Paleo coconut cream brownies are gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and flour-free but they’re still 100% decadent and delicious. You’ll never miss the sugar!
Helllllooooooo! Happy 2018! How were your holidays? Were they wonderful? Did you stay up ’til midnight and eat your weight in junk food?
Cookie and I had a ridiculous amount of fun visiting family last month; she especially loved the part where she broke the zipper on her carrier 20 minutes into the flight up to Oregon and got to spend the rest of the flight in my lap. . . #dogmomproblems
But anyway, if you’re like me, you spent December eating cookies for breakfast and potato chips for dinner, and you woke up on the first day of the new year resolving to make a few changes.
Errrr, slight changes. Ever-so-slight.
Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to eat a smidge less refined sugar. (I know! Who am I right now?)
I’m all about indulging at times, but doing it every day for a month has left me feeling like I need to eat nothing but carrots and celery until Easter.
And since I’ve been meaning to get more into paleo baking for the sake of my gluten-intolerant and sugar-shunning loved ones, a new year seemed like the perfect opportunity.
When it comes to brownies, I want ooey, gooey, fudgy bites of chocolate heaven. I’d rather have no brownies at all than eat a “healthy” version with anemic flavor and questionable texture.
So I’ve been tweaking this paleo brownies recipe for months now trying to get it exactly where I, with my high standards, want it.
Fudgy and rich with a swoon-worthy OH-SO-CREAMY coconut topping, no one would ever guess these coconut cream brownies are refined sugar-free AND gluten-free. (Truly, you’ll want to eat the coconut cream topping with a spoon. It’s insane in the most delicious way possible.)
Paleo coconut cream brownies are perfect for those of us trying to eat less refined sugar, but they’re also great for people who like a traditional gluten- and sugar-filled treat.
Because paleo coconut cream brownies are the best of both worlds: healthy and decadent.
Just like I’m hoping 2018 will turn out to be! Or something like that 🙂
Note: if you prefer your paleo brownies with paleo chocolate frosting rather than coconut, the frosting I used in these paleo chocolate zucchini donuts is perfect. Top your cooled brownies with that frosting instead of the coconut cream topping, then refrigerate to set the chocolate. It’s like a chocolate ganache brownie without the guilt!
A fudgy brownie topped with a sweet and creamy coconut topping--no one believes this dessert is paleo!
- 1/2 cup cacao powder
- 1/2 cup flaxseed meal
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder optional
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1 tablespoon creamy almond butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup Paleo-friendly dark chocolate finely chopped
- 1 13.5-ounce can full fat coconut milk
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with coconut oil and line the bottom with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine the cacao powder, flaxseed meal, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
- Whisk the coconut milk, eggs, honey, almond butter, and vanilla extract together in another medium bowl. Gradually stir the cacao mixture into the coconut milk mixture until just combined. Fold in the chopped chocolate.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake 20 to 26 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Combine the coconut milk, arrowroot powder, honey, and salt in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens significantly and no liquid remains. (It will begin to bubble a little and look like it’s not really thickening, then all of a sudden it will get thick.) Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and coconut.
- Spread over the cooled brownies and refrigerate until coconut layer sets. Slice into bars and serve.
Adapted from Paleo Desserts for Dummies
Rosary says
Hi!!! I love this recipe. Can’t wait to try it out! Unfortunately, I don’t have full fat coconut milk where I live. Can I make my own with shredded coconut just like I make my other veggie milks?
Thank you so much!
Kelsie says
Hi Rosary! I’m honestly not sure if that would work since I’ve never tried it. If you’ve had luck substituting homemade coconut milk in recipes before then I’d say go for it. Another option is just to use the coconut milk you’re able to find–my concern with either of those options is that the topping won’t thicken properly, so you could start by adding a little less liquid to the topping and/or adding a little more arrowroot powder if necessary. In the brownies themselves, you could add little coconut oil or more almond butter to make up for the difference in fat. And here’s a little guide to substituting for full-fat coconut milk; I think the fat+liquid option would work best. I hope that helps and let me know how it goes!
lindenandlavender says
Happy 2018! Coconut frosting is a great idea. I too need more recipes to provide alternatives for my friends and family members with allergies/sensitivities.
