These easy one-bowl keto brownies have a secret ingredient to make them extra fudgy and chewy. This might just be the ultimate keto brownie recipe and no one can tell they are low carb and gluten-free. At less than 4g total carbs, you can dig in with gusto!
Remember some time ago when I promised to bring you more basic keto recipes on this blog? Well these super fudgy keto brownies are part of that promise.
I love baking more elaborate creations and proving to the world that the keto diet it anything but restrictive. But sometimes I forget that simple and straightforward can be just as delicious.
So let’s skip the fancy stuff and get down to basics again!
Why you’ll love this recipe
The secret to the perfect texture is the addition of a little gelatin. I figured if it helps make my keto ginger molasses cookies chewier, it couldn’t hurt to try adding it to brownies, right?
And it really works! These keto brownies have all the best features you’re looking for, with a dense, rich texture and a slightly crackly top. They’re incredibly easy to make too. It takes a single bowl and 35 minutes from start to finish.
And readers swear that no one can even tell they are keto. I call that a win.
Ingredients you need
- Butter: Use unsalted butter and make sure to let it cool a bit before adding the sweetener and eggs.
- Sweetener: I recommend Swerve or another erythritol-based sweetener for this recipe. Using another sweetener will change the texture and consistency. Learn more about keto sweeteners here.
- Eggs: Large eggs are the standard for baking.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla always brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Almond flour: Make sure you are using a finely ground almond flour for the best consistency. I also have a coconut flour brownie recipe, if you prefer.
- Cocoa powder: I prefer Dutch process cocoa powder when baking keto brownies. It has a deeper, richer chocolate flavor, but you can use natural cocoa powder if you prefer.
- Grass fed gelatin: Grassfed gelatin is the best choice for this and other keto recipes, but you can use Knox gelatin. Use 1 envelope for the brownies and make sure you add it along with the dry ingredients. You can also omit it completely but the brownies will be less chewy.
- Chocolate chips: Make sure to choose keto-friendly chips like ChocZero!
- Pantry staples: Baking powder and salt.
Step by Step Instructions
1. Whisk together the wet ingredients, including the butter, sweetener, eggs, and vanilla extract. Sweetener goes in with the wet ingredients so it dissolves better.
2. Add the almond flour, cocoa powder, gelatin, baking powder, and salt and whisk until well combined. Always add the gelatin powder with the dry ingredients before adding any water so that you don’t end up with blobs of gelatin in your brownie batter.
3. Stir in the water a little at a time to thin the batter to a thick but pourable consistency. You may not need the full amount of liquid to thin the batter – it depends on your cocoa powder and how absorbent it is. The batter should be the consistency of conventional brownie batter. Stir in the chocolate chips or chopped nuts, if using.
4. Spread the batter in a greased 8×8 inch metal baking pan and bake at 350ºF 15 to 20 minutes. If you prefer cakier brownies, continue baking for another few minutes until the center is fully cooked through. Let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
Recipe Tips and FAQs
This is a basic keto brownie recipe that you can customize and add your own fun twists to. Try these delicious ideas:
- Stir in ½ – ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
- Use brewed coffee instead of water to enhance the chocolate flavor. Or add some espresso powder for a mocha flavor.
- Add some different flavors of keto chocolate chips, such as white chocolate, peanut butter, or mint.
- Add some keto chocolate frosting or chocolate ganache.
- Drizzle with some keto caramel sauce for a decadent treat.
Use a metal baking pan. Ceramic and glass don’t conduct heat as efficiently as metal, so they will take much longer to bake through and firm up properly.
For fudgy keto brownies you will need almond meal, swerve sweetener, butter, eggs, cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips. My secret ingredient to making these brownies chewy is the addition of grass fed gelatin.
This brownie recipe is tested with almond flour and you can not simply swap out with coconut flour. You can, however, substitute with sunflower seed flour for a nut-free version.
For one 2-inch square, these keto brownies have only 1.2 grams of net carbs. Best of all, they taste as good as regular brownies, so you won’t miss the carbs at all.
