Rich chocolate gluten free brownie crisps have the impossibly crisp texture of the very edge of a well-baked pan of brownies.
What makes this recipe for gluten free brownie crisps special?
These gluten free brownie crisps have all the rich chocolate flavor of brownies, but in a crispy snack. They're crumbly, but in the very best way.
My kids beg me to buy the Sheila G's brand of this brownie, since they have a gluten free version. Sometimes I do, but they plow through a tiny bag so quickly. For eating at home, I turn to this recipe.
The unbaked batter doesn't look too different from the final brownies. Once it's baked, you can break it with your hands into random pieces.
If you'd like more regular pieces, like rectangles or triangles, score the brownies with the edge of a bench scraper in those shapes, as soon as the pan comes out of the oven.
Then, when they're completely cool, break the pieces along those lines. They'll break easily in those shapes. If what you're really looking for is chewy brownies, not crispy ones, try our recipe for more classic chewy gluten free brownies.
Does the gluten free flour blend really matter to make crispy gf brownies?
This recipe calls for our most basic gluten free flour blend: the gum-free gluten free flour blend. For every cup of that flour, which measures 140 grams, you need 93 grams superfine white rice flour, 30 grams potato starch, and 17 grams tapioca starch/flour.
This simple flour blend, without any binders or gums like xanthan gum, makes for the absolute best crispy and crunchy gluten free brownie edges. If you don't want to make that blend, you can try using one of our all purpose gluten free flour blends. The texture will suffer, but the recipe should still work.
This is one situation where King Arthur's gluten free flour blend (the one that doesn't have xanthan gum) should work relatively well in place of the gum-free blend. That blend is not one I generally recommend using in my recipes since it's really too starchy, but here that should be fine.
The King Arthur Flour blend, like most other gluten free flour blends, is rice flour-based. But their rice flour is not superfinely ground, so it tends to be gritty. Try allowing the brownie crisp batter to sit for about an hour before you bake it, so the rice grains have a chance to soften.
Can I use a smaller baking pan to make gf brownie crisps?
This recipe is designed to be made in a half sheet pan. That's just a rimmed baking sheet that measures 13-inches x 18-inches, and it's a standard size baking sheet.
That size baking sheet is perfect for creating a relatively thin, even layer of brownie crisp batter. In a 325°F oven, it will bake until it's dry to the touch, and crisp as it cools.
If you don't have a pan that size, you can also make it in a 9-inch x 13-inch baking pan, or a quarter sheet pan. Just use half of the batter in one pan, half in another.
I've mistakenly pressed the whole recipe into a quarter sheet pan, and only realized my mistake when it was halfway done baking. I baked it for a bit longer, and got a much thicker but really nice extra chewy brownie.
Gluten free brownie crisps: Ingredients and substitutions
Gluten free dairy free brownie crisps
In place of the butter in this recipe, you can try using Melt or Miyoko's Kitchen brand vegan butter. Earth Balance buttery sticks might also work, too, since we don't need the batter to keep its shape.
Be sure that you're using dairy free chocolate, if you can't have dairy. If you use the miniature chocolate chips, I like Enjoy Life brand mini chocolate chips, which are “top 8” allergen free.
Gluten free egg free brownie crisps
The egg white in this recipe helps the brownie pieces crisp in the oven. It helps create that waffled texture that you see inside the pieces.
If you can't have egg whites, you could try using aquafaba. It's just the brine from a can of chickpeas. I would beat it until frothy first.
Gluten Free Brownie Crisps
Ingredients
10 tablespoons (140 g) unsalted butter, chopped
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 3/4 cup (245 g) basic xanthan gum-free gluten free flour (162 grams superfine white rice flour + 54 grams potato starch + 29 grams tapioca starch/flour)
3/4 cup (60 g) natural cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/8 cups (225 g) granulated sugar
1 large egg white (25 g), at room temperature
3 ounces miniature chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line a large rimmed 13-inch x 18-inch (half-sheet) pan with unbleached parchment paper or greased or nonstick aluminum foil, and set it aside.
In a small, heat-proof bowl, place the butter and chopped chocolate, and melt them in the microwave in 30-second bursts or over a double boiler until smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool briefly.
