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Fudgy Salted Caramel Brownies (Paleo, gluten-free)

Feb 1, 2020 · 13 Comments

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almond flour brownies in a pan and cut into bars on parchment paper

These Paleo Salted Caramel Brownies might be the most indulgent almond flour brownies ever.

The name says it all: rich, fudgy brownies smothered in an easy, creamy salted caramel sauce. Then they’re drizzled with extra chocolate because why not?

Plus these almond flour brownies are Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free!

(This post was originally published Feb. 1, 2020, but was updated April 20, 2022.)

paleo brownies with almond flour cut into bars on parchment paper

an image of paleo brownies in a glass baking dish on a wooden table

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, I’ll automatically receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.)

Paleo Salted Caramel Brownies

Fudgy brownies are one of the best desserts ever, but for those of us that are gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free, we need a better option.

So this flourless version is made with wholesome ingredients like almond flour, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa powder and is sweetened only with dates.

Dates are a great way to sweeten desserts as they’re a natural, whole food that actually have nutritional benefits! But most importantly they impart a deep, almost caramel-y flavor.

Plus the caramel sauce could not be easier – no standing over a pot of boiling sugar while it crystallizes or burns. No one will be able to resist these!

 

What you need for Paleo Salted Caramel Brownies

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cups superfine blanched almond flour (I love Oh! Nuts and Honeyville almond flours; do not use almond meal)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened chocolate (I used Guittard for this recipe and love it)
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup of pitted dates
  • 1 cup very warm water
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup palm shortening, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

The easiest caramel sauce ever needs:

  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1.5 teaspoons ghee or grass-fed butter
  • 1 teaspoon full-fat unsweetened coconut milk or coconut cream
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

The chocolate drizzle needs:

  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1-2 teaspoons full-fat unsweetened coconut milk or coconut cream

Equipment:

  • an 8×8″ baking dish
  • a blender
  • measuring cups
  • measuring spoons
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • a spatula (the kind for stirring, not flipping)
  • 1 small mixing bowl, heat-proof
  • 1 small mixing bowl for the caramel
  • 1 small mixing bowl for the chocolate sauce

gluten-free fudgy brownies in a glass pan on a wooden table

an image of gluten-free brownies cut into bars spread out on parchment paper with the glass baking dish in the background, all on a wooden table

How to make these Paleo Salted Caramel Brownies

Heat the oven to 350°.

First, make your date paste: Pour 1 cup very warm water into your blender jar. Add the dates and make sure they’re as submerged as possible. Let them soften for 15-20 minutes, depending on how dry they are.

Meanwhile, in a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and palm shortening (separately) by microwaving for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each round. It will probably take about 60-90 seconds.

Alternately, add them to a small, heat-proof bowl set over a small saucepan filled with 1″ water (make sure the water isn’t touching the bottom of the bowl) and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Let cool to room temperature.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together the almond flour, cocoa powder and salt.

Blend the dates and water until totally smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the jar as necessary.

Add the cooled chocolate, palm shortening, eggs and vanilla to the date paste. Blend until smooth.

Pour the date mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth.

Grease an 8×8″ baking dish with palm shortening.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 32-37 minutes.

At 32 minutes, it’ll be fudgy with slightly dry edges. By 37 minutes, it’ll be even drier around the edges but still fudgy.

Let cool to room temperature.

For the caramel sauce: in a small bowl, stir together the honey, maple syrup, coconut milk and salt. Use immediately.

For the chocolate sauce: in a small bowl, stir together the chocolate, honey or maple syrup, and coconut milk. Use immediately.

Drizzle the two sauces over the brownies and serve.

date-sweetened brownies stacked on top of each other on parchment paper

An image fudgy flourless brownies stacked on top of each other on parchment paper with the glass baking dish behind them, all on a wooden table

Do I need to add the sauces?

Nope! These brownies are great on their own.

Can I make them ahead of time?

Yep! Once the brownies have cooled and you’ve added the sauces, they can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Straight from the fridge they’re even fudgier, almost truffle-like. The caramel and chocolate sauces will be more firm.

You can bring the brownies to room temperature and the sauces will be softer and gooier.

Can I freeze them?

Yep! For up to 3 months. Once cooled but before adding the sauces, I recommend cutting the brownies into 9 large bars and wrapping them individually in plastic wrap.

Thaw them in the fridge overnight. You can add the sauces when the brownies are fridge cold (they’ll firm up pretty quickly) or bring the brownies to room temperature first (the sauces will be softer and gooier).

