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 CAROLYN!
CAN I SUB THE COCO POWDER IN THIS RECIPE WITH A RAW COCA POWDER? IHEARD THAT RAW COCA POWDER IS MUCH MOR HEALTHY AND WITH RICH FLAVOR.
You can certainly try it.
Oh my goodness. I’m so making these this weekend. I might make a cream cheese topping. Thank you for another dessert to add to my list!
This is, by far, the best keto dessert i’ve tried! I finally switched to Lakanto after not being happy with swerve. I didn’t like the cooling aftertaste of the swerve and it ruined many things i’ve tried. Finally I purchased the Lakanto and tried this simple basic dessert. SO GOOD! Zero weird aftertaste, and the brownies were perfectly chocolatey and sweet. Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to try some others from your site! I also hope to purchase a cookbook soon.
One thing I wasn’t sure of is when to take it out of the oven. The directions were quite clear, it was just hard to know how much of the middle should still be wet. I had to keep mine in a little longer than stated because it looked completely raw, but then suddenly it went from soupy to almost completely set! Watch it closely!
Anyway, make this recipe! Follow as stated, you won’t regret it. 🙂
Thanks for the feedback!
I’ve been wanting to make keto brownies for a while (been following keto WOE since this past February) but was always put off– the ingredients are expensive, and with every recipe I found there were either no reviews or several negative ones that were enough to make me hesitate to try them. When I saw this one, however, I was intrigued by the gelatin so I took the plunge and made them. *SO* glad I did! They turned out far better than I had hoped! I made them yesterday afternoon, put them outside on the porch to be sure they cooled completely, then took them to a friend’s house for supper last night. She’s diabetic so follows low carb, and we were both floored by how good they were. The true test, though, was that the 3 other diners with us enjoyed them, too! My husband thought they were “okay,” but he’s not a dark chocolate fan and these were very dark because I used extra dark cocoa (I also used store-brand regular gelatin with good results). Still, he ate every crumb of two brownies! The other two diners really liked them. Kudos, Carolyn! I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes!
So glad to hear it!
The sweetener I used was Truvia and generic almond flour from the bulk food store.
So both of those may be part of the issue. if your almond flour isn’t really finely ground, it tends to allow the oils to seep out a bit. And swerve has oligosaccharides in it, which is a fiber and helps add bulk to the recipe.
Thanks so much for replying. I’ll make those changes for next time I make them!
No worries. It’s tough because unlike regular flour and sugar, keto ingredients vary so much!
Newbie baker here….are you supposed to measure out a 1/2 cup of solid butter and then melt it or do you melt some butter and then measure out a 1/2 cup of melted butter? I did the first version and the batter was very thin making the 1/4 cup of water unnecessary. Brownies still tasted great but were really buttery and the bottoms were still wet due to all the butter.
If your butter comes in sticks, then just melt a stick of butter. What brand of almond flour are you using and what sweetener? Those make a real difference here.
Wow, this recipe is a keeper! Fantastic slightly warm with a spoonful of whipped cream.
Why isn’t gnom gnom credited for this recipe? It’s surely her recipe with added baking powder and gelatin…. a bit disappointed in you!! I’ve been baking all my life and I know for a fact that two people never get to the exact same measurements by chance. I’ve also been a reader for a while and you talk a lot about morality blah blah blah. Walk the talk!
Blah blah blah. How on earth are these the same measurements?
Mine takes 1/2 cup almond flour, which is 50g. Hers takes 70g. Close but not the same.
Mine takes 3 eggs. Hers take 2.
Mine takes 1/4 cup water. Hers takes none.
Mine takes gelatin, hers takes none.
She is not credited because she has had NO PART in this recipe, not even a little bit. If you’ve been a reader for a while, you would know that I always credit my source. ALWAYS. So I am walking the walk AND talking the talk, thanks very much.
Want to know the real source of my recipe? Me. Because in my book Easy Keto Desserts, I created a 1 Bowl Brownies recipe that was similar to this one but it takes avocado oil, no water, and no gelatin. Want to know the date I created that recipe? December 14th, 2017. How do I know that? Because I use a system called Evernote which records my recipe notes, the date they were created and every date that they were modified.
That is long before she posted her recipe. Done. Thanks for reading! Thanks for not believing in a recipe developer who has been around a lot longer than most. Take care.
Don’t even worry about her! You simply can’t control ignorant people. Just made these in muffin tins. Awesomeness!
I don’t know if it was the sweetener I used (xylitol and allulose) but I baked as instructed, about 18 minutes at 350. I took them out to cool. They looked done but when I cut into then it was a disgustingly under-cooked disaster. I had to reheat my oven and out then back in for 15 minutes. I’m just hoping I can salvage them.
Sorry but the sweetener makes a HUGE difference and I cannot guarantee the results when you use something different. Swerve is non-hygroscopic, meaning it does not attract moisture. Both xylitol and allulose are more hygroscopic. They simply DO NOT bake the same way and would result in a gooey undercooked brownie.
Hi, I made this last night following each and every steps. But unfortunately, it came out really grainy crystallized sugar! I used exact ingredients and measurements as you mentioned. Does this happen with swerve ? Or have I done anything wrong ….like not mixing the swerve till it melts in the butter ? Otherwise, the othe texture came out pretty good ! I hope you can help me out with any suggestions !
It’s hard to say what went wrong here because I’ve never had that issue. You don’t need to mix the Swerve until it melts, it usually doesn’t re-crystallize in baked goods.
I made these last night along with your white chocolate chips. They both were delicious. My husband and I have been Keto/THM for almost a year now, and I try new recipes almost daily. He said this was the best dessert I’ve made yet, and he doesn’t even like brownies! Thank you!! I think I’ll try them with white chocolate chips next :).
Wow, thanks so much!
Hi!
Let me just put this out there…THIS IS THE BEST BROWNIE I HAVE EVER TASTED!!
I had accumalated numerous keto brownie recipes over the year.
I saw this recipe and I was blown away! I literally deleted EVERY other brownie recipe I had!
This is it…I don’t even bother with other brownie recipes anymore.
And I love how easy and quick this is to make.
My 8 year old nephew actually requested that I make it for him for his birthday. He loves them
Thanks Carolyn for being sich a wizard with low carb recipes. Every recipe of yours is a total hit with everyone.
Wow, Lydia… Thank you!
I pretty much always have these ingredients on hand, however, my bf is vegetarian, and he loves eating my keto desserts, but i also want them to have that chewy texture is there any kind of sub you would recommend instead of just leaving the gelatin out??
Oooh boy. I wish I knew. You might try 1/2 teaspoon xanthan or guar gum but I am not sure it would quite do the trick…
I make these all the time! Thank you for all of your hard work. Even my Keto skeptic kids like these!
Hooray!
These are excellent. I have made these now 5 times and my non-keto husband and co-workers love them! I always feel nervous baking anything that isn’t described by weight but somehow this comes out perfect everytime. Oh and I love to squeeze in gelatin in my diet and this is a perfect vehicle for it. I also substitute coffee for the water, a tip I found delicious from another of your recipes. Thank you!
So glad you like them!
Great recipe! Made this for my keto mom & aunt. Did not include gelatin and used all the water, batter did come out thin so when baking I added an additional 10min to bake time and it came out great. It was sweet and had good chocolate flavor(could get a little more)! Would recommend to new keto bakers. Thanks for the recipe!