
I have tested dozens of keto brownie recipes over the years, trying to nail that perfect balance of crisp edges and a fudgy, gooey center. And THIS is the recipe that I come back to every time. It has everything you want in a brownie, without the sugar, carbs, or grains.
And it is the basis for so many other delicious treats, like Keto Peanut Butter Brownies and Keto German Chocolate Brownies. I mean, why mess with perfection? These keto brownies lend themselves so well to delicious toppings and frostings.

It took some experimenting, but I finally cracked the code to get that chewy brownie texture. The secret is so simple! A little gelatin mixed in with the almond flour and cocoa powder makes them ultra-moist and fudgy.
And they are so darn easy to make – one bowl and 35 minutes to pure chocolate bliss. I guarantee this will become your go-to keto brownie recipe. Top them with a scoop of keto ice cream or a drizzle of keto chocolate sauce for a seriously decadent experience.
Reader’s Thoughts
“This brownie exceeded my expectations of a brownie taste to the max. Most brownies are dry but this recipe takes them to another level and this is one of my favorite keto dessert recipes ever. If your on keto or not you need to make these yummy gooey brownies they definitely will put a smile on your face!” — Melinda S.

Why you’ll love this recipe
- So easy! Whip up this keto brownie batter in one bowl, and they’re ready for the oven.
- Rich flavor: If you’re a chocoholic like me, you will adore the deep chocolate flavor.
- Perfect texture: They have that wonderful chewy, fudgy texture that make brownies so unique.
- Low carb: They are very low in carbs, with only 3.6 grams per serving.
- Make ahead recipe: These brownies store well in the fridge or freezer so you can make a batch and enjoy them at your leisure.
- A crowd pleaser: Readers love them and many people say that no one can tell they are keto-friendly!
Ingredient Notes

- Almond flour: Make sure you are using a finely ground almond flour for the best consistency. But these also work well with sunflower seed flour, for a nut-free option.
- 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.
- Gelatin: I like to use grass-fed gelatin for my 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.
- Sweetener: I recommend an erythritol-based sweetener for this recipe. Using another sweetener will change the texture and consistency. Learn more about keto sweeteners here.
- Chocolate chips: Make sure to choose keto-friendly chips like Lily’s or ChocZero.
- Baking staples: Butter, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, and salt.
How to Make Keto Brownies

- Combine the wet ingredients: Whisk together the wet ingredients, including the butter, sweetener, eggs, and vanilla extract. The sweetener goes in with the wet ingredients to help it dissolve.
- Add the dry ingredients: Mix in 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.
- Thin the batter. 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. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Bake the brownies: Spread the batter in na 8-inch metal baking pan and bake 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 before cutting into bars.

Tips for Success
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. They may also get over-cooked on the edges while the center stays liquid.
How much water you need depends on how absorbent your cocoa powder is. Add a little at a time so you don’t thin out the batter too much. It should be the same consistency as conventional brownie batter.
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. You can also use other nut or seed flours.
- 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 to achieve the best texture. Other sweeteners like BochaSweet and allulose will make them more cakey and soft.


Keto Brownies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (113.5 g) butter , melted
- 2/3 cup (121.33 g) Swerve Sweetener
- 3 large (3) eggs
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup (56 g) almond flour
- 1/3 cup (28.67 g) cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp grassfed gelatin
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup (62.5 g) water, (as necessary)
- 1/3 cup (60 g) 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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional brownies are not keto-friendly, as they contain plenty of flour and sugar. A conventional brownie has more than 30 grams of carbs! But these fudgy keto brownies are made with almond flour and alternative sweetener, so you can indulge on a keto diet.
This recipe requires a nut or seed flour. However I have a delicious coconut flour brownie recipe, if you prefer to use it.
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.
This fudgy keto brownie recipe has 3.6g of carbs and 2.4g of fiber per serving. 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.
Nutritional Disclaimer
Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.
Free Bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!
Sign up for your favorite recipes delivered straight to your inbox plus get our FREE bonus: Secrets to Keto Baking!




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
Sorry I can’t help you there. Never used it.
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….
Hi! Wondering if the nutrition info was calculated using the chocolate chips?
Thanks!
Deana
Yup! I always calculate the nutrition based on whatever I actually use.
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.
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!
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!
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.
No blooming. It goes in with the dry ingredients as a powder.
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!
These are so amazing! Go make them now! Best keto brownies I’ve ever made! YUMMM!
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!
Dutch processed, although I think either would probably work.
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!
It’s granular Swerve. Your brownies won’t suffer in flavor at all, they just won’t be as chewy and dense.
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.
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 😉
Anther person mentioned the coffee. I adore coffee in my chocolatey treats so I might just write it in there!
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!!
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!
OMG! It’s amazing this recipe! I make this morning and finished so fast. Do not mind the above comment on plagiarism, I have tested the recipe and yours is superior.More economical and more fudge (I baked for 20 minutes). Tks for share!
yummy! I’m glad you are creating “plain” recipes haha. I have used the base of some of your “fancy” brownie recipes, but I like that you’ve perfected a “plain” dense fudgey brownie. I made your chocolate chip recipe last week and it’s delicious! I’ll admit that I forgot to order the chip mold and have been snacking on the chocolate before my runs each day. I might have to make another batch this weekend for these brownies. Thanks for all you do Carolyn!
I have tried so many low carb brownie recipes. But, this one is now a family favorite! I even ate one for breakfast today.
Thanks so much!
Any idea if these will perform the same with, say Lakanto instead of Swerve?
I would imagine so but I can’t say for sure.
I used 1/2 cup powdered Lakanto sweetener, the golden variety, (measured after zapping it in magic bullet into powder form) and it was just right. I added 1/2 tsp espresso powder too, otherwise followed the rest of the recipe as written.
This was the best tasting brownie recipe I have ever made, and believe me as a chocolate lover I have tried TONS of them!
Delighted to hear it!
I made this using Lakanto Classic, omitted the chocolate chips and swirled 1/2 c natural peanut butter on top. I’m in heaven they are so good!