Chocolate Spinach Brownies
Chocolate SPINACH BROWNIES with Peanut Butter Frosting recipe. This is a EASY way to get kids or adults to eat their vegetables. You won’t believe how delicious these brownies are! They’re also made with the best peanut butter frosting recipe ever!
The color green. What do you think of?
In many people’s minds, the color green isn’t something you usually think of when you think of sweet desserts. I hear that little kids fear their green vegetables so sneaky parents have to find ways to incorporate it into their meals. Well I don’t have a little kid, but I still like being sneaky, even if it means just being sneaky to myself.
Spinach Brownies.
Best Spinach Recipes
As soon as I picked the spinach in the garden I knew I wanted to bake with it! From past recipes I love adding vegetables to sweet treats! (see: avocado brownies, pumpkin brownies). So I decided to keep it simple and keep the brownie tradition alive. The brownie tradition should never end. Can you imagine a world without brownies? I surely cannot!
I have to admit I was unsure about how these spinach brownies were going to turn out. I was worried because of the amount of spinach that are in these brownies, 1 whole cup pureed, which equals about 4-5 cups raw. That is a large amount of spinach. But as soon as I poured the spinach puree, gave it a few twirls with my spoon then tasted it, worries were erased. 100%.
Can you taste the spinach? The short answer is sort of. The long answer is not really. I like spinach, I know what it tastes like, so I can pick up a slight spinach taste. But for those who are unaware there is spinach in them, or don’t often eat spinach, they will pass it off as “dark chocolate” tasting. I think that’s the best way to describe them, dark.
I decided to make my favorite peanut butter frosting to go on top of these spinach brownies! I’m in love with this decadent frosting! It’s the perfect sweet frosting to go with these dark brownies.
Spinach Brownies Recipe
Pretty Pretty Spinach. You are so pretty. How are you so pretty?
Into the food processor it goes. I did 2 batches. Add a tablespoon or 2 of water in with the spinach so it gets pureed.
You will need 1 full cup of spinach. This is about 4-5 cups raw. Whole lotta spinach going on…
But when you add it to the chocolate mixture, you can’t even tell. Magic!
The peanut butter frosting. It deserves “the” in front of it because it is amazing. I ate so many spoonfuls, don’t even ask.
Pat it down with a spatula and put it in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set..
Then cut those brownies up! Look at these gorgeous brownies!
Enjoy a healthy spinach salad, but don’t forget that spinach makes a great sweet treat too! Enjoy these chocolate spinach brownies!
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Chocolate Spinach Brownies
Chocolate SPINACH BROWNIES with Peanut Butter Frosting recipe. This is a EASY way to get kids or adults to eat their vegetables. You won't believe how delicious these brownies are! They're also made with the best peanut butter frosting recipe ever!
Ingredients
Spinach Brownies
- 1 cup pureed spinach
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup salted butter - melted
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips - melted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter - melted
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cup confectioners powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
Spinach Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350 and spray 8x8 pan with nonstick spray.
- Take your spinach leaves and put them in the food processor with 1-2 tablespoons of water and pulse until it turns into a puree. Keep doing this until you get 1 full cup of spinach puree. This usually equals about 4-5 cups raw spinach leaves.
- Mix melted butter, brown sugar and sugar together in a bowl. Stir in melted chocolate chips, spinach puree and vanilla.
- In another bowl mix your flour, cocoa powder and baking powder together.
- A little at a time, add your dry flour mixture to your chocolate spinach mixture, stirring continuously until it's all smooth.
- Pour batter in 8x8 pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool.
Peanut Butter Frosting
- Put butter and peanut butter in a bowl and mix with electric mixer.
- Slowly pour in your powdered sugar a little at a time. When it starts to thicken, add your 2 tablespoons milk in and continue to mix. You should keep mixing for about 2-3 minutes until your frosting is fluffy. If it's still thick, add a additional tablespoon of milk if needed.
Chocolate Spinach Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting
- Once brownies are cool, spread your peanut butter frosting across them.
- Pat the frosting down with a spatula so it becomes a smooth layer.
- Put in refrigerator for one hour to let the frosting set.
- Cut brownies into squares, enjoy!
My husband is a total spinach phobe – I want to make these and see if he actually notices 😉 They are very sneaky – they look just like fudgy, yummy brownies to me! 🙂
Let me know! I like being sneaky.. 😉
I totes need to get tricked. I love how delish these sneaky brownies look!
