The inspiration for this recipe comes from my favorite childhood treat - chocolate orange slices. Have you tried them before?? I was always obsessed with the combination so I decided to make a healthy dessert that would satisfy my cravings. These Chocolate Orange Brownies have a rich dark chocolate flavor with sweet, zesty orange undertones! Perfect for anyone who is gluten-free, dairy-free, or Paleo!

Jump to:

• What makes these Chocolate Orange Brownies Healthier?
• 🍴Ingredient Notes
• 🍴Step by Step Ingredients
• Helpful Baking Tools
• How to store leftovers
• Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

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What makes these Chocolate Orange Brownies Healthier?

What I love about these super fudgy Chocolate Orange Brownies is that they are made with simple, whole food ingredients. They're also low in sugar, gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo friendly! The fudgy texture comes from pumpkin puree, and orange puree, which are both high in antioxidants, and Vitamin C! Each brownie has 5 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and only 6 grams of sugar! The main sources of sugar are from the pureed orange, and my favorite unrefined sugar - coconut sugar.

🍴Ingredient Notes

• Orange Puree - You can easily puree an orange in a blender or food processor! I've also made this recipe with clementine's and it works great! You'll need about 2-3 vs. 1 regular orange.
• Pumpkin Puree - Make sure you get pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling.
• Egg Yolks - I like using egg yolks in this recipe to keep them super fudgy! I have not tested with flax eggs, but I believe it would work.
• Melted Coconut Oil - Coconut oil is my favorite dairy-free butter alternative! You can swap with regular butter if you're not dairy-free.
• Almond Flour - I have not tested this recipe using any other flours. My favorite brands of almond flour are Bob’s RedMill, and Blue Diamond! They have a great texture in gluten-free baked goods!
• Coconut Sugar - Regular granulated sugar would work too, but I love that coconut sugar is lower glycemic and less processed.
• Cacao Powder - You could also sub with cocoa powder. I just prefer to use cacao powder because it’s less refined! I usually buy the brand TERRASOUL because it’s organic!

Optional

• Chocolate Chips - You can fold them into the batter, or add them on top before you bake! (Or both!) Since I’m dairy-free I like to use vegan chocolate chips. I personally love the brand Pascha – they make high quality chocolate that’s dairy-free and soy-free. The 85% dark chips are my favorite because they’re sweet but not too sweet! They also have a 100% cacao option that is great for anyone who is sugar free.

🍴Step by Step Ingredients

Making the brownie batter

1. Start by adding almond flour, coconut sugar, cacao powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl. Use a whisk to blend until fully combined. (Make sure to remove all of the flour clumps.) Set that aside while we prep the wet ingredients.
2. For the orange puree you can use an orange or clementine's! I used about 5 clementine's, and blended them on high for about a minute until it was a smooth consistency. (In my Ninja Blender.)
3. Next add your orange puree, pumpkin puree, egg yolks, vanilla, and melted coconut oil into your mixing bowl. Blend until fully combined.
4. Then slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a thick dough forms.
5. Fold in your chocolate chips, then spread that batter evenly into your greased baking pan. (I used a small square baking dish for this recipe.) You can also sprinkle some extra chocolate chips on top!

Best way to grease the baking dish

You can use any non-stick cooking spray to grease your pan! My personal favorites are coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil sprays. I also frequently just use regular coconut oil by wiping some on a paper towel and spreading it onto my baking dish. These brownies are very fudgy so it's important to use something on the bottom of your pan. You can also line your baking pan with parchment paper.

Baking

1. Place them in the oven and bake at 325 degrees for 25-30 minutes. (I like mine a little under baked.)
2. Remove them from the oven, and let them cool for at least 10 minutes before trying to cut and serve.

Helpful Baking Tools

• Stand Mixer
• Hand Mixer
• Mixing Bowls
• High Speed Blender - I love the Ninja Foodi Blender because it has a puree setting.
• Parchment Paper
• Hand Grater - I love adding orange peel to the top for some extra zest!
• Spatula
• Ninja Foodi Oven – If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I’m obsessed with this oven! I use it for 90% of my desserts because it takes 60 seconds to pre-heat!! (It also air fries, toasts, and dehydrates.)

How to store leftovers

If you have any leftover brownies, they can be stored at room temperature for a couple days in a glass container, but I recommend refrigerating them. They will store well in the fridge for up to a week. After that I would put them in an air tight glass container in the freezer. PRO TIP: Frozen desserts are actually really tasty!!

More Chocolate Recipes!

• Gluten Free Brownie Skillet (Nut-Free)
• Paleo Chocolate Trifle Cups
• The Best Fudgy Vegan Brownies
• No-Bake Vegan Chocolate Pie
• Classic Fudgy Paleo Brownies

Recipe

After you make these Chocolate Orange Brownies, make sure to leave a comment & rate the recipe! Your feedback is helpful for me, and for anyone planning to try this recipe. I hope you love them as much as I do! xo Mariah