peanut butter oatmeal brownies

OHHHHH, YOU GUYSSSSSSSSS. These brownies are so good that I posted them today instead of my other recipe I had chilling in my drafts folder. The other recipe is chocolate and peanut butter too. I've got problems. Ok so, first things first. I think it is my duty to tell you that I edited that first picture about 6 different times. {and my brain is obviously all the places at the moment. Bear with me.} The lighting wasn't right. It needed to be cropped. OH LOOK, I was saving it as the wrong file the last five times. So that was annoying. But I'm OCD and I really liked that picture so gosh dang it, I'll find the right exposure. Stubbornness really pays off sometimes. {Ask my gym buddies. Heh.} 

Now onto more important things. CHOCOLAWWWWWT. It was really weird, the other day I was seriously like a chocolate freak- even more so than usual- and I began questioning my sanity. How does one eat chocolate in 4 different forms in just 24 hours? I'LL TELL YOU. A mini vegan crunch bar {or two.}, a square of 70% dark chocolate, a chocolate smoothie, and an energy bite. That's how it's done, yo. I thought that after my chocolate-filled day, I'd be good for awhile, right? Wrong. About an hour before I went to the gym, I needed a brownie. Let me make this clear- I did not want a brownie. I needed one like my freaking life depended on it. Woman problems. Of course, I wanted to make them healthy {SURPRISE} because I wanted to eat one before the gym and not feel all gross and weighed down. Running with butter and sugar and flour in your belly is not a fun thing, I speak from experience. Oomph. 

Well, I'm happy to report, I have come up with a fan-flipping-tastic healthy brownie recipe that doesn't suck. Like at all. I've made countless healthy brownie recipes and have loved them all, but something is always a little off. You know what I'm talking about? They're always a little too spongey and weird. Last time I checked, brownies aren't supposed to be spongey and weird! Well these ones are seriously perfection! They're a little crumbly, but not like you can't pick them up crumbly. A good crumbly and quite fudgey. My favorite part is they even have the crackly top like legit brownies! Some healthy brownies out there use mashed bananas, which from my experience, makes them spongey and totally banana-y. No weird flavors here, just pure brownie GREATNESS. I can't even relate to you how normal these brownies were so methinks you should get your buns in the kitchen and whip up a batch. And eat it for dinner. OR BREAKFAST. These brownies are destined for even more greatness. But I'll get to that another time. MUAHA. 

peanut butter oatmeal brownies {healthy, gluten free, dairy free}

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

1/4 c. liquid coconut oil

1/3 c. soy milk {or other non-dairy milk.}

1/2 c. pure maple syrup

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. oat flour

1/3 c. quick cooking oats

1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

sea salt for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease an 8x8 pan; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk peanut butter, coconut oil, milk, egg, sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add in dry ingredients and mix until combined. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let cool before cutting into squares.