Try this recipe for vegan sweet potato brownies. With no refined sugar they make a healthy tasty treat. Deliciously squidgy just like traditional brownies but so much healthier!

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness month and the charity, Bowel Cancer UK is encouraging everyone to be a star and bake a cake for family and friends. Although the 4th most common cancer in the UK, bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer and it's hoped that the campaign will raise awareness as well as vital funding.

A number of celebrity chefs have shared their favourite recipes in support of the charity. As a huge fan of brownies as well as wanting to offer healthier sweet treats to my family when I can, I couldn't resist having a go at the sweet potato brownies by Deliciously Ella.
These sweet potato brownies are vegan, wheat-free and have no refined sugar!
These brownies are such a healthy option and a great choice for people on various free-from diets. They're vegan, wheat-free and refined sugar-free. The sweetness comes from dates and maple syrup and it's the dates that give them that beautifully squishy brownie texture. The chocolatiness is from raw cacao powder, rather than melted chocolate.
I found the more of these I ate, the more I liked them. I absolutely love real brownies but I don't feel good if I eat too much sugar. But with these vegan sweet potato brownies, I still felt healthy. They also made a great post-running snack.
What ingredients are in these sweet potato brownies?
Well, there are sweet potatoes of course. Not just a small amount of sweet potato but 500g. That means you are definitely eating some vegetables when you eat one of these!
Instead of flour there are ground almonds and oats. There are medjool dates and maple syrup to add sweetness but no refined sugar.
The chocolate flavour comes from raw cacao powder.
What substitutions can you use?
If you can't get your hands on all the ingredients, don't worry. If you have no maple syrup then try making them with agave nectar or honey. Although if you use honey they won't be vegan.
The dates don't have to be medjool dates. You can substitute cocoa for the raw cacao powder.
If you are not looking for a wheat-free recipe and don't have oats or ground almonds then you can use flour instead.

Do sweet potato brownies taste the same as 'real' brownies?
I should say, that if you are expecting these to taste the same as brownies, they don't. You can taste the fruitiness of the dates and the chocolate flavour is nowhere near as rich as in real brownies. However, they do have that lovely gooey brownie texture and if you don't have a really sweet tooth and you love fruity bars then these are definitely something for you.
I want you to make these sugar-free brownies and love them for what they are, not be disappointed that they don't actually taste like brownies!
As I said earlier, these sweet potato brownies grew on me. With my first one, I found myself thinking, it's good but it's not a brownie. By the time I ate my last one, I was already planning to make some more!

How long do these sweet potato brownies keep?
I find bakes with sweet potato in don't keep fresh for very long so it's important to eat them quickly or keep them in the fridge. If they are not in the fridge they won't keep for longer than three days. If you store them in the fridge they will stay fresh for about a week.
Can you freeze these sweet potato brownies?
It's also possible to freeze these sugar free brownies if you don't think you can eat them all up quickly enough. Space them out slightly and put them on a baking tray in the freezer and once they are frozen, transfer them to an airtight container. I put a sheet of baking paper between the layers so they don't stick together in the freezer and it's easy to take out just one or two brownies at a time. They'll keep in the freezer for at least three months.
What equipment do you need to make these brownies?
In order to mix all these ingredients together you need to use a food processor or a powerful blender. I use my Magimix* which has worked brilliantly for over 10 years.
It's really easy to quickly blend the dates to a puree and then all you need to do is mix them up with all the other brownie ingredients. You'll also need a loose bottomed 20cm baking tin.*

Are you looking for more healthy bakes?
If you are looking for more ideas for healthier bakes to make for you and your family then do take a look at my sweet potato cookies, chocolate chip pumpkin cereal bars or date and banana oaty bars.
Recipe

