Get ready to make some of the best gluten-free brownies around! These almond flour brownies have glossy tops, fudgy centers, and delicious chocolate flavor in every bite. Even better: they’re gluten-free, dairy-free, AND grain-free!
When we went gluten-free in 2013(!!!), gluten-free dairy-free baking felt a bit like the wild west since there weren’t a ton of gluten-free blogs out there. (Yes, I feel 9,000 years old typing that.) At the beginning, gluten-free baking involved a lot of experimenting, a lot of mistakes, and some pretty serious flops.
But these gluten-free brownies? They’ve been a win since day 1.
I’m not kidding when I say these almond flour brownies are some of THE BEST BROWNIES on the internet. With rave reviews from hundreds of chocolate lovers over the years (on the blog, Pinterest, FB, IG, and more!), I know it’s not just us!
They’re everything I love in a good brownie–shiny tops, fudgy middles, and delicious chocolate flavor in every bite. They delightfully easy to make and have made appearances at birthdays, parties, graduations, wedding proposals, baby showers, and more.
Whether you’re a gluten-free newbie looking for the best gluten-free brownie recipe around, or you’re a long-time pro with a chocolate craving, these easy gluten-free brownies are here to deliver.
Simple Ingredients To Start
Just like traditional brownies, the best part of this gluten-free brownie recipe is how simple the ingredients list is–no fussy ingredients in sight! Let’s take a look:
- ALMOND FLOUR. Finely ground, blanched almond flour is the base of these fudgy gluten-free brownies. Thanks to the moist texture of the almonds, these brownies get that gorgeous fudgy texture I love so much.
- UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER. To punch up that seriously chocolate flavor we’re looking for, I add a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder. It works wonders! I’ve made these with both traditional unsweetened cocoa powder and Dutch-processed/dark cocoa powder. Both will work!
- BAKING POWDER + SALT. A little salt helps balance those lovely flavors–don’t skip it! Then, to get that lovely puff, I add some baking powder. If you’re strictly paleo, you’ll need to use paleo-approved baking powder (that doesn’t contain cornstarch)
- CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Most of the chocolate flavor and quite a bit of the structure of these gluten-free brownies comes from melting chocolate chips. I use allergy-friendly semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips like these or these, but you can use your favorite. These ones are naturally-sweetened and paleo-approved, but readers have also made them with stevia-sweetened chocolate chips and more!
- COCONUT OIL (OR BUTTER OR VEGAN BUTTER OR AVOCADO OIL!). For the fat (which helps you get that dense fudgy texture), you can make your gluten-free brownies with melted coconut oil, butter, vegan butter, or avocado oil. They will all work in this recipe!
- EGGS + COCONUT SUGAR. Another trick, which helps you get that gorgeous crackly top, is to whisk-whisk-whisk the eggs and coconut sugar together until they’re lighter in color and smooth. Don’t skimp here since it really helps with the texture! I’ve used coconut sugar in our gluten-free brownies, which is lower on the glycemic index, but if you don’t have it or like it, feel free to substitute white sugar, brown sugar, or even something like maple sugar. It will all work.
- VANILLA. To round off the wet ingredients, you’ll add some vanilla to the gluten-free brownie batter. It really punches up the chocolate flavor!
- MORE CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Lastly, I like folding in another 2/3 cup of chocolate chips. They’re DELIGHTFUL in the baked brownies, like little chocolatey surprises in every bite. If you prefer, you can use chopped nuts here instead.
Can I Use Another Flour Instead?
One of the most common questions I’ve gotten about these brownies over the years is “can I use another kind of flour?” Here are a few things to know about some of the most common gluten-free flour blends.
- Coconut Flour – NO. Coconut flour absorbs several times its own volume in liquid, so using coconut flour here would mean VERY dry, crumbly brownies instead of the gorgeous, fudgy brownies we’re going for. You cannot use it as a substitute here.
- Oat Flour – NO. I don’t recommend oat flour for these gluten-free brownies, since it tends to impact the texture.
- Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour – MAYBE. Several readers have made these brownies with gluten-free 1:1 flour blends. I don’t love it here (I prefer this recipe if I’m using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend!), but if you HAVE to use a substitute, that’s probably your best option. Keep in mind, the brownies will be a little more dense and dry than if you use almond flour.
