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Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies

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Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won’t have to stop at one!

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

Or shall I say “breakfast brownies” 😉 That’s right, another dessert that can double as breakfast too (it did for me!) When I tell you they can be breakfast, that’s your signal that these are “healthy”. You know on Strength and Sunshine that I do not post sugar, fat, calories filled foods. That’s not me. But that doesn’t mean I can’t produce a killer treat either!But enough of that. I’m too excited about these brownies to ramble!

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

I actually had the hardest time thinking of a name for these. I wasn’t really sure (still not sure) what exactly this treat is. I was told they look like brownies, yet I felt they were more of a breakfast cake, at least taste and nutrition-wise. I kept agonizing over it for a few weeks and finally came to the consensus that yes, these should be brownies. But then came deciding on an actual title for these brownies. What would be the most enticing combination of words?

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

You can see that the most important aspect of these brownies is that pumpkin peanut butter “layer”. More of a frosting texture, if you will. Soft nutty goodness with a taste of Fall. (Not to forget studded with chocolate chips too!) So layer? Frosting? Cream? Just pure greatness? Ah! It was really making me go crazy. However, the flavors were much more important to hit on in the title. Pumpkin and peanut butter…well and chocolate, but I let that at brownie.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

Secret to the top layer? There isn’t any actual peanut butter. Yes, you guessed it! Peanut flour! That’s how I kept these from being to heavy. To still have that creamy texture of peanut butter though, the pumpkin saved the day. Pumpkin puree, peanut flour, it’s the new arranged marriage! Pumpkin may have a bit too many marriages now though. At least cinnamon is still in this recipe so…pumpkin isn’t having a total affair 😉

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

 Let me change subject for a second to talk about the proper way to eat a brownie. Some people eat them with their bare hands, others use a fork, but me? I use a spoon! A spoon is a must to get that perfect soft scoop of moist chocolate soft cake, held perfectly in the indentation of the curved spoon. A brownie throne if you will. Another important brownie-eating condition to take into consideration is temperature.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

No room temperature brownies here! They either need to be warmed in the microwave or cold/semi-frozen from the freezer! For breakfast one morning, I may have heated a square up in the microwave (in a bowl) and drizzled on some cocoa stevia syrup…then devoured with a spoon. It was rather heavenly might I add! (Don’t judge!) It was pretty much a moment of bliss, maybe even as blissful as these pancakes!

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

But if you’re not comfortable with eating something like this for breakfast, I won’t get mad. As long as you promise you’ll eat them for dessert 😉 Just some point during the day, grab a bowl, spoon, and a big moist pumpkin-peanut-chocolate square. Eat it slowly with your eyes closed and go on a floating pumpkin journey to heaven. Stay there awhile. It’s a nice place 🙂

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

Aren’t you glad I didn’t stop yet with the pumpkin goodies? You were warned that I wasn’t stopping with cookies or doughnuts. I’ve never made this many pumpkin things during the season before. For some reason, it was just too much fun to stop! Pumpkin isn’t my favorite thing about the season either. I enjoy pumpkin, but it isn’t the end-all-be-all for me. That may have changed though. At least this year going forward. And with this recipe. It will convert any indifferent pumpkin eater into an all out pumpkin lover!

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

Print

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies

Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won’t have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

  • Author: Rebecca Pytell
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 9 Squares 1x
  • Category: Dessert, Breakfast
  • Cuisine: American
Scale

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. In a small bowl, prepare the flax egg and set aside for 5 minutes.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the brownie base ingredients, as well as the prepared flax egg, and stir to combine for a smooth batter.
  4. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine all the pumpkin peanut butter layer ingredients and stir to combine for a thick frosting texture.
  5. Now grease an 8×8 baking pan with some coconut oil and pour in the brownie base. Distribute it evenly in the pan and smooth the top.
  6. Now layer on the pumpkin peanut butter mixture as evenly and smoothly as you can over the top of the brownie base. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips if desired.
  7. Bake the brownies in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

I cut these into 9 big squares, but you can also make 12 small 2×2 inch squares if you want a smaller treat to serve.
They can be stored in a covered container for a few days or sliced and frozen.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1

 Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Where pumpkin, peanut, and chocolate combine! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies will make you rethink your definition of brownie. These gluten-free and vegan brownies are the healthiest of holiday indulgences, you won't have to stop at one! They can be dessert or breakfast!

The last few months have really made me LOVE baking. Well, love may be a strong word, but I worked hard on my baking skills this summer. I have cooking down, but baking was always a bit trickier. I have so many fabulous baked goods to share soon enough too. And they best part about baking, besides the end result (usually), is the smell of that baking process! O my! The smell of these brownies. Remember how I HATE the smell of classic brownies in the oven? Well these don’t smell like that. These smell like pumpkin+peanut+love. Can’t describe it, so that just means you MUST make them…NOW!

