Don’t let the ‘paleo’ in the title of this recipe throw you off! These brownies may be health conscious but they’re still rich, chocolate-y and decadent – everything a brownie should be. No compromising on flavour here!
Lately, I’ve been drawn to recipes with fewer ingredients and steps because they feel less fussy. For me, it’s totally a mental thing. But, when I see a simple recipe, I feel like I can easily incorporate that into my already busy day. I know so many of you can relate to this as well and that’s why I’ve really been striving for less ingredients, fewer steps and just real, whole foods when I’m in the kitchen recipe developing.
I can totally understand how recipes with too many ingredients or steps can be a deterrent for a lot of people. They can feel complicated and overwhelming. Trust me, I get it! I’m hoping that by providing you with simple recipes like these Paleo Brownies that they entice you to get back into the kitchen and to create more home cooked foods.
It’s only been recently that I’ve been playing around with cassava flour as a grain-free option in my baked goods and I have to say, I’m really impressed. I think it’s a fantastic grain and nut free alternative. It’s very mild and neutral in flavour. When I first started experimenting and saw the price tag for a bag of it, my jaw nearly dropped! It’s definitely a pricey option. What I did initially, was to find it in bulk and only purchase what I needed. Obviously, now that I’m using it more regularly and with confidence, I have invested in a larger bag. If you’re curious about this flour but like me, scared off by the price tag I suggest starting small. Look for cassava flour in bulk and use it in a recipe to see what you think of it first.
For those of you who aren’t familiar, cassava is a tuber. It’s in the same family as yams and potatoes. Cassava flour is actually produced from the entire root, peeled, dried and ground. It is NOT the same as tapioca flour. Cassava flour contains more dietary fibre. You can use cassava flour in any recipe calling for all-purpose, whole wheat or even gluten-free flour. Like most grain-free and gluten-free flour options, cassava flour can be temperamental. It absorbs more liquid which means you don’t always need as much when making substitutions. It’s definitely a bit of trial and error to find the right balance when you’re experimenting with grain-free options. But these brownies have been tried and tested. No experimentation necessary! They are a delicious, grain-free, gluten-free and soy-free dessert.
If you’d like to make them dairy-free as well, simply use coconut oil in place of grass-fed butter. As far as paleo goes, maple syrup shouldn’t be a staple item but given that this is a dessert recipe, there’s nothing wrong with it as a treat every now and again 😛 So go ahead and enjoy – guilt free!
- 1/2 cup cassava flour
- 4 eggs
- 2/3 cup monk fruit sweetener
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 cup grass-fed butter, melted
- 1/2 cup cacao powder, sifted
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- Preheat oven to 300F. Grease and flour an 8 inch square baking pan.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until fluffy and yellow.
- Add monk fruit and maple syrup to the eggs and whisk.
- Add all remaining ingredients to the mixture and ensure that everything is fully incorporated. 5. Pour brownie batter into the pan and bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes
- out clean.
- Let the brownies cool completely before cutting into squares.
- Optional: top with homemade coconut whip or dairy-free ice cream before serving.
- These will keep stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Tell us, have you experimented with cassava flour? What was your experience like?
combined into thick batter. Add chopped nuts and mix. Spread batter over prepared pan and bake for 30 mins. Remove from heat and completely cool. Freezes well!
