These Gluten-Free Protein Brownies are rich, fudgy, and seriously indulgent. With 12 grams of protein per serving, they’re dairy-free, come together in just one bowl, and make the perfect healthy-ish dessert or easy snack. And, drizzled with chocolate, they’re a guaranteed way to crush a chocolate craving and feel good about it.
"So thrilled to have found dairy AND gluten free brownies which actually turn out great - thanks so much!" -Mandy Applegate
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 30 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 9
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 241 kcals and 12 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Almond flour, collagen powder, eggs, cacao powder, and peanut butter.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and paleo.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: They’re chewy and chocolatey with a satisfying protein boost that feels indulgent without being heavy.
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Keeping a solid dairy-free brownie recipe on hand is a non-negotiable for me as a busy mom because everyone loves brownies, and these disappear fast. These high-protein brownies are naturally gluten-free, soft, chewy, and taste every bit as indulgent as the classic version. Drizzle them with dairy-free chocolate sauce, and they feel downright bakery-worthy, without the crash that usually follows chocolate desserts.
What I love most is that these chocolate protein brownies let you enjoy dessert and sneak in more fuel. Made with collagen (if you’re curious, here’s what collagen powder is and why I use it), each brownie packs 12 grams of protein which honestly makes them more of a snack than a treat 😉. If you’re working on staying fuller and more energized, it’s worth learning about the benefits of eating more protein, and recipes like this make it feel effortless.
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💭Why You'll Love The Recipe
Delicious: With a chocolate, nutty base, these healthy protein brownies are hard to resist.
Real food: For the most part, this brownie recipe is made with whole-food ingredients that give you actual nutrients.
Allergy-friendly: You hit all the boxes with this recipe as they're dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and grain-free, so perfect for dietary restrictions.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Almond flour: You want to make sure to use blanched almond flour and not almond meal. The almond meal will result in a grittier texture. Learn more about the differences in almond flour and almond meal.
- Collagen powder: This works as part of the base of the dairy-free protein brownie and replaces what would normally be chocolate protein powder.
- Cacao powder: Not just for chocolate-y goodness. Cacao powder (different than cocoa powder) is higher in antioxidants than blueberries! That’s just one of the reasons you should use cacao powder in your diet. However, cocoa powder will work in its place. In fact, cocoa powder is less bitter than cacao, so the protein brownies will actually be sweeter.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Caramel: Add a salted caramel taste to the chocolate protein brownies by drizzling the top of the brownies with coconut milk caramel sauce.
White chocolate: If you can get ahold of dairy-free white chocolate chips, they make a tasty and fun color swap!
Crunch: Tossing in or sprinkling the top with chopped pecans adds extra texture and healthy fats.
How To Make Gluten-Free Protein Brownies
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients except chocolate chips and pecans in a bowl.
Step 2: Mix well. The batter will be ultra-thick.
Step 3: Fold in the chocolate chips.
Step 4: Scrape the batter out into a parchment-lined, 8x8 baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes and remove from the oven to cool. Slice.Make the chocolate sauce by melting the coconut oil and chocolate chips slowly. Then, drizzle over the cooled brownies.
Expert Tips
Keep in mind that the batter for these dairy-free gluten-free brownies is THICK. You won’t be pouring it into the pan so much as scraping and dumping.
This also means you need to use a spatula to press it into the bottom and even it out.
Do not slice the brownies right out of the oven. Let them cool! The almond flour makes it so they pretty delicate, and you don’t want to ruin them before coating them with chocolate sauce.
Want more of a kick? These coffee protein brownies are great for low-energy days.
How to store them: Store the protein brownies once cooled in an airtight container, in a single layer, in the fridge for up to 5 days. Before serving, let them come to room temperature as they do firm up a bit.
Gluten-free Protein Brownies FAQs
Typically, adding more fats to the brownies will make them fudgier. As will cooking them for slightly less time so that they don’t become “dry”.
Most of the time, brownies will become dry when overcooked. Avoid overcooking your brownies by inserting a toothpick into them to check. You want the toothpick to come out with some of the brownies on it. This helps ensure that the inside is still fudgy or soft and not too dry.
Most brownies do not need to be stored in the fridge. However, they will last longer if chilled. That said, brownies that are stored in the fridge tend to become denser and need to soften at room temperature prior to eating.
You may be able to use whey protein or some beef-based protein powders in place of collagen powder. However, protein powder (especially vegan protein powder) absorbs liquid naturally. Thus, using protein powder will change the texture of the easy gluten-free brownies and most likely leave them too dense, dry, and thick.
More Healthy Protein Recipes You'll Love
If you tried this Gluten-Free Protein Brownies Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Chocolate Protein Brownies (Gluten-Free)
Video
Equipment
- 1 8x8 Baking Tray
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 1 cup almond flour
- ¼ cup collagen powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips make sure they're dairy and gluten free
- 2.5 tbs avocado oil
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- ⅓ cup cane sugar
- 2 tbs peanut butter natural and runny
- ⅛ cup hemp milk
For the chocolate sauce
- ⅛ Cup Mini chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon Coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahernheit.
- In a large bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients except the chocolate chips and pecans.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until semi-smooth.
- Pour the wet into the dry and mix well.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans.
- Line an 8x8 baking tray with parchment paper and dump/scrape out the batter.
- Use a silicone spatula to smooth and portion it out until even.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool fully.
- Once cooled, heat the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a pot on the stove over low heat (or microwave them) until just melted. Whisk them together and drizzle over the brownies.
- Cut into 9 squares.
Notes
- The batter for these dairy-free gluten-free brownies is THICK. You won’t be pouring it into the pan so much as scraping and dumping.
- Use a spatula to press the gluten-free brownies into the bottom of the pan and even it out.
- Do not slice the gluten-free brownies right out of the oven. Let them cool! They come out delicate.
- Depending on the coconut oil you choose, there may be a slight coconut flavor to the chocolate drizzle (less processed coconut oils have a hint of coconut to them).
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Mandy Applegate says
So thrilled to have found dairy AND gluten free brownies which actually turn out great - thanks so much!
fitasamamabear says
Yay! Happy you loved them!
Jean says
this gluten-free brownies are so good, love that its dairy free too.
fitasamamabear says
And you wouldn't even know it!
Deb says
Saving this to make for dessert tomorrow, yum!
fitasamamabear says
I hope you double batch hehe
Kat says
So fudgey and yummy!
fitasamamabear says
The best!
Greta says
I love how simple is this recipe. I try to eat healthier and this is a perfect recipe, to enjoy this treat without feeling guilty.
fitasamamabear says
So happy I gave you something new to try! It's the best feeling when healthy & indulgence blend!
Jennifer says
Love these brownies! They're so moist and fudgy you'd never know it's dairy and gluten-free!
fitasamamabear says
That's what I was aiming for.. win!
Sherry says
This brownie recipe is just what I needed to keep me on my healthy eating path. Easy to make and great tasting is what you will find if you try this great recipe!!
fitasamamabear says
Yay! I love when healthy eating can be combined with indulgence 😀 best of both worlds!
Scarlet says
I enjoyed these pretty healthy vegan brownies and they were easy to make too.
fitasamamabear says
Glad you loved them!
Allyssa says
Thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely have this again! It's really easy to make and it tasted so delicious! Highly recommended!
fitasamamabear says
Glad you loved them!
Glenda says
Yum! These were so good! That final chocolate drizzle takes them over the top.
fitasamamabear says
The chocolate drizzle is the best!