I developed this nut free keto brownie because more and more readers are asking me for nut free recipes because of allergies, or, because their children aren’t allowed to take nuts to school in their lunch box. This flourless and nut free keto brownie also has no added sugar, no coconut flours or shredded coconut, gluten free and low carb.
On top of all of that, you make it simply using a stick blender. Voila! Oh and the best bit? Each slice has less than 1.5g net carbs – YAY!
UPDATE: I’ve just added a quick cooking video to show you exactly how to make the keto brownie. Scroll down to watch.
Nut Free Keto Brownie –
I love recipes that are incredibly simple, and I love recipes where I can cut out as many of the steps as possible. No wonder my tagline is “real food, real easy”.
I can’t bear recipes with long list of ingredients, hard to find ingredients or complicated instructions. My children make this all the time so I know how easy this is, and it works, every single time.
NOTE :: Nut free keto brownie has the texture and flavour more like a baked cheesecake (remember it is heavily based on eggs and cream cheese), although I call it a brownie.
So call it what you will – brownie/cheesecake/slice …… nut free keto brownies are simple and easy to quickly make.
Serve with whipped cream and berries for a tasty low carb dessert.
For optimum success, you must adjust how much sweetener the recipe requires for YOUR sweet tooth. I use the minimum, and have been sugar free for years, so if you are just starting out, you may require much more than the recipe states. As time goes on, the amount of sweetener you require will become less and less.
The flourless brownie comes out from the oven all puffed up then collapses into a firm, nut free, keto brownie. There are many flourless brownies out there, but very few that are flourless and nut free keto brownies.
Many readers also tell me they prefer the keto brownie when it has sat in the fridge overnight.
It can be base as a slice and cut into squares, rectangles slices or baked in a round cake tin as a lower carb alternative to my Chocolate Heaven Cake. The texture is more akin to a baked cheesecake, or torte, than a brownie, but delicious nonetheless.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Amazing!! Nut free keto brownie. Only 1.5g net carbs per slice and super easy to make using a stick blender! ” quote=”Amazing!! Nut free keto brownie. Only 1.5g net carbs per slice and super easy to make using a stick blender! “]
Why not use the nut free keto brownie as a base and make a berry cream cheese frosting for a superb topping? Pop some berries on top for decoration and it will be sure to please even the die-hard sugar lovers out there.
Nut Free Keto Brownie
Ingredients
- 6 eggs - medium
- 160 g butter melted
- 60 g cocoa unsweetened
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 120 g cream cheese softened
- 4 tbsp granulated sweetener of choice or more, to your taste
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and using a stick blender with the blade attachment, blend until smooth.
- Pour into a lined square baking dish (21cm/8.5 inch).
- Bake at 180C/350F for 20-25 minutes until cooked on the centre.
- Slice into squares, rectangle bars or triangle wedges.
Notes
To see what ingredients I use in my pantry, click here.
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carol says
great recipe! my relative said it tastes like tiramisu in the middle! just a question can i use powdered erythriol substitute instead of granular? thank you
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sure thing. Remember to taste before adding any extra, you don’t want to over sweeten. The powdered erythritol might make the brownie a little drier, so maybe add a teaspoon of heavy cream if this happens to make the brownie mix the right consistency.
Carol says
hi how do mix the ingredients? do you whip the egg first? how long canni keep it at the counter? thank u! my hubby loved it!
Carol says
hi! tried this so soft in the insife like fudge. how long can u keep it at room temperature? also do i meec to whip the egg before adding it in? thank you i love this
sara shepard says
I made these using allulose. These are fantatsic. You need to use a sweetener you put straight in your mouth and like the taste of or it will taste bad to you. Thank you!
Jolene says
THANK YOU!
I am not a baker, and have been struggling to find easy ways to have my old favorites, keto style. But nut flour, including coconut, is a no-no.
This is similar to my own pancake recipe, in that it relies on cream cheese and eggs (I use flax meal instead of flour and it’s yummy.) Couldn’t quite figure out how to translate that into desserts (read: not a baker!) Thanks for doing the thinking for me!
Toni Leggate says
Where is the video please? I looked through the 3 pages on the video tab and searched but when I clicked on the ‘link’ I came back to this blog recipe page and there is no video available here…? Very confused, bad that doesn’t take much now-a-days!
Thanks for helping – just made and it smells wonderful! How do you all wait to try it!!!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It’s right at the top of the page, you probably scrolled past it racing to get to the recipe 😉
Leonie Johnston says
These are great, Could they be made as mini muffins and if so, what time adjustment would be needed? Yesterday at a gathering people raved about (not low carb) brownie mini muffins with lemon curd & 1/2 strawberry on top so I wondered if I could create a Low carb version.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Mini muffins are a fabulous idea. The cooking times would be dependant on the size of your muffin tins (they vary considerably) but I would estimate 10 minutes?
Leonie Johnston says
Great, thanks for the prompt reply 🙂. I’ll give it a try and report back.
Leonie Johnston says
The mini muffins with lemon curd were a hit. A great combo of sweet & sour flavours and less than a carb each. I cooked them for 10 mins as suggested but I over filled the pans so they were a bit mis-shapen (if that’s a word). I’ve taken a photo of them but can’t upload it.
Lucy Evans says
I made these last week for my kids’ lunch boxes and I’ll be making them again! They loved them – I added some icing in the form of cream cheese mixed with stevia and they kept really well in the fridge. I made them using individual silicone cake cases. I agree with other comments – do NOT taste them straight out of the oven – they will seem dry and bitter – but after 24 hours in the fridge were delicious and moist – yum! The other thing I love about this recipe is it’s nut-free and only uses a few key ingredients blended together so they are quick to make.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Aweseom Lucy – I am thrilled your kiddos love these. Mine 3 little ones do too. They even vary it sometimes by adding a handful of chopped walnuts or poking a few frozen berries inside the mixture before baking. Gotta love their ingenuity 🙂
Awhina Diamond says
I LOVE THESE! started Keto today and I have the worst sweet tooth, does not help that it’s that time of the month but my husband said he would do this with me and I didn’t want to give him time to back out 😂 Anywho! I digress. Made these tonight, I have an erythritol/stevia blend. I doubled the sweetener which gave a nice sweetness but not too strong. I AM SO IN LOVE. I love brownies, I wouldn’t necessarily call these brownies, they’re so fudgey it blows my mind, but they are the best thing I’ve made so far. Well this and your Almond Keto bread. So good. Not at all eggy for either recipe. Will definitely be making more of your recipes..thank you Libby!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I truly think this is one of those recipes that people either LOVE or despise. I do wonder if those who are disliking it, are the ardent sugar lovers who are only on day 1 so it is hard to compare a sugar fudgy brownie with a sugar-free keto version. I too love it and sometimes add walnuts etc to jazz it up. I am so glad you loved it. (hey, awesome job on converting hubby – A+).
Heather says
I have been completely sugar free over 6 months I haven’t eaten even a sugar substitute during that time. My family has slowly joined my way of eating. My husband actually found your recipe and asked me to make it. (He knows that I do not like coconut flour or anything made with it.). I made it exactly by your. Recipe and I loved it. The Hubs and the kids thought it could use a bid more sweetener. But it was moist and firm and creamy. I will try again the next time their sweet tooth calls. I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Heather this is brilliant! You can also adjust or adapt the recipe to add some extras – some nuts, some berries, some sugar-free choc chips … You could even add a chocolate ganache – peppermint perhaps? The possibilities are endless.
Naomi de Sturler says
Just made these today, I let the butter cool down and mixed it with the cream cheese and dry ingredients before adding each separately and mixing in between, I tried a piece straight out of the oven and they are absolutely lush. Not too sweet and intensely chocolatey. This is now my go-to recipe when I have a chocolate craving.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
YAY – viva la brownie 😉 Everyone reports these are even better the next day from the fridge. They seem to go denser and more chocolatey (or so they tell me). Enjoy 🙂
Naomi de Sturler says
To me, they’re just as good the next day in the fridge s they are fresh from the oven 🙂 i have one question I forgot to ask in my initial comment, exactly how much is one serving in grams?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Good question! I have never weighed one square, but it makes 12 so 1 square is a 1/12th recipe.
