Where are my fudgy brownie lovers at?! I love an ooey-gooey fudgy brownie! You know, the kind that you’re not quite sure are even done. There’s just something so good about warm, melt-in-your-mouth brownies.
These Orange Brownies are by far one of my favorite recipes. They’re made with low GI coconut sugar (and also a cup and a half of chocolate chips!), coconut oil, and arrowroot starch in place of any flour. So they’re gluten/grain-free and dairy-free. And seriously delicious! I adapted this recipe from Amanda at Running with Spoons, and it’s one of the best “healthier” brownie recipes!
For this recipe, you’ll use the double boiler method to melt the chocolate and oil together, whip up the sugar and eggs, and zest a few oranges. As long as you follow the recipe and instructions exactly as-is, then you’ll end up with ultra-fudgy, perfectly crinkle-topped brownies that rival any other traditional brownie. For real.
I baked this recipe up three times and found that it’s vital to use chocolate chips instead of chopped chocolate in order to get that beautiful, shiny top. I used chopped dark chocolate for one batch, and the brownies came out dull and smooth – not crinkly at all! So I suggest only using chocolate chips!
Some of the ingredients I love for this recipe:
Coconut sugar is a low GI, unrefined sugar. This means that it places lower on the glycemic index scale than cane sugar, honey, and maple syrup, so it has less of an effect on blood sugar levels. It tastes nothing like coconut, and, in my opinion, tastes less sweet than regular white sugar.
Coconut oil is a great dairy-free alternative to butter (and it’s better for you!). These brownies are so rich I don’t taste the coconut, but if you prefer a dessert with no trace of coconut then I recommend making these with refined coconut oil.
Arrowroot starch is a gluten-free, corn-free starch that can work with any recipe that calls for corn starch. It lends to a softer, lighter texture in baked goods.
Instant coffee (as well as espresso powder) is great for adding to chocolate baked goods, because it enhances and intensifies the chocolate flavor. So your brownies will taste more chocolate-y!
Grain-Free Orange Brownies
Ultra-fudgy chocolate brownies flavored with freshly grated orange zest. These rich brownies are loaded with delicious chocolate and made with no dairy or grain!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, solid
- 1 1/2 cups dairy-free chocolate chips
- 2 tsp instant coffee granules
- 6 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 3 large eggs, room temp
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 Tbsp finely grated orange zest (2-3 medium oranges)
- 4 1/2 Tbsp arrowroot starch
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare an 8x8" baking dish with non-stick spray (I like to use olive oil spray) and parchment paper. Cut your parchment paper long enough that it hangs over the sides of your dish for easy brownie removal. Bring your eggs to room temperature by placing them in a glass of warm water for around 10 minutes.
- In a heatproof bowl, add the chocolate chips, coconut oil, instant coffee, and cocoa powder. Place on top of a pot of simmering water (making sure it's not touching the water), stirring the mixture frequently until everything is melted. Set bowl aside to cool off.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add your eggs and coconut sugar. Set to medium speed and add in the vanilla extract. Whisk for 5-10 minutes or until mixture has thickened and is light brown in color.
- Slowly pour the chocolate mixture into the egg and sugar mixture. Gently fold the ingredients together until totally combined - move slowly so you don't deflate the mixture. This will take a couple of minutes. Stir in the orange zest and then the arrowroot starch and salt.
- Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish and bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, or until the center looks set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out with a little batter. You want to under-bake these brownies a bit so that they stay fudgy.
- Allow brownies to cool in the baking dish on top of a cooling rack (or dig in while they're warm!). Once cool, use the parchment paper to lift the whole dish of brownies up and onto the cooling rack. Slice into 16 squares, wiping the knife clean between each slice. For serving, use a fork or small spatula to gently lift each brownie onto a serving dish. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
For a richer chocolate flavor, you can use dutch-process cocoa powder instead of regular, natural cocoa powder
I only recommend using chocolate chips for this recipe as my test with chopped chocolate came out with a dull, smooth surface instead of a shiny, crinkly one
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1 brownieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 210Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 35mgSodium: 89mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 21gProtein: 2g
calculated nutrition information may not always be accurate
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Other recipes you may like:
Grain-Free Almond Butter Brownies
Dairy-Free Salted Chocolate Rye Cookies
Orange Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Recipe adapted from Running with Spoons
hello.. may i know how much does the coconut oil solid in ml? does using AP flour will change the texture?
I would use 150ml of liquid coconut oil – hope that helps!
Hi I love the recipe I was going to jump and make it but I don’t have arrowroot starch, can I use regular corn starch?
Yes! Regular corn starch should be okay 🙂
Hi Rachael, I just realized I don’t have instant coffee granules. If I make strong coffee and substitute it will it still turn out okay or would that alter the dry and wet ratio too much?
You can just leave it out! The instant coffee adds some depth to the chocolate flavor, but these brownies are just as delicious without it 🙂 (I wouldn’t add liquid coffee as this will affect the texture)
Hi can i use almond flour instead of the arrowroot?
Hi Niya! I haven’t tried this recipe with almond flour. The arrowroot thickens the batter, so you may or may not need more almond flour in its place. Do you let me know if you try it out!
Hi can i sprinkle orange zest on the brownie like you did on the top of the brownie to add to the appearance or will it affect the flavor as zest can be bitter?
Definitely! That’s how I like mine! When zesting your orange, do your best to only get the orange part of the peel, avoiding the bitter yellow/white peel underneath.
Hi! Can I use all purpose flour if I don’t have arrowroot starch?
Hi Stephanie! I haven’t tried this recipe with flour, so I’m not sure of the exact measurement you would need. Corn starch would be a fine substitute if you have that on hand. If not, check out these Classic Weeknight Brownies for a recipe with AP flour – you can add orange zest 🙂
These look absolutely amazing!! Do you think I could use tapioca flour in place of arrowroot starch?
Yes, I believe that will work 🙂