Trick yourself! It’ll be worth it! 🙂
Wow! These spinach brownies look delish! And almost guiltless right?
Thank you! Almost guiltless is a great way to put it. 😉
You’re totally speaking my language! I love that with a healthy brownie base, it’s totally reasonable to splurge on a tasty PB frosting, mmm
Glad you like these Kelly! I’m thinking about making another batch this week for some friends. 🙂
And all this time I thought green symbolized $$$$$$$$$! Ha. These brownies look like a perfect fall treat. Wow.
Ok green means that too! 😉 Thanks Cathy!
Is this really happening right now??? I am stoked to try these!!! Such a creative way to use spinach-in a brownie (only my favorite baked treat EVER). Look, I’ll ship you the Cinnamon Raisin Bread and you ship me these brownies!?! 🙂
You don’t even have to ask.. DEAL! 🙂 🙂
Spinach brownies, holy cow!!! they look sinfully delicious and I love that you have snuck some of the leafy greens into those treats. Brilliant.
Thanks Suzanne! So now you can get your vegetables with some chocolate! What a treat! 🙂
Fortunately my boys love spinach in any form but I am yet to try it in desserts, maybe just a bit skeptical but if it looks like how your brownie looks here, I’m gonna go for it..Love it.
I hope you try it, they really are the yummiest! I would never lie about brownies, it’s a serious subject. 😉
Peanut butter ALL THE things!!! I love spinach, but I’ve been hesitant to put it in desserts since it’s got a bitter flavor. I can see how that translates to dark chocolate! Now I have to try it.
I think you’ll love it Kim! It has such a dark flavor, and with the peanut butter frosting – oh my! I’m all excited to make another batch right now!
I love sneaking veggies into desserts, except then I use it as an excuse to eat way more than I should. I’m obsessed with spinach so I’m sure these would be a winner in my book!
Hahaha, well since you will be getting your daily vegetables in, I think you deserve 2 brownies! 😉
Yesssss….cold brownies. I think cold brownies are my most favorite food, ever. But until today, I had never, ever considered putting spinach in them. I’ve only recently hopped on board with green smoothie trend. And I really can’t taste the spinach in those, so I’m guessing the chocolate in these brownies will make it completely undetectable for me. Amazing!
Cold brownies are delicious, aren’t they? I sure wish I had some in my fridge right now but we ate all these very quickly! Hope you give these a try!
All hail peanut butter frosting! (not that these brownies look like they wouldn’t be amazing on their own!)
All very true Nora! I agree completely! Peanut Butter Fan Club 4 life.
Spinach brownies?? AWESOME. Totally counteracts the butter and sugar right?
That is what I like to tell myself Davida. 😉
These look ridiculously good!
Thanks Anne!
I’m guessing the spinach in these brownies balance out the peanut butter frosting. At least that is what I am going to keep telling myself.
I think it’s a great way to think about it Jamie. 😉
I love this! What a great way to sneak some greens into a tasty treat! Especially for those who don’t eat their greens. Very clever Pamela! 🙂
Thanks Anne! A little healthy sneakery never hurt anyone.. only made delicious treats! 🙂
I love everything with spinach. I cant decide which ones to bake first these or the cupcakes.
I say go with both! 😉
I think a bowl of spinach would probably taste almost as good with that pb frosting on it 😉 These look great!!
Hahahaha, that frosting sure is magical…
Salad for a week or brownies…I know what everyone will be choosing. 🙂
Me too Karen! 😉
I’ve also used avo and pumpkin but not spinach. This looks so brownie like – wow. And I’m holding hands with you! Thank goodness for peanut butter frosting!
Thanks for taking my hand with these brownies! I could just (I did) eat that frosting with a spoon!
Drooling. Nicely done.
Thanks Pam!
OHH! this looks so delicious. I never thought of using spinach in a batch of brownies, but this would be a great way to incorporate some veggies into the sweets my son likes to eat.
I love spinach and love the idea of utilizing them in savory meals and as well as sweet ones!
I hope you both enjoy the brownies Abby, I’m kinda in love with them! 🙂
very intrigued by these! filling up on spinach totally cancels out OD’ing on pb frosting, no? 😉
That’s what I tell myself Kristi. 😉
you have no idea how much I LOVE to see people create these kinds of fabulous recipes.
good job girl!