Nancy Craig says
I made these today after reading all the positive comments. I do not understand peoples taste buds at all. I made them exactly. Watched the video. They are not anything like a brownie nor do they taste good…to me.
Kristen Rogers says
How long have you been sugar free? Are you adding additional sweetener to accommodate your tastes? The writer mentions that they have been sugar free for several years. Tonight will be the 3rd time I have made them, and they really are better cold the next day.
Lara Marshall says
I think you need to be used to sugar replacements as it does have a different flavour. Once you have become accustomed to that, removing all sugar from your diet for several months, give it another try. It totally met my need for a yummy sweet chocolate craving. I loved it but I’ve been sugar free for a long time
Jasmine says
I think I did something wrong. I made the brownies following the recipe and instructions provided. My brownies came out with a crunchy top and sponge like on the inside. They also tasted a bit bitter. After reading all the amazing comments I am ready to try the recipe again but did anyone else have this occur when baking.
Lea says
Mine too! They tase bitter. I wonder if it is the sweetener I used. Hopefully someone more skilled than myself will read this and help us out!!
Jeremy says
Same. You definitely need to taste the batter and adjust the sweetener accordingly. I would guess you need to at least double the recommended sweetener amount.
I would also say that the recommendation of 20-25 minutes is WAY off. I took mine out exactly at 20 minutes and your description of a crust in the top and sponge like on the inside is SPOT ON. When I make these again I’m going to start checking on them at around 12 minutes with a tooth pick and take them out as soon as it comes out clean.
I think with those two adjustments this recipe will be AMAZING.
Jennifer says
These were so nasty. You did nothing wrong. These instructions and ingredients were terrible together.
JM says
LOL so rude, most people loved these perhaps your mouth is just wrong, your attitude def is.
Renee says
Firstly, I Just have to say, Do NOT eat these right out of the oven. Especially if you’re new to Keto/Flourless/No sugar. I made these last night, ate them warm out of the oven, and they tasted like bitter eggs. ……
!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT!!!!!!!!!
I came back, read the comments, left them in my fridge overnight – Wow! What a difference! (Enough to make me come back this afternoon and post this!) This Is a GREAT recipe if you like that dark chocolate taste!
But like any recipe with a large amount of eggs, you need to be CAREFUL when you put in melted butter. Doing that WILL scramble your eggs. I mixed my cream cheese with my melted butter and waited until it was room temp, THEN put in my eggs, then the dry ingredients. I do not have any fancy mixers, so used a spatula and muscles to insure every, single, little chunk of cream cheese was smushed along the bowl before I mixed in the dry ingredients. The batter consistency was lovely – Maybe a tad fluffier than your store bought stuff even.
Like the author says – these aren’t your regular full or carb, sans keto, sugarfull brownies. Being on this keto train for the past week, I needed something (anything!) chocolate. These are delicious – IF YOU MAKE THEM PROPERLY. Follow the overall “rules of baking” – Do not Mix hot with cold ingredients – everything at room temp (before mixing protein with dairy especially) – mix dried ingredients together first before adding to all the wet – Mix until no chunks left – etc.
Ps- I’m from Canada and had no problem converting / figuring out the measurements… Use the buttons or, when in doubt – Google.
THANK YOU LIBBY! Just when I thought my cravings would get the best of me! Looking forward to your next recipes!
Cheers!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Wow Renee, you have made my day! What a superb review of the keto brownie recipe and awesome tips for making them – then eating them the next day. Maybe there is some magical keto powers at work here 😉 And I am so glad my conversion buttons work well for you. I had to go through over 250 recipes to create that! I’m stoked my time spent was worth it. I absolutely love how worldwide my audience is here on DTC. And how helpful everyone is to one another. Have a wonderful week Renee 🙂
Michelle Trask says
Libby, Great reply! I wish all recipes had these to that you just gave because people like myself who don’t cook often, just don’t think of all that stuff. And people go and spend money on ingredients then screw up a perfectly fine recipe! Thank you so much!
Daniella says
Absolutely delish. I just enjoyed a piece straight out of the oven and it was as perfect as could be. Reminded me also of a warm chocolate brioche. And such an easy recip. Thanks x
Sierra says
I decided to try out this recipe, desperate for a keto friendly dessert! I followed the recipe to the T and the brownies came out great! Definitely satifies my sweet tooth! Thanks a bunch for the awesome recipe!
Suzanne says
I just made these last night and I wanted to say THANK-YOU for creating such an awesome recipe. These are by far the best keto brownies I have tried. It was so easy to make. I added a combination of swerve and stevia (both granular). I did add a considerable amount more of the sweetner to suit my taste. They tasted great out of the oven, very light and airy. I put in fridge overnight and OMG they are even better. They set up beautifully and have a great dense chocolate taste. This is exactly what I was looking for. They don’t taste light a traditional brownie but certainly ease my craving for something chocolatey. Thanks 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Suzanne, thank you sooooooo much for your wonderful recipe review of my keto brownies. I am so happy you loved them. I agree, I also think the texture improves once they sit in the fridge overnight. Yum.
Abbie says
Amazing recipe!!! I made it twice and the second time I added extra butter so 2 sticks total and 1/3 cup of swerve sugar (might do 1/2 next time). I also cooked it longer the second time and it all turned out even better and less eggy. If there was a way to make it less flakey and dry it would be absolutely perfect!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thanks Abbie for this. Some readers seem to either love or hate this, I can never figure out why. I absolutely love it and my kids even make it (so it’s pretty fool proof). I have even added coffee one time and walnuts – WOW. You gotta try that version next.
Marie says
I have a question. Why are the measurements in your recipe not consistent in their units of measure? Why are half of your ingredients in volume measurements such as Teaspoon and Tablespoon and then the rest in measurements by weight which convert a little strangely, i.e. from 160 gram butter to 10.66666666666 Tablespoons of butter as an example? It’s just a little awkward and a waste of time in my opinion, doing the conversions for half of the ingredients in your recipe. Much cleaner and much more user friendly to do the reipe consistently one way or the other. And in North America the traditional way in cooking, in spite of our strange Canadian metric system is to have the recipes by volumn – particularly since volumn measuring cups, etc. are so easy to find. Converting half a recipe makes me crazy! And I’m sure I am not the only one. As an option you could present it both ways if you are so fond of the weight measurements. Just sayin’ It’s neither here nor there to me. I’ll just frequent more user friendly sites in future. There are lots out there. Just throwin’ in out there for your sake, really! Makes not difference to me, really.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sorry I don’t quite understand where the tbsp are coming from. This recipe calls for 160g butter, when you convert using my red buttons, it states 1 1/2 sticks butter.
Lis says
Omg, what are yu complaining about.
I am dutch and i do it the same way, since i live on the otherside of the earth, i use cups, table spoons grams. Get a life a and look for a different recipe. There is enough negativity in this world, dont let it start with measurements
Georgi says
Can you use honey instead of sweetener? Thank you
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
You can, but it would no longer be sugar free OR low carb. Check out my guide to sweeteners here. Which to use and which to avoid.
Alana says
Libby! These brownies are perfection, thoroughly whipped the eggs separately and other ingredients separately before mixing together – baked beautifully, and the rich, dense fudgey goodness was Keto gluttony at its best topped with pure cream and a strawberry. Thank you so much!
Kylie McKenna says
These are AMAZING!! Definitely agree with the note about improving overnight! Tasted them the day I made them and wasn’t completely sold… left in the fridge overnight and oh my god the next day they were AMAZING! Made them exact to the recipe, definitely might try adding some cacao nibs or maybe some peanut butter but otherwise great as is!
Kylie McKenna says
Oh and they weren’t eggy at all- mixed between a cheesecake and mousse kind of texture and taste
Lin says
I made these for my husband who’s on a Keto diet and he LOVES them! I’ve made Keto brownies before from other Keto recipes that were terrible tasting. This one is a keeper. I didn’t say anything about it being better when left in the fridge overnight but the next day he said it himself. One question, how long does it stay good for in the fridge? Just wondering. Thank you for this recipe!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hey Lin, I tend to keep this in the fridge for up to 3 days (if they last that long around here with my 3 children 😉 ).
