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Perfect Paleo Brownies

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close up image of the inside of paleo brownies

These paleo brownies are total perfection! Extra chocolatey and extremely indulgent, yet are entirely gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.

overhead image of paleo brownies with milk and cocoa powder on the side

What You’ll Need

Almond Flour – Be sure to use almond flour, and not almond meal in these paleo brownies! Almond flour is ground much finer than meal, resulting in a lighter and overall better brownie. I’ve tried many different brands of almond flour and truly loved them all. Trader Joe’s makes a great almond flour, as does Costco. Almond flour was once hard to come by, but thankfully, it’s sold in most grocery stores these days!

Almond Butter – Almond butter makes these brownies exceptionally rich and delicious! Don’t worry though, your brownies won’t at all taste like almonds. Almond butter also gives these brownies structure, in the absence of gluten or grains.

Coconut Sugar – This unrefined sugar is a paleo-friendly alternative to regular white sugar. Also, unflike white sugar, coconut sugar contains vitamins, minerals, and even fiber. The fiber in particular aids in slowing down the absorption of sugar in our body, placing it lower on the glycemic index. Basically, what this means is you’re less likely to experience that sugar spike and crash with coconut sugar, than with refined white sugar.

three paleo brownies stacked on top of each other

Top Tips

  • Let the brownies cool slightly before cutting! Trust me, I understand the temptation of wanting to dive straight into a pan of brownies as soon as they’re out of the oven. But try your best to fight those urges and let the paleo brownies cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing. This’ll help them hold their shape!
  • Bring any chilled ingredients to room temperature before getting started. If the eggs, for example, are too cold, they’ll cause the melted coconut oil to seize up and harden in the batter. Therefore, place all ingredients out on the counter about an hour before diving into this recipe!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: Simply swap out the eggs for 2 flax eggs (1 flax egg = 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal + 3 tablespoons water) for vegan paleo brownies!

Make it Nut-Free: I haven’t tested this version myself yet, but you can try using sunflower seed butter in place of the almond butter and 1/4 cup of coconut flour in place of the almond flour. If you give this nut-free version a try, please let me know how it is!

Perfect Paleo Brownies
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Perfect Paleo Brownies

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

16

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

These paleo brownies are total perfection! Extra chocolatey and extremely indulgent, yet are entirely gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs, at room temperature

  • 1/2 cup almond butter

  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1/2 cup almond flour

  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line or grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
  • Add eggs, almond butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla extract to a large bowl and beat together either by hand or with an electric mixer.
  • Add in almond flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and mix until completely smooth and combined. Fold chocolate chips into brownie batter.
  • Transfer batter to your prepared baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Leftover paleo brownies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

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Dairy-Free

4-Ingredient Christmas Crack Recipe (Saltine Chocolate Toffee Bark)

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Christmas Crack Recipe

This Christmas crack is the perfect last-minute holiday recipe! With just 4 ingredients and minimal effort, you’ll have a perfectly sweet, slightly salty Christmas treat. This totally foolproof saltine chocolate toffee bark recipe is super easy, perfect for even the most inexperienced home cooks!

christmas crack pieces on a baking sheet with milk on the side

Main Ingredients You’ll Need to Make This Recipe

  • Crackers – I used Simple Mill’s almond flour sea salt crackers, they’re entirely grain-free and a totally delicious! They act as the perfect substitute to Saltine crackers, used in most traditional Christmas crack recipes. This simple swap makes this holiday dessert recipe gluten-free, and a little bit healthier.

  • Butter – Feel free to use whatever kind of butter you’d like, though I used vegan butter to keep this recipe vegan-friendly. My sister’s vegan, so I always try to make at least a few holiday treats that she can eat too. And honestly, you can’t even taste the difference in this vegan version!

  • Sugar – I used coconut sugar, since it’s less refined and slightly lower on the glycemic index. However, brown sugar will work just as well!

