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The Perfect Gluten Free Brownies

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The PERFECT Gluten-Free Brownies – These almond flour brownies are everything I’m looking for. They’re fudgy and rich, chocolatey and delicious, all without gluten, grains, or dairy! (Paleo-friendly)

Front view of gluten-free brownie squares stacked up on a white plate

Post updated Jan 2023. Originally posted March 2015. 

It’s hard to believe we’ve been gluten-free for almost EIGHT years! Back when we were getting started, 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.

That’s part of what made these gluten-free brownies feel so magical all those years ago. They were one of the first gluten-free baking recipes we just NAILED. They taste INCREDIBLE.

They were everything I was missing and craving in a traditional brownie–fudgy and rich with gorgeous crackly tops and decadently chocolatey insides. I absolutely love them. I’ve made them countless times over our gluten-free years, enjoying them plain, dressing them up for the holidays with peppermint, tossing them into homemade ice cream, building epic sundaes with dairy-free hot fudge sauce…they’re the brownies I come back to over and over again.

They’re the almond flour brownies that just won’t let you down. Here’s what you’ll need to get started…

Overhead view of a white saucepan with ingredients for gluten-free brownies on a white background Close up view of gluten-free brownies topped with sea salt

Here’s What Goes Into Our Perfect Gluten-Free Brownies Recipe:

  • ALMOND FLOUR. Finely ground, blanched almond flour (not almond meal), is better than any other gluten-free flour I’ve tried for brownies. They get that gorgeous fudgy texture I love so much (I’m not a cake-y brownie fan), and I love that the flour isn’t empty calories. Instead, it’s just ground almonds!
  • 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.
Overhead view of a white baking dish with gluten-free brownies ready to go into the oven
Overhead view of a white baking dish with gluten-free brownies after baking

5 Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Brownies:

The technique isn’t fussy, but I have found that following a few ground rules really helps guarantee success. Here are my best notes after years of making and enjoying these almond flour brownies…

  1. LINE YOUR PAN WITH PARCHMENT. Lining the baking dish with parchment means your brownies will lift easily out of the pan. I highly recommend using it whenever possible so your brownies will cut neatly and won’t stick to the pan. (See the video if you need a visual)
  2. WHISK THE EGGS + SUGAR LONG ENOUGH. WHISKING THE EGGS & SUGAR. You really don’t want to rush or skip this step, since it’ll help you achieve that delightful crackly top and will give your gluten-free brownies a bit more structure. When you whisk them and lift up the whisk, the mixture should stream down pretty evenly in “ribbons” rather than in big lumpy clumps. Also, when you rub the mixture between clean fingers, you shouldn’t feel much grit from the sugar. If you’re not there yet, just keep whisking! You’ll whisk for 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture is *slightly* lighter in color, streams down from the whisk in a smooth line (i.e. passing the ribbon test), and doesn’t feel gritty when rubbed between your fingers.
  3. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE THE FLOUR. If you want to be sure your brownies turn out here, you MUST use almond flour. Substituting coconut flour, almond meal, or 1:1 gluten-free flour blend WILL NOT give you the same results. (Coconut flour without adjusting other ingredients = dry crumbly brownies. Gluten-free all-purpose flour will have more dry/cakey texture.)
  4. DO NOT OVER-BAKE. My trick for decadently fudgy brownies (instead of cakey 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. It’s the biggest secret for fudgy gluten free brownies!
  5. COOL THEM BEFORE CUTTING. Trust me, I know how tempting it is to cut into warm, gooey gluten-free brownies, but I pinky promise that they will cut better and be more set if you can wait till they cool. You’ll actually get the neatest cut if you chill them in the refrigerator, but letting them cool completely on the counter will also help a lot.
overhead view of gluten-free brownies cut into squares and topped with sea salt.
Close up overhead view of gluten-free brownie squares

FAQ + Tips For The Best Gluten-Free Brownies:

BAKING POWDER VS. BAKING SODA. I’ve made batches of these gluten-free brownies with baking soda and some with baking powder. They are not typically interchangeable, so here’s what you should know:

  • BAKING POWDER: helps puff and often yields a more even surface. It’s what I use most often! It’s not a great choice for paleo eaters, since most baking powder contains cornstarch. (You can make your own paleo baking powder if you want!) I find the brownies made with baking powder typically get that nice crackly top, and are *slightly* less dense in the middles.
  • BAKING SODA. I originally used baking soda instead of baking powder in this almond flour brownie recipe because it’s paleo-friendly. When making the brownies with baking soda, you may notice that they puff quite a bit in the oven, then settle as they cool, leaving a delicious border around the edges. You also typically don’t see the same crackly top when you make them with baking soda.