Jamie says
Ooo girl…I just put these in the oven, but if they are 1/2 as good as the batter (which I ate lots of off the spatula), you and I are going to be friends! This is the end of my first week on Keto and I haven’t had a bite of anything sweet yet. Thanks for sharing this!
Hayley says
Would this work using flaxseed ‘eggs’ as an egg replacer?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I’m afraid not. This recipe is heavily based on eggs and requires the fat and protein from them to make the brownie set properly. “Flaxseed eggs”, work best in recipes that only require 1 or 2 eggs.
Stess says
I made this last night!!!! I used an 8inch cake tin cos my friend has my brownie tin so I have wedges instead of square and I really like it. Ended up whipping some double cream and then stewing a small handful of blackberries and raspberries and adding them on top of a slice and its pretty much became a cake hehe.. My 5 year old also really loves it but thats probably because she’s also into dark chocolate…All in all a win recipe. Will keep this in my keto files. Thanks for the recipe!
Hannah says
My fault for not being careful enough. I used 1.5 CUPS of butter, because I just looked at the listed “cup” for the ingredient underneath and assumed. May be worthwhile to edit the recipe to be more specific, because “sticks” of butter can vary based on what you’re buying. Darn. Wasted 6 eggs. Maybe I can salvage it.
Amber says
I did the same and they were so mealy and the consistency so horrible I spit it out after one bit and wouldn’t even feed it to my dogs! I’ll have to make them again, to be fair to the recipe before leaving a review lol…. Definitely my fault and I’ll leave an updated review when I make them again.
Shimona says
This recipe is delicious! It tastes just lie the Sugar Free Pillsbury Chocolate Brownie Mix. My batch came out very cake-like and I think it was because of the way that I prepared it. I added each singe item of the ingredients one by one and whipped them with a hand mixture after each addition, with the butter being the last. I also had to cook my batch for 45 minutes, so that may have helped to get a cake-like texture, as well. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It has helped me greatly in my ketogenic journey.
Mark says
Hi, I tried this recipe and I definitely need to adjust the sweetener. I had to use the hand mixer as I don’t have a stick blender and I think that may have made it to fluffy. I have an inquiry about the carbs. The recipe shows 3.5carbs, but when I enter the recipe into myfitnesspal it says there are 11.9 carbs per serving😨 Thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Great question. I refuse to use MFP. It is so inaccurate as there are so many “user added” values. I switched to cronometer.com and had too recalculate many many recipes. Also check which cream cheese you entered. They vary considerably. And lastly, check whether it is net or total carbs.
Stephanie says
HOLY SMOKES! These brownies are AMAZING. My first batch I used a 12×9 in baking pan so I baked the brownies for 15 minutes and they were great. I followed the recipe 100% otherwise. The brownies were better chilled than warm. There was a very slight eggy taste when warm. But when chilled, they tasted like brownie cheesecakes!
However, my second batch in a 8×8 in baking pan (added 1 extra tbsp of erythritol and 1 extra tsp of vanilla extract to counteract eggy taste) for 22 minutes in the oven somehow made the brownies much more fudgey and spongey and resembled a true brownie. I was absolutely shocked even though I made this recipe before. They tasted amazing while warm, and taste good chilled as well!
Hands down the best easy, hassle-free flourless keto brownie recipe I’ve tried. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank-you Stephanie – I LOVE reading this comment today!!!! It’s such an easy recipe huh? I often adapt it too, sometimes adding cacao nibs, raspberries or coffee. It’s our go-to quick and fails safe brownie in our home.
Jen says
I just made these and had to post a comment immediately. These brownies are by far the best keto dessert I have made. My husband and I devoured half the batch before they were even cooled.
I’ve been struggling to find a really good chocolate keto dessert to satisfy our cravings. My husband can’t stand the recipes with coconut flour so I thought I’d give this one a shot. I’ve read a bunch of negative comments and I can’t believe it. These are SO good! I emulsified for quite a while, as suggested, and added 2 extra Tbsp. of Swerve since we both love our sweets. If you’re on the fence, I say give this recipe a try. They have such a luscious, custard-y texture. It might not be for everyone but this was a hit for us. This is my new go-to treat. Thank you!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Jen, you don’t know how much this recipe review means to me. I cannot understand how there are reviews where readers absolutely hate this recipe. I give specific instructions, advice on sweeteners and even how to store it in the fridge so it is even better the next day. My children love cooking this and every time, and it turns out great. I am chuffed that you loved it. I’m sure that’s because you emulsified it well. I also love that you added sweetener to YOUR taste. We all like it differently and so need to sweeten accordingly. YAY for my keto brownies being a hit for you both. 🙂
Adriane Degner says
Just made these last night and they turned out like a sponge. I don’t have a stick blender but used my regular blender is this why or is something else wrong
Abby says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe Libby, the brownies are delicious! Only query is about texture. Do you think adding almond flour or coconut flour would help make it more cake-like? I’m not a very eggy texture kind of person. In saying that, my entire house hold thinks your brownies are to die for 🙂 Thanks again!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I’m so glad your household adores my brownies. I am currently trying to develop a more “brownie like” recipe using almond flour, so watch out.
Just Jennie says
I have been low carb for about a month now and have been searching for low-carb, flourless, no sugar treats to indulge in. I tried a different brownie recipe over the weekend that came out HORRIBLE and lets just say I was a bit wary of this one. Well, today I bit the bullet and I decided to make these brownies. First of all the batter tasted like actual brownie batter so I took that to be a plus. When they had cooled down I cut off a small piece to try and was very, very, VERY happy with the results. I gave the rest of the piece to my husband who said “These taste more like a brownie than the other ones!” (Now mind you, they are in no way exactly like a “regular” brownie but they are close enough for my liking!) AND I like the fact that they’re exactly what I was looking for.
I did use stevia from my garden that I had grown, dried and crushed and I think the next time I make them, because there will most definitely be a next time, I am going to use a bit less than what the recipe called for because the taste is rather strong (the garden grown stevia that’s dried and crushed has a more earthy taste).
I also took the advice at the end and I put them in the refrigerator and will see how they are tomorrow.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I am so grateful for your recipe review. I too love them, and so do many others, yet there is a small % of readers who expect them to be a regular flour/sugar brownie texture an are sadly disappointed. I too like to pop them in the fridge, the brownie sets a little and becomes sturdy. I love the idea of growing my own stevia, I will definitely look for it next time I am at the garden centre. Thanks for the tip 🙂
Joan says
Hi! I made it and really like it but how did you get those macro? I did it on myfitnesspal and gives 6g of Carbs and 1g of fiber as result…I even tried with the EXACT ingredients that you used…
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I never ever use MFP. It is full of inaccuracies as you can see. I use cronometer.com which uses official USA nutritional databases rather than “user added” values. I would look at where MFP is telling you the carbs are coming from. Only the cocoa and cream cheese. And they definitely won’t add up to 6g per serving. This is definitely a keeper, and definitely keto. Yay 🙂
Joan says
Thank you very much for your kind and prompt response Libby. MFP can be very frustrating indeed. I will have a look at cronometer (hopefully it will be accurate for Canada too!). I’ve been reading more about alcohol sugar, monk fruit and stevia and I think those carbs shouldn’t be accounted for (would you happen to know if this is correct?). I think the difference comes from that…
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I don’t include them in my panels as they are unabsorbable carbohydrates but I can’t differentiate that in the nutrition panel. I know they don’t affect my blood sugars at all.
Joan says
Great! Thank you! I think that this concludes the answer to my question! Thanks again for that easy and delicious recipie Libby!
Kristen says
MyFitnessPal counts erythritol, stevia, and other artificial sweeteners as carbs even though the body does not recognize them as carbs. I do not add the sweetener when I put my recipe in myfitnesspal. That is the best way to get accurate carb counts with that app.
