Dark Chocolate Brownies- The Best Gluten-Free Recipe

A tender melt-in-your-mouth chocolate brownie

The search for the best gluten-free brownie recipe stops here. Fellow brownie lovers may recall our Best Gluten Free Brownie Mix Taste Test While mixes are fine in a pinch, there's no question a brownie made from scratch is far more delicious and decadent.

Especially if you use melted Belgian dark chocolate.

With the help of Massachusetts reader Clare, who kindly e-mailed me her brownie recipe (see Clare's original recipe below), I've baked up the best gluten-free brownie (by far!) we've tasted. It doesn't taste gluten-free, you see. It doesn't scream, Health food! You can serve it to wheat noshers without apology. I kid you not.

Dark Chocolate Brownie Recipe

Lovely Clare sent me her recipe for gluten-free brownies featuring unsweetened cocoa, almond and rice flours. I knew the minute I read the recipe it was going to work. In typical Gluten-Free Goddess style I've kicked it up with melted Belgian dark chocolate, organic light brown sugar, chopped nuts and semi-sweet chocolate chips. The result? A rich, tender brownie that rivals those wonderful flourless chocolate desserts all the rage a few years back. Thanks Clare! You're a sweetheart.

5 ounces Belgian dark chocolate (I used Trader Joe's)
1/2 cup butter or vegan margarine such as Smart Balance (or Spectrum Organic Shortening)
2 organic happy free-range eggs
1 cup packed organic light brown sugar
1/2 rounded cup almonds, processed into a fine meal
1/4 cup brown rice flour
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Optional:

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, if desired
1/2 cup extra semi-sweet chocolate chips for the top, if desired

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8-inch square baking pan with foil and lightly oil the bottom.

Using the microwave, melt the dark chocolate and butter in a large (microwave safe) measuring cup. Stir together to combine. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs on medium high till frothy. Add the brown sugar and beat until the mixture is smooth.

Add the melted chocolate mixture into the egg-sugar mixture a little at a time - incorporate it slowly- and beat well for a good minute. The chocolate will look smooth and glossy.

In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients: almond meal, rice flour, fine sea salt and baking soda; whisk together. Add the dry flour mix into the chocolate mixture and beat well for a minute. Add the vanilla, beat another half a minute or so.

You now have your brownie batter.

If you are adding nuts, stir in the nuts by hand and spread the batter into the prepared baking pan [this brownie batter is much thinner than any brownie mix batter I've tried- don't worry, it's going to be wonderful]. Shake the pan a little bit to even out the batter.

Layer the semi-sweet chips all over the top of the batter and press them in slightly, if adding.

Bake in the center of a preheated 350 degree F oven for 33 to 35 minutes, or until the brownies are set. Don't overcook. (Err on the side of gooey, if you must- that's what I do; I find gluten-free brownies taste better slightly undercooked and soft in the middle than over-cooked and crumbly.)

Cool on a wire rack; and remove the brownies from the pan by gripping the foil edges. Chill before cutting. We saved out two squares, and wrapped the rest for freezing.

These brownies were outstanding slightly chilled. Intense, chocolaty and tender. This is a fabulous recipe. And I have to Clare to thank for it.

Makes 9-12 servings. We got nine squares out of it.

Printer-friendly recipe

Clare's Gluten-Free Brownies

This is the original brownie recipe from Clare, featuring cocoa powder.

3/4 cup gluten free flour (almond & sweet rice flour combo)
1 cup sugar (brown or white)
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening (butter, or GF margarine etc.), softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make it easy, Clare melts the shortening in a glass bowl using a microwave, then adds the rest of the ingredients.

Add 1/2 cup of nuts, etc., if desired.

Spread in an 8x8-inch baking pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Cool. Cut. Wrap and freeze.

Thanks again, Clare!