This recipe for gluten free brownies, with the perfect balance of rich chocolate flavor, a delicate crinkly top, and an irresistibly chewy texture, will make you forget all about the store-bought box mix.
Of all the brownie recipes, these are ideal: made with lots of cocoa powder and very little flour, they have that crinkly top no one can resist. Rich in chocolate flavor, they're fudgy, chewy, and come out perfect every single time.
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Why you'll love this recipe for gluten free brownies
This recipe is the one I turn to whenever I want to make a “classic batch of brownies.” And that's a compliment, because it means that they're universally loved by all.
They're like the brownie equivalent of a little black dress! Here's why…
- The texture is just right, with the beloved crackly top giving way to a dense and chewy center. They are fudgy gluten free brownies, but they're not like biting into a piece of fudge.
- The flavor is perfect, since these brownies are rich and chocolatey, but their richness won't overwhelm you. There's an entire cup of cocoa powder in this recipe, unlike baking from a box mix, which never has nearly that much chocolate.
- There are chocolate chips in the brownie and even on top, but only 5 ounces total. Just enough, never to be confused with a gluten free chocolate chip cookie!
How to make gluten free brownies
Melt butter & sugar; add to eggs
First, melt butter and sugar until simmering, then let the mixture cool. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 eggs and vanilla; add the melted butter and sugar.
Add the dry ingredients
Add 1 full cup of rich cocoa powder to the egg and butter mixture, and whisk it in well. Then add gluten free flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt, and mix until just combined.
Add chips, transfer to the pan
Mix some chocolate chips into the thick brownie batter, and transfer the mixture to a prepared square baking pan. Spread into an even layer, & sprinkle some more chips on top.
Bake at 325°F, let cool, slice & enjoy!
Bake the pan of brownies at only 325°F for about 30 minutes. The “toothpick test” doesn't work here, since it will always come back looking wet. Just bake until the center doesn't look wet, then let cool completely. Chill first for clean slices!
How to get that crackly top on your gluten free brownies
This method begins with melting the butter with the sugar, to dissolve the sugar granules. That way, they combine so much better with the rest of the brownie batter and mixes properly with the egg whites from the beaten eggs to create that crinkly top.
The next essential step is to beat the eggs well. Otherwise, the brownies aren't as chewy—and the crackly top is sparse at best.
Tips to making the perfect fudgy gluten free brownies
Stick to the ingredients list
The chocolate in these brownies comes entirely from cocoa powder (other than the chocolate chips, of course). Using chopped, melted chocolate in the batter makes brownies denser and fudgier.
Adding very little gluten free flour, plus lightening it with some cornstarch if you're using Better Batter (Cup4Cup already has plenty of cornstarch), also helps to create a lovely chewy texture with lightly crisp edges.
So stick to the ingredients and their quantities. If you start mixing things up too much, you'll change the texture, taste, and behavior of your baked brownies.
The best gluten free brownies need really good gluten free flour
Whatever type of gluten free brownie you're making, you need really good gluten free flour. For this gluten free brownie recipe, I used Better Batter, as I like the consistency and reliability of that flour. If you can get it, that's the one I recommend here.
You could also use Cup4Cup or have a go at making your own gluten free flour blend. Avoid brands that are overly starchy or grainy, or those whose products are inconsistent in texture, taste, and results. There's not much flour in this gluten free brownie recipe, but what there is should be of the best quality.
Choose a light-colored aluminum pan
Bake your brownies in a light-colored cast aluminum pan which heats evenly across the whole pan. Avoid using a glass or cast iron pan since they heat slowly and retain heat too well, which can cause the edges to burn before the center is set. A cast iron pan is best when you want very crisp edges with an underdone center, like with our gluten free pizookie.
Line even a nonstick pan
Since these fudgy gluten free brownies are so dense, you'll need a strategy for getting them out of the pan cleanly. Line your pan with nonstick aluminum foil, parchment paper, or regular aluminum foil sprayed with cooking oil spray. That will prevent them from sticking to even the corners and to make it easy to lift them out of the pan.
Watch your bake time
Unlike some other brownie recipes, these are not meant to have crispy edges. Don't leave them in the oven for too long, as overbaking will ruin the texture. When you take them out of the oven, the center should be just about set, and they'll firm up more as they cool.
Gluten free brownies ingredients & substitution suggestions
It's always best to make the recipe exactly as written, measuring by weight whenever possible for accuracy, and without making any ingredient substitutions. But sometimes that isn't possible. If you can't have all the ingredients in this recipe and would really like to try substitutes, here are my suggestions.
