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!
Pin for later:
Chocolate Spinach Brownies
PrintIngredients
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!
Katie says
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!
Pamela says
Hope it works out.. you need these brownies Katie!
Hotly Spiced says
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
Pamela says
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! 😉
Julie @ Table for Two says
What a great way to sneak in the veggies!! I just can’t resist peanut butter and chocolate!!
Pamela says
Me either! I can never say no to this combination!
Debra says
Great brownie tradition you have working here.
Pamela says
Thanks Debra! Gotta keep it alive! 😉
Gloria @ Simply Gloria says
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!
Pamela says
I love the idea of you sneaking away making these brownies! Secret Agent Gloria! Hope you guys enjoy them!
Jamie@Milk N Cookies says
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…
Pamela says
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!
vanillasugarblog says
you have no idea how much I LOVE to see people create these kinds of fabulous recipes.
good job girl!
Pamela says
Thank you! 🙂 🙂
Kristi @ lifesprinkles says
very intrigued by these! filling up on spinach totally cancels out OD’ing on pb frosting, no? 😉
Pamela says
That’s what I tell myself Kristi. 😉
abby says
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!
Pamela says
I hope you both enjoy the brownies Abby, I’m kinda in love with them! 🙂
Pam says
Drooling. Nicely done.
Pamela says
Thanks Pam!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet Tooth Life says
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!
Pamela says
Thanks for taking my hand with these brownies! I could just (I did) eat that frosting with a spoon!
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Salad for a week or brownies…I know what everyone will be choosing. 🙂
Pamela says
Me too Karen! 😉
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
I think a bowl of spinach would probably taste almost as good with that pb frosting on it 😉 These look great!!
Pamela says
Hahahaha, that frosting sure is magical…
dixya| food, pleasure, and health says
I love everything with spinach. I cant decide which ones to bake first these or the cupcakes.
Pamela says
I say go with both! 😉
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker says
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! 🙂
Pamela says
Thanks Anne! A little healthy sneakery never hurt anyone.. only made delicious treats! 🙂
Jamie G says
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.
Pamela says
I think it’s a great way to think about it Jamie. 😉
Anne [A Squared] says
These look ridiculously good!
Pamela says
Thanks Anne!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Spinach brownies?? AWESOME. Totally counteracts the butter and sugar right?
Pamela says
That is what I like to tell myself Davida. 😉
Nora @ Buttercream Fanatic says
All hail peanut butter frosting! (not that these brownies look like they wouldn’t be amazing on their own!)
Pamela says
All very true Nora! I agree completely! Peanut Butter Fan Club 4 life.
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons says
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!
Pamela says
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!
Jaclyn says
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!
Pamela says
Hahaha, well since you will be getting your daily vegetables in, I think you deserve 2 brownies! 😉
Kim@Treats & Trinkets says
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.
Pamela says
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!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
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.
Pamela says
I hope you try it, they really are the yummiest! I would never lie about brownies, it’s a serious subject. 😉
Suzanne says
Spinach brownies, holy cow!!! they look sinfully delicious and I love that you have snuck some of the leafy greens into those treats. Brilliant.
Pamela says
Thanks Suzanne! So now you can get your vegetables with some chocolate! What a treat! 🙂
Madison says
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!?! 🙂
Pamela says
You don’t even have to ask.. DEAL! 🙂 🙂
Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig says
And all this time I thought green symbolized $$$$$$$$$! Ha. These brownies look like a perfect fall treat. Wow.
Pamela says
Ok green means that too! 😉 Thanks Cathy!
Kelly @ hidden fruits and veggies says
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
Pamela says
Glad you like these Kelly! I’m thinking about making another batch this week for some friends. 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Wow! These spinach brownies look delish! And almost guiltless right?
Pamela says
Thank you! Almost guiltless is a great way to put it. 😉
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
I totes need to get tricked. I love how delish these sneaky brownies look!
Pamela says
Trick yourself! It’ll be worth it! 🙂
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
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! 🙂
Pamela says
Let me know! I like being sneaky.. 😉