Posted Apr 28, 2016, Updated Jul 17, 2024 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!
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. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
