The Best Chocolate Orange Brownies (gluten-free & paleo)

Why you will love this recipe:

• The flavour! These brownies have the best taste that is very similar to a Terry's chocolate orange. They are moist, rich, and full of dark orange chocolate flavour.
• The brownies are made in one bowl so the clean up is easy and simple, just like my chocolate avocado mousse recipe.
• These dark chocolate brownies are easy enough to make anytime and are also perfect to serve for holidays like Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving.
• This brownie recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free, paleo, and made with no butter, so they are healthy compared to most other brownie recipes. 
• They are made with almond flour so are higher in protein compared to other brownies.
• These chocolate orange brownies are delicious served warm or cold and they store well in the fridge so they are perfect for meal prep.

Ingredients and substitutions:

• Almond flour - one of my favourite gluten free and grain free flours. Almond flour helps give these brownies the perfect taste and texture. I don't recommend trying to swap this for another flour. Be sure to use almond flour and not almond meal.
• Coconut flour - to help give these brownies the perfect flavour and texture. Do not try swapping this for another flour.
• Coconut sugar - this is used to sweeten these chocolate orange brownies and keep them refined sugar free.
• Cocoa powder - cocoa powder is used to give these brownies that delicious rich, dark chocolate flavour. You can use either cocoa powder or cacao powder to make these brownies.
• Baking soda - to help these brownies rise when they bake. Do not confuse this with baking powder.
• Sea salt - to help contrast the sweet flavour of this chocolate treat.
• Orange juice and zest - I recommend using fresh oranges for the fresh orange juice and fresh orange zest. These are used to give these homemade brownies that perfect orange flavour.
• Dark chocolate - you can use any type of dark chocolate that you like to make these brownies including dark chocolate bars or dark chocolate chips. I prefer to use dark chocolate bars sweetened with coconut sugar to keep these brownies refined sugar free.
• Cashew butter - this helps make these brownies extra moist and fudgy! Be sure to use a smooth, unsweetened cashew butter.
• Coconut oil - to add even more moisture to these brownies while keeping them dairy-free.
• Vanilla extract - to help enhance all the delicious flavours of these brownies.
• Eggs - large eggs are used to help make these orange chocolate brownies nice and moist and fudgy and help them rise when they bake. I do not recommend trying to make these eggless or trying to use an egg replacer.

How to make chocolate orange brownies:

Step 1

First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating, add the eggs and coconut sugar to a bowl and using either your standing mixer, or a hand mixer, beat the ingredients on high speed for 3-5 minutes, until they are frothy and light in colour. 

Step 2

Now stir in the remaining brownie ingredients by hand (try not to over-mix).

Step 3

Then grease an 8″x 8″ baking pan with coconut oil or line it with parchment paper and transfer the brownie batter to the prepared pan and spread it evenly with a knife or spoon (Tip: the dough is quite sticky, so you may want to wet your spoon to help spread it more easily).

Step 4

Bake the brownies for 18-21 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean). While the brownies are baking make the icing by placing a small saucepan on the stove on low heat and adding all the icing ingredients to the pot. 

Step 5

Stir the icing ingredients until they are melted and smooth. Note: Do not let the icing come to a boil, if it does it gets very clumpy.

Step 6

When the brownies are done baking, pour the icing over the top of the brownies and spread it out evenly. 

Step 7

Allow the brownies to cool and then cut them into pieces and enjoy.

How to serve:

These chocolate orange brownies are delicious served as is but you could also top them with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or coconut whipped cream to make them even more decadent. You can serve them either warm or cold (they taste great either way). When they are cold they taste more like fudge.

How to store:

Store these chocolate orange brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. You can also freeze these brownies in an airtight container for up to 3 months.