Tasha405 says
I made these flourless brownies today for my daughter’s birthday and they looked amazing! The textute was great but they taste horrible! So bitter, like pure salt! I didn’t have granular Swerve so I used the powdered version and after mixing it all up I tasted the batter and it was so bitter so I added some Stevia In The Raw packets that I had. I added 3 total, after tasting each time. It was perfectly sweet. So why did they turn out so bitter? Anyone know? I’d love for these to work because we are low carb and they looked so good lol. Help!
Stacey says
I had the same problem, and I did use granular sweetener. You would need to add a lot more sweetener than the recipe calls for to make it edible (and I don’t like overly sweet things). They looked and smelled so good too! What a disappointment.
Tracey DeLuco says
Question, I don’t have an oven right now…just moved. Could I possibly make this in the microwave? And if so, how long, etc? Thanks! (Tracey in U.S. Kcmo)
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yes I think it would work in the microwave, however some microwaves have trouble cooking food in the centre (the older ones cook food from the outside in, hence needing to stir foods and drinks). If you have a microwaveable ring tin or cupcake cases, that might help them cook evenly. I couldn’t give you a cooking time as power varies incredibly as will which dish you decide to cook them in. Trial and error I’m afraid.
SC says
Libby, I think I have figured it out!
DO NOT USE DUTCH-PROCESSED COCOA.
Use regular (natural, non-alkalinized) cocoa powder.
Natural cocoa is an acid. It reacts with baking soda to leaven the batter. This explains why your blueberry cheesecake bars, which are practically the same recipe except no cocoa, do not puff up nearly as much.
Natural cocoa’s acidity also causes proteins in baked goods to set rapidly, which is key to recipes like this which have so many eggs. Using Dutch cocoa, which is neutral-to-alkaline, will not provide enough acid, so the batter doesn’t set — you get pudding, not cheesecake!
When I made the blueberry cheesecake bars, that’s exactly what I saw. They eventually set… mostly… but were still looser than the brownies after baking 10 minutes longer than specified. If we think of that recipe as “missing” the cocoa that’s in the brownie recipe, and therefore “missing” the acid, it fits. If I’m right, we need to add 1/8 tsp of cream of tartar, lemon juice, or vinegar per 3 Tbsp of cocoa powder. That’s based on the Dutch cocoa to natural cocoa conversions found here: http://www.joyofbaking.com/cocoa.html.
We also need to make up for the cocoa’s drying & strengthening effect: I suggest adding coconut flour, but I don’t know how much. I’ll give it a try when I make another batch of blueberry cheesecake bars.
SC says
Fabulous. Easy, delicious, they freeze well, and I’m looking forward to trying more variations! One question: if I wanted to make these without the chocolate (say, lemon), what would you recommend adding to compensate so that the texture and moistness come out the same? Thanks!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
You might want to look at my keto blueberry cheesecake squares. I add vanilla and berries but you could add lemon zest easily enough. That would be lovely.
Less says
I topped these with a mascarpone-chocolate mousse and it tasted incredible. Thanks!
Name Required says
Title says “no coconut.” Second ingredient is coconut.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I think you may be thinking of another recipe. Keto brownies have no coconut. The second ingredient is butter.
Juan says
Not a nice recipe, its basically a chocolate omelet , i would not suggest to anyone, unless adding something like almond flour , haven’t tried it with almond flour, as not to keen to waste all the ingredients again but im sure it would be a lot nicer
Donna says
I made these last weekend to help with sweet cravings during the week. Topped with a little whipped cream and blueberries and it really did the trick! I’m about to do another batch, but make two in round pans so I can make a layered ‘cake’. Just looking for the perfect frosting type recipe ❤️
Wendy says
I made this for the first time yesterday. Absolutely beautiful moist chocolatey, fudgey goodness. The key I think is to have a stick blender with a bit of power so the eggs emulsify. This is a totally perfect little treat 🙂
Hannah says
Made these this morning using three heaped Sukrin gold as the sweetener. Worked brilliantly.
Quite sticky and yummy. Not quite the real thing, (but if I could eat the real thing….) but with double cream these taste devine. Definitely making these again. And the kiddies loved them too.
kym says
Tried these for the first time. Texture good but found tasteless. Maybe try with some 70% choc, peanut butter or maple flavour added. Quick and easy recipe though if can get taste better
Sarah W says
I don’t normally comment on recipes, but had to make an exception here! These are phenomenal. No, they don’t taste like a “real” brownie (by real, I mean those addictive and completely fake food brownie mix boxes at the grocery store that I grew up on), but nothing I have ever tried at home does. I am throwing away the freezer stash of dry, tasteless Keto brownies made with almond flour, and keeping a batch of these on hand for treat emergencies. I used 1 tsp of vanilla extract & 1 tsp of dark maple extract, to help counteract potential eggy flavor. I also added ~1 tbsp strong ground coffee for the same purpose. These are so fabulous that I know I will experiment more!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Heather says
I made some modifications based on others posts. ONLY EAT WHEN CHILLED; otherwise they are disgusting. Items I changed were
1. Butter – 1/2 cup 2. Cream cheese – 4 oz 3. Cocoa – 3 Tbsp 4. Granulated Stevia – 2 tbsp 5. Stevia extract – 4 drops 6. Coffee Grounds – 1 heaping tbsp. Note if you like70% dark chocolate you will enjoy these for a treat. I eat mine with one tablespoon reddi whip. Keto friendly
Alex says
This is the second time I’m baking this. The first time was just amazing. I used 7 Tbs of sweetener, maybe because my erythritol is not that good. But the result was very tasty. It was appreciated also by people who are not on diet and they can eat real brownies.
Indeed when we tried to eat it warm, it had a slight taste of egg, but once refrigerated the texture was amazing and you couldn’t tell what it had inside. This time I added some lemon zest.
I hope it will turn out good and it wasn’t just beginner’s luck.
Thank you for this great recipe!!
Mark says
I don’t know what everyone is talking about but these are awful! Tastes like a cocoa quiche. And your oz to grans measurements above are incorrect.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
As per recipe notes “To make sure this doesn’t taste ‘eggy’, you must use a really good dark unsweetened cacao powder and mix/emulsify well”. It also sounds like not enough sweetener was added possibly “granulated sweetener of choice or more, to your taste“
Robert Peterson says
Ya I just made them and have to agree. These are about the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten. Maybe I did something wrong but seems pretty straight forward. Looked yummy, tastes absolutely horrible
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Did you adjust the sweetener and cocoa before baking? I cannot emphasise this enough 🙂
Sharon Down says
IThese turned out really good. I added 1 TBSP instant espresso powder and 1/3 cup chopped pecans. I also added 4 extra drops of EZSweetz. I used my ninja blender you emulsify and these didn’t turn out eggs at all. I baked them in a silicone pan then half froze the pan and was able to pop the whole cake out clean for cutting. Really pleased with this one. Thanks for sharing
Gina Triay says
I seemed to be in the minority here but I thought it was awful. Consistency of a chocolate omelette. I used the right ingredients. Went back and watched the video and everything lined up.
Cristiane Lobo says
Same here. Just made a batch and good lord! Yuck! :(. 6 eggs wasted :(. I will cut into small pieces and bake them until they go hard – maybe I can make biscuits out of this mess? Hate wasting ingredients 🙁
Rena says
I just made them and they were awful. I threw them right out but I can’t get the taste out of my mouth.
Rachel says
Was totally gross and also agree waste of ingredients. 👎
emma says
I love this recipe, totally yummy with whipped cream as a lovely weekend treat. The recipe works really well and is so quick and easy.
Abigail says
Made these last night and had them this morning with my coffee and oh my! They are delicious. I must say that they are better the next day. So anyone trying this for the first time, hold your temptations to eat them right away. You’ll regret it. Yes, I said regret bc they taste rather bitter when taken out of the oven. Since I’m not a very strict keto- “dieter,” I added nuts and chocolate chips to my batter. It was amaze! And used Swerve as my sweetener of choice. Thank you for this wonderful, husband-approved recipe!
– Abigail
Abigail says
Side note: Eat this cold. They taste rather spongy and bitter and not “brownie-like” when warm.
Annaya Ka says
I love this brownies! It’s an often choice for me when I’ve got those before-period-pms-sweet-cravings and I need something chocolate-y as a second breakfast 😊 I’m not allergic for nuts so I’m adding walnuts on the top and it’s pure pleasure!
