FUDGY FLOURLESS PALEO CHOCOLATE CHUNK BROWNIES
on Oct 26, 2023, Updated Jul 10, 2024
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I should have guessed that one of my most popular recipes to date would be a grain-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free brownie recipe. These Fudgy Flourless Paleo Brownies are just what you need when you’re craving something sweet but don’t have the time or patience to make something overly complicated.
When it comes to making healthier versions of my favorite desserts, I make sure they taste just as good — if not better — than the classic recipe. These paleo brownies are gooey, moist (I know people despise that world, but how else would you describe a brownie?!) and positively addicting.
My mother-in-law can truly attest to their addicting qualities; in addition to helping me brainstorm and test new recipes for me, she makes these brownies almost weekly!
This is the perfect recipe to have on hand when you’re tasked with bringing dessert to a potluck, BBQ, or even a birthday party. In just about 30 minutes, your brownies will be out of the oven, ready to slice up and share with everyone.
So go ahead and make a batch of these grain-free brownies for your next get-together or test them out on your family tonight. You’ll definitely earn some good brownie points! Enjoy!
Ingredients for Paleo Brownies
You’ll be surprised by how few ingredients it takes to make these gooey brownies! And, better yet, you probably have most of these items in your fridge and pantry already.
- Cacao Powder: One of the richest sources of antioxidants on earth, cacao powder is an essential ingredient in these paleo brownies. Unlike cocoa powder which is highly processed and may have added sugar, cacao powder is made from raw cacao beans that are fermented and roasted before milled into its powder form. As if I needed another reason to enjoy a chocolatey treat, cacao powder has numerous health properties. It’s known to support the gut and immune system, improve cognitive function, and boost mood. @navitasorganics is my cacao powder of choice.
- Instant Coffee or Espresso Powder: Adding a touch of coffee to chocolate brings out its sweetness even more. While I’m an avid matcha drinker, I do love and enjoy the taste of coffee! This is an optional ingredient, so leave it out if you don’t have it already.
- Eggs: You will need two eggs for this recipe. Although I don’t eat eggs every day, they create structure and stability in most baked goods recipes. And because brownies are a crucial component of a balanced, healthy lifestyle, I make an exception for this recipe. Some of you have successfully replaced them with flax eggs to make them vegan, however, I have yet to try this particular substitute.
- Nut Butter: Almond, peanut, and cashew butter are staple ingredients in my household. I like them just as much on a piece of gluten-free toast as I do in savory dishes, like my Broccoli Crunch Salad with Almond Butter Dressing. In this brownie recipe, nut butter is a critical ingredient as it’s what helps bind everything together and leads to a truly gooey brownie. I typically use the 365 by @wholefoods organic creamy almond butter, but I know some of you have swapped this for peanut butter with great results instead. If you are nut-free, try using sunflower seed butter or even tahini!
- Coconut Sugar: I prefer using this natural sweetener over white or brown sugar because it’s minimally processed. Again, I like to use the 365 by @wholefoods brand. If you only have brown sugar, you can use that as a replacement.
- Chocolate: To amp up the chocolate flavor even more here, I add 1/2 cup (or perhaps a tad bit more) of @hukitchen baking dark chocolate chunks. These chunks are divine on their own and even better in this fudgy brownie recipe.
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Pin ItHow to Make Fudgy Flourless Paleo Brownies
First, go ahead and preheat your oven to 350°F.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the nut butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. With a fork, whisk until smooth.
Add the dry ingredients to the same bowl – the cacao powder, instant coffee, baking powder, salt, and (of course) the chocolate chunks. With a spatula, stir until combined. The batter will be THICK!
Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Clip both sides so the paper doesn’t slip down as you add in the brownie batter.
Bake for 20 minutes. If you’re using a ceramic or glass baking dish, bake for 20-23 minutes. Metal (like I’ve used) heats up quicker and requires a shorter cooking time.
Remove from the oven and allow the brownies to cool in the baking dish before lifting the parchment paper out of the pan and slicing it into squares. Enjoy!
Other Paleo Desserts To Try:
- Single Serve Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie
- The Best Healthier Banana Bread
- Chocolate Cake (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- 5 Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse (Dairy-Free, Refined Sugar-Free)
- No Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars with Chocolate Ganache
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FUDGY FLOURLESS PALEO CHOCOLATE CHUNK BROWNIES
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy almond butter (see note 1)
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 eggs (at room temperature, preferably)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ⅓ cup cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chocolate chunks + more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Add the almond butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract to a medium-sized mixing bowl and whisk until smooth.
- Add in the cacao powder, instant coffee, baking powder, salt, and chocolate chunks. Stir until just combined – note, the batter will be THICK!
- Smooth the brownie batter into an 8×8 inch parchment-lined baking dish (see note 2).
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool before slicing.
- ENJOY!
I made these brownies tonight for dessert and they were delicious! Very moist.
Excellent!!!! Made twice now in two weeks! ❤️
Let me start off by saying that I’ve been on the hunt for the best brownie recipe for a while now. My dreams have come true with these brownies! Fudgy, yet holds together. Delicious, yet doesn’t give you a heart attack. You wouldn’t guess they’re paleo, which is my favorite kind of recipe. My new favorite recipe!
I’m so happy to hear this Rachel!! So glad you enjoyed the brownies