Healthy Greek Yogurt Brownies

Healthy Greek Yogurt Brownies made with oat flour are lighter and packed with protein yet still deliver great flavor. Simple ingredients, an easy recipe, and a decadent chocolate ganache make these brownies a clear choice for a healthy brownie option!

Why I Love This Healthy Brownie Recipe

Brownies can fit into a balanced and healthy diet. I fully believe regular brownies can fit as well as healthier brownies like these oat flour yogurt brownies!

• Lower Calorie and Lower in Sugar- These brownies are just 210 calories with 17 grams of sugar. The calories include the chocolate ganache and overall both are lower than your regular brownie recipe.
• Higher Protein: There is 5 grams of protein per brownie from the Greek Yogurt! This makes them more filling and better balanced.
• Easy Ingredients: All the ingredients are simple and easy to find in just about any grocery store.
• Versatile: This healthy brownie recipe is easy to make your own. I love topping the chocolate ganache with sliced strawberries and a touch of powdered sugar.

Ingredients

Here's what you need to make healthy brownies with yogurt! You will also need an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan and mixing bowl for this recipe.

• Eggs: These are essential for the structure and texture of brownies. I have not tested this recipe using an egg substitute. I recommend trying an egg substitute like this one if you need to omit the eggs as I suspect it will yield better results than others such as flax or chia eggs.
• Greek Yogurt: I like using low fat Greek yogurt. You can easily use fat free or regular if you prefer. Sour cream or cottage cheese can also be swapped in place of the yogurt. I recommend using small curd cottage cheese and blending in a blender before mixing into the batter with the other ingredients.
• Olive Oil: My favorite for baking healthy brownies, but you can also use canola oil or refined coconut oil (no coconut flavor) instead.
• Flavor: Vanilla extract enhances the sweetness and flavor of the brownies while salt brings all the flavors together.
• Oat Flour: For gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free oat flour. If you are not gluten-free, you can use regular oat flour. Also, whole wheat flour, gluten-free all purpose baking flour, and almond flour all work with this recipe. However, you can't use coconut flour.
• Cocoa Powder: I used unsweetened cocoa powder for this recipe to give the brownies a rich chocolate flavor without any additional sugar. You can use cacao powder too.
• Chocolate Chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips for the brownies and ganache. You can also use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips instead. They will each alter the sweetness of the brownies. Milk chocolate makes the sweetest brownies, while dark chocolate tends to be less sweet.
• Half & Half: Made with half heavy cream and half milk, it's a bit lighter and lower in fat vs. heavy cream. You can use heavy cream, whole milk, evaporated milk, or canned coconut milk instead. Though each one may slightly affect the texture and consistency of the ganache.
• Coconut Sugar: I like using coconut sugar because it has a lower glycemic index but brown sugar, monk fruit sugar, or another low calorie sugar substitute or sugar of your choice can be used.

For the full the full ingredient list plus measurements, scroll to the bottom of this post to the recipe card

Variations

• Dairy-Free: A dairy free yogurt that is high protein like this can be used instead of Greek yogurt if you need something dairy free. Also, make sure you are using dairy-free chocolate chips as well and a substitute for the half and half to make the ganache.
• Oil-Free: Swap the oil with the same amount of unsweetened applesauce.
• Skip the Ganache: These brownies are also enjoyable plain too!
• Add Nuts: If you love nuts, you can stir in some chopped pecans or walnuts in the last step of mixing. They're also great sprinkled on top of the ganache before it sets.

How To Make Healthy Brownies with Greek Yogurt

To get started, gather all your ingredients for Greek yogurt brownies, preheat the oven to 350° F, and prepare an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Step 1: Combine the dry ingredients. Mix the oat flour, cocoa powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Melt the chocolate. Combine the chocolate and olive oil in a bowl and melt it in the microwave.

Step 3: Mix the wet ingredients. Mix together the eggs, sugar, Greek Yogurt and vanilla extract in another mixing bowl.

Step 4: Combine. Add the melted chocolate and flour mixture to the wet ingredient bowl.

Step 5: Bake. Transfer the Greek yogurt brownie batter into the prepare baking pan and bake 22-25 minutes. Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool completely.

Step 6: Make the ganache. Warm the half and half in a saucepan. When warm, stir in the chocolate until melted. Let it sit to cool and thicken. Next, pour the ganache over the baked brownies and place in the refrigerator to firm up.

Expert Tips

• Serving: This healthier brownie recipe is perfect for all types of events! Most people won't even notice that it's a healthier option -- they taste that good. For dessert, add a scoop of ice cream or pair it with a healthy peppermint mocha!
• Don't overbake: This may result in dry brownies. Test the doneness of your brownies by inserting a toothpick in the center. It should come out with a few crumbs stuck to it.
• Let the brownies set: You need to give them time to properly cool and set after adding the ganache. About 20-30 minutes in the fridge should work!

Storing Tips

• Refrigerator: You can store these Greek yogurt brownies in the refrigerator up to 10 days. Yogurt brownies should definitely be stored in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and not left out at room temperature.
• Freezer: Greek Yogurt brownies can be frozen up to 3 months. First, slice the brownies, then place on a sheet pan, and pop into the freezer for 30-60 minutes until they are set. Once frozen, you can transfer the brownies to a plastic storage bag separated with parchment paper.

Recipe FAQs

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