Carolyn says
I have made a couple of keto desserts, and they have been ok, but these were excellent. So easy to make, came out exactly as your picture, they tasted amazing with cream on top. Can you freeze them? I’m worried I am going to over indulge if they are sitting in the fridge looking at me, every time I open the fridge door lol.
Sarah says
Hi did you freeze yours? Just made them and am keen to try it too
Debbie says
I’ve frozen them! They freeze well 🙂
Tracy says
Started my Keto diet/lifestyle 2 weeks ago and today I NEEDED some chocolate! I found this recipe and immediately whipped these bad boys up! I didn’t have any vanilla so I used almond extract. Splenda is my sweetner of choice. These are really good. I ate one warm. Can’t wait to try them cold! This recipe is a keeper! Thank you for sharing this, you saved me today, and probably many more days to come😀
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I’m super glad I managed to help you through your chocolate crisis. Many tell me these are even better once they have been in the fridge for a day or so. They seem to harden and set a little thicker – bonus!
Todd Mahoney says
Made it with z sweet ( http://www.zsweet.com/ ) and it came out awesome. We’ve found baking with Stevia adds a slight bitter taste. Put some real whipping cream and some sliced strawberries on top. Great keto dessert!
Madalina says
I’m planning to try this recipe tomorrow, but I only have liquid stevia. Can you please advise how many drops I should use for this recipe? I’m not that much into sweet desserts, so, as I understand from the comments, your level of sweetner is probably just right for me. I just need to know the equivalent in stevia drops. Sorry for the silly question, I’ve been on the LCHF diet for only a week now and this will be my first time using something different from sugar or honey. Thank you so much, can’t wait to try these brownies!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It’s not a silly question. Stevia drops are so variable depending on the brand you have bought, so sorry to be a bit vague but you really do have to add it to your taste. I think you will find baking is more successful with granulated sweetener such as Swerve or Natvia. This page shows you what I keep in my pantry to give you an idea. Good luck 🙂
Valerie says
Is there something that can be used in place of the cream cheese? The only dairy I can do is the butter.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sorry, not in this recipe as it is so heavily based on it. Take a look at my other sweet baking recipes to see if there is anything else that takes your fancy – for me, it’s the berry sponge I love.
Claire says
Very amateur baker and new to Keto here – I tried making these with lacto free cream cheese and dairy free bread. They’ve come out more like a soufflé than cheesecake or brownie. My dairy free version of Keto bread did the same… is this because of the dairy free products?
Claire says
Dairy free spread *** not dairy free bread haha
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yes. I spend a long time developing recipes using specific ingredients. If they are substituted, then I can’t guarantee they will work – the new ingredients make it a completely different recipe altogether 🙁
pratichidixit says
Hi. I am planning to make it. What I want to know is, can I make it using melted dark chocolate (stevia sweetened), instead of cocoa powder? Even if I use cocoa powder, it would be a tbsp or so but most importantly, I want to use melted chocolate 🙂 Would it work?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
The cocoa powder is in there to help it emulsify, a little like the action flour has, so you could add cocoa but ALSO add the stevia sweetened chocolate. That might be a good combo.
Diana says
These brownies are delicious! They curb our sweet tooth and I don’t feel guilty for having more then one…or two.
Jill says
I really like this recipe and use it often. I use a little more sweetener because it tastes too much like dark chocolate in the original recipe. It’s a really moist, dense brownie that doesn’t taste eggy at all. It’s a staple at my house.
Carl says
Help, they came out perfect except for they were not sweet AT ALL no bitter just no sweetness at all and we used close to 5 tablespoons of Splenda pour-able. I want these to taste like a sweet brownie. what has worked for other people? By the way they came out exceptional perfect except for the sweetness.
Taylor says
I actually came back here to say the same thing. Splenda granulated is supposed to have an equivalent sweetness to sugar, and I think stevia is much sweeter. I’m going to try doubling the Splenda to see what happens. In the meantime I just served this not-so-seeet batch with sugar free cool whip on top.
Sheila says
Well I don’t know what I did wrong but this just tasted like chocolate eggs to me. Not the most pleasant taste! I was expecting something like little chocolate cheesecake bites but instead it was the opposite, I couldn’t taste any at all. Followed the recipe just like it said but sorry to say this was a waste of expensive ingredients.
Carly O says
Could not agree more. We had a good laugh at how gross it was!!!!
Anne says
OMG, these are amazing!! I made these brownies two days ago and they are almost gone! They took way longer to cook than what the recipe says, but I just checked them with a tooth pick in 5min intervals until they were done. Fresh out of the oven, the texture was pretty airy/fluffy while still dense – unlike anything I had tried before. I put them in a zip lock baggie and they kept on fogging the bag up (and still do). I wipe down the moisture when I see it and the brownies seem a bit denser and “fudgier” now. I actually like them better 2 days after making them. I used 4tbsp of sweetener and just basic big brand unsweetened cocoa. That made a very dark chocolate tasting brownie, which I love. Mixing the dough was very fast and this recipe is perfect for when I want a little treat. I’ve had these plain and with some lightly sweetened whipped cream and they are great either way. Thanks for such an amazing recipe!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Anne you are a super star for posting this kind, wonderful and amazing review. I have had so many complaints, I was wondering if readers were using another recipe to me? We all love it and my kids make it all by themselves so I know the method works (fail safe kid tested) and it tastes great (tired mum tested). We even chop it into little cubes and make a chocolate Eton mess (whipped cream, chocolate brownies, berries and coconut chips). Enjoy x
Kim TT says
I made these today, but they didn’t turn out sweet enough. I used 3TB of Swerve and 6 drops of Sweetleaf Vanilla Stevia–and they need to be much sweeter. I have made some keto frosting and when they cool completely will put that over the top of these. BTW: the consistency is a little strange–not like a brownie at all and not like cake–more like a chocolate egg bake, but the flavor is more like brownie–you don’t taste the eggs.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I always say in my recipes to add sweetener of choice to YOUR taste, and I mention it within the recipe also. Everyone is on different parts of their sugar free journey so recipes will need to be adjusted accordingly to how sweet you prefer a recipe to be. I also make note that these have the “texture and flavour more like a baked cheesecake (remember it is heavily based on eggs and cream cheese), although I call it a brownie. So call it what you will – brownie/cheesecake/slice …… ” Well done for salvaging it with some keto frosting, I never like to waste baking so do this too if I make something not quite to my liking. I’m glad you liked the flavour and didn’t taste the eggs. You might also like my chocolate waffles. The texture is lovely.
Emma says
I made these yesterday and they are amazing. I’ve topped them with a vanilla butter cream cheese frosting and they are seriously to die for. Mine took 25 mins to cook at 180C. I did make sure that all the ingredients were at room temperature as I have had some baking fails using melted butter + cold eggs. I also decided to make extra work for myself by separating the eggs and whipping the whites into soft peaks, then folding them through the rest of the ingredients, which I’d beaten together separately. Oh, and my husband, who hates eggs, can’t taste the SIX eggs in the mixture, so that is a massive win. Definitely giving this recipe 10/10!
anne says
just finished baking them. I halved the recipe and only made 6. I also used a lined muffin silicon mould instead so it is portion controlled. Coconut oil was used instead of butter (because i had the perfect amount left in the jar) I accidentally put in a bit more cream cheese (70g) and cocoa powder (40g) seeing as i only have Jumbo size eggs at home. only 1.5Tbs of stevia, too (maybe I will up it to 2 TBS next time).
i ate one hot (i know, but how am i suppose to resist) and it was a bit pancake like, not really brownie, which i liked anyway. slightly egg-y, but i only had jumbo eggs so that was expected. Waiting for them to cool down so i can try them again.
this is a great recipe! so quick to make with my stick blender.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Viva la stick blenders! Wouldn’t be without mine (it even comes on holiday with us).
melanie says
Is it salted butter or plain? Thank you.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I use salted butter in all my recipes, but some butters in other countries vary enormously in how much salt they add. Taste before baking to see if you need extra sweetener or not.