  • Chocolate Chips – Either 2 cups of chocolate chips or chopped chocolate will do! Also, you can use whatever intensity of chocolate you’d like – I prefer dark chocolate to balance out some of that sweetness in the caramel layer. If you don’t have a microwave, or would prefer not to use it, then simply melt your chocolate over a double boiler instead. I always opt for the microwave because it’s easier!

  • Toppings (optional) – Christmas crack is great on its own, but feel free to add additional toppings like chopped nuts, candy, sprinkles, shredded coconut, or crushed candy canes.
Christmas Crack Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free Options)
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Christmas Crack Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free Options)

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertDifficulty: Easy
Servings

10

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

5

minutes
Chilling Time

6

hours

This Christmas crack is the perfect last-minute holiday recipe! With just 5 ingredients and minimal effort, you’ll have a perfectly sweet, slightly salty Christmas treat. This totally foolproof recipe is super easy, perfect for even the most inexperienced home cooks!

Ingredients

  • 1 Sleeve Saltine Crackers or 1 box Simple Mill’s GF Crackers

  • 1 Cup Butter (Dairy or Non-Dairy)

  • 1 Cup Coconut Sugar

  • 2 Cups Chocolate Chips

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange crackers in an even layer on baking sheet.
    • Christmas Crack Step 1
  • Melt butter and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently. Once butter has melted, cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly until dark brown and bubbling.
  • Remove from heat, then immediately pour over crackers. Bake for 5 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
  • Melt chocolate in the microwave, in 30 second intervals until completely smooth. Remove crackers from oven and let cool for 1 minute or until no longer bubbling, then pour chocolate over top and spread into an even layer.
  • Leave to cool at room temperature then transfer to either the fridge for 6-8 hours, or the freezer for 3-4 hours. Remove crack candy from pan, peel away foil, and break into large chunks.

Notes

  • To Store: Store Christmas Crack in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
  • To Freeze: Break or cut it into pieces and store it in freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months.

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Dairy-Free

Gluten-Free Brownie Brittle Recipe

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This gluten-free brownie brittle recipe is insanely crunchy and chocolatey! A fun twist on traditional brownies, you’ll quickly become addicted to this crispy treat. Surprisingly easy to make, pull this recipe out the next time you’re craving something sweet! Dairy-free & vegan option included!

One day, while I was elbow-deep in a bag of store-bought brownie brittle I thought, I can make this! And, better yet, I can make it gluten AND dairy-free. So that’s exactly what I did. I can’t lie though, during the recipe development phase I was worried that the whole baking process might be a bit too difficult. But to my surprise, it was SUPER easy! I even made this same brownie brittle recipe a few times, waiting for something to go wrong, but it never did. I got perfect brownie brittle every single time.

And just in case you’ve never had brownie brittle before – it tastes kinda like a chocolate-er, crunchier cocoa puff. Soft, fudgy brownies definitely have a special place in my heat …but so does this brownie brittle. It’s a totally different, exciting, and freaking delicious experience. I just love it, and I’m sure you will too!

What You Need To Make Gluten-Free Brownie Brittle

  • Sugar – If you know me by now, you know I use coconut sugar whenever possible. I made no exception for this brownie brittle recipe. Though you can use whatever kind of sugar you’d like!
  • Semisweet Chocolate Chips – I prefer Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mini chocolate chips for this recipe. They’re dairy-free, but taste JUST like regular chocolate chips. You can of course use whatever chocolate chips you’d like. You can even use one cup of a chopped semi-sweet chocolate bar.
  • Neutral Tasting Oil – I used melted coconut oil in my recipe, but vegetable, canola, avocado, or even olive oil will work. We’re simply looking for an oil that you won’t be able to taste in the brittle. So anything with a super mild flavor will do!
  • Egg Whites – Yup that’s right, get rid of those yolks! The egg yolks make things soft and sort of cake-like, which is what we’re trying to avoid in this brownie brittle recipe. So either chuck the yolks or save them for your morning scramble.
  • Gluten-Free Flour – I’ve been using Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Baking Flour for a few months now and have nothing bad to say about it. It’s a solid gluten-free flour that never fails to get the job done. You can use any 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, just please make sure it contains xantham gum.