So tell me:

+ How do you eat your brownies?

+ Just by the recipe, are these more brownie or cake?

*Recipe linking up for the week! Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeOfTheWeek,#StrangeButGood, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays, Meatless Mondays, Waste Not Want Not!*


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Comments

  4. Alex says

    This looks so good! But I’m not sure I could reprodruce it here. I’ve never seen pumpkin flour around and neither the puree, although the latter one I could just do myself.

    Reply

  8. kimmythevegan says

    Eating it with a spoon, huh? I’ll give it a shot.
    “But if you’re not comfortable with eating something like this for breakfast, I won’t get mad.”
    Ha! I’ll admit that it’s not my normal breakfast fare, but I have no qualms about trying them They sound delicious!
    I’m sharing & pinning!

    Reply

  10. Danielle @ Poor and Gluten Free says

    Brownies for breakfast?!! Heck yeah! I’ve been eating peanut butter chocolate chip cookies for pre-workout morning snacks and I think it’s one of the best things ever 😉 Thanks for sharing your brownies on WNWNW, I’m featuring them this week.

    Reply

  17. Indira says

    Very cool, Rebecca! I’ve never used peanut flour or quinoa flakes and I like that you were able to incorporate both here. Pumpkin and chocolate go so well together, don’t you think? It’s one of my absolute favourite combinations.

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I had originally thought about doing more of a swirl with the pumpkin PB, but the mixture was thick and so much more “frosting” like, so I went with the layer 😉

      Reply

  35. Miss Polkadot says

    Cold as could be – so yes, I agree straight from the fridge is ideal – is the perfect way to eat brownies. And spoonable is the best texture though not handy in every setting ;).
    Just invite me over for one of these because I can’t get my hands on more than half of the ingredients :D.

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Well, no, these are like “messy” soup-spooning, I just mean…a spoon give you the perfect bite! Hahaha!
      I think I should throw a big Halloween party and include all these pumpkeny treats I’ve been whipping up! A Pumpkin party potluck!

      Reply

  40. Laura says

    Such a fan of the pumpkin and peanut butter combo. Now I just have to get my hands on some pumpkin flour to try. Such a great treat all around:)

    Reply

  41. Emily says

    Oh man, you had me at chocolate, wait no, peanut butter, wait no, pumpkin! These brownies have my taste buds dancing 🙂 And for breakfast? Hell yes!

    Reply

  55. Ali A says

    I’m given the job of making a dessert for Thanksgiving and always try to find something with a fall flair – these look so great and I like how it’s a different spin on pumpkin with the PB aspect. And brownies are my absolute FAVE!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      If you make these…you will blow everyone away! They will have A LOT to be thankful for 😉 Haha!

      Reply

  56. Ariana says

    You completely outdid yourself with this recipe, Rebecca. I can’t wait to make these! And the fact that I can eat them for breakfast just makes them that much better 😀

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Right!? Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snack! Maybe be over kill, but…. 😉
      Thanks dear!

      Reply

  58. Shannon says

    Hi! These sound really good, and I’m not even a vegan. LOL I have a crazy long name idea for ya, if you’re still wondering. 🙂 Chocolate Chip Punk-Nutter Breakfast Brownie Bars! Whew! Say that 10 times fast! LOL Have a great day!

    Reply

  65. Sam @ PancakeWarriors says

    Ummm yes send me your brownies! I love that you use a spoon, I often just pick them up and eat them with my hands (I know bu omg so yummy I can’t help it). Semi frozen with some coconut whipped cream sounds amazing though! Sign me up for 2!!

    Reply

  78. Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says

    I knew it!!!! I guessed nut butter, and even though it’s technically nut flour it’s close enough!!!!! And a lovely secret ingredient it is, these look divine <3 I'm all about the chilly brownies too, although I like mine at fridge temp, but it makes them so solid and fudgey and possibly better than a warm one. And I'm very intrigued by the spoon method… I'm usually a bite-in kinda person (no utensils), but I'm open to new brownie ways 😉

    And the first sentence of the last little paragraph makes me VERY happy to hear!!! <3

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Try it was a spoon!!!! It’s like…a solidified chia pudding 😛 Well no, it’s wayyyy better than that!

      Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Well I had to make sure they were super pretty for their glamour shot 😉 Next time I don’t think I’ll be taking my time…I’ll just want to eat them!

      Reply

  83. Tina muir says

    Oh yes, this is my kinda recipe! I have been LOVING on dark chocolate recently….and justifying it with saying that its good for you 😉 This sounds like the perfect combination of sweet and dark chocolatey from the bittersweet chocolate!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      O it is! It’s just all the best flavors with deep chocolate…heaven in every bite! Thanks Tina!

      Reply

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Meet Rebecca

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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