Dairy free gluten free brownies
There's a lot of butter in this recipe for gluten free brownies. You can still replace it successfully for a dairy-free brownies option, but you'll need to balance moisture, fat, and flavor. My favorite way dairy free substitute is vegan butter in bar form. My favorite brands are Melt and Miyoko's Kitchen.
If you can't find vegan butter, my next suggestion is to substitute half of the weight of butter called for in the recipe with Earth Balance buttery sticks and the remaining half of the weight with Spectrum nonhydrogenated shortening.
If you're dairy-free, be sure you're also using dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Egg free gluten free brownies
There are only 2 eggs in this recipe, so your favorite egg substitute might work. Unfortunately, you won't get the exact chewy texture, and you won't get the crackly top.
My favorite egg substitute (for effectiveness and ease) is a “chia egg.” For each egg, mix 1 tablespoon ground white chia seeds with 1 tablespoon lukewarm water, and allow it to sit until it gels.
Cornstarch in your gluten free brownies
If you can't have cornstarch, just use arrowroot in its place. If you are using Cup4Cup flour blend as your all purpose gluten free flour, just replace the cornstarch with that much more flour, gram for gram. Cup4Cup has an abundance of cornstarch, and you shouldn't use more of it if you can avoid it.
FAQs
Yes! Although it's best to use a stand mixer or handheld mixer to beat the batter well, you can still achieve a similar result by whisking as vigorously as possible by hand. You'll know that the mixture is beaten enough when it begins to lighten in color.
The bake time is about 30 minutes at 325°F, but they're done when they no longer appear wet in the center. But if you put a toothpick into the center of the pan, it would come out looking wet even after the brownies are done baking.
Yes, but you should divide the batter, as doubled, and bake it in 2 square pans. If you try to bake brownies that are this thick in a 9-inch x 13-inch pan, the center may burn before the brownie batter bakes all the way to the edges. Place both baking pans in the oven at the same time, and rotate them about halfway through baking.
No. There isn't much baking soda in this recipe, and it's there to help neutralize some acid in the unsweetened cocoa powder. Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda, cream of tartar, and a starch.
These brownies will stay fresh at room temperature uncovered for hours, wrapped tightly for about 2 days, and in the refrigerator for about a week. For longer storage, wrap tightly in freezer-safe wrap, and freeze for up to 2 months. You can warm up the brownies for a few seconds in the microwave if they've been frozen.
I prefer to line the pan with nonstick aluminum foil, or regular foil sprayed with nonstick cooking oil. Press the foil into the corners and secure it on the edges, so nothing moves during baking. Parchment paper is also an effective pan liner, but it tends to shift as you spread the batter into an even layer in the pan.
Gluten Free Brownie Recipe
Equipment
- Handheld or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment
Ingredients
- 9 tablespoons (126 g) unsalted butter chopped
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) granulated sugar
- 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (80 g) unsweetened cocoa powder natural or Dutch-processed
- ⅓ cup (47 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend I used Better Batter; click thru for full info on appropriate blends
- ⅛ teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
- 2 tablespoons (18 g) cornstarch replace with additional Cup4Cup if that is your all purpose gluten free flour blend
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch square cast aluminum baking pan with parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil (or line with regular aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray). Set the pan aside.
- In a small saucepan, place the butter and sugar, and place over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until melted and simmering.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and set it aside to cool until no longer hot to the touch.
- Alternatively, cool the butter and sugar mixture down a bit by placing the bottom of the saucepan in a bowl of cool water. Make sure the butter does not solidify.
- In a large bowl, place the eggs and vanilla, and whisk until well-beaten and combined.
- Add the melted and cooled butter and sugar to the bowl slowly, whisking constantly. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the cocoa powder has been absorbed.
- Using a handheld mixer, beat until very well-combined.
- Add the flour blend, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt, and mix with a silicone spatula or spoon until just combined.
- Add about 4 ounces of the chocolate chips and mix until just evenly distributed throughout the batter. The batter will be thick and sticky.
- Transfer the brownie batter to the prepared pan and, using an offset or silicone spatula, spread into an even layer. It helps to moisten the tool you are using to smooth the top a bit to prevent it from sticking.
- Scatter the remaining chocolate chips evenly over the top of the brownie batter and bang the pan firmly on the countertop to help the chips adhere.
- Place the pan in the center of the preheated oven. Bake just until the brownies no longer appear wet in the center, about 30 minutes. The toothpick test is not reliable here, since the toothpick will come out wet even when they're done baking.
- The center may dome during baking, but the brownies will settle as they cool.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool in the pan at room temperature until the pan is no longer hot to the touch.