Store the brownies in a covered container on the counter for up to 4 days, or in the fridge for a week. They can also be frozen for several months. Store them in an airtight container to avoid freezer burn.
Swaps and substitutions
- Dairy-free Option: Substitute the butter with melted coconut oil, ghee, or another liquid oil.
- Nut-free Option: You can use sunflower seed flour for nut-free keto brownies. Replace the almond flour cup for cup.
- Egg-free Option: I have not tried to make these keto brownies egg-free, but a few readers had good luck using flax seed meal and water.
- Alternate Sweeteners: I highly recommend an erythritol-based sweetener, such as Swerve or Lakanto, to achieve the best texture. Other sweeteners like BochaSweet and allulose will make them more cakey and soft.
More delicious keto brownie recipes
If you love brownies, I have the ultimate list of the best keto brownie recipes. Some of my personal favorites include:
Fudgy Keto Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter melted
- ⅔ cup Swerve Sweetener
- 3 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup almond flour about 50g
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon grassfed gelatin
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup water (as necessary)
- ⅓ cup dark chocolate chips, sugar-free optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease an 8×8 inch metal baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, sweetener, eggs, and vanilla extract.
- Add the almond flour, cocoa powder, gelatin, baking powder, and salt and whisk until well combined. Stir in a little water at a time to thin the batter to a thick but pourable consistency. Stir in the chocolate chips, if using.
- Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges are set but the center still seems a tiny bit wet. If you prefer cakier brownies, continue baking for another few minutes until the center is fully cooked through.
- Remove and let cool completely in the pan before cutting into squares.
Rachel says
Thank you for the recipe ! The flavour is amazing 🙂
I do have a question. How critical is the gelatine ? I made them this morning and they rose nicely and as mentioned , the flavour is great , but I found the texture to be a tad … watery? I’m wondering if it’s because I left out the gelatine entirely or if maybe I could have added a bit less than the 1/4 cup of water?
Thanks again !
Carolyn says
I think that either your cocoa powder or your almond flour is the more likely culprit if the are watery.
Nancy says
These are now my go-to brownies!!! Incredible… thanks for sharing this!!
Should I keep them in the refridge, or is on the counter for a couple days ok?
Carolyn says
They are fine on the counter for 2 days but should be refrigerated after that.
Rosanna says
Heard your One-bowl Brownies are amazing. Can you share this recipe please? Thanks!
Carolyn says
No, I am sorry. Those are in Easy Keto Desserts https://amzn.to/2BdOfBP
Barb says
I’ve made these twice so far and the whole family loves them – if they win my two girls over, they’re a keeper in my book!! Great recipe.
Robin says
Thank you! Thank you! I’ve been wanting to make fudgy brownies for us for so long! I didn’t see them on your site…my oversight I guess. Eager to try these and others and I’ll let you know how we like ‘me. I like to keep us as low carb and sf as possible and hubby has been longing for fudgy brownie…to be continued. You Rock!
Brenda Springfield says
Just made these and I love, love, love them! They don’t have the cooling effect taste that Swerve sometimes has. BTW, I’ve followed you for years and consider you to be a woman of integrity and great creativity – not a copycat. Thank you!
Margaret Thompson says
I made these yesterday for a Birthday party we had in order to have a low carb / sugar free alternative to those who did not want a full fledge sugar carb loaded cake. They were such a hit! Even those who normally don’t eat the sugar free stuff tried them & were amazed they were sugar free & low carb.
The recipe was simple to put together & the taste was perfect. Thank you!
Denise says
I always read reviews on recipes but normally don’t post my own opinion, but I have to chime in on these brownies. They are the best low-carb brownies ever! I used Hershey’s special dark cocoa in mine since I prefer dark chocolate. So good! Thank you!
Emily says
Hi Denise! I just wanted you to know that “special dark” cocoa powder isn’t actually any deeper in chocolate content than regular (high quality) cocoa powder. They just dutch the powder, which means they add additives to it which makes it look darker in color. Unlike dark chocolate, You are actually probably getting less cocoa flavor using “dark” cocoa powder.
