Vegan Super Chocolate Chip Brownies (+GF)

Vegan Lifestyle - Kristen Emily

Vegan desserts

Chocolate Chip Brownies...

Welcome back beautiful people!

I remember brownies being the family "go-to dessert" for events and holidays (especially 4th of July) and I grew up on them more than any other dessert. About 4 years ago I started to become a vegan, brownies were essentially ruled out. A few years ago I started to make "vegan" dishes, but they always turned out, not just different, but fundamentally strange. After some pretty major failed attempts, I gave up on trying to find vegan substitutions for desserts and other non-vegan meals. 

I'm not sure what sparked this, but recently I decided to try my luck at baking and cooking again. I've spent the last three years eating very simple, which I like and I don't want to change. But I have learned two things 1) rice, beans and veggies (although still my go-to meal) can get old after a while and 2) you can still eat simple and clean when cooking or baking. 

So, now begins a new era of me trying to find easy ways to make eating vegan taste good while remaining clean, fresh, and simple and I want to share with you all! Hope you enjoy this dessert!

I tried a few different recipes before I found the one that actually reminded me of brownies (not a vegan wannabe), but I think these ones are by far the best out of all of them! I modified this recipe from one that a friend sent me a while back, but I couldn't find the link (I saved the recipe in my notes), but I know there are A LOT of recipes out there! I hope you like this recipe and play with it and modify as you please! :) 

Recipe:

Ingredients (in order of use):

- ¼ cup unsalted almond butter

- ½ cup coconut sugar

- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup

- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

- ¼ teaspoon salt

- 2 flax eggs

- 1/4 cup gluten free all-purpose flour

- 3/4 cup vegan chocolate chips (I threw in a little more than this the second time around. Depends on how chocolatey you want them.)

How To Bake:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with canola oil. Set aside.

2. Make flax eggs (2 tablespoons ground flax + 6 tablespoons warm water, mix together, set for 5 mins).

3. In a medium bowl, mix together almond butter, coconut sugar, maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Mix until smooth and resembles caramel.

4. Add cocoa powder in ¼ cup increments, mixing until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in vanilla and salt.

5. Add flax eggs in. Add the GF flour in increments. Mix until smooth.

6. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into pan and smooth batter into an even layer.

7. Bake for 25-30 mins. I baked them for about 25 minutes, but I like them soft and gooey ;) Cool for 1 hour, or until completely cool. Slice into 12-16 brownies (depending how big you want them). Enjoy!