Enjoy light, cake-like coconut flour brownies naturally sweetened with honey and entirely dairy-free. These wholesome brownies offer deep chocolate flavor with just a handful of simple ingredients.
Looking for more gluten-free sweets?
Try gluten-free rice krispie treats, crepe rolls with sweetened cottage cheese, or healthy flourless chocolate muffins.
Recipe Overview
- Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes prep, 30 minutes bake
- Cooking Method: Oven-baked
- Dietary Info: Paleo, GAPS, Ancestral diet, Gluten-free, Nut-free (unless you add nuts)
- Tools Needed: 9×9 baking pan
- Skill Level: Easy
What is an ancestral diet? It emphasizes traditional, minimally processed foods based on historical dietary practices and nourishing food principles.
Reasons to Love these Coconut Flour Brownies
These brownies are a great option when you need a naturally sweet, dairy-free dessert. Sweetened with honey, they fit healing protocols like GAPS that avoid refined sugar. The texture is more cake-like than fudgy, but they still deliver a rich chocolate flavor thanks to cacao powder.
They’re simple to make with pantry-friendly ingredients and are forgiving if you follow a few basic tips. If you prefer a more indulgent treat, try adding a simple chocolate glaze or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top.
Ingredients for Coconut Flour Brownies
- Wet ingredients: Room-temperature eggs, honey (or maple syrup), melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract provide moisture, sweetness, and binding.
- Dry ingredients: Coconut flour, cacao powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Coconut flour is highly absorbent, so only a small amount is needed.
- Add-ins (optional): Chopped roasted hazelnuts, walnuts, or chocolate chips for texture and flavor.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use butter: Swap melted coconut oil for melted butter if you don’t need the recipe to be dairy-free. Butter will give a slightly richer, more familiar brownie flavor.
- Toppings: Top with chocolate ganache, frosting, or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Try different nuts or chocolate chips for extra texture.
Make it Ancestral
Raw cacao powder is less processed than conventional cocoa and retains more antioxidants and minerals. Using cacao supports the ancestral approach of choosing whole, minimally processed ingredients for better nutritional value and flavor.
How to Make Coconut Flour Brownies
The printable recipe appears below. Follow these step-by-step instructions for best results.
Step 1. Beat
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat eggs, honey, and vanilla on medium-high speed for about 4 minutes, until light and airy. Add melted coconut oil and mix for 30 seconds.
Step 2. Whisk
In a separate bowl, whisk together coconut flour, cacao powder, baking soda, and salt, breaking up any clumps.
Step 3. Stir
Fold the dry ingredients into the whipped wet ingredients with a large spatula until combined. Let the batter rest for a few minutes so the coconut flour can absorb moisture and thicken.
Step 4. Bake
Pour the batter into the prepared 9×9 pan, top with nuts if using, and bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Helpful Tips
- Line & grease your pan: Use parchment paper for easy removal and lightly spray with oil.
- Let the batter sit: Resting the batter for about 5 minutes allows the coconut flour to absorb liquid and thicken.
- Adjust moisture: Coconut flour brands vary. If the batter seems too dry, add a tablespoon of milk or applesauce until spreadable.
- Cool before cutting: Remove via parchment and cool on a rack for at least 15 minutes to set and slice clean squares.
Troubleshooting
- Center not set: If the middle is underdone, bake 3–5 minutes more and recheck with a toothpick.
- Too dense: Avoid overmixing. Beat the eggs well at the start to incorporate air, then fold dry ingredients just until combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store cooled brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, refrigerate up to a week or freeze up to a month, placing parchment between slices to prevent sticking.
These are cake-like rather than fudgy because coconut flour yields a lighter, more tender crumb. They’re rich and chocolatey from the cacao powder and satisfy a sweet craving without refined sugar.
Coconut flour behaves very differently from other flours and absorbs much more liquid. Substituting will require adjusting liquids and likely different proportions. Almond flour or regular flour will change texture and results.
Looking for more related recipes? Here are some ideas:
-
Strawberry and Cream Gelatin Cups
-
Easy Coconut Flour Banana Muffins
-
Easy Peach Cobbler in Skillet
-
Easy Homemade Healthy Marshmallows
Did you make these coconut flour brownies? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ recipe rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comments. Thank you!💚
Printable Recipe
Coconut Flour Brownies
Anya @ Prepare & Nourish
Ingredients
- 4 eggs at room temperature
- ½ cup honey or maple syrup
- ½ cup coconut oil melted
- ½ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup raw cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper and lightly grease with coconut or avocado oil.
- In a large bowl, beat 4 eggs, ½ cup honey or maple syrup, and 1 teaspoon vanilla on medium-high for 4 minutes until light and airy. Add ½ cup melted coconut oil and mix 30 seconds.
- In a small bowl, whisk ½ cup coconut flour, ½ cup raw cacao powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon sea salt.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir until combined. Let rest a few minutes to thicken.
- Pour batter into pan, top with nuts if desired, and bake 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes before cutting.
Notes
Helpful Tips:
- Line & grease your pan: Parchment makes removal easy.
- Let the batter sit: Allow 5 minutes for coconut flour to hydrate.
- Check moisture: If too dry, add a tablespoon of milk or applesauce.
- Cool before cutting: Cooling helps slices hold their shape.
Troubleshooting:
- If the center is underdone, bake an additional 3–5 minutes.
- Avoid overmixing to prevent dense brownies; a few lumps are fine.
Nutrition
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Carbohydrates: 22 g
|
Protein: 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates and should not replace professional advice.
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