A little while ago, one of my best friends asked me to give a recipe ago for dairy & gluten free brownies, something I have never done before but I thought, why not – challenge accepted! The recipe was easy and the results were pretty good but I figured I could take what I had learnt and step it up a notch to ensure the flavour was the best it could be.

So I have since made these brownies a number of times, trying out different types of sugars and chocolates and seeing what I could add in whilst keeping the consistency of a brownie, and well, here we are!

I, personally, am not dairy or gluten intolerant, but I know numerous people who are and this is a great number to bring to a dinner party, BBQ or to simply enjoy yourself and as I like to think it’s a fairly “healthy” dessert option due to the coconut sugar – everything in moderation ey! What I will say, is that you can sub the coconut sugar for white sugar and soft brown sugar but the texture will be a bit different. Also, I am aware that almond flour isn’t the cheapest of ingredients (I got mine from Holland & Barratt) so I will be trying the same recipe out using ground almonds and seeing the difference (if you try it, feel free to let me know how it goes)!

A warning also to those looking to buy dairy free chocolate, especially if you’re making this for someone who is dairy intolerant – READ THE LABELS! Not all chocolates will say “suitable for vegans” nor will the dark chocolates be without milk – check the ingredients and if you see MILK in bold anywhere then pick another brand. You can also find the dairy free options in most Free From sections in the big supermarkets.

So what are you waiting for?! Get out there and give this one a go and you will soon find that it is a firm favourite that everyone can enjoy!

Chocolate, Coconut & Almond Brownies

Chocolate, Coconut & Almond Brownies

Recipe by Francesca Bragoli
5 from 1 vote
Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

16

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

Ingredients

  • 150 g Dairy Free Dark Chocolate

  • 75 g Coconut Oil

  • 80 g Coconut Sugar / Soft brown sugar

  • Eggs

  • 55 g Ground Almonds

  • 2 Tbsp Desiccated Coconut + extra for topping

  • 2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder

  • Baking Powder

  • Salt

  • Vanilla Paste

  • 100 g Dairy Free Chocolate Chips

  • 2 Tbsp Chopped Almonds + extra for topping

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 175C / 155C Fan and line a 8×8 baking tin with baking paper.
  • In a small saucepan, gently melt the dark chocolate and coconut oil on a low heat until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the coconut sugar and eggs until well combined. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the dry ingredients except for the chopped almonds and chocolate chips.
  • Slowly whisk the egg and sugar mixture into the melted chocolate until smooth. Add the vanilla paste and stir to combine.
  • Stir in the dry ingredients and fold to combine – don’t overwork the mixture. Fold in the chopped almonds and chocolate chips.
  • Pour into the lined baking tin and smooth the top. Sprinkle the extra desiccated coconut and chopped almonds evenly on top.
  • Bake at 175C / 155 C Fan for 20 minutes until the edges are just cooked.
  • Leave to cool before slicing, the middle will continue to cook as it cools and will keep it gooey.

Notes

  • If you’re making these brownies for someone who is allergic to dairy, please ensure you check the labels on the dark chocolate. Not all dark chocolate is suitable and may still contain milk.
  • The same goes for the cocoa powder – some powders contain milk. In the UK, you can use Green & Blacks Cacao Powder and Bournevilles Cocoa Powder along with a few others.