Gooey Fudgy Paleo Brownies Recipe! This heathy dessert recipe is ready in 15 minutes flat and makes the best brownies EVER!
Have you ever hit recipe gold? I mean…you’ve created something and think, “this food is so good it could be used as currency.” Thats exactly how I feel about these Fudgy Paleo Brownies. They are fudgy, gooey, and oh so chocolatey.
These little bits of heaven are insanely delicious and are gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo AND vegan! Plus, they come together in 15 {yes, fifteen!} minutes FLAT! If you get.up.right.now. you seriously could be eating the best brownies in the world in 15 minutes. Ready…Set…Go! 🙂 Or wait…let’s chat about them a little more before you run to your kitchen…
These brownies were born out of my desire to make super fudgy paleo brownies that didn’t call for melted chocolate. I wanted to create cocoa-based brownies that were just as good as their melted-chocolate counterparts. And, as I said previously…gold.mine.
How to Make Fudgy Paleo Brownies
- EASY. Just like these paleo blondies, this recipe makes a small batch of fudy paleo brownies! If you’re like me and either a) don’t like taking risks with expensive ingredients or b) like to make a new dessert every other day…this is the perfect recipe for you! It’s so simple, mix the wet ingredients, add the dry and bake! Go ahead and lick that batter straight out of the bowl because it’s VEGAN (no eggs, no worries)!
- Pan size. Either an 8×4″ loaf pan. or a small 5″ Le Creuset baking dish can be used to bake these brownies! I know this is a unique size, but it’s really not that hard to find {click here}! I have one of the Le Creuset pans and three of the loaf pans and use them all.the.time. to make small-batch desserts and baking homemade bread!
- Fudge Factor. YOU determine your destiny with these beauties. Do you want brownies that are basically like eating gooey, warm brownie batter? Then bake for only 10 minutes. Do you prefer your brownies a little heartier? Then bake for 15 minutes (NO more)! If you like something in between, go for it! The sky’s the limit {well within a 5 minute window}! 😉 My favorite baking time is 11-12 minutes.
I have made this recipe an embarrassing amount of times (I HAD to make sure it was exactly perfect)! You really have nothing to lose! These healthy, delicious, OoOoey, gooey brownies won’t let you down. This might be my favorite recipe creation since these!!! No joke please make them! Please!
Fudgy Paleo Brownies: Substitutions
Ok these beauties are actually fairly versatile, so here are a few tried-and-true, delicious ways they can be slightly altered and still achieve the ultimate brownie perfection! Just be sure to choose ingredients that comply with your dietary needs.
- Almond butter. If you are allergic to almonds cashew butter is a phenomenal substitution int his recipe. Like out of this world good! I have used peanut butter {not paleo} but don’t prefer it to the other two choices.
- Coconut oil. Grass-fed butter or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil!
- Maple syrup. Honey is a delicious option to use in place of maple syrup!
- Almond milk. Any non-dairy or regular dairy milk can be used in this recipe!
- Almond flour. I do not recommend tampering with the flour in this recipe. However, I have heard some people have success with regular flour, all-purpose gluten-free flour and tapioca flour. Please {pretty please} do NOT, I repeat do NOT use coconut flour. It is not an acceptable substitution for almond flour.
IF YOU MAKE SOMETHING FROM JOYFOODSUNSHINE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS! DON’T FORGET TO RATE THIS RECIPE AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW! ALSO, FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME ON INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER FOR MORE RECIPE INSPIRATION AND A GLIMPSE INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIFE!
Fudgy Paleo Brownies
These Gooey Fudgy Paleo Brownies Recipe are is ready in 15 minutes flat and are the best brownies EVER!
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy almond butter or cashew butter
- 1 TBS coconut oil melted
- 2 TBS maple syrup (or honey
- 2 TBS unsweetened applesauce
- 2 TBS coconut sugar
- 1 TBS unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3 TBS almond flour
- 2 TBS cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease an 8x4” loaf pan or a 5" baking pan** with coconut oil, set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside.
