Rich, decadent, grain free and flourless brownies topped with a creamy caramel chocolate chunk frosting! These flourless caramel chocolate chunk frosted fudge brownies are also gluten free, dairy free, Paleo, and contain no refined sugar.
Hi! I’m here, I’m back, even if only borderline functional while recovering from the stomach bug I caught from Emily. I 100% deserve a break from stomach bugs in my house after this one, maybe for life, even though I know that’s not possible. But really, please?
Anyway, happier times today – because it happens to be my 2 year blogiversary and also April fools day. I think last year I joked that the big April fools of 2014 was starting the blog in the first place – since for every blogger, you just have no clue what you’re in for after that first post is published. And especially for me, since at that point I had read maybe two blogs and had literally no clue what I had signed up for!
And oh my, the things I’ve learned! To start, in the beginning this blog was very much more a running blog than a food blog. I think. Actually, I posted many recipes with terrible pictures and had no idea what I was doing. I’m not sure I knew what I wanted this blog to be, I just knew that I had Paleo food and running on the brain and needed an outlet to obsess over it, frankly.
I have to say, two years later it’s a lot more fun actually writing blog posts and creating recipes for readers (you guys!) rather than what I perceived to be (and was) dead air. Now, it’s not just about what I like (although I’m still the one eating the stuff…) but hopefully what you guys want to see/read/eat, etc.
Which honestly, is a relief! I think in the beginning of my blogging days, I felt self conscious about “living up” to what I was writing about, so, even though I felt like I was being genuine, there was still the pressure of “being seen” – mostly as a runner – and wanting to be a role model of some sort.
Over time, I relaxed, and realized that I couldn’t blog that way and be happy. It started to become clear during the past 6-8 months that a bigger focus on recipes, and working on photography (rather than running more miles) was making me happier all around. No surprise there, since before I ever ran, I loved to cook and bake! Funny how you’re drawn to your roots! I think blogging has really helped me learn about myself and my interests in this way, and I’m really grateful for that.
I’m also very excited to share this awesome recipe with you! Originally, I had the idea for a cookie-dough frosted fudge brownie, but, after making this, the consensus among my family was that the flavor of the frosting was more caramel than cookie dough. Can we really go wrong here? I love caramel and cookie dough (of course) so whatever you consider the frosting, it will be awesome no matter what!
To conclude, happy birthday to my blog, I’m almost not sick anymore (although still not running, argh!), and yes you must try these caramel chocolate chunk frosted fudge brownies because they’re easy to make and everyone will like them. No – they will love them and fight over who gets the bigger piece, and more frosting. This is one that even picky Drew couldn’t get enough of!
Flourless Caramel Chocolate Chunk Frosted Fudge Brownies {Paleo}
Flourless Caramel Chocolate Chunk Frosted Brownies {Paleo}
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup organic coconut oil
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate
- 1 cup organic coconut sugar
- 3 tbsp thick creamy full fat coconut milk*
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp organic cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp tapioca starch or arrowroot
- pinch of fine grain sea salt
For the chocolate chunk caramel frosting
- 1/3 cupcreamy cashew butter
- 1/4 cup coconut cream**
- 1 tbsp organic coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp raw honey
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4-1/2 cup dairy free soy free chocolate chunks or chips - I use Enjoy Life brand
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper
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In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil and unsweetened chocolate together, then stir in the coconut sugar until combined (it will be very thick at this point)
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Using a hand blender or mixer, beat in the creamy coconut milk plus the vanilla until a thick, smooth pudding-like consistency forms.
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Then, beat in the 3 eggs until smooth and shiny. Add the cocoa powder, tapioca and salt until nice and smooth.
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Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, scraping all of it in with a rubber spatula.
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Bake for about 20 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting. You can put the brownies in the freezer to speed up cooling time!
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To make the frosting, combine all ingredients (except chocolate chips in a bowl or blender and mix well, until a smooth creamy texture forms. You can either stir in the chocolate chunks first, or frost the brownies and then sprinkle the chocolate over the top.
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Frost, cut into squares, and enjoy! Makes 16 brownies. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
*I refrigerate my coconut milk in the can so it separates, then discard half the water and blend up the rest into a thick, smooth consistency.
**If you don't have coconut cream, you can use the thick part of the coconut milk, or, the same thick creamy blend you used for the brownies.
If you’re a blogger, how long have you blogged and what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from it?
Are you a fan of frosted brownies or are they better naked?
What do you have planned for the weekend?
