Fudgy Paleo Brownies

Foolproof staple brownie recipe that is also gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free!

Growing up, brownies were my least favorite dessert. Maybe because the flavors were too rich or the texture was too dry, but nonetheless, I stopped eating them. Of course I would get the judgy looks and sneers but hey, they didn’t taste good to me! That is, until I had a fudgy vegan brownie at this bakery in Atlanta and I was floored! It was like the heavens opened up with arms wide open and sucked me in!

Too much? Well, that’s how I feel about these brownies! Now, this recipe didn’t happen overnight (perfection doesn’t happen overnight). As a food blogger, sometimes recipes can be made simple and it just clicks. Other times, not so much.

This recipe did not instantly click. It started out as a Mexican hot chocolate cookie that had the batter of a brownie but baked similar to a cake and ultimately dried out after a day or two. But the flavor was there and that’s where I went. Long story short, here we are and I am so glad!

Adding a healthy twist to an old fashioned brownie can be cumbersome at times. Luckily, this brownie is free of everything “bad” yet it tastes just like your typical sugar-filled brownie. This way, we can still ride that amazing “sugar high” but not feel so bad.

How do we get there? Well, we adapt and understand the ingredients that we are using. For example, coconut flour is used to replace all-purpose white flour. Coconut flour absorbs liquid so we only use ¼ cup. Baking powder is a great leavening agent but since this is a paleo recipe, we use coconut sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract instead. This combination gets whipped until a “ribbon stage” is reached.

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

---

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup coconut sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 8 oz dark chocolate chunks

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1/4 cup coconut flour

• 1/4 cup cocoa powder

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chunk

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x9 baking pan with parchment paper. Spray with a non-stick spray and set aside.

2. In a small saucepan or small bowl, melt 8 oz dark chocolate and oil in 30-second increments if using the microwave or low heat on stove top until smooth and glossy. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

3. Using a hand mixer or KitchenAid mixer, combine coconut sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract and whisk together until the mixture reaches the “ribbon stage” (when you lift the whisk, the mixture should stream down evenly in “ribbons”).

4. In a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients (coconut flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda)

5. With the mixer/hand mixer on low, add the melted chocolate and dry ingredients until fully combined. Fold in ½ cup dark chocolate chunks.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the surface.

7. Bake for 17-20 minutes until edges are set and the inside is slightly underdone.

8. Let the brownies rest in the pan for 15-20 minutes. This is the hardest part but so worth it!

9. Store in fridge for up to a week or freezer for up to a month. I personally like making these to freeze so that I can have brownie bites for my ice cream!