Kelsie says
Thank you! Happy 2018 to you too!
Teesh Osita says
Oh wow, Kelsie, this doesn’t even look “healthy” at all. And since I’m trying to go on a heathy diet, I can eat this for all my meals right???
Kelsie says
I definitely made breakfast out of these in an attempt to be healthier 🙂
Carlee says
It sounds like we had similar holiday menus! 😉 I’ll take three of these. Just tell me they are totally healthy and will erase all of the sins of December and I’ll happily believe it!
Kelsie says
Haha! They totally erase every single one!
kitchenriffs says
Cookies for breakfast and potato chips for dinner sounds like a balanced diet. 🙂 Anyway, this looks SO GOOD! Really neat recipe — thanks. And Happy New Year!
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you, John!
Christina says
I’ve never clicked on a post so fast in my entire life. Oh. My. Freaking. G-bomb. You literally just saved my month of going refined sugar free. Not only did I quit drinking for the month but I’m avoiding refined sugar too. Let’s just say I’m struggling at the moment and craving sweets like crazy! I’m pinning for later so I can make these brownies this weekend!
Kelsie says
Hahaha! Thank you, Christina!
Carol says
Kelsie, these are fantastic! I can’t wait to make some for my son next time he is in town, since he has to eat only gluten free foods and it is so hard to come up with special treats for him. And it was nice to see you over the holidays 🙂
Kelsie says
Thank you Carol! You’ll have to let me know what you think!
Laura says
Wow, I never thought of using flaxseed meal instead of flour – a great idea, since I always have it in the fridge to use in granola. Like you, healthy + decadent is always my goal and I don’t want healthy unless it’s decadent as well. Is that wrong? Anyway, love this recipe! Can’t wait to give it a whirl! Happy New Year! And glad you had a wonderful Holidat!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Laura!
David @ Spiced says
I’m sitting here thinking about the flight to Oregon with Cookie sitting there in your lap looking out of the window. Hah! I bet she got plenty of extra attention on the trip. 🙂 Also, the holidays here most definitely involved cookies for breakfast and potato chips for dinner. Oops. Breaking out of that really, really bad habit was so hard, too. I don’t care how delicious the soup is…it’s not potato chips and cookies! Love this brownie concept. The flavor sounds spot on and pretty cool use of flaxseed meal, too. Cheers, Kelsie!
Kelsie says
She totally spend the whole flight staring out the window. I’d love to know what she was thinking! Thank you, David!
Maria Doss says
All the coconut, I can’t take it Kelsie. Wish I was your neighbor 🙂 These brownies sound insanely good especially for a coconut lover like me. Wishing you an amazing year filled with sweet treats!
Kelsie says
I wish you were my neighbor too!
grace says
paleo shmaleo–it’s not for me, but i will say YUM to that frosting! maybe i should give the diet a second glance after all…
Kelsie says
Haha! Thank you, Grace!
cakespy says
Fascinating! That coconut creme topping looks absolutely luscious. Can’t wait to try these!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Jessie!
lynne hoareau says
Well, all my intentions of ‘being good’ for the New Year have clearly gone out the window. I have a massive bowl of gorgeous chocolate mousse in my fridge, just waiting to be eaten. I still have cookies in the freezer which are so easily accessible it is scary, and I still have chocolates from Christmas, just calling my name…I need help !!!!
I like the sound of these Paleo Coconut Cream Brownies …in fact they are genius….total goodness. Definitely will be trying these out Kelsie 🙂 Have a great week and Happy New Year to you and Cookie 🙂
Kelsie says
Hahaha! I know exactly what you’re feeling right now :). Thank you, Lynne! Happy New Year to you too!
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
I love everything about this one Kelsie! Happy New Years!
Kelsie says
Thank you, Julie! Happy 2018!