How To Make Gluten-Free Brownies, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.
- Preheat Oven & Prep The Pan. To start, preheat oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Line a metal 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
- Melt Chocolate. In a small saucepan, gently melt chocolate and oil over low heat until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Beat Eggs & Sugar. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is lighter in color (This will be easier and faster if you use a handheld electric mixer!). If you rub the mixture between your fingers, it shouldn’t be gritty.) Set aside. Don’t rush this step, or your brownies won’t get that glossy, crackly top!
- Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients–almond flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine. Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and stir until smooth. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold until just mixed.
- Add Mix-Ins. Fold in the additional chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on the top, if you like.
- Pour batter into your prepared baking dish and smooth the surface. Sprinkle with reserved chocolate chips.
- Bake at 350 degrees 18-20 minutes, or until edges are set and the center is still slightly underdone. (The remaining heat should set the center as it cools.) A toothpick inserted in the center should only come out with a few moist crumbs.
- Garnish & Cool. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, if using, and allow brownies to cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Variations & Mix-Ins To Try
Now that you’ve mastered our base recipe for gluten-free brownies, you can play with mix-ins! Depending on your dietary needs, you can mix and match from these options when you’re craving something different:
- Chocolate Chunks. Swap out the chocolate chips for chocolate chunks for a bigger impact!
- Nuts! Add some chopped nuts to the brownies! Toasted pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts are all delicious.
- White Chocolate Chips. Fold in white chocolate chips at the end for a black & white effect!
- Candy Cane. We use peppermint extract & crushed candy canes in our Peppermint Brownies twist!
- Almond Extract. Try adding 1/4-1/2 teaspoon almond extract along with the vanilla for a more pronounced chocolate almond flavor. It’s delicious!
- Espresso Powder. If you’re a coffee fan, you can add 1 Tablespoon espresso powder with the dry ingredients!
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Brownies
USE A METAL PAN! I used to make these brownies in a ceramic pan, but in recent years, I MUCH prefer using a metal pan (this square pan, specifically!) or a glass pan or ceramic pan, since the brownies will get a better rise and a shinier crust. (You can see a visual of brownies baked in glass vs metal pans here!)
ALMOND FLOUR. There are a LOT of different brands and blends of almond flour and most of them produce different results. I recommend using a very finely ground blanched almond flour rather than a coarse grind or almond meal which is made with skins-on almonds. We often buy Blue Diamond almond flour in bulk, but check your local Costco, since they regularly rotate in different brands!
MAKE A SUNDAE! I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I *will* say these brownies are incredible with a scoop of ice cream and a drizzle of our vegan hot fudge sauce or classic hot fudge sauce.
PS – LOOKING FOR A BOX MIX? These brownies are 100% worth the effort, but if you’re looking for the best gluten-free box mix brownies, we did a whole taste test a few years ago that’s worth a look!
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our Almond Flour Gluten-Free Brownie recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
The PERFECT Gluten-Free Brownies
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips (dairy-free, if needed)
- 5 Tablespoons coconut oil (can sub butter, avocado oil, vegan butter)
- 2/3 cup coconut sugar (can sub white or brown sugar)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup finely ground blanched almond flour
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2/3 cup additional chocolate chips or chopped chocolate can sub nuts
- Optional: flaky sea salt to sprinkle on top like Maldon
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Prep The Pan. To start, preheat oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Line a metal 8×8 square pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
- Melt Chocolate. In a small saucepan, gently melt chocolate and oil over low heat until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Beat Eggs & Sugar. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and eggs 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is slightly lighter in color and until they pass the ribbon test (when you lift the whisk the mixture should stream down evenly in “ribbons.” If you rub the mixture between your fingers, it shouldn’t be gritty.) Set aside. Don’t rush this step, or your brownies won’t get that glossy, crackly top!
- Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients–almond flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine. Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and stir until smooth. Add vanilla and stir to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold until just mixed.
- Add Mix-Ins. Fold in the additional chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on the top, if you like.