In a large bowl, place the flour blend, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar, and whisk to combine well. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the chocolate and butter mixture, and the egg white, and mix to combine. The mixture will be thick and somewhat crumbly. Add the (optional) miniature chocolate chips, and mix until they are evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet, and spread into an even layer. Place another sheet of parchment paper on top of the batter in the baking sheet, and top with another half sheet pan. Press down evenly on the top sheet pan to press the batter into an even, compressed layer. Remove the top baking sheet and parchment paper, and place in the center of the preheated oven. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the brownies are mostly firm to the touch. Remove the pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan. They will crisp as they cool.
Once the brownies are completely cool, break them into irregular pieces. Store at room temperature in an airtight glass container to retain crispness.
Originally published on the blog in 2013. Recipe unchanged, most photos, video and text new.
Holly says
Yummmmm..These are SO GOOD! I cannot recommend this recipe enough (although there is not one single recipe from this site over the years that has ever let me down!). I also used Dutch process cocoa powder because it’s all I had. Try these, you won’t be sorry!
Nicole Hunn says
Thank you for the ringing endorsement, Holly!
Holly says
Hi Nicole, do you think maple sugar would have too much moisture for this? I’m thinking it might make them soft and I am out for maximum crispiness!! I’m also thinking coconut sugar would not be good in this application but I was wondering your thoughts on any other options besides granulated sugar. Thanks so much!
Nicole Hunn says
You definitely cannot replace a granulated sugar with a liquid one, Holly. I’m afraid I don’t recommend any other sugar, since granulated sugar is the only thing that I know of that will make something super crisp like these.
Natasha Boucher says
Hi Nicole, I love your recipes, but often find myself in a bit of a conundrum, as Dawn Palazzo, I am not allowed, Rice or Potato flour or cornflour, when I bake bread, I use Macadamia flour, flaxseed, etc. basically nut flours, can you suggest any? Arrowroot flour is difficult to come by, I live in a rather small town in South Africa.
Nicole Hunn says
I recommend my Paleo recipes, Natasha. There’s a whole category of them right here!
Pam MacDonald says
We are not gluten free. Can this be made with regular all-purpose flour?
Nicole Hunn says
I’m afraid not, Pam. I can’t give any advice on how to make anything with gluten at this point. It’s been many, many years!
Dawn Palazzo says
Hi Nicole,
I have multiple food allergies and cannot tolerate potato starch or corn starch. Can arrowroot starch / flour be substituted for the potato starch in this recipe and would that be a one to one substitution?
Many Thanks Nicole!!
Nicole Hunn says
Hi, Dawn, you can try using arrowroot in place of the potato starch, yes. It’s a shame you can’t have corn either, because that would likely have been my first recommendation. And yes, 1 to 1!
Shirley says
These are amazing. Love the taste and the crispyness.
Carolynne Timko says
I have been wanting a recipe fo brownie crisps because they are so expensive. All of my previous efforts to adapt recipes have failed so I am anxious to try this. The GF flour I currently have is BRM which had xanthan gum. Do I absolutely need to use xanthan gum free flour?
Nicole Hunn says
They really are so expensive! I discuss the flour blend completely in the post as best I can, Carolynne. I do not ever recommend Bob’s Red Mill blends, for anything, though. Please see the flour blends page for a full discussion!
Meg says
I am so excited to try these. My mom keeps buying the Costco version, which looks so good but I can’t have it. So now I when she pulls that out, I can have a treat as well!!! :)
Laura says
I see Brownie Brittle every single time I am in Costco, and I long for just a tiny piece!! I am so glad that now I can have one!! I am making this tonight!! Thank you so much, Nicole!! You rock!! :)
SusanK says
hmmm, I don’t have a half sheet baking pan. Is it worth it to buy one :) or is there another size pan I could use. Thanks, these look very yummy!
Nicole Hunn says
Oh, you really can use any size rimmed baking sheet, Susan. The important thing is that it’s a thin layer of dough/batter, or it won’t crisp. So, if you have quarter sheet pans, just divide it among 2. Hope that helps!
Christy says
I was so glad to see this! I just saw this at Sam’s and was drooling. I’m trying this tomorrow on my day off!