21 Fantastic Fruit Brownie Recipes
Decadent chocolate pairs deliciously with fresh strawberries. It's an iconic flavor combination as celebrated as tomato and basil, peanut butter and jelly, or root beer and vanilla ice cream. However, chocolate is a versatile dance partner — it can rumba with raspberries, cha-cha with cherries, and quickstep with cranberry! And we've rounded up some fruity brownie recipes — along with some thick and chewy blondies—that prove the prowess of the fruit-laced brownie. Whether it is the tartness of berries, the zing of citrus, the creaminess of a banana, or even the earthiness of raisins and dates, fruit gives brownies an elevated — and quite tasty — edge.
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Righteous Raspberry Brownies
"The best brownies are soft in the center and have a crust on the top. Oh, and they also have chocolate chunks and fresh raspberries in them too!" says Arleigh, who boasts that this recipe is super simple: Mix everything in one bowl, add raspberries, and voila! "No doubt these will be one of the best desserts you have EVER made! I use fresh raspberries out of my garden. TRY not to eat the whole pan at once!"
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Pumpkin Brownies
Get all your favorite fall flavors in these rich brownies. Pumpkin adds rich texture, while cloves and nutmeg contribute a hint of spice.
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Blueberry Brownies
These Blueberry Brownies are the brainchild of a culinary creative. "I had this idea to modify a brownie recipe — and it worked! I substituted all of the chocolate in a brownie recipe with a condensed blueberry syrup I made using fresh blueberries," explains KETCHHOT. "It retains the brownie texture, although it is a little more cake-like. But, the surprising thing was that it tastes really good!"
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Zucchini Brownies
While most of us think of zucchini as a vegetable, it's technically considered a fruit. This green summer veggie is perfect for keeping your brownies moist and making them a little healthier.
Related: 10 Sneaky Ways to Turn Zucchini Into Delicious Desserts
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Strawberry Brownies
"These brownies are light and crumbly with a punch of strawberry flavor. I made them one night with my boyfriend's daughter, trying to teach her that there are no limits on what can be used when baking and cooking. I decided to use the fresh strawberries I had just purchased," says SHANYCHRIS of the delightful, classic flavor combo in brownie form.
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Dark-Chocolate Orange Brownies
Orange zest, however seemingly subtle an ingredient, makes a big impact in this dark-chocolate brownie with striking orange notes. "Rich chocolate brownies with a hint of orange," says recipe creator lomagu. "White chocolate chunks can be added for an extra treat."
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Blonde Brownies with White Chocolate and Cranberries
Cranberries lend a bright, tart complement to these delectable white-chocolate brownies.
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Lemon Brownies
"I have never been a huge fan of lemon … until now," says BronsonsMom. "These are always a favorite at the never-ending potluck going on in the emergency room I work in. I hope you enjoy them too."
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Apple Brownies
This recipe is perfect for capturing the sweet warmth of fresh apples on a crisp fall day. "This was my Mom's recipe, easy and quick to make," says BakerJim. Add a drizzle of warm caramel sauce to take this treat to the next level!
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Cherry Brownies from Scratch
When you have fresh, seasonal cherries and are craving a chocolaty treat, this is the recipe for you! "I came up with this brownie recipe after being overwhelmed with cherries on our tree this year," says recipe creator lemonadestand. "It has the taste of a chocolate-covered cherry."
Related: Cherry Dessert Recipes
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White-Chocolate Lime Blondies
Key lime pie meets a white-chocolate brownie in this bold dessert. Recipe creator Allison S. F. says they are "deliciously sweet white-chocolate bars with a tangy taste of the tropics!"
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Easy Banana Brownies
A classic, fudgy scratch-made brownie gets a creamy infusion of banana in this straightforward recipe. Creator GLORIA LEE warns that this dense brownie does not rise much, noting that you can "add a half cup chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips for more flavor — no mixer required!"
Related: Banana Dessert Recipes
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Skillet Apple Brownie
Warm, sumptuous apple pie is reimagined in a chewy brownie-like texture that's just begging for the à la mode treatment.
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Cherry Cheesecake Brownies
This mash-up of cherry cheesecake-meets-brownie is a surefire crowd-pleaser. Recipe creator My Hot Southern Mess says they are "the delicious combination of chocolate and cherry cheesecake swirled up into a brownie that your family and friends will love, and they can be made gluten-free, to boot!"
Related: 12 Tasty Gluten-Free Treats
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Coconut Macaroon Brownies
If you love both macaroons and brownies, this is your dream dessert. "These decadent brownies have a delicious layer of coconut sandwiched between two chocolate layers," says recipe creator Valerie Hatfield-Ringrose.
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Gluten-Free Vegan Dark Chocolate Brownies
Bananas are actually the "secret sauce" to making this gluten-free vegan brownie sing. "Gluten-free often makes desserts dry and brittle, but this version is a lot more moist than the standard gluten-free brownie recipe. Bananas are the key," says user Happy as a Yam.
Related: 12 Decadent Vegan Desserts
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Avocado Peanut Butter Brownies
Avocados lend an extra creamy texture to these vegan peanut-butter brownies. "These brownies are fudgy and don't have to bake long because the first step is to cook the chocolate peanut-butter mixture on the stove like candy," says recipe creator aboutfish. "Avocado is substituted for butter to make a smooth, rich baked good without the butterfat."
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Black Forest Brownies
A thicker, chewier black forest cake accented by tart dried cherries, melted chocolate chips, and warm pecan bits make this twist on a cherry brownie divine. MICKEY3 puts it simply, saying, "This is one of the best brownie recipes I have tried." Need we say more?
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Banana Blondie
Banana bread gets a brownie-inspired makeover in this recipe. "For those of us who have leftover bananas, but don't care for banana bread, these banana bars are really moist and yummy," says recipe creator COCONUTTY.
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Raw Vegan Brownies
Let your palate guide you when it comes to your dried fruit of choice in this uber-healthy brownie. Plus you can make it more chocolaty if you're a chocolate lover. "It's a wonderful and easy-as-ABC raw, vegan brownie that requires no baking or processed sugar," says user Joanna. "Change up the sweet — raisins, dates, prunes, dried cherries — according to what your taste buds say, and experiment with the fat too—almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts. You can increase the cocoa powder to a third- or even half-cup if a darker chocolate taste is desired."
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Milly's Oatmeal Brownies
An oatmeal-raisin twist on the classic brownie, Milly's Oatmeal Brownies are simply delicious. "Add your favorites — nuts, chocolate chips, chocolate candies, toffee chips — and create a truly delicious snack," says recipe creator Milly Suazo-Martinez.