- Pour batter into your prepared pan and smooth the surface. Sprinkle with reserved chocolate chips.
- Bake at 350 degrees 18-20 minutes, or until edges are set and the center is still slightly underdone. (The remaining heat should set the center as it cools.) A toothpick inserted in the center should only come out with a few moist crumbs.
- Garnish & Cool. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if using, and allow brownies to cool on a wire rack before slicing. (For the neatest slices, consider chilling the brownies first)
- Storage Tips. Store leftover brownies in an airtight container at room temperature 1-2 days, in the refrigerator 3-4 days, or in the freezer up to 2 months.
Notes
- For Paleo, use paleo-approved baking powder and dairy-free chocolate chips
- Cocoa Powder. I usually make these with natural cocoa powder (like Hershey’s or Ghirardelli), but you can use Dutch Process cocoa powder for a darker, richer look.
- Don’t Over-Bake. My trick for fudgy brownies is always to pull them out when the center is juuuust about set. They’ll finish setting as they cool and won’t end up too crispy or dried out.
- Use A Metal Pan. When possible, I recommend baking these brownies in a metal pan. The crust will get shinier, the brownies will bake more evenly, and consistently. Baking in glass or ceramic pans will increase the bake time (it’ll take 20-24 minutes) and the surface of your brownies will be more uneven.
- Sugar. Brown sugar or white sugar will give your brownies the glossiest, shiniest tops, but coconut sugar absolutely works if you’re avoiding refined sugar.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.
Find it Online:
https://www.onelovelylife.com/the-perfect-gluten-free-brownies/Recipe originally published March 2016. Fully updated in 2018, 2021, then updated and republished again February 2025.
This is the best paleo baking recipe I’ve come across to date. The texture and flavor are spot on. I am always disappointed when baking paleo, but not this time! I had my mom make some too and she liked them a lot as well. Thanks for creating them!
What a sweet comment! I’m so glad you love them like we do!
Made them with baking powder instead of baking soda and added 1/4 tsp of Nutmeg and OH MY GOD these are the best things I’ve ever tasted!!! I have Celiacs and a dairy allergy so there are very few baked desserts that actually taste this good and don’t hurt my tummy at all! I also use dairy free chocolate chips and the coconut sugar. Cooking time is perfect, sprinkling the sea salt with 8-10 minutes left in cooking works beautifully. I think I am going to have to make another batch tomorrow… THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS!!!!
YUM! The addition of nutmeg sounds incredible!!!
I’ve made these twice, and they are SOOOOO yummy!! My only problem is they come out of the oven with a thick crusty top, not moist, so the salt can’t stick… I have no idea why and what to do to prevent this… I just put the salt on after they’re sliced, so it falls between the cracks…
JustM – I’m glad you’re enjoying them! One thing you can do is pull them out about halfway through and add the salt on top them, then pop them back in to finish cooking. It sometimes helps the salt stick a little better to the tops. 🙂 Hope that helps!
LOVE love LOVED them!I have tried several different healthy brownie recipes and these are the BOMB!
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that! You made my day!!!
Hi there! I just made these exactly as listed. However, the sides raised up around the edge while the middle didnt rise at all. The top seemed a little crunchy while the inside wasn’t. I think it’s a win because they are much healthier, but thought the cooking was a bit weird, with the sides raising up so high. Wonder what happened?
Molly – Hm… My sides usually puff up a tiny bit, but not a lot. I wonder what happened? I’ll have to think about it!
I’m going to try it again and add baking powder as well, to make them raise more. I think it needs just a smidgen. Will let you know how it goes! I’m also going to reduce the oil to maybe 3.5 Tablespoons…will let you know! 🙂 I think this is a great base though, they are very fudgy and I dont mind the almond flour!
I hope your adjustments help! Thanks so much for your comments!
Hi! So I made these again today but instead used baking powder instead of soda and they turned out absolutely perfect! I checked a number of other brownie recipes and they all use baking powder (none of them use soda – soda spreads, powder puffs, which is what these need in a 8×8 pan). Maybe check it out, these are so perfect now! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Molly – THANK YOU for reporting back! Honestly, I’m wondering now if I made a typo. I’ll test it your way and update again!
