This recipe for Gluten-Free Vegan Cookie Dough Brownies features a rich, fudge brownie topped with a thick layer of eggless cookie dough! They are refined sugar-free and sure to be one of your new favorite desserts.
Two of my favorite desserts have collided into one of the best desserts ever: gluten-free & vegan cookie dough brownies.
Imagine it: a rich, fudgy, dense chocolate brownie, topped with a thick layer of eggless chocolate chip cookie dough. The brownie is a perfect combination of chewy and fudgy and divinely chocolatey. The cookie dough on top is soft with mini chocolate chips so they aren’t too crunchy or obtrusive. It’s some goodness.
Let’s talk about the brownie layer.
This brownie is based on my favorite fudgy vegan salted almond brownies, but adapted a little bit for our purposes with this recipe. The ingredients you’ll need for the brownie are:
- Unsweetened Chocolate: adds rich depth of chocolate flavor!
- Coconut Oil: I recommend using refined coconut oil for no coconut flavor!
- Maple Syrup: for sweetness and moisture…
- Coconut Sugar: and this works perfectly in combo with the maple for the perfect amount of sweetness. Cut this out if your chocolate is sweetened!
- Nut Butter: for richness and binding! I love using cashew or almond butter best, but any nut or seed butter will work.
- Flax Eggs: made with flax meal and water, these help bind everything together.
- Vanilla Extract + Salt: for flavor!
- Almond Flour: provides a soft, tender crumb and holds things together. We don’t need much!
- Cacao Powder: extra chocolate flavor! I prefer the raw cacao compared to roasted cocoa powder, but either works.
- Baking Soda: for a little lift and leavening.
Everyone here works together perfectly for a fudgy brownie recipe that will knock your socks off. Honestly, if you just want a pretty perfect brownie, you can stop here and be really happy. But if you want to take it to the next level…
Let’s talk vegan cookie dough!
Okay, so I went for a THICK layer of cookie dough. Almost thicker than the brownies themselves…about a 1:1 ratio. If you want a little less cookie dough, cut the cookie dough layer in half. But if you’re into cookie dough the way I am…you’ll want the whole recipe ;)
All of the ingredients used in the brownies are also used in the cookie dough, so it should be pretty easy to put together once you have everything out.
- Coconut Oil: the way coconut oil firms up helps set the cookie dough! Again, I recommend refined to avoid coconut flavor.
- Coconut Sugar: for sweetness!
- Flax Egg: helps everything told together well.
- Vanilla + Sea Salt: for all the flavor goodness!
- Blanched Almond Flour: works so well to keep the bars soft and sweet. Another flour, like oat flour, could also work well here if you prefer.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: minis work best here for the easiest cutting and eating :D
Are they easy to make?!
Yes! You do have to make two components of course, which takes a little bit of extra time, but the recipe comes together quickly, easily, and simply in just a few minutes and in one bowl!
What’s the best way to store cookie dough brownies?
These Cookie Dough Brownies store best chilled, to keep the cookie dough layer from becoming too soft. I recommend laying them in an airtight container, and separating any layers with parchment so they don’t stick together for the best results.
You can keep them in the refrigerator or the freezer. They will keep in the fridge for about 5 days, or in the freezer for about 3 months. If you decide to freeze them, let them defrost at room temperature before serving.
I hope you adore these gluten-free, paleo, and vegan cookie dough brownies as much as we did! These were shared with some friends, and let’s just say that my sister, dad, and I regretted giving any away because we were so sad they were gone. Another batch is happening soon – to be sure.
Enjoy!! If you decide to make them, please tag me @bakeritablog on Instagram so I can see your creation, and leave a comment below letting me know how you enjoyed them!
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Gluten-Free Vegan Cookie Dough Brownies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 38 minutes
- Yield: 16 brownies 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This recipe for Gluten-Free Vegan Cookie Dough Brownies features a rich, fudge brownie topped with a thick layer of eggless cookie dough! They are refined sugar-free and sure to be one of your new favorite desserts.
Ingredients
For the brownies
- 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
- 3 tablespoons (38g) coconut oil
- ⅓ cup (111g) maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- ½ cup (128g) almond or cashew butter
- 1½ flax eggs, 1½ tablespoons flax meal + 4 tablespoons water, whisk and let set for 10 minutes (see Notes for an option using regular egg)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup (32g) blanched almond flour
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅓ cup (30g) cacao powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
For the cookie dough
- ½ cup (100g) coconut oil, soft in texture similar to softened butter
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 1 flax egg, 1 tablespoon flax meal + 2½ tablespoons water (see Notes for flax-free option)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 cups (192g) blanched almond flour
- ½ cup (3 ounces) mini chocolate chips
Instructions
For the brownie layer
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment and grease lightly with coconut oil.
