Instant Pot Brownies

Picture this… it’s a cold, wintery evening. You’re home from a long day at work and the kids have been fussing all afternoon.

Ding! Your Instant Pot clicks off. You open the lid and the mouthwatering aroma of warm chocolate fills your kitchen.

You fix yourself a heaping bowl of warm, gooey Instant Pot brownies.

Convinced yet? You can find my indulgent Instant Pot brownies recipe right here.

They’re so easy to make. All you need to do is add the ingredients to a pan, pop the whole thing into your Instant Pot, and wait for the magic to happen.

Is it a cake? Is it fudge? Neither – it’s Instant Pot fudgy brownies!

Is This a Box Brownie Mix Recipe?

No, this is not a box brownie mix. Sure, box mix recipes are easy; but not much easier than this 100% homemade recipe.

Personally, I don’t like the texture you get from a box mix. I tried to tinker with the premade mix to work in a pressure cooker, but then I realized – why try and improve a box recipe when you can pressure cook delicious chocolate brownies from scratch?

It’s just as simple to cook desserts from scratch in your Instant Pot. I love the simplicity of my Instant Pot Japanese Cheesecake recipe, too. Just imagine how these two flavors would taste together.

Topping ideas

Vanilla ice cream

Chocolate chips

Raspberries

Strawberries

Bananas

Why Should I Make Chocolate Brownies in the Instant Pot?

There are some terrific reasons why making chocolate brownies in the Instant Pot is so great:

• You can experiment with your Instant Pot functions. To make this recipe, you’ll be using the slow cooker function.
• Enjoy an easy “set and forget” dessert. We’re all busy; work, kids, holiday prep. With this recipe, you can leave the pressure cooker to work its magic while you work yours.
• Not everyone has access to an oven. You could be traveling, working on kitchen renovations, or cooking at the campsite. Some of us just love our Instant Pot that much.

No matter the reason, you won’t regret trying out this scrumptious brownie.

I Like Fudgy Brownies. Can I Achieve This in an Instant Pot?

Absolutely! Slow cooking this brownie recipe gives you a super moist, extra fudgy chocolate treat.

All those delicious chocolatey aromas will infuse into the brownie batter, producing an intense chocolate flavor.

The brownie is steamed and cooked in wet heat, rather than the dry heat of an oven. This means your Instant Pot brownie will be incredibly soft and gooey.

Isn’t that exactly how we want them? These Instant Pot brownies are just that little bit more indulgent with a whole lot more fudge.

How to Make

Gather your ingredients.

In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, except the water.

Stir or whisk until well combined.

Pour the brownie batter into a greased push pan or cake pan. Make sure it fits your pressure cooker. I use a 7-inch springform pan.

Cover the brownie mix with aluminum foil.

Pour 2x cup of water into the Instant Pot. Next, position a trivet in the bottom of the pot then place the brownie pan on top of the trivet.

Lock the lid and select High Pressure. These brownies have a cook time of 45 minutes.

Once the cooking cycle is done, perform a quick pressure release. Cool the brownies and slice into 1-inch squares before serving.

Do I Need Carrots?

Believe it or not – you do.

Okay, okay… it’s not mandatory, but the carrots will give the brownies extra moisture while they cook. This will help make your chocolate brownies in the Instant Pot suuuper fudgy.

I love using carrots in this recipe because it’s a clever ploy to add in a secret healthy ingredient. Hiding veggies in your indulgent dishes is a great way to incorporate more fiber into your diet.

This cheeky method is especially great for picky kids who try to avoid their 5-a-day!

Or if carrots aren’t your thing – why not try this Instant Pot Apple Crisp to warm up those chilly winter afternoons?

How much is one cup of carrots?

For this recipe, you need to use 2 big carrots or 3 small ones.

What Can I Use Instead of Maple Syrup?

If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, you can swap it out for one of these alternatives:

Honey

Agave syrup

Rice syrup

Golden syrup

This recipe is brilliant because you can tweak various elements to make it work for you. Any of these alternative syrups will give your brownies that much-loved stickiness.

Is This Recipe Gluten Free?

Yes. These brownies are 100% gluten-free. This recipe is suitable for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

It’s so easy to make dessert recipes gluten free. Simply swap out wheat flour for rice flour, which is naturally gluten free. To be on the extra-safe side, I would recommend buying certified GF rice flour.

Of course, if you’re not gluten intolerant, you can always use all-purpose flour.

Love gluten free recipes? Try out my easy and delicious Instant Pot Gluten Free Bread.

Is This Recipe Dairy Free?

Yes. This recipe is 100% non-dairy, milk-free, and lactose-free.

It’s the perfect dessert for lactose intolerant kids.

The recipe states you should use butter on a paper towel to grease your pan. If you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative, I recommend lightly coating with cooking spray instead.

To make this recipe vegan, simply replace the eggs with a vegan alternative. I like to use fruit-based alternatives such as bananas and applesauce for my vegan recipes.

Can I Add or Swap Ingredients?

I encourage you to add any of your favorite ingredients or swap out any ingredients that don’t work for you. They’re your brownies after all; so go ahead and include what makes you happy.

I love pressure cooker home cooking because you can completely customize your recipes to suit your tastes.

My favorite additions are:

Chocolate chips

Marshmallows

Honeycomb

With all these sugary additions, the recipe can be a bit sweet for some. One great way to combat this sweetness is to use unsweetened cocoa powder.

This is a fantastic way to ensure you’ve still got that chocolatey flavor from the cocoa powder while turning down the sugar to a comfortable semi-sweet.

How to cut brownies

First, let the brownies cool completely in the pan. You can place them in the fridge to speed up the process.

Then, spray the blade of the knife using cooking spray and cut the brownies into squares.

For more info, check out this amazing guide from That Skinny Chick Can Bake.

Cooking tips

• Grease your cake pan with about ¼ cup of butter. Wipe the butter onto a paper towel and use this to swipe around the edges and base.
• For a vegan or dairy-free alternative, grease your cake pan with cooking spray.
• If you’re looking to use less fat, line your cake pan with parchment paper.
• When performing the pressure release and taking the pan out of the Instant Pot, make sure to wear oven gloves or use a cloth. The steam, water, and pan will all be piping hot!

If you are in a mood, you can even make your own ice cream! For some tasty ideas, check out these Yonanas Recipes and these Dash Ice Cream Maker Recipes. Both collections include easy recipes for ice cream and sorbet that are perfect for beginners.

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Sour Cream Brownies

Instant Pot Lava Cake

Instant Pot Chocolate Cake

Instant Pot Hot Chocolate

Instant Pot Chocolate Pudding

Instant Pot Chocolate Chip Cookies

Instant Pot's Irresistible Brownie Symphony