SHUT THE FRONT DOOR. These really, truly work.

When I discovered the magical combo of sweet potato + chocolate with these Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream Bites, I couldn’t wait to try it again with the best dessert of all time: brownies.

My whole family devoured these fudgy sweet potato brownies — and they are a tough crowd when it comes to healthier treats. NO ONE guessed that there was sweet potato inside!

The sweet potatoes add some great texture and just the right amount of sweetness, as well as a few important nutrients, too! 

So without further ado, I want to share with you my sweet potato brownie recipe that is sure to be a crowd pleaser for the whole family! 

Sweet Potato Brownies Recipe

This recipe is super easy to throw together, and you may find that you already have the ingredients on hand!

Are Sweet Potato Brownies Healthy For Kids?

I consider these sweet potato brownies to be a little bit of a lightened up version of a classic brownie. No one’s out here calling brownies “healthy” per se, but they can totally feature in a healthy, balanced diet. 

You know me- all foods fit! In fact, when we go out of our way to restrict sweet foods, our kids may get the message that certain foods are “bad” or to be feared. While we mean well (limiting added sugar in the diet IS advisable), this messaging can actually set the stage for kids to start attaching morality to foods and developing a relationship with food that isn’t optimal. While we’re not saying to have brownies 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I’m definitely saying they’re more than okay sometimes! 

All foods do something for our bodies! We get energy and some mix of the macronutrients (and micronutrients) from all foods- even sweets. These brownies actually have a good bit of fiber and a great dose of micronutrients. Plus, with their lower added sugar content, I feel great about whipping up a batch of these fudgy sweet potato brownies to serve to my kids!

How To Make Sweet Potato Brownies For Kids

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cup mashed sweet potato
• 1/2 cup smooth almond butter, unsalted
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips
• Sprinkle of sea salt

Instructions 

1. Prepare the sweet potatoes. Poke holes all over with a fork, and microwave for 2 to 5 minutes, depending on size. Cut open and let cool. Thoroughly mash sweet potatoes until smooth.

2. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup almond butter, two eggs, and 1/4 cup maple syrup to the mashed sweet potatoes.

4. Mix the wet ingredients well until smooth.

5. Add 1/2 cup cocoa powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.

6. Fold 1/2 of the chocolate chips into the brownie batter.

7. Pour the brownie batter into a parchment-lined 8×8-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and a little sea salt evenly over the top.

8. Bake for 25 minutes.

9. Let cool for 15 minutes, then cut into squares and enjoy!

Expert Tip

You can sprinkle walnuts (or any nut you like) on top of these if you like a little crunch in your brownie- I do! I think nuts and chocolate are a great combination, and you also get a little more healthy fat from a serving of nuts! 

Other brownie-friendly topping options might be mini chocolate chips, coconut flakes, a drizzle of your favorite, drippy nut butter, or a drizzle of caramel! I’m actually thinking some chocolate hazelnut butter is what I need to do next time I make these.

If you’re a brownie purist, just dig in as is! But I’ve tried these with nuts and with nut butter and I can confirm they’re a great pairing! 

Picky Eater Tips

Serve with a glass of milk (or soy milk) for a surprisingly well-rounded snack or dessert. You’ve got some veggies (sweet potato), low added sugar, some fiber, and then some fat and protein in the milk- that’s a pretty great snack. 

Kids will love it because they just think mom is awesome for making homemade brownies and you’ll love it because you’ll know they’re actually getting in some good nutrition in the form of a fun, sweet treat! A win for all!

Why I Love These Fudgy Sweet Potato Brownies

Besides the fact that I just…love brownies, I also love coming up with ways to boost the nutrition of foods that my family and I love without sacrificing taste. Let’s face it, most kids love sweets- and there’s nothing wrong with that! We’re actually wired to have a preference for sweet tastes from birth!

I know my kids are going to be exposed to (and definitely indulge in) all the typical storebought treats- whether it’s at friends’ houses, at the movie theater, or at school. And honestly, I’m not too worried about it. But when I have the chance, I like to try to cook things at home that they also love that aren’t just sugar bombs. And these brownies really fit the bill! 

Brownie points

Please don’t hear me say boxed brownies are off the table or that you can’t make your grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe that has 2 sticks of butter in it (you can, and should!). Those nostalgic treats are amazing. 

I just want to beef up your arsenal of recipes so that when you’re looking for a sweet treat that is a little bit lighter on added sugar and a little bit heavier on nutrition, you’ve got one!!