- In the microwave or on the stovetop gently warm almond butter and coconut oil until melted. Stir until combined.
- Add honey (or maple syrup), applesauce, coconut sugar, almond milk and vanilla. Stir well.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until well combined.
- Gently fold in mini chocolate chips.
- Spread batter in your prepared 8x4” loaf pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until just barely set. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
**If you only have a 9x5" loaf pan check after baking 8-10 minutes. If you bake these for 10 mintues they will be insanely gooey…almost like warm brownie batter (YUM). The longer you bake, the heartier and less gooey they become. My favorite baking time is between 11 & 12 minutes. Remember this makes a very small batch! To make more simply double the recipe and bake in an 8x8" pan!
Do you see how easy this recipe is and how irresistibly fudgy and chocolatey these brownies are?! What are you waiting for?! RUN to the kitchen to make these beauties!
If you’re looking for more brownie recipes…{because there’s no such thing as too many…}
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!
Holly
New to a paleo diet, one week in. Day 2-5 I thought I would die from hunger pains and massive cravings, despite eating copious amounts of food! LOL Day 6, yesterday, was the first day I didn’t have hunger pains, or cravings. But I rewarded myself for holding out through it, by searching for a paleo friendly chocolate dessert. These are the bomb! I made them last night, and oh, my, so much more chocolaty and gooey and yummy than any crappy traditional box brownie could ever hope to be! Seriously rich enough, and satisfying enough, that a very small brownie goes a long way. Thank you!
Laura
LOL I hope you’re find the right foods to nourish your body and keep those hunger pains away as you make the transition to the Paleo diet! I’m SO glad you enjoyed these brownies! They are in my top three favorite desserts ever so it makes me SO happy to know that they brought a little chocolatey joy to your life! 🙂
Kathy
Are these brownies also keto approved?
Holly
Considering a keto diet does not include sugars (sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave…. ), I would guess no.
Kay
Is almond meal the same as almond flour in this recipe?
Laura
No it is not! Almond meal is coarser than almond flour! If you only have almond meal I recommend tossing it in your blender and pulsing for a few seconds to make it finer!
Spark*amy
Made these as double batch for thanksgiving. Forgot to mix in chocolate chips so I poured them on top after taking out of oven. Didn’t quite double the baking time for 8×8 pan. They are DELICIOUS!!
Hubby and father in law couldn’t get enough. Thanks for all your “hard work” perfecting this recipe!
Edith
These look delicious! What is the nutritional info for this recipe (calories, fat, carbs, sugar, protein)?
Kristel
These were actually pretty good! Gooey and fudgy as promised. Just for personal taste, I might try to sub half of the almond butter for something else as they were a bit too “peanut buttery” for just wanting fudgy brownies. But awesome recipe otherwise
Kali
Is it possible to use a standard muffin pan ???
Laura
Hey Kali! I do not think this recipe would translate really well into brownies because of how fudgy they are. You could try mini cast iron skillets! Or if you’re looking for a paleo brownie that would bake well in a muffin tin you could try this Flourless Paleo Brownie recipe!
CHRISCHRISTNe
I made these using almond butter and added a handful of crushed pecans. They are absolutely delicious. Amazingly fudgy! A great great recipe.
Nancy
I made these are they are amazing! By chance does anyone have the nutritional info?
Dianne
I halved the recipe and microwaved it. I had everything but almond or cashew butter, so I used regular peanut butter. I baked it in a 5-inch ramekin for 1,minute and 25 seconds. It was excellent! Probably too much for a single serving, as rich and gooey as it was, but it was easier to make half than a third.
Jaime
How much sugar per serving ?
Trina
Wow! These are seriously amazing! I didn’t have any chocolate chips so I added chopped pecans instead, YUM! Best Paleo dessert I have made yet! I will definitely double the recipe the next time, because these went very quickly (mostly by me!)
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Do they stay risen very long?
Laura
Hey Vanessa! No! As you can see in the photo with a piece cut out…they “sink down,” if you will, as they cool!