Breovana says
Okay so, I’ve been on Keto diet for about a week now and I’m gonna try these tonight. I hope the kids enjoy them as well since I’m working to get my son off gluten. Thanks for the recipe I love the site!
Bal says
Hey guys, these seems like an awesome recipe, if i were to add in Coconut Flour… how would it change the recipe?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I have never tried it but I would guess from experience it would be a heavier brownie (rather than the cheesecake like texture), it would add some carbs and fibre, but it would be a great adaptation of the recipe. Let me know how you get on.
Shelby says
Hello! I just tried this recipe and the batter was SO thin almost like pancake batter! So I added some coconut flour to thicken it up. Is the batter supposed to be that thin or did I mess something up??
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It should be the consistency between the eggs and the solid cream cheese. Similar to heavy cream, possibly a little thicker. Make sure you are suing the right cream cheese.
Dale says
Any idea how these would be with out the artificial sweeteners?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I would find them too bitter and slightly eggy, but I do know of one reader who doesn’t use sweetener in anything – hard core!
Chelsea says
These are amazing, thank you! Made them last week and they were great, craving them again today and made with a third of the sweetner… yum! Delicious with cream and a few blueberries!
Joan says
I made these the other night using special dark cocoa. Definitely too bitter for me. But I am not giving up… I want to try again. would regular chocolate cocoa work? After reading other reviews, I am going to increase the sweetener. Looking forward to finding some brownies I can enjoy on low-carb diet.
Lynn says
yes, mine were really bitter too. I’m going to put some cream cheese frosting on them and see if that helps. I used swerve instead of stevia because stevia seems bitter to me.
Jeannette says
Hi, I am going to try this recipe very soon and cannot wait! I’m wondering though, do you think it would be possible to swirl in some peanut butter into the batter before baking? I love peanut butter brownies and I know by adding the peanut butter it will change the carb value, but I have some lower sugar peanut butter that I’d love to try adding to these. Let me know what you think!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yes yes yes, that would be incredible. I made it the other day with walnuts sprinkled inside and on top then cut them into bars. I love it when readers adapt my recipes – go for it.
Gen says
I have made these plenty of times and the kids love them, however I was wondering could I substitute the cream cheese with ricotta?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I’m sure you could. I tend to use cream cheese in all my recipes because it’s so much cheaper than ricotta here.
Sinclairabelle says
I don’t know if my first comment made it so I will try again…just finished making them. Let it cool on the counter for about 20 minutes. Taste test…love it!!! My question is, after refrigerating, will it firm up? again, thanks for the recipe!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Mine puffs up when coking, then collapses to a firm cheesecake/brownie/slice. Once it hits the fridge for a day, it firms up even more. In the winter I tend to keep it in the microwave (purely to keep the cat away) and in summer the fridge.
Lori foster says
is this net or total carb count
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
All my values are total carbs. Deduct the fibre to give you the net value.
Stevi Hardy says
Is the nutritional information for the entire pan, 1 brownie, or a gram amount?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Nutrition values are per serving unless stated otherwise.
Abby K says
Libby thank you so much for this recipe, I am surprised it actually tastes good! (I’ve tried others from the store -ugh). I don’t like baking, but I’ve got to get me and my family off sugar and eating healthy carbs. I am motivated to try your pizza and waffle recipe next. Maybe 🙂 one step at a time. I don’t usually like a website enough to comment either. I agree, you are the queen!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Aw bless you Abby. Thank you for such a lovely comment, and I feel honoured you took the time to comment. Good luck with all the new low carb baking ahead of you 🙂
Maria says
Thanks so much for this delicious recipe! It’s my son’s favourite. He even loves to help cook it. We think it is plenty sweet enough, we actually use less sweetner than suggested (however we don’t have a sweet tooth). We love it served with cream and raspberries. After it’s cooked, we cut it into pieces and freeze.
Kasey says
Yikes! I was so excited to make these and followed recipe as is and they tasted AWFUL! But the texture is on point to be potentially a good fudgy brownie, just needs a LOT more sugar or something sweet. In retrospect, 3 tablespoons of sugar is really not much at all. I think I will make again will a bunch more sugar and sub some other ingredients. Potential here I think but as is I preferred to not eat a brownie than eat these 🙁
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
All recipes state “sweetener to taste” – as I have mentioned before, this is the number one variable in low carb cooking because our sweet tooth is so different from each others depending on how long you have been sugar free. Some like it to have a lot, others none at all (yes, seriously) so I like my recipes to be somewhere in the middle. This is a great page to read regarding sweeteners.
Maria says
We LOVE this recipe and actually use LESS sugar than suggested! Preferences for the sweet taste definately differ between people.
Marion Basham says
Hot out of the oven Libby!! It puffed up so much, unbelievable. My question is when to cut them? When they are cooled a bit from cooking or after completely cooled in the fridge? Cant wait to taste!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I cut them once they have cooled, they seem to be more sturdy then.
Krystal says
Hi, I have been lchf for about 8 weeks now and I have been missing brownies like crazy. I came across your recipe and also can I just say this whole page is amazing! I have baked them and they are currently cooling. They smell just like actual brownies and look it too! Can’t believe they are low carb. I’m very excited to try some after dinner with some low carb vanilla ice cream and maybe a couple frozen raspberries 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you so much for they lovely and positive review Krystal. I am so pleased you love them so much and all my other recipes your are discovering. Welcome x
LittleMissLondon says
These turned out beautifully.
Initially I was worried when I tasted the batter that they weren’t chocolatey enough so I added another tablespoon of cacao powder (I was making a half batch) and also some coffee (used freeze dried decaff dissolved in a tiny bit of hot water) to give a deeper flavour. Used a mixture of honey and stevia for sweetness and then a added small handful of walnuts and blended in the Vitamix one last time. Cooked on gas Mark 4 for about 35 minutes. When I cut into it it looked very mousse-y but didn’t fall apart and with some single cream and sliced almonds on top it was as good as any expensive melting chocolate dessert I have ever bought! So yummy -thank you!
Storm Baynes-Ryan says
Hi Libby, this looks delicious, and I keep clicking on it – but we are dairy free. Is there a cream cheese alternative please? I’ve just searched online but can’t find a soy free alternative. Would a thick coconut cream or coconut yoghurt work? Is there anything else as one of our crew isn’t tolerating coconut right now unfortunately. Thanks, Storm
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
This recipe would take too many substitutions to work if you remade the cream cheese. You could adapt my berry flourless sponge, but remove the berries and add cocoa powder instead, and use coconut oil instead of butter (you may also need an extra egg for moisture). That is a great simple base recipe that can be adapted in many ways.
Jenn says
I followed your recipe as is (using 1/2 cup Truvia) and these turned out PERFECTLY for me! Very dense, moist, and fudgy yummm how will I resist eating them all at once! Thank you!!!
Michelle Babcock says
I never leave comments on anything, and when i usually try low carb desserts I am left feeling so sad and frustrated because it never taste good. I seriously have never found a homemade keto dessert recipe that actually tasted good until today. These actually taste like brownies. They took forever to cook and used alot of ingredients but it was worth it! I was so happy with how this turned out i just had to say something. I ate a brownie with some unsweetened almond milk and i am so satisfied. Thank you a million times over.😍
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Michelle thank you SO MUCH for this reply. I am having very mixed reviews for this recipe. I think readers are expecting a gooey, sticky, sugary brownie and maybe that’s why they’re disappointed. I’m thrilled that you loved it enough to make your first ever comment, you’re a star 🙂 🙂
carroll says
i just made these and i love them, but it took a lot longer than stated lol, i checked after 30 minutes and the middle was really runny, so it took another 20 minutes or so but a beautiful and very brownie like cake thank you 🙂
ps my first comment too
Trish says
Day one (and a half) of reading all your information and recipes. I just counted and I have 11, yes 11, tabs open on LCHF. LOL As the daughter of a baker, whose family bakery has been in business for over 70 years, the idea of weighing all the ingredients makes total sense since that is what we do. Funny thing is, I have never done it at home! I will from now on. I will be baking my first “good” scale today, along with a stick blender. I am so new to all this and have a hugeeee sweet tooth, but also several medical conditions and 40 lbs to lose!! Fingers crossed!! Thank you for all your wonderful information and recipes. I’m excited to begin this journey!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Welcome Trish. That’s so funny that you have 11 tabs open for LCHF. I totally get that. I thought I was the only one 😉 An yes baking b=y weight makes sooo much sense and so few dishes. I will try and change the world one baker at a time. So glad you have started on the LCHF journey. Good luck x
Debbie says
I made this two nights ago and I used liquid stevia and erythritol as the sweetener and I halved the recipe cause I didn’t have enough ingredients. I blended all the ingredients in my NutriBullet and then poured it into a large ramekin. I baked it at 150 degrees for about 20-30 mins and it turned out amazing!! The brownie mix was so delicious I had to stop myself from eating it so I had something to put in the oven! And I have to say it’s got a great texture even now, two days later. It’s so good with double cream. Thanks for this recipe, I’m always looking for recipes without coconut and almond flour.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you Debbie for this review. I am getting mixed replies over this recipe. I know it works, my kiddies make it. I’m so glad you loved it.