Lower temp of oven a bit and add a couple minutes?
I tried these…. the center set up and the edges are still gooey… they didnt rise at all and its SUPER oily like soaked in oil. The only change i made was that i used bobs red mill egg replacer and no additional chocolate chips added.
They do taste really good…. i have to experiment more i guess.
Oh dear! I’m sorry that happened. I know that can be frustrating! I’m guessing the difference you’re seeing is because of the substitutions, but it sounds like maybe there was an ingredient missing or perhaps an accidental mix-up along the way. Mine have never been that oily. (Did you add the required water to the egg replacer?)
Hi Emily–I’m wondering whether you think this recipe would turn out using “flax eggs” in place of the regular eggs? I am looking for a vegan and gluten free dessert option. If you have a favorite recipe that meets these dietary needs, I’d love to hear it! Happy Friday 🙂
Megan – I haven’t tried them with a flax egg, but I’d LOVE to know how they turn out for you if you try them this way!
I made these and they were great but wouldn’t set. I used flax eggs. Everything else was the same. Not sure what happened but I ended up having to good them so long that all the edges burnt. Any other suggestions? I used baking powder instead of soda for less sodium.
Carrie – It could very well be the flax eggs and baking powder substitutions. (I haven’t made them with flax eggs, but someone else had a similar issue.) The brownies also tend to completely set as they cool, so if you kept testing them while hot, they’d probably continue to test gooey. I’m sorry that happened!
I just made these with ground chia seed eggs (3T water:1 T ground chia) and it turned out fine, not great. The batter hardly rose and made about 1/2″ thick brownies, whereas the original recipe makes a bit of a fluffier brownie. Taste-wise, about the same but I much prefer the “original recipe” posted here with the eggs. hope that helps anyone in the future!!
Thank you for chiming in with your results!
What would the serving size be? Also do you know how many carbs per serving?
Kathleen – I usually cut these into 16 squares. As for the carbs, I’m sorry I don’t have nutrition facts for each recipe yet, but you can plug this recipe into any online calculator to get a good idea. My favorite is MyFitnessPal (website or free app). You can import recipes from anywhere on the web!
So excited to make these! If I try coconut sugar, do you recommend the same amount?
I do! If you add much more or less it will mess with the texture.
These look amazing! I’m always on the lookout for a great gf brownie 🙂 Do you think Trader Joe’s almond meal would work here, or would I need actual almond flour?
Natalie – When I tried it, it did work, though the texture was a bit more grainy with the coarser grind of nuts. But it still worked for me! You may want to add an extra Tablespoon of almond meal.
Yes it does perfectly ❤️
The brownies look fabulous! And I already have all the ingredients to make them… I think I know what I’ll be doing tonight. Also, really jealous of your perfect brownie cutting skills.
Paige – Here’s my secret: I chill them first! They cut perfectly when chilled.
And…if you like to have them warm, cut brownies with a plastic knife!
Great suggestion! Thank you!
Could I use a cup for cup GF replacement flour? Thanks so much!
You *technically* can, but do know they won’t be as fudgey. They’ll puff a bit more and be a bit more cakelike. If you’re good with that, I say go for it!
Emily 🙂
I have tried many alternative gluten free healthy brownie recipes. Your recipe is unsurpassed delicious!
I like to also garnish the brownies while still cooling, with a natural chocolate glaze and atop it with halved walnuts.
Very pretty.
Can’t wait to try other “ONE LOVELY LIFE” recipes!
Cynthia Hadley
Oh my goodness. That chocolate glaze sounds amazing! I’m totally going to try that. (Thank you so much for sharing!!!)
Cynthia..whats your natural chocolate glaze…..
Best brownies ever period
Oh my GOSH! THANK YOU!!!
haven’t dug in yet, but the center of mine just sunk after i took them out of the oven! might be eating these with a spoon.
Oh dear! They do naturally settle a bit, but it sounds like they could possibly be underbaked?
If I could give this recipe 10 stars I would, in fact I’d give it 100 stars. I’m fairly new to Gluten and Dairy free eating and this brownie just saves the day ….every.single.time. it was the first gf brownie I tried and my search ends here 🙂