Thank you! 🙂 🙂
What a creative use for spinach! When I was little, I remember my mom making “chocolate” muffins that also contained zucchini. My younger brothers weren’t so fond of their greens, so it was a way to get them to eat their veggies. I don’t think my brothers were ever the wiser…
You had one smart mom! 😉 It’s a great way to sneak in some healthy fruits and vegetables, I love doing this with avocado, pumpkin and apples too! Yum!
Love the spinach in these brownies! Especially the tops of pb frosting! But of course, I would definitely have to make these in private before the boys came home from school. They’d love them…with out knowing the secret ingredient. Brownies are their favorite after school snack anyways…so perfect!
I love the idea of you sneaking away making these brownies! Secret Agent Gloria! Hope you guys enjoy them!
Great brownie tradition you have working here.
Thanks Debra! Gotta keep it alive! 😉
What a great way to sneak in the veggies!! I just can’t resist peanut butter and chocolate!!
Me either! I can never say no to this combination!
I would never have guessed that these brownies have spinach in them. It’s very well hidden. I love the look of your peanut butter frosting, too. I have never made a frosting with peanut butter and I’m going to have to change that xx
I sure hope you do! The peanut butter frosting is so yummy, it’s hard to not just take spoonfuls of it and eat away! 😉
Get in ma belly! Oh how I wish my spinach had germinated! I planted more a week or so ago….pinning this recipe for later!
Hope it works out.. you need these brownies Katie!
I adore recipes like this! I’m always a little nervous about incorporating veggies into sweets but seriously, is there a better way to get my veggie intake? I’ll gladly heap that spinach into a brownie if it means I get to eat a brownie. And better, a brownie with peanut butter frosting. I’m usually an “as is” gal too but this? It’s insanity! Delicious insanity.
I totally agree Kim! Is there a better way to get our daily vegetables, but inside a chocolate brownie? Sign me up for all this vegetable eating! 😉
I’ve never used spinach in baking, but I’m thinking I really need to give it a try! I love using avocado with chocolate, but never thought about spinach. These look awesome – and I love being sneaky too : ) And let’s be honest, I could never turn down peanut butter frosting!
I hope you try them Ashley, they are really quite something special! 🙂
Grandpas LOL. What!? There is spinach in these….amazing, lady! They look amazing and totally ‘normal’. I’ve gotta give this one a go!
The Grandpas are 2 cool guys! 🙂 Hope you try these, I love that they look so normal, taste great and there’s so much spinach inside!
When I saw the title of this post, I had to click on it! I can’t believe there is so much spinach in these brownies!! What a great idea. I can’t wait to try this recipe out. They look amazing! Pinning this 🙂
Thanks Cate! It’s a great way to use a large amount of spinach in such a yummy way!
You’ve just combined two of my favorite things.. I LOVE chocolate and I adore spinach. I have to give this a try when I have time this weekend. Thanks for the recipe
Have one great weekend then! 🙂
Looks tasty and divine!
Wow! These brownies look amazing! I love how you put so much spinach in them; and they look so dark chocolatey and delicious!
I love mixing greens into desserts, especially when they involve chocolate. <3 And your peanut butter frosting is gorgeous! I want a bowl of it, please. haha!
Your photos are gorgeous, and so are these brownies. Pinning!
-Abbie
p.s. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! 🙂
Thanks Abbie! I need a bowl of that frosting too, it’s pure dangerous and delicious! 🙂 Let me know if you make these brownies.. enjoy!
Who’d ever have thought of spinach in brownie except YOU! They look delicious and I think they’re very fun!!
Haha, thank you! 😉 I made them last week for some friends and they were gone in 3 minutes!
Oooh waw, Pamela! Thee beauties rock!!! They look so beautiful to gaze at,…Now, I would like to eat at least 3! Oooh yes!
MMMMMM!
I know, it’s hard to just eat 1… it’s also very hard not to swipe your finger on the top of the frosting and want to eat it all. 🙂
I don’t think there is a better way to sneak veggies into a treat than with these yummy brownies and peanut butter frosting! Thanks so much for sharing. I’m glad I am caught up with your posts. You amaze me, Pamela!
