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After a million attempts to make the best vegan & gluten-free cinnamon rolls last year, I have quite a bit of leftover gluten-free flour stocked in my pantry. What better way to use it than by making some gluten-free brownies?
What I love about these gluten-free brownies is that they are made without nuts, eggs, or dairy, so they are vegan and allergy-friendly. They also have a sneaky serving of pumpkin puree added in, to reduce the need for oil.
I like my brownies to be rich and fudge-like, rather than cake-like, and I like to have bites of dark chocolate chips throughout, for a nice contrast of textures and flavors.
Adding a some dark chocolate does add some refined sugar to this recipe, unless you use a chopped dark chocolate bar that is naturally sweetened, like the kind by Eating Evolved (which are made with coconut sugar). For a sugar-free add-in, try using some crunchy cacao nibs or some chopped walnuts, if you can eat nuts.
Because I used pumpkin to replace some of the oil, these brownies still have a hint of cake-like texture, but I think it’s a pretty nice option for those who want a lower-fat brownie that tastes like a “real” one. My husband told me these taste like a brownie mix from a box– and that’s his highest compliment when it comes to brownies. Ha! I hope you’ll enjoy them, too.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ground flax or chia seeds
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil (melted)
- 1/2 cup gluten-free flour blend (I use Bob's Red Mill)
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or chopped dark chocolate)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. (You can lightly grease the dish to help the parchment paper stay in place first.)
- In a large bowl, stir together the ground chia or flax seeds and the water. This is your vegan "egg." Add in the pumpkin puree, coconut sugar, melted coconut oil, flour, cacao powder, salt, baking soda, and vinegar, and stir until a smooth batter has formed. If the dough doesn't stir easily, you can add one more tablespoon of water to help thin it out.
- Fold in the dark chocolate, if using, then transfer the batter to the lined baking dish. Use a spatula to spread it evenly into the bottom of the pan-- it will be thicker than traditional brownie batter.
- Bake until the center of the brownies don't jiggle, about 30 to 35 minutes. Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before cutting into them, because they are more fragile when hot.
- Slice into 16 squares and serve. Leftovers can be loosely wrapped and stored on the counter for up to 3 days, or keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Video
Nutrition
Per brownie: Calories: 99, Fat: 5g, Carbohydrates: 13g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 1g
Recipe Notes:
- I used the 1-to-1 Baking Flour by Bob’s Red Mill, because it’s easy to find in most stores. It contains binders, like xanthan gum, so I’m not sure how this recipe will turn out if you use a different type of flour, though all purpose or whole wheat flour should bake similarly, in theory. If you were to use something like oat flour or almond flour, the results would be very different.
- I’d recommend starting with my Chewy Paleo & Vegan Brownies or Almond Butter Brownies if you need a grain-free recipe.
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Reader Feedback: Do you have a Fall dessert that needs a healthy makeover?
I made these today using applesauce instead of pumpkin because that’s what I had on hand. They turned out good! I used pre ground flax seed, so they have some texture from the flax. They also have a hint of coconut flavor from the coconut oil. Next time I would try making them with pumpkin and maybe chia seeds instead of flax.
I made these and substituted apple sauce for the pumpkin purée and for the oil. They weee great!
Delish! I substituted the flax/chia and water for 1/4 cup of seltzer to replace the egg and also used canned pumpkin. Even the batter is yum-o!
Such a great brownie recipe!! Love the that these are nut and egg free!
These are incredible !! I used regular sugar because that’s what I had & they turned out so flavorful & had the texture of a chewy fake like brownie
Flax egg is WAY better than chia egg in this recipe and I highly recommend making a 1 1/2 batch rather than a single batch. My first attempt was the single recipe with chia and my husband was not a fan of the crunchy, chewy texture and they also came out pretty flat. I immediately made a second batch with flax egg and increased the recipe by 1/2 (not double, but 1.5 if that makes sense) and they were absolute perfection. I served them for a Labor Day party and kids/adults loved them and loved that they were healthier. Thank you!