Best Fudgy Paleo Brownies
Posted Apr 28, 2016, Updated Nov 26, 2021
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This Fudgy Paleo Brownies recipe is the best! This heathy dessert recipe is ready in 15 minutes flat and makes the best paleo brownies ever!
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.
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
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)! Let’s walk through the process together, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Combine dry ingredients
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.
Combine wet ingredients
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.
Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients
Once the wet mixture is smooth, add the dry ingredients and stir until there are no lumps.
Fold in chocolate chips
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 slightly and 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.
FAQs about Paleo Brownies
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.
More delicious recipes
If you’re looking for more healthy dessert recipes, try these!
- I make these Flourless Paleo Brownies for guests all the time because no one can tell they’re paleo.
- I make these Black Bean Brownies about as often as this paleo brownie recipe. SO good.
- These Greek Yogurt Brownies are a reader favorite and family favorite.
- Have you ever baked with chickpeas? Try these healthy peanut butter blondies.
- These healthy no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies are another tried-and-true reader favorite.
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 your creations!
Fudgy Paleo Brownies
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 8×4” 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 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
Notes about baking pan/time
**If you only have a 9×5″ loaf pan check after baking 8-10 minutes. If you bake these for 10 minutes they will be very 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.To double the recipe:
Double this recipe and bake in an 8×8″ pan for 12-15 minutes.Ingredient Substitutions
- 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
- 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.
I have made this recipe almost weekly for years because it is one of my all-time favorites! You really have nothing to lose! These healthy, delicious, OoOoey, gooey paleo brownies won’t let you down. This might be my favorite recipe creation since these!!! No joke please make them! Please!
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Absolutely amazing!! My family loves these even more than traditional brownies . I doubled the recipe and I made them with 1/2 almond butter and 1/2 peanut butter and they came out so good!
These are super good! As I was making them I was thinking to myself that they would propose be a disappointment and take like health food but they are super good!
I appreciate your honesty, Jennifer! I love dessert and eating healthy so I try my best to create healthy desserts that taste like the real thing!
Is the nutrition counts for 4 servings ?
For example it states 24 grams of carbs is that for 1 brownie or 4 ?
Thank you so much
OMG, the best brownies, especially when coupled with the dairy-free vanilla ice cream from this site. I subbed molasses for apple sauce and agave syrup for maple, but it still turned out amazing!
Great recipe! The only thing I would change would be using half the leavening agents because with such a small quantity the flavor is strong.
I sadly don’t have applesauce, any substitution suggestions for this ingredient?
Update: I found an apple in my fridge, going to try and make a small portion.
They look so yummy!! But are there really 24 carbs in a serving?