These Sugar-Free Brownies are incredibly fudgey and easily made gluten free!
This recipe was originally published on January 11, 2012 and it sure is a very popular recipe to date, but since then I discovered my allergies to wheat, so I wanted these to easily be adapted for a gluten free life style. Now you can make these whole wheat or gluten free and of course without any sugar added!!
My more popular brownie recipe on my blog is the flourless brownie recipe, but sometimes I run out of that secret ingredient. When I made this recently for the kids, they fell in love with them all over again and dare I say think they are better than my flourless recipe?!! Either way this recipe is a winner! You can make both then decide!
Of course my other motivation for making these wasn't just to make my kids happy, I wanted to get rid of the horrid pics I took back then!! But I did leave one below for you to laugh at. 🙂
If you can't find sugar -free chocolate chips you can use the highest grade of cocoa you can find in chocolate chips or even a candy bar and break it into pieces. I use Lily's sugar free chocolate chips because they are sweetened with stevia.
SO now after you wipe the drool off your chin you can laugh below at the horrid and sad pictures I left just to amuse you today!
(OLD SAD PIC)
(OLD SAD PIC)
I have tried making a bunch of sugar free brownie recipes and really love how these came out. I had guests and never shared they were sugar free, in fact one guest actually ate 3!!!
See its not that because I choose a sugar free life style that I have to give up chocolate! No its just that I need to make it more pure and more wholesome than boxed brownies without refined sugar that causes ....well.... you know the after effects of sugar highs don't you? If you haven't read my post about the sugar-free sweeteners I choose to use you may want to read, Top 3 Refined Sugar Free Sweeteners to get more info.
Embrace the chocolate I say!
Its not your enemy.
Now refined sugar THAT is not my friend! It causes me too much grief to allow it back in my life. You can read about my sugar free journey here.
You won't feel awful or get a spike in blood sugar after eating one of these scrumptious brownies, but I guarantee you may not be able to eat just one! A nice addition to these brownies would be to add some chopped walnuts. Unfortunately my boys are allergic but I can only bet they would be even more yummier!
Brenda's Notes: (Updated April 16, 2014)
- I adapted the temperature in the original recipe reducing the time to bake these.
- I added an egg as one was not in the original, but if you have an egg allergy you can sub a flax egg or leave it out entirely.
- I also subbed butter for the coconut oil in the gluten free version, but either will work.
- To make this gluten free: Remove the whole wheat pastry flour and substitute it with your favorite gluten free four blend. I used Bob's Red Mill. Add ½ teaspoon xanthan gum.
- Use 2-4 packets Sweetleaf Stevia (4 makes them super sweet) or 4 -6 tsp. of this powdered stevia by Sweetleaf.
- Pure stevia extract is used within the recipe so I could compare and because it is the extract it is much sweeter and you do not need as much.
- Nutrition info has been updated to include sugar free chocolate chips where the original was optional.
- P.S. I realize that the title of these is Sugar-Free brownies and applesauce is included in this recipe, But because it is only a small amount the natural sugar is still only 1 gram.
Sugar Free Chocolate Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 4 tablespoons milk 1%
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or see notes
- ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure stevia extract or 2 teaspoon Chocolate Liquid Stevia
- ½ cup sugar free chocolate chips
- Optional: ½ c. chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Whisk together oil, milk, vanilla, applesauce and egg.
- Add cocoa, flour, baking powder, salt and stevia (xanthan gum for gluten free) and mix well.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Add optional nuts if desired.
- Line an 8 by 8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Pour batter into pan and top with a few more chocolate chips if desired.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Jazz
The sweet leaf conversion says that amount is equal to 12tsp of the liquid, or 6 CUPS of sugar! That can't be right, can it?
Brenda
I know that what it suggests is the equal amount but it is not as sweet. I've been using the products for a long time and even with 1 1/2 tsp of the pure extract people were commenting they found the brownies bitter and not very sweet. My suggestion is to use Chocolate Liquid Stevia if you have it or buy it online here: http://amzn.to/2tlSxis
This is one of my older recipes and I wasn't using the chocolate liquid stevia at the time. I'd suggest 2 tsp of the liquid.
Ginger
You talk waaaaaaaaaaaay to much!!!!! Get to the receipe already!!
Jan Noga
Well, that's a bit rude, isn't it? This is a food blog, not a cookbook or just scroll down right to the recipe. Sheesh!
Bridget
Hi there,
Do you think I could use arrowroot starch for the flour? Would this change the taste/consistency?
Thanks!
Brenda
I think it might work, maybe use less because it could end up dry.
Rubie
Thank you for keeping this blog up and running! We are a sugar-free family and I have to say that I love your blog. I make these brownies, but I completely omit sugar alternatives. I found that removing all of it really changes the way you taste food.
Anyways, thank you thank you!
Meera
Can the apple sauce be substituted with dates?
Hannah J
I made these, and we were less than enthused. I used spelt flour(it's pretty much the same as wheat in case you're not familiar with it) and butter in place of the coconut oil(like you said in the notes to do).
It was slightly bitter and not that sweet. Just an odd aftertaste. Is that the stevia? The texture was fudgy, which is fine. Dense and fudgy, but the denseness is due to my flour choice and I know that. We were just put off by the flavor. It was a bitter bakers chocolate type flavor, totally not like a brownie. Any ideas on how to fix that?
