Collagen Chocolate Brownies For Postpartum

These delicious, nourishing collagen chocolate brownies for postpartum (and anyone, really!) have simple whole ingredients and are perfect for a pick-me-up treat.

We have been baking lots of brownies in our family lately.

They are so easy to make and a real crowd pleaser.

I thought about how I could turn this into a postpartum-friendly treat and cue these collagen chocolate brownies.

They are made with coconut sugar. eggs, almond butter, butter, gluten free flour, cacao powder, choc chips and collagen – simple ingredients.

Whenever I create a postpartum recipe, I think of the sleep-deprived mother, the overwhelmed mother, the undernourished mother and the unbothered mother (sometimes we are all those things at one time).

I also know that there are many nutrients that we need to meet in postpartum, especially while breastfeeding, and this recipe ticks a lot of those nutrient boxes.

What I Will Cover In This Post

• Important postpartum nutrients found in these brownies
• Why collagen supports a postpartum mother
• Ingredients
• Method
• Recipe Notes

Important Postpartum Nutrients Found In These Brownies

Let’s look at some of the ingredients in these brownies that are crucial for postpartum healing and support.

Eggs: a wonderful source of choline. Choline supports baby’s brain and mother’s liver.

Cacao: is a wonderful source of magnesium. Magnesium has been recognized as a cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body.

Butter (grass-fed is best): is an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D3. It’s also a great source of saturated fat.

Collagen: a healthy source of protein and gelatin. It supports the elasticity of the skin and supports the gut.

Almond butter: nuts are great blood sugar stabilisers, source of protein and healthy fats.

Why Collagen Supports A Postpartum Mother

Postpartum is a delicate time for the body.

It requires important nutrients that help the body to recover and a big portion of that is aiding the gut.

Collagen is a key component in supporting tissue repair and sealing the intestinal wall of the gut. The specific amino acids present in collagen perform a wide variety of functions to help improve digestive functioning and support the immune system.

Glutamine (a key component of collagen) specifically has been identified as the key amino acid for successfully decreasing inflammation in the intestinal wall.

Because the postpartum body is working hard to heal and function well after birth, nutrients like collagen help to protect and sustain the gut.

Ingredients You Need

• Eggs
• Coconut sugar
• Almond butter
• Gluten free flour (or almond flour if you can tolerate it)
• Cacao/cocoa powder
• Vanilla extract
• Collagen powder (preferably chocolate or vanilla flavour)
• Butter
• Choc chips

Method

1. Preheat oven at 160 Degrees Celsius/325F and line a 9×9 dish with baking paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and coconut sugar well.
3. Add the almond butter, vanilla to bowl and mix until combined.
4. Add in the flour, cacao powder and collagen and stir to combine.
5. In a small saucepan on low heat, add the butter and 1 cup choc chips and stir until melted and combined.
6. Pour melted butter and chocolate into the batter and stir to combine.
7. Combine the remaining choc chips into the batter.
8. Pour the batter into the 9×9 dish and spread out evenly.
9. Bake for 20-23 minutes or until you insert a toothpick in the centre and it comes out with no wet batter remnants.
10. Let brownies cool before serving.
11. Serve with some strawberries and cream!

Recipe Notes

• When it comes to gluten free flours, there are so many options to choose from. I like to use regular gluten free flour because it is predictable and safe to use. I love using almond flour because it often makes baked goods light and fluffy. You can also use coconut flour or tapioca flour. Be wary that each flour may produce a shift in density in the brownies.
• You can use peanut butter alternative to almond butter, or any nut butter of choice.
• You can use maple syrup alternative to coconut sugar. Just whisk in 3/4 cup maple syrup in with the eggs. You could also use brown sugar.
• For a dairy-free option, you can opt out the butter for 1/4 cup coconut oil.
• If you don’t know which collagen to use, my absolute favourite is the NutraOrganics brand. If you use a vanilla flavoured collagen, I would suggest omitting the vanilla essence.