 

Other recipes you might like

  1. Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake with Kahlua Whipped Cream
  2. Flourless Double Chocolate Orange Macaroons
  3. Dairy-Free Creme Brulee
  4. Hot Chocolate Skillet Cake
2 images of fudgy brownies, one in a glass baking dish on a wooden table, the other cut into bars on parchment paper on a wooden table
almond flour brownies in a pan and cut into bars on parchment paper
paleo brownies with almond flour cut into bars on parchment paper

Fudgy Salted Caramel Brownies (Paleo, Gluten-free)

Don Baiocchi
Rich and indulgent, these easy brownies will seduce anyone who tries them. Plus they happen to be Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free!
5 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 37 minutes mins
Total Time 57 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 bars
Calories 298 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the brownies:

  • 1 cup very warm water
  • 1 cup dates
  • ¼ cup chopped unsweetened chocolate
  • ¼ cup palm shortening, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 1½ cups superfine blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla

For the salted caramel sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1½ teaspoons ghee or grass-fed butter, softened/room temperature (not melted)
  • 1 teaspoon full-fat, canned coconut milk, room temperature (very important)
  • ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

For the chocolate sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons chopped unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • 1-2 teaspoons full-fat, canned coconut milk, room temperature (very important)

Instructions
 

For the brownies:

  • Heat the oven to 350°.
  • Pour 1 cup very warm water into your blender jar. Add the dates and make sure they're as submerged as possible. Let them soften for 15-20 minutes, depending on how dry they are.
  • Meanwhile, in a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and palm shortening (separately) by microwaving for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each round. It will probably take about 60-90 seconds. 
    Alternately, add them to a small, heat-proof bowl set over a small saucepan filled with 1" water (make sure the water isn't touching the bottom of the bowl) and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted. Let cool to room temperature.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the almond flour, cocoa powder and salt.
  • Blend the dates and water until totally smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the jar as necessary.
  • Add the cooled chocolate, palm shortening, eggs and vanilla to the date paste. Blend until smooth.
  • Pour the date mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth.
  • Grease a 8x8" pan with avocado oil, palm shortening or coconut oil. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 32-37 minutes. At 32 it'll be fudgy with slightly dry edges. By 37 minutes it'll be even dryer around the edges but still fudgy. Let cool to room temperature. Drizzle over the caramel and chocolate sauces and slice (see notes below).

For the caramel sauce:

  • In a small bowl, stir together the honey, maple syrup, ghee or butter, coconut milk and salt. Use immediately.

For the chocolate sauce:

  • In a small bowl, stir together the melted, cooled chocolate, honey or maple syrup, and coconut milk. Use immediately.

Notes

These brownies are very rich so cutting them into 9 bars is very generous. You can cut those bars in half diagonally for 18 triangles. Or you can cut the pan into 16 smaller brownies instead (cut 3 rows down, 3 across).
You can leave off the sauces and enjoy the brownies on their own. 
Chill the brownies, pre- or post-sauce, in the fridge for up to 5 days. If eaten straight from the fridge the sauces will be a little firm.
You can freeze the brownies pre-sauce. Cut into 9 bars and wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Add sauces once thawed, if desires. If the brownies are fridge-cold, the sauces will set up somewhat firmly.

Nutrition

Calories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 7gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 246mgPotassium: 328mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 62IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg
Keyword almond flour, brownies, cocoa powder, dairy free, dates, gluten free, paleo, refined sugar free
Tried this recipe?Mention @paleoglutenfreeguy or tag #paleoglutenfreeguy!

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacey Crawford says

    February 9, 2020 at 10:47 am

    5 stars
    I can’t resist a fudgy brownie especially when salted caramel is involved!

    Reply
  2. ANNE LAWTON says

    February 8, 2020 at 9:28 am

    5 stars
    The perfect brownie! I love that caramel in there.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 8, 2020 at 12:38 pm

      If you’re gonna do brownies, might as well add caramel. 😉

      Reply
  3. Jennifer Fisher says

    February 7, 2020 at 6:52 am

    5 stars
    The name Fudgy Caramel Brownies says it all does NOT say it all . . . I made them and am calling them “Turn Your Day Around, Freakin’ Delicious, Totally Extra in a Good Way Fudgy Caramel Brownies “

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 7, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      OK, your name wins. 😉 And great! Glad you liked them.

      Reply
  4. Raia Todd says

    February 4, 2020 at 3:07 pm

    5 stars
    I love how these are actually healthy enough to eat for breakfast. ‘Cause that’s when I’m eating them… 😉

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 7, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      Wow, how did I not even think of that? That would be the perfect way to start the day.

      Reply
  5. Kelly says

    February 4, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    5 stars
    These brownies look absolutely wonderful!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 7, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      Why thank you 🙂

      Reply
  6. ChihYu says

    February 4, 2020 at 2:00 pm

    5 stars
    I want the whole pan! The fudge and caramel and moist brownie are so perfect and delicious!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 7, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      You can have the whole pan and not feel TOO gross afterward! (Don’t ask me how I know this 😉 )

      Reply
  7. Jean Choi says

    February 3, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    5 stars
    DROOLING over these brownies!! I love that caramel layer. Must make these SOON.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      February 4, 2020 at 9:48 am

      You must! 😉

      Reply

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Well hello there! I’m Don, the creator behind Paleo Gluten Free Guy. I share fun, vibrant recipes for good health and pure enjoyment. All of my recipes are gluten-free and the majority of them are also Paleo, meaning they’re free of grains, dairy, refined sugar and legumes.

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