Alex
Hi! I have a question…should these be jiggly when you take them out of the oven??
I tripled the recipe and put it in an 8×8….they are thick and delicious looking, but are still very jiggly after the 15 min.
Thank you!!
Laura
Hey Alex! They are a little jiggly but they firm up once they cool down. Tripling the recipe and putting it in an 8×8″ pan more than likely requires a longer baking time than 15 minutes. They will be much thicker than the original recipe if you do that!
Alex
I cooked about 18 minutes and they were phenomenal!!! I already made another batch that I am currently eating at this very moment 😆 thanks Laura!
kelsey
I just picked up everything at the store and forgot apple sauce. Yikes! What should I do? Add more milk, or something else? Help!
Laura
I’d add 1 tbs coconut oil 1 tbs milk and see how it goes!
Kathleen
Just made these with cashew and almond butter! I also added a flax egg. Its delicious!!! How long is their shelf life? Do you store them in the fridge?
Hilary
I tried these and they never set up! The flavor was really good but they were a gooey mess. I made no substitutions, used the correct size pan, and even baked for 15 minutes.. Cooled completely and they just completely fell apart.
Laura
Hey Hilary! That is actually super normal. The way I get them to actually look like square brownies is to refrigerate them before cutting. I will add that in a note in the recipe! If you see in the video, the cut brownie was just barely holding together because I value the gooey-factor and flavor over a perfectly shaped brownie! LOL! My philosophy is toss it in a bowl with some paleo ice cream and it’s utter perfection!
Skye-Marie
I just want to say THANK YOU for posting alternatives to ingredients! I recently took on the paleo lifestyle but am allergic to coconut. I have been having such a hard time finding brownies that look delicious but don’t have coconut. I am very excited to try these out and I’m really hoping you do the alternatives on other recipes too!
Leslie
They look wonderful but I’m allergic to apples-what can I use in place of it? Thanks!!
Candy Davison
I have never before left a comment about a recipe. Oh my goodness…these are absolutely the best!!! Made in a 6” little round Corning Ware dish and turned out perfectly. 6 really nice sized pie shaped pieces. Instead of chocolate chips I broke up a 90% chocolate bar…just fabulous! Thank you so much for helping to make paleo the best decision I ever made 6 years ago!
Laura
Candy I am SO glad that you enjoyed them!! We just returned from vacation and I’m totally making a batch of these tonight for dessert because we don’t have any eggs in the house, and they’re the best ever! 😉
Jane
I just made a double batch of these this morning!! They smelled so good cooking and when i took it out of the oven!! My true test was my fiancee’s response. He loves chocolate!! So, when he got up this morning, i had him try it without telling him anything about it. He loves it!! But he did say it needed to be just a bit sweeter, so he’s going to add whip cream to his. Afterwards. I told him what was in it. I had to explain Paleo to him. (I followed a Paleo lifestyle many years ago and then fell off the wagon. Trying to change back over to Paleo.) He said that he didn’t care what was in it as long as it taste good!!! I’ll be posting a picture of it soon.
Gabby
thank you for this recipe! Truly amazing! Well done !
Mercedes
I tried reading through to make sure no one else had asked already but I couldn’t find anything. I absolutely hate the taste of coconut. Can I substitute ghee for the melted coconut oil? I made them already with the coconut oil and my husband loved them but knew the coconut would be too much for me. Thanks so much!
Laura
Hey Mercedes! Absolutely! Grass-fed butter or gee are excellent substitutions for coconut oil!
Nicola
Bit too salty for me. So will make again and not add the salt. Best brownies I’ve made so far tho. Thank you !
Claudia Marquez
I’ve made these twice before in a 9×5 loaf pan and both times they have been divine. The first time I fallowed to a T, so no surprise when they turned out AMAZING, the second time I messes up with the almond flour and used cashew butter but it was just as good! I just made it again for the third time in an 8×8 (doubled obviously) and I cooked it for 15 minutes which is longer than I usually do but I figured since there’s more of it…they’re currently cooling in my counter and I can’t wait to try them!! Thank you so much for this recipe, I have tried several “healthy” brownie recipe but I think this is my very favorite one! Its just so easy to make, and I ALWAYS have the ingredients on hand!
