Sneaky Spinach Brownies

Looking for a way to get your kids to eat more greens? These spinach brownies are delicious, taste like traditional brownies, and have a rich chocolate cake-like brownie texture.

While it’s not the same as eating a bowl of spinach leaves, there’s nothing wrong with adding more greens into other fabulous recipes kids already love.

Brownies with Spinach

These brownies have a rich chocolate flavor and cakey texture that’s so good no one will even know they are made with puréed spinach and blueberries!

While brownies probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “spinach,” this recipe is an epic way to get picky eaters a few extra greens into their day.

I know firsthand how challenging getting enough nutrients into a picky eater’s day can be. While you’re introducing new foods to their diet and searching for recipes that can add nutrition to their meals, these brownies are a great option to help them get more vegetables into their day.

I have other recipes that use this method of incorporating extra nutrition into familiar foods, some being a little more obvious than others, like smoothies. 

Inside my picky eater’s program, I explain how to add variety into your kids’ meals, transform meal times and dinner table battles, and rotate familiar foods when introducing new ingredients.

You can learn more about how I’ve gotten my three picky eaters to expand their palate and overcome issues such as texture/color aversion and lack of interest in mealtimes inside the Happier Plates program.

Are Spinach Brownies Healthier?

While this recipe for brownies includes spinach and blueberries, it also uses classic ingredients such as flour, chocolate, butter, and sugar.

They’re slightly lower in sugar and fat than traditional brownies, but my focus with this recipe is the extra antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals my kids get in each brownie.

This is not a “healthy” brownie, but does provide some added nutritional benefit to the classic treat.

How to Make Spinach Brownies

This recipe for spinach brownies does require an extra step to blend the veggies and fruit, but overall they are easy to make! 

1. Preheat the oven to 350F
   Line a 9×9 square baking dish with parchment paper, so the brownies are easier to lift out. 
2. Make the purple purée
   Blend the spinach, blueberries, and 2 teaspoons of water until a smooth puree is formed. 
3. Combine the dry ingredient
   Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. 
4. Melt the chocolate
   Bring 2-3-inches of water to a boil over medium heat. Place a heat-safe bowl over the saucepot and add the butter and chocolate chips to the bowl. Use the heat/steam to melt the chocolate, occasionally stirring until smooth and glossy.
5. Add the purple purée 
   Stir the blended spinach and blueberry mixture into the melted chocolate along with the vanilla extract.
6. Make the batter
   Pour the chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients. Add the eggs, and using a fork, mix everything until combined into a smooth batter. 
7. Add the batter to the pan
   Bake the brownies for 40 minutes until the middles are done and no longer wet to the touch. 
8. Almost there! 
   Remove the baked brownies from the oven and allow them to cool down to room temperature before slicing into 16 squares. I think you know what to do from here. 

What do Spinach Brownies Taste Like?

These brownies have a rich chocolate flavor with no hint of spinach. The semi-sweet chocolate is strong enough, so it masks the leafy greens, and the texture is more soft and cakey than the traditional fudgy brownie.

More Recipes that Hide Veggies

These brownies aren’t the only delicious way to get those veggies in. The recipe ideas below look and taste amazing but include additional ingredients to make them even better for you and the kids. 

• Veggie Mac & Cheese
• Fire-Roasted Tomato Soup
• Blueberry Spinach Smoothie
• Spinach Pancakes

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