- Put the unsweetened chocolate and coconut oil in a microwavable mixing bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, and repeat until the chocolate and coconut oil are completely melted and smooth. Add the almond butter, coconut sugar, and maple syrup. Whisk until completely combined.
- Whisk in the flax egg and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture.
- Add in the almond flour, cacao powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Fold in until completely combined.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a few crumbs are attached when a toothpick is inserted into the center, but it’s not too wet. Let cool completely while preparing the cookie dough.
For the cookie dough layer
- In a mixing bowl, combine the coconut oil and coconut sugar. Mix until fully combined.
- Add in the flax egg and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
- Fold in the salt and almond flour, and then mix in the chocolate chips.
- Once the brownies are cooled, spread the cookie dough mixture evenly over the brownies. Refrigerate for about an hour, until the cookie dough is firm, before cutting and serving.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Notes
If you want to use a regular egg, you can replace the flax eggs in the brownies with 1 egg and 1 egg yolk at room temperature. To replace the flax egg in the cookie dough, use 2 tablespoons of dairy-free milk instead.
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cookie dough, brownies, vegan, gluten-free, paleo, no-bake cookie dough, eggless cookie dough
Comments
Mallory Haynes says
Made these for my boyfriend and he won’t stop raving about them!! I have tried a ton of vegan brownie recipes as well as recipes with edible vegan cookie dough and these recipes combined are hands down the BEST i have ever made. Thank you once again Rachel ❤️
★★★★★
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
What a compliment!!! Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback, Mallory!
Kari says
Should the coconut oil for the cookie dough layer be melted or softened?
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
Hi Kari – it should be softened! I’ll add a note of that.
Jenn says
Should we follow the cups or grams for measurement? It looks like a few may be off – for example in the cookie dough portion it calls for 1/2 cup of coconut oil which would be around 120g but the recipe shows 50g. I’m hoping to make these today. Thanks!
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
Hi Jenn, oops! That one coconut oil was the only measure off – it should’ve been 100g. For all the others, gram/cup measurements are the same. I prefer grams for accuracy, and that is how I test.
Briana G says
Amazing ! Already made for my family and for a friend. The brownie recipe has a deep chocolate flavor and is super fudgey. The cookie dough is salty and sweet! I used sunbutter and honey (didn’t have maple syrup) and still came out great.
★★★★★
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
Woohoo!! So glad you’re loving them, Briana. Thanks for the feedback!
Elle says
Could you sub bobs 1 to 1 gf flour for the blanched almond flour?
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
I don’t use GF all-purpose flours because they’re pretty inconsistent, but you’re welcome to try! I just can’t make any guarantees.
Shannan says
My new fave recipe!!
★★★★★
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
So glad you’re loving it, Shannan!!
Jo says
What can substitute nut butter with something else? Or just omit it?
★★★★★
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
Any nut or seed butter will work, but don’t just leave it out – it’s there for texture, flavor, and bulk and the recipe won’t work without it.
Mel says
Hello, is there something I can substitute for the almond flour. I’m making it for someone that is vegan but also allergic to nuts.
I’m going to use sunflower butter instead of almond butter, but unsure what to use in place of almond flour?
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
Hi Mel, yes you can substitute with sunflower seed flour if you can find it for the best 1:1 sub, or use oat flour! Enjoy :)
Mel says
Thank you. I made it today with sunflower seed flour I made myself.
I was meant to use sunflower butter but accidentally put tahini in instead and realised too late.
I used chia seeds instead of flax as I couldn’t find any flax.
All in all, it turned out great. Very tasty. I will make it again for myself following your exact ingredients to see if it’s very different or not.
I also put a small bit of cookie dough aside and baked it to see if it would make A cookie and it did. A bit fragile, but super tasty.
Esther Siegel says
The recipe looks great, but the dough has too much coconut oil for my cholesterol ! How would this recipe go with using Vegan butter instead?
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
Hi Esther, I haven’t tested it that way but it should work!
Genna says
These are so good! The brownie is so dark and delicious, and the flavors go together perfect. Thank you so much for this recipe! I can’t wait to make it again!
Bakerita | Rachel Conners says
So glad you’re loving them, Genna! Thanks for the feedback :)