic design, and recipe look delicious. Good job! Using your recipe as inspiration for vegan almond butter chia seed brownies. Thank you for all of your sweet efforts!

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