I definitely saw my blog change in the first year. I realized it’s more about “life” than just running or recipes, and that’s totally fine, because it’s what I enjoy and what others seem to respond to 🙂
It’s definitely hard to keep your life out of your blog, but it’s true, people want to see it!
Yay!! You’re blog is back! I came earlier today and there was a big “We will be back shorting, excuse the dust” message 😛 Hahaha!
And once you’re totally recovered…you need ALL the brownies! Haha, xoxoxoxoxoxo
AND 2 years!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!! That’s getting to veteran status now 😉 And frosted chocolate brownies are a perfect way to celebrate!!! I think I’ve said it before, but brownies are BEST eaten with a fork! (Just saying!)
I’m back! Migrated to new hosting and so far so good, we’ll see! I’m not totally better yet and eating basically all carbs at this point, even for paleo lovers meat is the last thing to come back after one of these terrible bugs!
These looks like a Friday tear that needs to happen!
I could do recipes all day long… but I HATE the pictures. I stopped even trying to mess with a “real” camera and use only my iPhone… and I still can’t stand it. LOL!
Ha! I was using my phone up until november I think and really didn’t want to upgrade. But, after I went for it, I actually really like my new camera though and literally had no clue about photography before looking into it for recipes, so, it’s been fun 🙂
Wow, happy blog-anniversary ! You have one of my favourite blogs around. Stomach bugs hit hard… I do hope it leaves your house quickly and swiftly now!
I have a blog but I would not consider myself a blogger untill I start posting continuously /persistently.
We all have things we’re working on. If I don’t post and have fun in life, it’s okay too for me. As long as I feel grateful and satisfied, I could not be happier. I do think a blog can help you think about life in such a way in which case it’s a great thing of power.
The recipe looks delicious! I usually prefer simple treats, but an addition can be surprisingly delicious.
That’s so sweet of you to say, thanks! And for super simple you can just make the brownies and ditch the frosting – still awesome!
YUM!! These look perfect! What a great recipe! I can’t believe they’e paleo!! SO delicious! Also, welcome back! Hope that you have a great weekend!
xoxo Cailee!
Thanks! Very cool what you can do with simple ingredients 🙂 Hoping to have a good weekend after this crazy week! Same to you!
happy blog birthday! I love fudge frosted brownies – these brownies look terrific! glad you are starting to feel better and the speed of the site right now is amazing! so glad he was able to migrate things for you
Me too! Me too to everything you said, lol 🙂
Happy Anniversary! Your page loaded soooo much better for me – yay!!!
I love reading your blog and even when I go silent (which I’m sure you might be grateful for ha!) I am still following along. Your “voice” is real (or at least seems over this internet thing). I wish you lots of success.
And I’ll hope for a healthy weekend for your whole family.
Thanks Amanda! Also really happy to hear the site is loading better – I was really nervous to switch hosting but so far it looks good! And also glad to know you’re following along all this time 🙂
Happy blog anniversary! I hope you know that we stick around for who you are not what you do and it’s great to see the blog evolve accordingly! I appreciate your sense of humour, your cleverness and your creative mind. I also appreciate the time that you take to create and test paleo recipes. You have reunited me with baking and my husband thanks you for that! Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much! Reading these words from you really means a lot to me! Sometimes it all feels like a ton of work but getting this kind of feedback makes it more than worth it! Plus, let’s face it, I’d be baking and cooking a lot anyway 🙂
You have out-done yourself, girl! These look INCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDIBLE! <3
Happy bloggiversary! Hopefully you're feeling a little better and are back to normal this weekend! Look after yourself! xo
Thanks! Everyone’s doing much better now, what a relief!
Holllllllyyyyyyy wow! THis looks to die for! I’m such a sucker for anything chocolate and these look amaze!!!!
Thanks! They’re as awesome as they look – hope you try!
Mmmm,yum. Im trying to cut my sugar intake ( including natural sweetners) Do you think it would still work if I cut the coconut sugar down to 1/2 cup? Or would it change the consistency too much and make the batter too runny? I’ve gotten used to not-so-sweet treats and think 1/2 cup would do the trick for me. Thanks
I think you can cut down the coconut sugar and it will still bake up well, not positive but it’s worth a shot!
Seriously, these brownies look absolutely unbelievable!! I am dying to try them out!
Really hope you do, they’re as awesome as they look!
Is there another nut butter that you would suggest? I’m not supposed to have cashews. ?. Do you think tahini would work???
I think almond would be your best best if you could have that, tahini might be a strong flavor but the texture would work well 🙂