COARSE SEA SALT. I LOVE adding a little coarse sea salt to the tops of my gluten-free brownies. The tiny hint of salt wakes up the chocolate and provides a nice balance of flavors. If you’re not a salt-with-sweet fan, feel free to skip it!

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. I’ve had good luck with Bob’s Red Mill, Honeyville, Hughson, Trader Joe’s blanched almond flour, and even Target’s brand.

Try Some Mix-Ins Or Toppings!

I love making these gluten-free brownies with chocolate chips mixed in, but you can also try any of these other yummy variations:

  • CHOPPED NUTS (toast them first for extra flavor!). Almonds, walnuts, pecans… yum!
  • TOFFEE BITS. If you’re not dairy-intolerant, toffee bits are delicious mixed into brownies!
  • COARSE SEA SALT. My favorite way to finish these brownies is with a few sea salt flakes.
  • MINI MARSHMALLOWS. Give these a bit of a s’mores vibe by adding mini marshmallows to the top of the baked brownies and broil for about 1 minute. Watch carefully to avoid scorching!
  • BROWNED BUTTER. If you tolerate dairy, making these with browned butter instead of regular melted butter adds a gorgeous caramel-y note!
  • WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Swap out the extra chocolate chips for some white chocolate chips (Extra yummy with crushed candy cane on top!)
Close up overhead view of gluten-free brownies cut into squares and topped with sea salt.
Overhead view of gluten-free brownie squares on a white plate

More Yummy Ways To Satisfy Your Chocolate Craving:

SHOP OUR FAVORITE TOOLS + INGREDIENTS FOR GLUTEN-FREE BROWNIES HERE:

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Front view of gluten-free brownie squares stacked up on a white plate

The PERFECT Gluten-Free Brownies


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4.9 from 154 reviews

  • Author: One Lovely Life
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 16 brownies 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Description

These intensely fudgy almond flour brownies are SO GOOD no one will ever guess they’re also gluten, dairy AND grain free. They’re everything a brownie should be! 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2/3 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips (I use dairy free chocolate chips)
  • 5 Tablespoons coconut oil (can sub butter, avocado oil, vegan butter, ghee)
  • 2/3 cup coconut sugar (can sub white, brown, or maple 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

To mix in:

  • 2/3 cup additional chocolate chips or chopped chocolate (can sub nuts)

Optional: coarse sea salt to sprinkle on top


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper or spray with nonstick spray.
  2. 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.
  3. In a small 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.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients–almond flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
  5. When the melted chocolate mixture has cooled slightly, stir in the egg/sugar mixture into the saucepan of melted chocolate. Stir in vanilla and mix until smooth.
  6. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold until just mixed.
  7. Fold in the additional chocolate chips, reserving a few to sprinkle on the top, if you like.
  8. Pour batter into your prepared pan and smooth the surface.
  9. Bake at 350 degrees 20-24 minutes, or until edges are set and the center is still ever so 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.
  10. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if using, and allow brownies to cool before slicing.

Notes

*For paleo, use paleo-approved baking powder, or you can substitute baking soda. (It’s not a perfect substitution–brownies made with baking soda will spread and have edges that are slightly raised from the centers.)

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.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

562 Comments

  1. First, let me say that these brownies were DELICIOUS! I’m gluten/dairy free (Paleo) and took them to a dinner with friends where I was the only one with food restrictions. Everyone devoured them and it was great that I could join in on that devouring. There were crumbs on the plate and one of the men literally licked the plate! Haha! I did not expect that! I followed your recipe exactly and my only issue was that the top didn’t have that traditional brownie sheen on top. It was matte brown instead, but sprinkling the salt distracted from that fact. Can you think of a reason why this happened so I can try to correct it?