  • Espresso Powder or Instant Coffee Granules – Espresso powder will enhance the chocolate in this delicious brownie brittle recipe!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

  • Make it Vegan: I haven’t tried it, but a vegan egg-substitute might work in this recipe. If you try it, please let me know how your brownie brittle turns out!

  • Add Gluten: You can use regular all-purpose flour in place of the gluten-free flour in this recipe.
Gluten-Free Brownie Brittle Recipe
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Gluten-Free Brownie Brittle Recipe

4 from 3 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

18

pieces
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

35

minutes

This gluten-free and dairy-free brownie brittle is insanely crunchy and chocolatey! A fun twist on traditional brownies, you’ll quickly become addicted to this crispy treat. Surprisingly easy to make, pull this recipe out the next time you’re craving something sweet!

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Sugar, see Notes

  • 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, divided

  • 1/4 Cup Neutral Tasting Oil, see Notes

  • 2 Egg Whites

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

  • 1 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Gluten-Free Flour

  • 3 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder

  • 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Espresso Powder or Instant Coffee Granules

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a medium bowl, microwave 1/2 cup of chocolate and ¼ cup of oil in 30-second intervals until chocolate has completely melted. Then stir in the sugar. Brownie Brittle Process Photo 1
  • Add in the egg whites and vanilla extract, mix to combine. Then fold in the gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and espresso powder. Brownie Brittle Process Photo 2
  • Transfer batter to prepared baking sheet and spread into a thin layer (about 1/8-inch thick). Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips and bake for 15 minutes. Brownie Brittle Process Photo 3
  • Remove from oven, slice into brownie brittle pieces, then bake for an additional 15 minutes. Brownie Brittle Process Photo 4
  • Remove from the oven, transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool completely. Break apart into pieces and enjoy.Brownie Brittle Process Photo 5

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Sugar: I used coconut sugar, but you can use either regular white sugar or can sugar if you’d like.
  • Neutral Tasting Oil: Refined coconut oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, or olive oil will all work!

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Desserts

Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

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Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

My homemade Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie recipe is simple, sweet, and soo delicious. Made with simple ingredients, and infused with unsalted pecans and chocolate chips, this pecan pie will be a huge hit during holiday dinners!

I don’t know about you, but I think pecan pie is a must-have Thanksgiving dessert! This pecan pie is made with chocolate chips (technically optional but highly recommended) and it’s vegan-friendly, so everyone – no matter their allergies – can enjoy it. It’s also the slightly healthier version since it’s made with ingredients like coconut sugar and coconut milk, instead of corn syrup and eggs.

Main Ingredients Needed to Make This Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

  • Prepared pie crust – I used gluten-free

  • Pecans (chopped)- I used raw & unsalted pecans

  • Chocolate chips – Up to you, but dark or semi-sweet would probably taste best

  • Butter – dairy-free (Earth Balance is a good option)

  • Coconut milk (full-fat)

  • Coconut sugar – you can sub for brown sugar if you’d like

  • Cornstarch

  • Vanilla Extract

  • Salt

Tips to Consider When Making This Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie Recipe

  • I personally love the pecan-chocolate chip combination, but if you want to make more of a traditional pecan pie, you can use 1 cup whole and 1 cup chopped pecans instead, and omit the chocolate chips.

  • Since this recipe is vegan, that means no eggs! Cornstarch is going to help bind this pie together. Just make sure to let it cool completely before slicing so it has time to firm up.

  • Want to up the sweetness even more? Serve it with your favorite dairy free vanilla ice cream!
Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie
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Vegan Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 
Total time

1

hour 

30

minutes

My homemade Vegan Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe is simple, sweet, and soo delicious. Made with simple ingredients, and infused with unsalted pecans and chocolate chips, this pecan pie will be a huge hit during holiday dinners!