I learned this recently and felt duped, so I thought I would share. 🙂 Have a good day!
Portia Iversen says
Hi, these look wonderful! I’m vegetarian and I’m wondering about trying to sub agar agar for the gelatin – any thoughts? Thanks for all your excellent recipes!
– Portia
Carolyn says
Sorry I can’t help you there. Never used it.
Renuka says
Hi Portia, did you end up trying it with agar-agar? Would love to hear how it worked.
I’m in the same boat_ vegetarian. Squeamish to use beef gelatin. The results do sound great, but still squeamish nonetheless….
Deana W. says
Hi! Wondering if the nutrition info was calculated using the chocolate chips?
Thanks!
Deana
Carolyn says
Yup! I always calculate the nutrition based on whatever I actually use.
Maria Brent says
Thanks once again. I never could have stayed with low carb eating without you when I first started in 2012. And THANK YOU for giving the weight info (grams) re the alm flour. Helps so much when baking.
I, too, buy your books. Becasue they are useful, and truth be told you have contributed to my being healthy, and that is a great gift to me.
Susan says
Oh, another fantastic adidaf treat! I actually subbed Surkin golden for the Swerve, added a TBL of espresso powder, and a few Trader Joes’ Dark Chocolate nibs in addition to the chocolate chips, walnuts.
Wonderful!
And a plug for the newest cookbook….love it!
Kim says
My favorite brownie recipe so far! I used Lakanto monk fruit/erythritol blend and Knox gelatin and they came out great. Thanks for the recipe!
Mellissia says
Did you bloom the gelatin or just use it granular? My husband made These and didn’t bloom it because he had no idea about gelatin We are going to bake them and see what happens. But for future reference did you bloom it? I love your recipes and your cookbooks in actually making the New Mexican style pork chops from everyday ketogenic.
Carolyn says
No blooming. It goes in with the dry ingredients as a powder.
Sarah says
Mmm, I’m making these right now! Maybe you have a cheesecake brownie recipe I should have followed (I haven’t searched yet!) but I added a cheesecake layer and swirled things together – so far they smell divine!
Ang says
These are so amazing! Go make them now! Best keto brownies I’ve ever made! YUMMM!
Cathy says
I can’t wait to try this recipe, But I have a quick question. Are you using Dutch processed cocoa powder or the darker stuff? Thank you for yet another wonderful recipe!
Carolyn says
Dutch processed, although I think either would probably work.
Marina says
Hi Carolyn I am new to this keto lifestyle and have been making several attempts to make my favorite desserts healthier with the low carbs but they’ve been coming out so bitter and nasty. Your recipe seems so much simpler to follow I am ready to give it a try again. For the swerve sweetner… is it granulated type or confectioners type? Also if I dont add the grassfed gelatin will that have a bad effect on the taste? Thanks for the recipes btw!
Carolyn says
It’s granular Swerve. Your brownies won’t suffer in flavor at all, they just won’t be as chewy and dense.
Kristen says
Made these yesterday, and they are delicious. The name is not wrong! These are my favorite low carb brownies that I have made, and I have been baking low carb for three years. I had been contemplating the ones in EKD (which I love!), and made these instead. Delightful.
Angie B says
Hi! Just made these using brewed, dark coffee in plac of the water. They turned out ultra-rich and fudgey! Absolutely UH-mazing!! Thank you for making Keto, friendly 😉
Carolyn says
Anther person mentioned the coffee. I adore coffee in my chocolatey treats so I might just write it in there!
Janelle says
Aaaaaah don’t write it in there, lots of use don’t drink coffee and won’t have it on hand! Put it as an option, so weirdos like me can still make the recipe!!
LaWanda says
Hi Janelle! You certainly make a valid point about us non-coffee drinkers. That is why I purchased Espresso powder. It makes anything chocolate taste so much more chocolaty! On the other hand, my husband drinks coffee so I think I will add the real deal!