Need a healthy way to indulge your sweets craving? Look no further than this simple, delicious recipe

Sweet Potato Brownies

These sweet potato brownies are seriously the easiest ever, and not to mention super delicious and healthy. The sweet potato takes the place of flour in this recipe, and also makes these brownies super moist (I am really not a fan of that word but this is a baking recipe so unfortunately no other word really conveys the deliciousness of these brownies).  Also, I don’t know about you, but I never have flour on hand, and I would much rather spend 2 dollars (ish) on a sweet potato then on a bag of almond flour or some other expensive gluten free flour that will just end up taking up space in my cupboard. This recipe is an awesome way to use up extra roasted sweet potatoes you might have meal prepped earlier in the week and want to make something different with them, or to satisfy a sweet tooth in a more healthful way! 

How to make sweet potato brownies 

1. Bake the sweet potato in the oven. 400 degrees for about 45 minutes to an hour, until fork tender. Pro tip: Poke holes in your sweet potato with a fork, then wrap in tin foil since we aren’t worried about the skin for this recipe, just the inside! 
2. Fresh out of the oven while the sweet potato is still hot, peel off the skin of the sweet potato and mash it in a bowl and start adding in your other wet ingredients, almond butter (or whatever nut butter you use), maple syrup, and tahini if you have it. The warmth of the sweet potato will help melt the nut butter for a smoother consistency. If you are using leftover sweet potatoes, pop them in the microwave or warm them up in an oven for 20 minutes before hand. If you prefer a smoother consistency, you can use a blender to mix all the ingredients together!
3. Add in your dry ingredients, cacao powder, collagen, cinnamon and mix them all up! 
4. Taste test! Test out the batter to see if you need more cacao powder or maple syrup. 
5. Pour the batter in a small baking dish and pop this bad boy in the oven for about 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Test with a fork or a toothpick about halfway through, cook a little less if you like gooey brownies! 
6. Pro tip: make a double batch if you have kids or a significant other who eats all your treats. Store in the fridge for up to a week. You can also store them in a freezer safe container and pop one out whenever the sweet tooth strikes! 

Ingredient Spotlight

• Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, manganese, copper, B-vitamins, and potassium. They have a lot of gut-healthy fiber and are lower on the glycemic index because of the amount of fiber they contain, which helps improve blood sugar regulation. 
• Almond butter is an awesome source of healthy fats, which help stabilize your blood sugar and help you absorb the fat -soluble Vitamin A in the sweet potatoes. Almonds are high in Vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium, riboflavin, phosphorus, and copper. They are awesome for supporting healthy cognitive function and skin health! 
• Cacao powder is an amazing source of magnesium, as well as iron, fiber, chromium (a trace mineral which helps improve insulin sensitivity and control blood sugar), and antioxidants. It also contains theobromine, which helps to improve your mood, support cardiovascular function, and improve blood flow. 
• Maple syrup (aka nature’s candy) is a mineral and antioxidant rich sweetener that is lower on the glycemic index than regular sugar. It contains minerals like zinc (which helps with immune and digestive function) and manganese (which helps with fat and carbohydrate metabolism). 

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body! It helps maintain your skin’s elasticity, helps heal your gut lining, improves joint function, strengthen your teeth and nails, and improve liver health. Collagen production decreases with age, so adding in a little collagen to your diet daily can make a big impact on your health, along with getting an extra protein boost! 

Tahini, or ground sesame seeds, adds an awesome flavor punch to these brownies, along with extra healthy fats and vitamins and minerals. Tahini is a great source of magnesium, copper, Thiamine (Vitamin B-1), iron, and zinc. 

Cinnamon is amazing for blood sugar regulation. It improves your body’s ability to utilize insulin, the hormone that transports glucose from your bloodstream to your cells. Cinnamon also adds such a nice natural flavor and sweetness and can be super helpful when you are cutting back on sugar. It is packed with antioxidants and is known to reduce inflammation and preserve brain function.  

Sweet Potato Brownie Recipe 

1 large sweet potato (or 2 small sweet potatoes)   

1/2 to 2/3 cup of Almond butter or nut butter of choice 

¼ cup cacao powder

2-4 tablespoons of maple syrup

You can stop there BUT these add-ins provide an extra nutrient boost

1-2 scoops of Collagen peptides for added protein (AND you can’t taste it) 

1-2 tablespoons of Tahini for an extra nutrient boost and added flavor profile (Start small if you don’t love tahini... but if you have tahini in your pantry you probably already love it!) 

Dash of cinnamon for flavor and nutrient density