Ingredients

  • 1 (9-inch) Whole Prepared Pie Crust (gluten-free)

  • 3 Tablespoons Dairy-Free Butter

  • 1/2 Cup Coconut Sugar

  • 1 Cup Unsweetened Full-Fat Coconut Milk

  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

  • 3 Tablespoons Corn Starch

  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt

  • 1 Cup Raw Unsalted Pecans

  • 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 350° Fahrenheit and par-bake the pie crust for 25 minutes.
  • Add all pie filling ingredients except pecans and chocolate chips to a bowl and whisk together.
  • Once smooth, add in chopped pecans and chocolate chips.
  • Transfer filling to par-baked pie crust, then bake for 1 hour.
  • Cover pie with aluminum foil about halfway through to prevent crust from burning.
  • Remove pie from oven, let cool completely before slicing.

Recipe Video

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Desserts

Vegan Peanut Brittle Recipe (Gluten-Free)

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Vegan Peanut Brittle Recipe

This vegan peanut brittle recipe is a simple ingredient mix of sugar, maple syrup, water, peanuts and baking soda. The result? A deliciously crunchy, sweet, slightly salty, homemade peanut butter flavored candy that is a perfect for an afternoon snack or an after-dinner treat.

In case you’ve never had peanut brittle before, it’s a smooth, flat candy (similar to toffee), with peanuts in it, that is cooked on the stovetop and poured onto a sheet pan to cool. It’s definitely a family favorite during the holidays, but it can be enjoyed any time of year! The thing to keep in mind about making candy is that you need a good thermometer and to have all your ingredients ready ahead of time. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE VEGAN PEANUT BRITTLE

  • Roasted Peanuts & Peanut Butter – Not a peanut fan? You can substitute an equal amount of pecans or almonds for the peanuts.

  • Maple Syrup – Maple syrup is one of my favorite refined sugar-free sweeteners. It also contains a ton of antioxidant and a good dose of minerals. If you don’t have that, you can use agave nectar instead.

  • Baking Soda – This is a key ingredient! Without baking soda, the brittle will be hard and chewy.

  • Coconut Sugar – Coconut sugar is lower on the glycemic index than the usual white sugar. It also contains many more vitamins and minerals than most other sugars. If you don’t have coconut sugar, you can either use brown sugar, cane sugar, or white sugar instead.

Tips When Making Vegan Peanut Brittle

  • Baking soda causes the brittle to bubble up. Those little bubbles are the key to a lighter, crispy consistency, so you don’t want to touch the mixture when you spread it.

  • Be patient when waiting for the mixture to come to temperature. It may seem like it’ll never make it to 290°F, but trust me, it will!

  • I recommend checking the temperature of the brittle mixture about every 5 minutes. I like to use this time to wash dishes/cleanup my kitchen, as to not be too far from the stove. Once the thermometer reads 280° Fahrenheit, then stay very close by until the brittle finally reaches its required temperature.
Peanut Brittle Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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Peanut Brittle Recipe (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: DessertsCuisine: American
Servings

16

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

35

minutes

This vegan peanut brittle recipe is a simple ingredient mix of sugar, maple syrup, water, peanuts and baking soda. The result? A deliciously crunchy, sweet, slightly salty, homemade peanut butter flavored candy that is a perfect for an afternoon snack or an after-dinner treat.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup coconut sugar

  • ½ cup agave nectar or maple syrup

  • ½ cup water

  • 1 cup roasted salted peanuts

  • 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter

  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda

Directions

  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper, then grease with a small
    amount of oil.
  • Stir together the coconut sugar, maple syrup, and water in a small saucepan over
    medium heat. Bring mixture to a simmer then add the peanuts, stir to combine but do
    not stir beyond that.
  • Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of the candy mixture until it reaches
    290° Fahrenheit, this will take about 30 minutes.
  • Remove saucepan from heat and stir in the peanut butter and baking soda.
  • Quickly transfer the mixture to prepared baking sheet and let cool at room temperature
    until hard. Once hard, break apart into pieces and enjoy.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Storage: Wrap tightly and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Proper storage should keep brittle fresh for up to two months!

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