Stacy, you’re so nice, thank you! And I agree, what doesn’t say I love vegetables like biting into a chocolate brownie filled with them? 🙂
Amazing job! (as always)! If I don’t tell my dad there’s spinach in there, he’ll go crazy over these 😉
A great idea Sunnie! I did this to my dad once with black bean brownies, he had no idea.. and then he said how good they were.. then I spilled the beans. 🙂
How very sneaky to add spinach into brownies! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thanks for stopping by Karly! I love being sneaky! 🙂
I don’t beleive I missed this one! Peanut butter and chocolate brownies! ahhhhhhhh!!!!!! so fantabulously scrumptious! My two fav flavors! Oohh – and you healthed it up with spinach – which means only one thing – these are healthy and therefore can be consumed in pairs 😉
Absolutely! These are as healthy as you can get… 😉
I can’t get my head around these Pam. Spinach, in a brownie?!?! And you can’t taste it? Hm. Still not convinced. I think that means that I need to make these, super quick, and eat as many as possible just to test the spinach ratio. After all, it’s for the good of future recipe users, right? I get a whole truckload of green veg goodness. Yes. Making these. Soon! xx
I agree Laura. I think you should make a entire batch and eat them, then let me know. And then afterwards you can invite me over and we can make a 2nd batch and eat them all! 🙂 🙂
These look truly amazing. So brilliant to puree the spinach!! I want to make these right now!!!
It’s such a delicious way to get your daily greens in! 😉
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Can you substitute wheat pastry flour for the flour in this you think?
I don’t see why not, so give it a shot. Let me know how they turn out!
[…] – Chocolate Spinach Brownies (via the Brooklyn Farm […]
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I made a double batch of these with fresh and frozen spinach mixed. They were delicious and so fudgy! Thank you for sharing the recipe. No one believed they had spinach and I had offers to bake them for Christmas as gifts. I’m making them again today. Can’t get enough of them!
That makes me so happy to hear Sarah! Glad you enjoyed them, I could use a few of these brownies right now! 😉
[…] Chocolate Spinach Brownies from Brooklyn Farm Girl […]
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Do you have nutrition info so I can calculate points plus?
Hi Denise, I don’t. You’d have to manually calculate it with a online guide. Hope you enjoy!
You’re crazy genius!
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Ok, so… could you make these using the black beans, too? How would that work? I’d love to pull a double-whammy on the veggie front.
Hey Moira, I’ve never combined the spinach with black beans but I’m sure it can be done. Here’s one of my favorite black bean brownie recipes if you want to get creative: https://brooklynfarmgirl.com/2014/02/09/fudgy-black-bean-brownies-2/ Enjoy!
I’ve made these several times. Everyone loves them. Genius. Thanks very much for developing this recipe!!
So happy you like them JP, thanks for letting me know!
[…] can! You can make a spinach and berry smoothie for a fruity dessert. You can also try spiking your homemade brownies with spinach puree for a bit of extra nutrition. And if you’re really feeling adventurous you can […]
I have a teenager who has never eaten a vegetable in his entire life. I mean never! He even rejected them as a toddler. He is extremely picky and can pick up in any “hidden” taste or texture. UNTIL NOW. A favourite in my house – I just have to do the spinach part when no one is looking. If my kids hear the blender, they think I’m making a smoothie for myself 😂. This secret recipe is going with me to the grave. Thank you thank you thank you!
Pamela
I have a very picky 4 yr old grandson. If he even thinks it has spinach in it it’s all over! I have been teaching him to cook. The first thing he does is to try and figure out by taste what is in it. So I am going to be sneaky and make it ahead of time and then I will have him make it! What can he say when he tastes his own. Lol😈
Hey Debra, that’s so fun that you’re cooking your grandson how to bake! Hope he enjoys these sneaky brownies!
This recipe is delicious. I added 1 egg to help with binding. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for commenting! I’m so happy to hear you liked these brownies!
My grandson is on a special diet & he can’t have white or brown sugar but he can have honey, maple syrup or molasses. The spinach would be great for him & I don’t think he’d notice the taste. Is there a way to sub any of these in for the sugar? Btw, my father-in-law isn’t a spinach fan & I gave him one of these & he couldn’t tell the spinach was in it! Yay!!
Hey Cheryl, I would try substituting the white and brown sugar with 1/2 cup honey (total). You might need to play around with the honey amount and add a little bit more if you want it more sweet, but I’d start with 1/2 cup. Enjoy the brownies!
Great, I’ll give it a whirl & let you know how it turns out. Thank you!
[…] the surprise recipe? Brooklyn Farm Girl has a recipe for chocolate spinach brownies. You’re […]