Debbie says
I made these again today and I think the NutriBullet probably helps. I’d suggest anyone having trouble should make sure they use a high powered mixer or blender. I don’t even think weighing the ingredients matters too much for me, as long as it’s all well mixed. They are 100x better when they’ve been refrigerated for a few hours!!
Julie says
Yes Libby, we’ve got to give you that … you always stress your recipes should be sweetened to the individual’s taste. Additionally, based on previous reviewer’s comments, I made note of that! 🙂 I forgot to add … I did use 1/2 butter/1/2 coconut oil. Your recipe needed no substantial changes–I just needed more egg to bring my measurements up to yours. Also, you stress weighing. The difference between metric measurements and cups/tablespoons is amazing! It can make all the difference in making or breaking a recipe. AND, this is me personally … I love adding cinnamon and/or black walnuts to nearly any dessert!
Julie says
After reading all the reviews (and there were a lot!) I made these Friday night. I’d been considering baking them (with some skepticism) for the past 6+ months. They turned out wonderfully!!! … light in substance w/good (and mostly even) rise.
Reasons I deliberated on making this recipe? Like others, I HATE to waste good ingredients that produce a fail; I’m a novice in the metric system; mousse-like consistency didn’t appeal to me for a brownie (I don’t consider my batch mousse-like).
Well, … the final product was not a fail, though they most likely would have been without weighing the ingredients. My 6 eggs were considerably shy of the 372 grams listed (I added plain egg whites to bring it up to measure). 60 grams of cocoa wiped me out! I nearly doubled the Swerve and added chopped black walnuts. I baked them in my convection oven at 350F for 25 minutes. PERFECT & YUM! Thank you, Libby … I will be making these again!!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you Julie for your review. I love your honesty explaining your reluctance to make these (I hate wasting ingredients and time too). I love your tips, and with all recipes I always say to add sweetener to YOUR taste because my sweet tooth will be completely different to anyone else. What a result, and I love the idea of adding walnuts. Brilliant idea. Thanks again.
Jules says
Another thank you here for using weights instead of cup measurements. I’m in the UK, and I have scales AND cups, but I think it’s far easier to plonk things on the scales rather than messing about cramming stuff like cream cheese into cups, then scraping them out again! Taking myself off to the kitchen to try this recipe now. Also, all the positive tips and comments are very much appreciated.
Thank you.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you Jules. I love cooking by weights as it is so much easier and so accurate. I cant bear having all those cups to wash up at the end too. Now off to the kitchen and enjoy those brownies 🙂
Susie says
Hi there! I was curious to what is the portion size?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
The recipe makes 12 servings.
Karen Ellerbe says
Just made these and they are pretty good! A little bitter, so I think next time I will add more sweetener, however they are quite enjoyable with some sweetened whipped cream!!! Thanks for this. I’ve been looking for a recipe that doesn’t require almond flour since my husband is extremely allergic to almonds!!! This is great!! I’ve only been on LCHF for about a week or so after taking a 6 month break, so my sweet taste is still pretty strong, but aside from that the texture and taste were both great!!
I used the suggestion from another commenter: I beat the eggs in a separate bowl. I melted the cream cheese and butter together in the microwave then mixed the cocoa into it. It came out nice and creamy. Then I put everything in a bowl together and used my hand mixer to mix it up really well. It was very liquidy which made me nervous at first, but I didn’t panic! Lol!!! I tasted it, added a ton more Truvia. It wasn’t quite sweet enough but at that point I was up to 5 tbsp so I just kept it at that!!!! Poured it in my baking dish, and baked it for about 35 minutes. The sides came up pretty high, but they went back down after removing from heat! Let it cool and tasted it! Success!!!! Nice and fluffy texture, not eggy at all!!!! YAY!!!! Definitely will be a staple in our house! Thanks so much!!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hey thanks for the tips Karen. Perfect that you added sweetener to your taste and a little at a time. That is the trickiest aspect to low carb cooking, we all have a different sweet tooth depending on how long we have been low carb. Add too much and it might be bitter, add too little and it might not be sweet enough.
As for your husband, I am making more recipes that use coconut flour instead of almond flour. Maybe have a look at my flourless berry sponge , keto waffles and pizza waffles.
Phoebe says
How many tablespoons of cocoa powder, please?!?! thank you
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I am slowly updating older recipes but for now take a look at my conversion page. All new recipes are now both metric and imperial.
Sharon McLeskey says
mmm, what a lovely chocolatey dessert…I made it last night and am eating it right now.
Heather Ai says
Wow! What a great recipe! I am a gastric bypass patient so can’t have all the carbs that are in regular brownies. I try to stay “on program” (hence the need for bariatric surgery to begin with) but gosh, a brownie would be so good every once in a while.
I followed your instructions and the only deviation I made was that I added nuts and some sugar free caramel flavor in addition to the vanilla extract. I didn’t have enough granulated Truvia so had to use half granulated truvia and half powdered-type Trader Joe’s stevia. It came out just perfect. I used unsweetened dark cocoa powder (Hershey’s, but will use a fancier version the next time I cook).
I baked more than the 25 minutes — probably closer to 35 or 40 minutes because @ 25 it was still rather liquidy.
For the people who had weird consistency — I used my kitchenaid and mixed those eggs like crazy with the whisk while doing my other prep. They came out quite frothy. I then added the butter and let it whip some more. I let the cream cheese soften at room temp and added that square by square, beat with the paddle attachment and added the dry ingredients and beat well until everything was incorporated. The outcome was very light and fluffy, but not like a soufflé and not like an omelet.
Great job. Thank you SO MUCH. Oh–and the kicker…my non-bariatric husband, who is very particular, loved these brownies
Pat Gurney says
Hi. I made these last night. Followed the recipe apart from only having xylitol as a sugar substitute and think I should have added a bit more, despite tasting the batter. Nevertheless really liked them served with Greek yoghurt and blueberries which I would normally have had for breakfast. Thanks for the recipe (and all those that I will be working my way through,)
Heather Greyvelle says
ok, i made the recipe last night. it was very easy to do. i did make some changes… i used 2 tsp caramel extract instead of vanilla, based on a comment i read. it gave it a lovely depth of flavor and a sweetness that vanilla doesn’t. i loved it. i added just a tad of salt, also, and my sweetener of choice was liquid sucralose, about 1/2 teaspoon. i also beat the heck out of the eggs in a separate dish, warmed the cream cheese and butter in a different dish in the microwave, and mixed the powdered cocoa with that and it went in like a dream. then i mixed the two together and it was seamless. i cooked it 10 degrees (F) cooler because i think my oven runs hot, and it had to cook 35 minutes before it was done. it also raised up around the edges about 3 inches or so higher than the center, perhaps because the oven temp was a little cooler. it was plenty sweet, with a bitter hint under there somewhere – a taste that i liked. i think the caramel extract really played well with that. i liked the fresh baked version best, with the chilled overnight one good but definitely a different texture. i really like the cheesecake texture (which i think some folks are calling eggy). this is the the best brownie recipe i’ve found so far ever (short of the boxed poison-to-my-body variety). usually lc and keto chocolate recipes are too bitter for me, and the brownies and cakes too dry. neither of those were a problem with these little gems. this recipe is a total winner!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Wow, awesome suggestions and tips Heather. Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know. I’ll have to see if I can find caramel extract and give this a go. Libby.