- For clean lines when you slice the brownies, place the brownies, still in the pan, in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour before slicing them.
- When you're ready to slice the brownies, remove them from the pan and peel away the foil. Slice the brownies into 9 equal squares.
- Serve the brownies immediately, or wrap tightly and freeze for longer storage. These freeze incredibly well.
Notes
Nutrition
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Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Melanie Hess says
Can’t wait to tryout this recipe!
Patti says
These are the best brownies ever!! Better than non gluten free even! So glad I found them.
Thank you, thank you!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m really glad too, Patti! So glad you’re enjoying the brownies.
Ubayd says
Lovley
Olive says
Everyone absolutely loves these brownies, whether they eat gluten free or not! Thank you very much!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m so glad to hear that, Olive! Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Hiroko says
Always turns out to be a success! Thank you.
margaret says
This was the first GF recipe I used after my son went GF. It has become my go to recipe of everyone – even for my daughter’s wedding day-after brunch, where guests were taking two at a time. So thank you Nicole.
I sometimes mix it up with additional raspberries and nuts.
Nicole Hunn says
Margaret, thank you so much for sharing that! One of my favorite things to hear is that you made a recipe at a special event and everything went so well. I’m honored, truly.
Julia Engel says
Super good brownies! I use the Hershey cocoa powder for these. And I didn’t have chocolate chips so I added Reese’s peanut butter cups in the batter. I chopped them up and mixed it in. I have really liked the Pillsbury brownies, but homemade it definitely better. I have looked for so many gluten free cookies and brownies, and so far you and one other girl have been the best brownies so far.
Brina says
Wow! These turned out so beautiful, gooey and decadent. I didn’t have any regular sugar, but I had coconut sugar on hand. It turned out great and I had no issues with needing to adjust the baking time! I also added in some chopped almonds and dried cranberries for an extra touch. Will definitely make these again!
Danielle says
Let me tell you, this is an excellent recipe. My neighbor’s high schooler came over at 5pm on a school night as I was beginning to prepare dinner for my family to tell me she needed to bring something in THE NEXT DAY. It’s not like she didn’t know for FOUR days that she would be needing them 🤨. If I didn’t love my neighbors so much I would have shown her the door. I scrambled to find a non-cookie recipe that wouldn’t take hours to make and found this recipe. Of course she wanted to double it (where was that door when I needed it?). We whipped out two batches, sliced them up and I sent her home to let them finish cooking and package. She was out the door, brownies in trays, in a little over an hour. She made a point of letting the other students know they were gluten free after they raved that they were the best brownies they’d ever had. Thank you Nicole!
Nicole says
I had to make some adjustments due to not having things but I was willing to try. I ran out of gf flour blend so I used Caputo fiorglut gf by eu standards but not wheat free, I only had 1 tbs of corn starch and no zanthum gum. They still turned out amazing!
Simone says
These are insane. Perfect brownie! Not too sweet. Chewy, fudgy perfection. The other GF brownie recipe I use calls for 4 eggs and 2 cups of sugar. 😳 It’s great, but definitely more like eating fudge. These have topped it as my new go-to! I may play with different types of add-ins or cocoa, but the recipe is perfect. Thank you for taking the time to get this right and providing weights for ingredients so we can have consistent results!
Nicole Hunn says
You’re so welcome, Simone. Fudge is great, but these are brownies, right? ;)
Simone says
I used cane sugar and King Arthur measure for measure flour in case anyone is wondering. I also only had salted butter and I just left out the salt called for in the recipe. Worked fine.
Lynda Jean says
Great recipe. I know I can expect great results if I follow your instructions— and this one was a winner. Thanks, Nicole!
Nicole Hunn says
That’s so kind of you to say, Lynda. I really appreciate the confidence you have in my recipes!
karen C LANG says
can I substitute Walnuts for the Chocolate Chips? or half and half?
Nicole Hunn says
I would go with half and half, Karen. Should taste great!
Ronda says
The brownies taste great and are super sweet. The crust is on top, but mine came out soft and simply dissolve in my mouth (not chewy). Maybe it is the GF flour I used? But we still won’t hate having to eat these. :)
Isha says
Hello, do you have substitutes for the nonfat dry milk and pectin that you used in your own recipes for gluten-free flour blend? Thanks
Nicole Hunn says
I’m afraid that there is no substitute for pectin. The milk powder can sometimes successfully be substituted with coconut milk powder, but I’m afraid it doesn’t work in all cases.
Kathy says
Hi Nicole, I don’t have white granulated can I replace with coconut sugar?
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Kathy, Coconut sugar will produce different results, and I can’t know for sure how it will affect the brownies.