I used the NOW brand stevia in case that helps. Most say that it doesn't have an aftertaste. I didn't notice one in my husband's sweet tea or in the waffles I made for breakfast last week, but in this it was bitter.
QuillenePetite
Hi. I only have powdered stevia and coco sugar available. What would be the equivalent measure for the brownies for powdered stevia?
Thanks!
Brenda
NOt sure what coco sugar is? If you have powdered stevia, use the same amount.
Kate Bennett
Hi
Really love your website and recipes1
Which would you say the Sweetleaf powder or drops give a better taste in brownies and cakes?
Many thanks,
Kate
Brenda
I prefer the liquid but sometimes you need to use quite a lot of the bottle and powder would be the better choice. Often I use both.
Rebekah
Can I substitute honey for pure stevia extract? And how much honey would i use? Thanks!!
Brenda
I'm not sure as I haven't made it with honey but I would suggest 1/2 cup.
Kelly
This looks like an awesome recipe. I have a liquid Stevia extract in my kitchen. Would I use the same amount that your recipe calls for with it being liquid?
Brenda
I have a conversion chart for you.
Brenda
https://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/stevia-differences-in-liquid-packets-powdered-pure-a-stevia-conversion-chart/
Elizabeth
Great recipe! I was wondering if I could use this recipe to make cake pops, would that work?
Brenda
Yes, I used my flourless brownies, here's my link: https://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/sugar-free-brownie-cake-pops-grain-gluten-free/
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files
This is exactly what I need today....chocolate!
Montse Boyer
Sugar free does not mean it is good for diabetics some sugar free products contain sweetners that contain certain kinds of glucose which makes it bad for diabetics. Wish I could eat these they sound good.
Brenda
I totally agree with you, you need to watch the carbs on everything.
Deborah
I don't have stevia sweetner. I do have coconut palm sugar, will it work for these brownies and if so how much? I here a lot about whole wheat flour, I use organic unrefined flour it is made with wheat barley. Is this okay? I stocked up on it so I have a lot of it in my pantry. Thanks for your reply
Brenda
You could use coconut sugar although I would not use more than 1/2 cup.
Nikki
I am on a very low or no carb/no sugar diet, could i use almond meal instead of flour?
Brenda
I can't use almond meal or any tree nuts because my youngest has a tree nut allergy. Since I don't use it at all I can't really say how subbing it here in this recipe would work for you but I'd love to know if you try it and how it works for you.
Deborah
Wondering about pure Stevie extract would I use half of what you recommended in the recipe?
Brenda
The brand of stevia I am using is pure extract, no fillers.
Re
I want to try your recipe, I love stevia. We've been using Kal brand for years. I used to make a brownies recipe with black beans pureed in the blender to replace the flour if that helps anyone(flax seeds are also a viable sub for flour) But I don't like using applesauce because I don't want to waste the rest of the jar. We just aren't big applesauce eaters around here... I'm going to use homemade prune puree(b/c the rest of the package keeps) but any other ideas(to replace applesauce) would be welcome. Thanks in advance... 🙂
Lisa
I plan on making this today. However I want to comment on how your recipes are displayed on this website. It shows you the ingredients when you place them in your recipe box but when you review your recipes from the box it does not include the baking directions. It links you to the sugarfree mom site so you are opening another tab on your computer which is a bit annoying. Just show the whole recipe from start to finish once you put them in the recipe box. Thanks
Joshua
These taste HORRIBLE!!!!!!! I just followed the recipe exactly and they came out perfectly... except for the taste. Absolutely tasteless. They are bitter and taste like nothing but the cocoa powder.
Brenda
Did you use the brand suggested or another brand? All stevia brands do not taste the same.
Rena
Hi Brenda! I really want to use my sweetleaf stevia powder that i bought but i find when i tried your recipe it was too bitter. I'm assuming it was from the stevia. Is that how it tastes? do you just become accustomed to the taste or am i using it wrong? Thanks!
rena
hi!
i really want this to work!! is it just that the stevia is bitter? is there something to help this?
Margaret
Do your servings sizes mean per ONE of the 9 large brownies? lol just making sure
Brenda
yes
Elizabeth
I <3 these! They're delicious, chocolatey, and fudgey. 🙂 I substituted almond milk for 1% and all purpose flour for the wheat pastry flour. They were gr8! I made a deal with my dad so that I can't have sweets until June. It's been so beneficial! I'm renewing the deal in June. We call it the sugar diet 😉 basically, I just wanted to thank you for the recipe 🙂
Brenda
Happy you and dad liked them. 🙂
Nancy Paine
I just found your blog today, and YAY! I saved several recipes, and tried this one today! I only had white whole wheat flour, so I used it. I ended up adding some more applesauce, as the batter was very thick. I baked for a shorter time, also. These are good! My 17 year old daughter, who just turned vegetarian, loved them. I like them eaten with a banana. Can't wait to try more of your recipes. Our yo-yo diet stories are similar, also.
Kristen
do you think i could use honey instead of stevia?
Barbara
Hi would I be able to use sour cream in place of the unsweetened applesauce
Brenda
never tried that so not sure