Sweet Potato Brownies by Deliciously Ella
Ingredients
- 500 g sweet potato
- 100 g ground almond
- 100 g ground oats
- 12 medjool dates
- 2 tablespoon melted coconut oil
- 6 tablespoon raw cacao
- 6 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- Pinch salt
For the icing
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon cacao
- 2 tablespoon almond butter
Instructions
- Steam the sweet potatoes until they are soft. I cooked mine in the microwave then removed the skin.
- Pit the dates if they have stones in. Chop roughly then put in a food processor with the sweet potatoes. Blend to a puree.
- Put the date and sweet potato puree in a bowl with all the other ingredients and stir well. The mixture will be quite stiff.
- Transfer to a square tin lined with baking paper.
- Bake in the oven at 180C for 40-50 minutes. A skewer should come out dry when they are ready.
- Let the brownie cool in the tin for about 10 minutes before removing and transferring to a wire rack.
- While the brownies are cooling, put all the ingredients for the icing in a small bowl. Heat in the microwave for a minute then stir together. Let it cool in the fridge. If it's still too runny when you are ready to use it, put it in the freezer for a short time to firm up.
- Cut the brownies into squares and spread the icing on top.
- They will keep well for about 4 days in an airtight tin.
Notes
Nutrition
More Hidden Vegetable Recipes
If you like hidden vegetable recipes then why not try one of these?
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make these sweet potato brownies. I love to get feedback from readers.
You can also stay up to date by following on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Places I'm sharing these sweet potato brownies
We Should Cocoa at Tin and Thyme
*affiliate links
Anonymous
can i microwave it instead?
Corina Blum
Hi, I've never tried cooking this recipe in the microwave and so I'm not sure how it would turn out. If you try it let me know.
Adi
Hi these sound amazing.
I was wondering if there was a substitute for the the almond meal as allergies to some nuts
Thanks so much
Regards Adi
Corina Blum
Hi Adi
You could substitute it for plain flour as in regular brownies. I haven't tried it though but I'm sure it would work.
Jo @ Jo's Kitchen Larder
I've been meaning to try Ella's recipe for quite some time now but for some reason regular or gluten free but sugar and no sweet potatoes versions always seem to win somehow 🙂 Your post really makes me want to try these though as could really do with some guilt free yummies. Wonderful cause to support as well! x
Corina
Thanks Jo! I hope you do manage to make them. They really are tasty x
Choclette
These sound totally delicious to me. Sweet potato is about the only vegetable I haven't tried baking with, so I'm keen to give these a go. I guess it's all about the name. Don't call them brownies and we won't be disappointed. Thanks for sharing with We Should Cocoa.
Corina
Exactly! The name does have a lot to do with it. I hope you enjoy these!
Helen @ family-friends-food.com
How intriguing! I love experimenting with vegetables in cakes. Thanks for joining in with #OnePotato Two Potato.
Corina
You're welcome Helen and thanks for hosting!
Kate
Wow, these look so good! I have made black bean vegan brownies before, but I have never tried using sweet potato. THey look delicious!
Corina
Black bean brownies is something I keep thinking I need to make! I'm definitely up for trying more bakes using 'unusual' ingredients now.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
I love making brownies with alternative ingredients, like sweet potatoes! How brilliant! I haven't heard of using that ingredient before. I will definitely be making this and not telling my husband what's in them to see if he notices! What fun!
Corina
I hope you can fool him!
jacqui bellefontaine
I found your comment about growing to like them amusing. I have grown to like food too much!!! Seriously though I think you are right It is sometimes a mistake to call a food something it isnt just to get people to try ,as they can end up disappointed if i doesn't live up to expectation. Better to give it its own new name. But you have persuaded me to try them>
Just to let you know I am guest hosting #CookBlogShare this week so I would love it if you popped over to share a recipe.
Jacqui x
Corina
Just linked up my latest recipe Jacqui. Hope you enjoy these if you try them x
jenny paulin
I have only baked with sweet potatoes once inside a carrot cake , and it did add a lovely natural sweetness to my bake. These look really delicious brownies x
Corina
I've wondered what sweet potato would be like added to carrot cake, I'll have to try it sometime. x
Traditionallymodernfood
I was just craving for some dessert and I saw ur post. Brownies looks delish, never thought about making brownies with sweet potato
Corina
They are good. They aren't exactly like traditional brownies in taste but they do have a lovely texture. The taste is more fruity.
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
I made many brownies throughout my life but never with sweet potatoes. Somehow such an idea have never crossed my mind. Thanks for the recipe!
Corina
Oh you should try it! You can't really taste the sweet potato but I think it adds to the texture.
Haley D. Williams
I bet the sweet potato makes these brownies every chewy! What a great substitute 🙂
Corina
They do give the brownies a lovely texture! so chewy and delicious for almost a week after I made them!
Amanda
These sound so delicious. I love that you have added fiber and natural sweetness. Everyone will love these and not even know how healthy they are.
Corina
Thanks Amanda! I'm so pleased you like them.
Sandi G
I love hiding veggies in my baked treats too. These brownies look totally awesome!
Corina
Thanks Sandi! They were lovely and squidgy - just the right texture!
Eb Gargano / easypeasyfoodie.com
These look lovely, and for a great cause. I have seen Ella's brownies before and keep meaning to make them as they look so lovely...and I love the idea of a healthy dessert!! Thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare 🙂 Eb x
Corina
Thanks for hosting Eb! I am all for healthy desserts at the moment. After Easter and after my children's birthdays are over I'm going to have to have a month of being healthy as I've definitely been overindulging on chocolate recently! x
Monika Dabrowski
This is such a fabulous recipe! I love every single ingredient and you've made these brownies look so beautiful too! Have a wonderful Easter weekend:)
Corina
Thanks Monika! Hope you have a lovely Easter weekend too x
Nat @ Intolerant Gourmand
I'm a big fan of brownies, and love using sweet potato in them - it gives them a delicious fudgy texture and makes them have a super intense chocolate flavour! x #cookblogshare
Corina
I think I need to try some more sweet recipes with sweet potatoes in now! I liked these the more I ate them and would love to try some variations now I've started! x
Kate - gluten free alchemist
Sweet potatoes are a bit of a wonder food aren't they?! Although in our house, Mr GF thinks the only things you can do with them are bake, chop or mash! He moans at me every time I buy them and then uses them before I can be inventive! Wonder how he'd react to SP Brownies?!!! x
Corina
I think you should try the sweet potato brownies on him! At least your other half will eat sweet potatoes, my husband refuses to eat them and if I cook them with other things he complains they flavour everything! x
[email protected] A Dash of Cinnamon
OMG these look amazing. I would really like one right now please!!! So sad I don't have sweet potatoes stocked currently. Looks like I need to change that!
Corina
I hope you manage to try them!
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain
Ooh these sound so good Corina. Like you i love brownies, but I have to admit that I often find them too rich in chocolate so these sound to be a great alternative. Bowel cancer is something close to my heart especially as my Dad was diagnosed with it 17 yr ago and is happily still fighting fit :-), and although I've already scheduled a bake in for the blog I'm off to check out those other bakes too!
Angela x
Corina
I'm so pleased you like them Angela and it's great to hear that your Dad made such a good recovery x