These Spinach and Feta Brownies are gluten-free and made with simple ingredients. They taste like delicious spanakopita, equally good warm or cold.
We also love the earthy, tangy flavor combo in spinach feta turkey burgers.
Table of Contents
Inspired by Stella from Hungry Happens, this spinach and feta brownies recipe takes a different path from the traditional dessert. No chocolate here, just a delightful savory spin.
It’s essentially a simplified version of my crustless spinach quiche, offering the flavors of spanakopita in a much easier-to-make form.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Tastes like spanakopita: The recipe includes key spanakopita ingredients including spinach, feta, chopped scallions, and dill. Same fantastic flavor with a slightly healthier twist.
- Flexible: Delicious warm or cold, perfect as an appetizer or side dish, healthy dinner or grab-and-go healthy breakfast.
- Gluten-free: Made with oat flour and absent of a flaky crust, these spanakopita brownies are a treat for everyone.
- Simple recipe: Just mix all the ingredients and pop it in the oven!
Ingredients for Spinach and Feta Brownies
To make spinach and feta brownies you’ll need spinach, feta, and a few more simple ingredients.
- Eggs: You will need 2 large eggs to hold ingredients together.
- Milk: Any milk works to give the spinach brownies a creamy flavor.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds moisture and flavor.
- Baking powder: We add a small amount to provide a leavening affect and achieve a subtle cakey texture.
- Oat flour: Oat flour is basically ground up quick oats or rolled oats. You can buy it at any grocery store or if you’re feeling DIY, you can make your own using my oat flour recipe.
- Frozen spinach: Use thawed and squeezed frozen chopped spinach before adding it to the mixture.
- Feta: Use fresh feta cheese from a block, I used goat’s cheese feta.
- Parmigiano Reggiano: Use aged Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from a block and grate it yourself. It adds the best flavor over other Parmesan cheese varieties.
- Garlic: Only freshly grated garlic cloves.
- Fresh herbs: Some fresh dill and green onion adds a lively touch and hints of the classic spanakopita taste.
- Spices: Salt and pepper.
How to Make Spinach Feta Brownies
Ready to whip up some spinach feta brownies? Just mix, kick back, and let the oven do its magic!
There is a full recipe card below.
- Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 375 F then spray a square 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray, I like Misto, and set aside.
- Combine all ingredients: In a large bowl, toss in eggs, milk, olive oil, baking powder, salt, pepper, and give it a good whisk. Mix in oat flour with a spatula, then throw in spinach, feta, Parmesan, green onion, dill, and garlic until you’ve got a thick batter.
- Bake: Transfer the feta spinach mixture into your prepped baking dish, level it out with a spatula, and bake uncovered for around 40 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean.
- Rest and serve: Take spinach brownies out of the oven and give them a good 30 minutes to cool. Move them onto a cutting board, slice into 9 squares, and enjoy warm or cold with a side salad.
Recipe Tip
Give them time to set and rest before diving in. This lets them firm up, allows the flavors to mingle for a tastier brownie, and makes slicing a breeze.
Tips for Best Results
I gave this recipe a few tries, here are some easy tips to help you nail this dish on your first attempt.
- Use only Parmigiano Reggiano: A hard cheese that’s matured and has a sharp flavor. Steer clear of the shaker, bag, or tub varieties for the best flavor.
- Grate your own Parmesan: Don’t buy the pre-shredded, soft versions in plastic bags as they lack the bold flavor you’re looking for.
- Squeeze spinach well: If not squeezed well the excess liquids will make brownies watery. I work in batches and squeeze with my hands over the sink.
- Mix and match the herbs: Feel free to add your personal touch, as long as you have 1 cup total.
- Other cheese you can use: Instead of Parmesan, use a combination of sharp cheddar, gouda or Asiago cheese.
- Add mozzarella cheese: For more cheesy gooey texture, mix in about 1/3 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- To double the recipe: Believe me, these vanish quickly and are freezer-friendly! Double the ingredients, bake in a 9×13 dish for about an hour.
What to Serve Spanakopita Brownies with?
Enjoy these revamped brownies as a special occasion appetizer for Mother’s Day or Easter, solo on busy mornings, or paired with a fresh salad.
We like a fruit salad for breakfast and a Greek salad for lunch. For a heartier dinner try a kale and quinoa salad or mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette.
How to Store and Reheat
Store: Store any remaining leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: You can freeze the brownies individually wrapped in a resealable bag or placed in an airtight container, sliced or unsliced for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, thaw on the counter for 1-2 hours or in the fridge overnight. Warm up by microwaving, using a toaster oven, or baking in an oven at 350 F for 15 minutes.
FAQs
Yes, you can use about 1 cup of regular all purpose flour instead of oat flour.
Yes. Use the same amount of almond flour as you would oat flour, 1 1/2 cups.
Yes, you can make these spinach feta brownies with 1 cup gluten-free flour.
Replace eggs with either 2 chia eggs – 2 tablespoons ground chia with 6 tablespoons water or flax eggs – 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed with 5 tablespoons cold or warm water.
If you have fresh spinach, saute an 11 ounces container of spinach in a skillet until wilted, then cool and squeeze, and follow the recipe.
More Feta Recipes to Try
- Arugula feta salad
- Whipped feta board
- Baked feta dip
- Baked feta chicken
- Broccoli feta soup
- Cucumber tomato feta salad
More Spinach Recipes to Try
Spinach and Feta Brownies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk any works
- 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour
- 10 ounces frozen spinach thawed & squeezed
- 7 ounces feta cheese crumbled from a block
- 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano grated + more for sprinkling on top (optional)
- 1/2 cup green onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup dill finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves grated
- Cooking spray I use Misto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F and spray square 9 x 9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add eggs, milk, olive oil, baking powder, salt, pepper and whisk to combine. Add oat flour and stir with a spatula. Then add spinach, feta cheese, parmesan cheese, green onion, dill, garlic and stir to combine until thick batter forms.
- Transfer mixture into previously prepared baking dish, level with spatula and bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes. Transfer brownies onto a cutting board and cut into 9 squares.
- Enjoy warm or cold with a side salad.
Video
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months, individually wrapped in a resealable bag or in an airtight container. Can freeze sliced or unsliced. Thaw on a counter for 1-2 hours or in the fridge overnight.
- Reheat: Reheat brownie in a microwave, toaster oven or bake in regular oven at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
These are delicious! Made them for a club meeting —- they disappeared fast. Am making them again this week for game day . My husband likes them, too! Love your recipes, Olena!
Aw, you are so welcome! So happy to hear you and everyone are enjoying my recipes, Dorothy!
A great healthy quiche alternative, everyone loved it and no one knew it was actually good for them.
So happy to hear everyone loved these spinach and feta brownies!
This is so good!
I had kale instead of spinach which I sautéed.
With a salad or just tomatoes its a delicious light meal.
Kale sounds delicious, sautéing it is the way to go. Glad you enjoyed these spinach and feta brownies!
Can the amount of olive oil be cut back and can you use regular or wheat flour?
You may reduce oil but brownies will be more gummy. Please see post about other flours.