Deliciously fudgy keto brownies are made with dark chocolate, almond flour, and cocoa powder. Only 125 calories and 2 grams net carbs in each indulgent square!
When my husband and I transitioned to a low-carb diet, I immediately set out to create tasty keto alternatives for the beloved high-carb foods that got us in trouble in the first place. On the list, among other items: brownies.
These brownies are amazing. They are rich, very chocolatey, super decadent, and not too sweet. It took some work to develop this recipe, but I am so pleased with the result!
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Keto brownies with stevia
I've been working on this recipe for many weeks now. Baking with stevia as the only sweetener is always a challenge. Although I managed to pull it off with excellent recipes such as keto chocolate donuts and chewy keto chocolate cookies.
As it turns out, when it comes to brownies, it's even more difficult than usual to use stevia as the only sweetener. Granulated sweeteners are very important when it comes to giving baked goods volume and texture and helping them retain moisture.
Without a granulated sweetener, many of the recipes I tried were dry and chalky, which is the last thing you want a brownie to be!
Initially, I wanted to make low-carb cocoa brownies. But after a few failed experiments, I decided that this was pretty much out of the question. The large amount of cocoa powder needed in these recipes would have required a large amount of stevia.
Even when using stevia glycerite, which has less of an aftertaste, and even if you're accustomed to the taste of stevia, this was simply too much.
Eventually, I settled on using a combination of dark chocolate and just ¼ cup of cocoa powder, which meant I could use less stevia. I also added butter for richness and texture and almond flour for bulk.
This final version turned out fabulous, and I've made it several times since that first success. These brownies are chocolatey, fudgy, and very tasty. They are not too sweet, and the taste of the stevia is barely noticeable.
Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these tasty keto brownies. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
Unsalted butter: You can also use salted and omit the salt.
Dark chocolate: Obviously, the darker you can go and still enjoy the result, the better.
Eggs: I use large eggs in almost all my recipes, this one included.
Sweetener: As already mentioned, I use stevia. You can probably use your favorite granulated sweetener instead.
Almond flour: An excellent flour substitute that bakes exceptionally well. Make sure you use blanched finely ground flour and not a coarse almond meal. There's a difference.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Natural or Dutch-processed, both work, although I prefer Dutch-processed.
Salt: I use kosher salt in almost all my recipes. If using fine salt, you should use less of it.
Baking powder: Remember to make sure it's fresh before using it.
Instructions
It's so easy to make these brownies! Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:
Melt the butter and chocolate in the microwave, then whisk in the eggs and the sweetener.
Gradually add the dry ingredients - almond flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
Transfer the mixture to a buttered 8-inch baking dish. Bake it for about 15 minutes at 325°F. Cool, then cut into squares.
Expert tips
1. Use natural or Dutched cocoa powder
I use Dutch-processed cocoa powder (cocoa treated with alkali) in this recipe. It's milder, darker, and - most importantly - less acidic than natural cocoa powder.
But I think that natural cocoa powder would be fine if that's all you have. If the cocoa powder is Dutch-processed, the ingredients list will state that.
2. Measure your dry ingredients by weight
This is true for both almond flour and cocoa powder. If at all possible, measure the ingredients by weight and not by volume.
3. Leftovers are fudgier
Once completely cool, keep any leftover brownies in an airtight container in the fridge. Gently warm them in the microwave (50% power for 10 seconds per square) before enjoying them.
They actually taste better the next day and their texture improves too and becomes fudgier. So I often make them ahead of time and then enjoy a square or two per day over the several next days.
Frequently asked questions
I haven't tried it, but I think you could use ½ cup of any granulated sweetener. If anything, it will add bulk and help the brownies become even fudgier.
Having said that, it would still be an experiment, since I haven't tried it and can't say for sure if it would work or not.
Yes, absolutely! You can freeze them in freezer bags for up to three months. You can thaw them overnight in the fridge, or microwave them on 50% to defrost them.
Yes. Personally, I'm not a fan of these chocolates. I prefer to use real dark chocolate. But if you like the texture and flavor of chocolates such as Lily's, I don't see why they wouldn't work in this recipe, although - as always - I have to tell you that I haven't actually tested them in this recipe.
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Recipe card
Fudgy Keto Brownies
INGREDIENTS
- 5 oz unsalted butter cubed, plus ½ tablespoon for pan
- 2 oz dark chocolate 70% cocoa, broken into pieces
- 3 large eggs whisked until light and frothy
- 1 ½ teaspoon stevia glycerite (equals ½ cup sugar)
- ½ cup blanched finely ground almond flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder preferably Dutch processed
- ¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or a pinch of fine salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder gluten free if needed
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a square 8-inch glass (not metal) baking dish.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter and chocolate in 30-second increments, stirring after each microwave session. Microwave just until almost melted. Chocolate burns easily.
- Allow the mixture to slightly cool, then whisk in the eggs and stevia.
- Whisk in the almond flour and the cocoa powder. Finally, mix in the salt and the baking powder. Mix until the batter is very smooth.
- Using a rubber spatula, transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Smooth the top out with the spatula.
- Bake until just set, 15-20 minutes. A toothpick inserted in center should come out not completely wet, but with a few moist crumbs. Start checking after 15 minutes.
- Cool completely, in pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Then cut into 16 squares and serve.
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NOTES
NUTRITION PER SERVING
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 