Misty
These are amazing! Thank you! I’m curious if they will taste the same with an egg instead of applesauce? Thanks!
Jessica
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! No seriously, THANK YOU. I have been gf/df for 4 months now for weight loss purposes. I have been craving something gooey and chocolatey for months, but have had zero success with gluten free baking. Until now! This recipe is awesome. I used all purpose gf flour and added some coconut flakes. My craving is definitely satisfied! Now I think I may attempt freezing what’s left so I don’t sit and eat the entire pan!
E
Hello! Quick question: I have made these brownies a number of times, and the flavor is amazing! So good! However, I find that (cooking in an 8×4″ pan) the edges stay nice and risen while the middle always sinks. Still super yummy but any tips for making them not sink?? Thank you!
Laura
Hey! Yes these are sinking brownies. In all my trials I found these were my favorite even with the sinking. You could try adding some extra leavening agents (baking powder or soda) to see if that helps them hold the rise a little bit. But when I landed on this as the final recipe I decided taste over rise was more important! LOL! I make them like twice a week! I did find that baking them in a small cast iron skillet caused them to sink less!!
Michaela Miller
I just made this for me, my boyfriend, and my parents. I cooked it 12 minutes and it was pretty gooey but perfect for like a brownie cobbler with a scoop of vanilla halo protein ice cream on top. It was heaven!!! Oh my gosh, my dad who doesn’t like anything but regular brownies and cookies and such and can always tell when I made a paleo treat couldn’t even tell it was non conventional. This is the best healthy brownie recipe I’ve found. Thank you!!! Oh try it a la mode with halo too!! So good!
Laina
These are truly amazing! I think this is my first time leaving a review for a recipe! I am newly GF but I love baking, and these are truly delicious, I have to step away from the pan! Other alternative flour recipes I’ve tried have kinda been a miss, even though I’ve wanted so hard to like them. So glad I found this recipe, I will surely be bringing these to gatherings to share with others!
Ioana
I just want to thank you for this fantastic healthy recipe. I never thought that brownies could get this healthy. Thank you for sharing
Laura
Thank you Ioana! It’s one of my all-time favorites! 😉
Janet
I run a small cooking/recipe group on Facebook – I’m going to share your post with them for National Fritters Day. Thank you for sharing your recipes.. your work is very beautiful and easy to follow. Janet (the Cautious Foodie)
Mariah
I never post comments , but Oh my goodness. Probably the best brownie I’ve ever had in my life. We have a lot of weriod restrictions… And the fact that these brownies had none of the things we couldnt have I gave it a try… And ive made the recipe 4 times so far. Its the perfect tummies healthy alternative to brownies .. And I LOVE them. Thank you so much!!!!
Sarah
Do you think you can portion the mix into muffin tins and bake that way?
Meagan
Amazing recipe and absolutely delicious brownies! I baked my 8×4 dish for 11 min and followed the recipe exactly as it called for.
Thank you for a such a tasty treat!!
Marley
These look absolutely delicious but I was kind of bummed out to see that coconut flour is not an acceptable substitution. Just curious why one couldn’t use coconut flour? So many other vegan-gf-paleo brownies I have made use coconut flour and they are delicious.
Laura
Hey Marley! Coconut flour is not an acceptable substitution for almond flour because it absorbs significantly more liquid and would likely result in dry brownies!
Anne
Could I use dates as my sweetener or even banana instead of the maple syrup? Have you tried them with cassava flour?
Laura
I recommend making the recipe as written!
Lorio
New-ish to a paleo diet (3 weeks in), and having insane cravings for baked sweets. This totally hit the mark and satiated my craving! Awesome gooey chocolatey goodness all baked up in a pan. Thank you! You saved me from a trip to the bakery and what would have been a major cheat on this diet!