  2. It bakes well and the brownies are a perfect texture. I substituted the coconut oil for butter (same amount) as my daughter has celiacs and she doesn’t like the taste of coconut. They came out yummy!!!!






  3. Hello. The recipe sounds good…but what I don’t like is this: 2/3 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips – ?
    Why there is no back to basic simple brownie recipe.. Who knows what’s in the chocolate chips, how much butter and sugar is in them in total? I’d much prefer if we could just have kakao powder based recipe…

  4. Birthday party tomorrow means I need to double this recipe! Have you done so successfully? I’d be doing it in a cake pan, and I’m just awful about knowing baking times when doubling! Any help appreciated! Can’t wait to try these!

    1. Amy – Fun for a birthday! For doubling, I actually just usually make it in two square pans so the edges don’t burn while the middle stays underdone in a larger pan, but several folks have made a double batch in a 9×13″ pan. I’d start checking them around the same baking time (20-24 min), and then check every 2-3 minutes after that to be safe.

  5. just made these, they turned out perfect. I even halved the amount of sugar, and my family loved them. thanks so much for sharing this amazing recipe






  6. Just did it and I putted shredded coconut on top to remind that coconut oil flavor. it smells amazing and it taste wonderful, it’s super fudgey!!!






  7. I made these today for Father’s Day and they were amazing. My dad has celiac and he loved them. Even my younger siblings loved them. We finished the whole thing in like 10 minutes. Would definitely reccomend this recipe

    1. I’m SO happy to hear that! We absolutely LOVE these brownies! I’m glad you did too 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share this with me!

  8. Best brownies I’ve ever made and had! Just perfectly fudgy with crisp edges but not super crunchy! I think I’ll stick with this when we get a little chocolate craving because it was perfect, thank you!






  9. THESE WERE INCREDIBLE. I substituted the baking soda for baking powder, I added chopped pecans, and they came out perfectly. I would never know they were gluten free. Thanks so much for this recipe!!!!!






  10. what did I do wrong-mine foamed up and overflowed the pan and made a big mess? I followed the instructions to a t.

    1. Oh my goodness! That’s never happened to me before! Not even close! You’re sure you used an 8×8 or 9×9 pan and the correct amount of baking soda?

  11. Hello!! Loved these!! Wondering though, if I wanted to make these into cookies rather than brownies… how much extra flour do you think?

  12. Greetings! I wanted to comment on how delicious this recipe is! My family loves it. I did want to add that I have tried it with GF flour rather than almond and the result is fabulous. I too have subbed the dairy free chocolate and butter and everything tastes fantastic. Sadly, I have developed a reaction to chocolate that causes insomnia…I know tragic! However I have substituted carob powder for the cocoa powder and carob chips for the dairy free chocolate chips and my goodness…absolutely delicious! You cannot taste the difference! I do have to adjust baking time because it takes longer to set but it still comes out soft, gooey and amazing. Thank you for the recipes they make my household so warm and with happy allergy friendly feels!






    1. Sybila – Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this with me! I’m sure other folks with that reaction will really appreciate your tips with carob! You made my day. Thank you so much!

  13. These are AMAZING! I used ghee, dairy free chocolate, and cacao powder to meet my dietary needs and they turned out so good! I want to eat the entire pan! Thank you for this incredible recipe!






  14. I kept finding recipes that called themselves “paleo” but included baking powder, and then I finally stumbled upon this recipe. I already had most of the ingredients so I decided to get the rest and give it a try. I followed the recipe exactly and cooked the brownies for 20 minutes. I waited until they were completely cooled before cutting and tasting… and oh man these are amazing! They were fudgy and delicious. I can’t wait to make these again.






  15. I’ve tried several gluten free almond flour brownie recipes, this is my favorite. Mine always seems to “fall” upon resting however they taste delicious none the less. I use butter and sugar. Im looking to try coconut oil soon – just don’t want that coconut taste…






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