Best Fudgy Paleo Brownies
Posted Apr 28, 2016, Updated Jul 17, 2024
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It only takes 20 minutes to make this paleo brownies recipe. They are irresistibly fudgy, rich & chocolatey while being vegan, dairy-free and egg free!
Have you ever hit recipe gold? I mean, you’ve created something and think, “this is so good it could be used as currency.” Thats how I feel about these Fudgy Paleo Brownies. They are fudgy, gooey, irresistibly chocolatey.
These paleo brownies are insanely delicious and are gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo and vegan! Plus, they come together in 15 (yes, fifteen) minutes flat!
This paleo brownie recipe was 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 I totally did it…jackpot.
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!
Paleo Brownies: Ingredients & Substitutions
Ok these paleo brownies 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! You can also use tahini, sunflower seed butter, or peanut butter (not paleo).
- 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. Do not use coconut flour, it is not an acceptable substitution for almond flour.
- Chocolate chips. You can use your favorite healthy/paleo chocolate variety, chips, chopped up bars, etc. See below for my favorite paleo chocolate options!
Paleo Chocolate Chips & Bars
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out which chocolate chips are Paleo, so I’ll discuss some of my favorite healthier chocolate options!
- Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
- Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate chip cookies.
- Lily’s Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
- Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.
How to Make Fudgy Paleo Brownies
Let’s discuss how to make paleo brownies, and don’t forget to watch the video.
The first step in this paleo brownie recipe is to combine the dry ingredients. I like to do this first so that I don’t have to wash my measuring utensils.
Then, either in the microwave or on the stovetop, gently warm almond butter and coconut oil until melted and stir until combined.
Add honey (or maple syrup), applesauce, coconut sugar, almond milk and vanilla. Stir well.
Once the wet mixture is smooth, add the dry ingredients and stir until there are no lumps.
Next, fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Bake
Bake the paleo brownies for 10-15 minutes or until just barely set. This is how you determine the fudge-factor of these brownies. 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. My favorite baking time is 11-12 minutes.
Note about Pan size. Either an 8×4″ loaf pan. or a small 5″ Le Creuset baking dish, or a 6″ cast iron skillet, 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!
Cool & Serve
Let the paleo brownies cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting. The cooler they are the better they hold up to cutting – they can be a little crumbly or gooey right after baking. Sometimes I like to eat them straight from the pan with a spoon!
Serve them with this paleo vanilla ice cream on top or a scoop of this paleo chocolate ice cream for an extra special dessert.
Paleo Brownies Recipe FAQs
Yes! Double this recipe and bake in an 8×8″ pan for 12-15 minutes.
Yes! If you don’t want to worry about finding paleo chocolate chips, you can omit them and these paleo brownies are still amazing.
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Fudgy Paleo Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy almond butter (or cashew butter)
- 1 Tablespoon coconut oil (melted, or butter)
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 2 Tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 Tablespoon almond milk
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons almond flour
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease an 8×4" loaf pan or 5" square baking dish 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 8×4” 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.
Video
Notes
- Almond butter. any nut or seed butter works well, especially cashew butter.
- Coconut oil. Grass-fed butter or ghee are good substitutes.
- Maple syrup. honey works well.
- 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. Do not use coconut flour, it is not an acceptable substitution for almond flour.
- Chocolate chips. You can use your favorite healthy/paleo chocolate variety, chips, chopped up bars, etc. See below for my favorite paleo chocolate options!
- Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems. This is my favorite paleo chocolate. These gems are delicious and easy to toss into cookies (no bar chopping required).
- Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Bars. You can also buy dark chocolate bars and chop them up to toss into these paleo chocolate chip cookies.
- Lily’s Dark Chocolate. They make chips and bars that are stevia sweetened, low carb, keto, etc.
- Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Chips are a good option that are vegan, dairy-free but not fully paleo.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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!
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!
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!
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!!
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!
These are amazing! Thank you! I’m curious if they will taste the same with an egg instead of applesauce? Thanks!
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!
Bit too salty for me. So will make again and not add the salt. Best brownies I’ve made so far tho. Thank you !
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!
Hey Mercedes! Absolutely! Grass-fed butter or gee are excellent substitutions for coconut oil!
thank you for this recipe! Truly amazing! Well done !
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.