Debbie Thompson says
Hi there, these sound great and I’m going to have a go at making them later. Does anybody know how long they can be kept for and can they be frozen. Thanks Debbie
Sharon says
Mine did not freeze well, taste remained great but the texture changed. It is not stopping me from eating them! Since I am the only one in the house eating LCHF, need to freeze treats so I can prolong the joy! Next time I will try to make half the recipe. If anyone has freezing tips, I would love to hear them!
Julie says
Just wondering … could egg whites be subbed for 1 or 2 whole eggs? … making sure to include a total of 372g (62 grams x 6) in the recipe? I’m not typically one to request substitutes but the reason for my question is two-fold: I made ice cream this week and have quite a few egg whites that I’d hate to waste 🙂 and, (2) some reviewers have commented that their end product was a little eggy or souffleish. Could this possibly remedy that concern?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
That would be an entirely different recipe and I would have to make many trial and error attempts. If you make it and are successful, come back and let me know. If you have left over egg whites you could make these macaroons.
Sam DeFranco says
These look great and healthy but question: is it 6 eggs or egg whites? I saw the previous comment and was confused
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Whole eggs.
Jessica Macias says
This looks amazing so I had to try it! However, my attempt not so successful. I think it may have been the measurements (I eyeballed the .2/.6 ounces) since I do not have the exact tools or a scale…yet! Or could it have been that I baked these in a muffin pan? Or did I mix the ingredients too long? When I took them out of the oven they looked delicious, exactly like muffins. When I bit into it, it was hollow in the middle and you could see little specs of the cream cheese. I couldn’t stop laughing at the results! I’m new to this so I’m definitely going to keep trying to perfect this once I get a scale. Thank you for your website, very insightful and your recipes look incredible!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hmm, I think it’s a combination of all 3 – no scales, eyeballing, muffin pan. Did you use a stick blender? I really recommend if nothing else you buy scales and a stick blender. I use both of these daily and they aren’t that expensive. Take a look here at what I keep in my pantry. The stick blender would have got rid of those lumps, and yes sometimes it does puff up while cooking then it settles down as it cools. I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless and I’m sure your next attempt will be perfection 🙂
Jessica Macias says
Thank you so much for the reply! I figured everything that went wrong was all of the above. I’m definitely going to purchase a scale and stick blender! Using a scale seems so much simpler then trying to convert, especially since math is not my specialty. Thanks again, I’m looking forward to trying your other recipes!
memeloekman says
I’ve tried it yesterday evening and it tastes really good! I would try to add almond flour next time. I’ve eaten it with Sucolin sweetened blueberry jam. The are really delicious. Perhaps I’ll add blueberries inside to. Yummy!
Kimberly Brown says
I tried this last night and it turned out horrible. Tasted more like a soufle’ instead of a brownie. Not sweet at all.
Jen says
Mine was so salty it was inedible! Followed recipe so confused as to why it’s tasted so bad
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It sounds like you maybe added too much stevia (bitterness and saltiness are often confused) as there isn’t anything really salty in the recipe.
Anjanee says
It could have been salty from using salted butter. At first mine was also not very sweet. I use erythritol which is only 60% sweeter than sugar. Stevia is 250-300 times sweeter than sugar. So I add an extra cup and it tasted way better. However, the texture after it was baked was very “eggy”.
katherine Marshall says
I think it needed more sweetener and the consistency was more like mousse than firm like a brownie. Probably because it had no flour?
Kylie says
Turned out great!! Tastes amazing. Thanks Libby!
Heather Williamson says
I made these last night and they turned out SO GOOD! Definitely a hit with my husband! I will definitely be making these again! I couldn’t find carb smart ice cream that I wanted to eat with these so I just topped them with whipped cream and it was delicious!
Side note: I started making them and realized I didn’t have any vanilla extract in the house so I had to make them without and they were still really good.. I can’t wait to make them again but with vanilla added.
Emily Knight - UK says
Amazing recipe. I’ve been having these (I make 10 in a batch cause I’m greedy) crumbled over yogurt at breakfast when I don’t face the smell of eggs.. which is now every day because these taste just lush. I get 212.3 kcal, 6.8g Protein, 20g fat, and 6.4 carb (2.6 fibre) in each brownie and they are my favourite thing that has ever happened in the world. thank you so much!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Emily, you are a dream follower 🙂
Variamus says
Hello,
I’ve done this, it was fairly easy (during lunch break!) but, probably of the bad quality of my mixer, it raised up only on the sides. I will re-do it another time just to make sure.
Anyways, would you kindly tell me what is the average weight of a slice for you? (to compare with mine)
Jane says
I made this last night. I used butter and used someone’s suggestion to add the eggs last. I used about 4-5 Tablespoons of Splenda for sweetener. I was worried that I might have over beat it and it was a bit lumpy. It baked up great! I also used another suggestion to serve it chilled and love that. Thank you for sharing. I will definitely be making this again!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you Jane for the lovely feedback 🙂
Cristina Javiera Lowery says
Hi! I just made this and i dont know what i did wrong! It came out like a thick omelette! And not sweet at all. Only thing i did different (i think) is that i double the recipe because my was too big lol. For sweetener i used splenda. What do you think i did wrong? I need to up my egg intake and i miss brownies like crazy so this recipe is just perfect for me!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It sounds like you didn’t adjust the sweetener (I always say “sweetener of choice to taste”). Always, always taste recipes before baking them so you don’t waste wonderful but expensive ingredients.
Cristina Javiera Lowery says
What about it having it the consistency of of a thick omelette? What do you guess i did wrong there? I really wanna make this right!
Nikki says
I just made this with Splenda and it turned out fantastic! I first creamed everything but the eggs so I could adjust sweetness (ended up with 3/4 cup Splenda). Then added eggs and baked the 25 minutes stated. If t didn’t work for you, it possible either you didn’t use an electric mixer (helps with the cake texture) or it was overcooked. Good luck on your next batch! They’ll be worth it!
Scott says
I just made this using 3 TBS of Splenda and had the same experience as Christina – not sweet at all. (I didn’t try tasting the batter first due to the raw egg.)
What is the conversion from “granulated stevia” to real sugar? Splenda is 1 to 1. I’m guessing based on my results that “granulated stevia” is not 1 to 1. (A pet peeve of mine regarding low-carb recipes is that the authors post their favorite sugar substitute without the real sugar conversion leaving the reader guessing but I digress.)
I was able to save them however, in fact, something delightful happened. I cut them up in 1″ squares and covered them with Swerve Confectioners Style sugar replacement. (Swerve is Erythritol – 1 to 1 sugar replacement). I put them in a plastic bag and shook some more Swerve over the top and threw them in the fridge overnight. The next day the Swerve seemed to dissolve and fuse with the brownies and consistency changed to that of best light crumbly fudge. They are delicious! I will definitely make again but next time will start with 3/4 cup of Splenda based on Nikki’s comment.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hi Scott, all my recipes use granulated stevia (no brands are offered so I don’t fall into your pet peeve category) that measure spoon for spoon 1:1 in place of sugar. I always, always say add according to YOUR taste as we are all on different parts of our sugar free journey and so your sweet tooth may be different to anothers. I also tell readers they must taste their baking before cooking and I also tell them you can always salvage a recipe by serving with whipped sweetened cream. For the record I do use Splenda and you can look at this page to see all the ingredients I keep in my pantry.
Great that you managed to fix the problem and they were delicious. 🙂
Randy says
Chill it for a few hours—the texture gets better when it’s very cold. Also, sweeten it up with some sugar-free chocolate syrup and/or sugar-free jam and some sweetened whipped cream!
katherine Marshall says
When you mean better do you mean firmer?
Derena says
Hi Libby,
A thousand thanks for publishing such lovely recipes. It’s hard work and much appreciated. That’s why I read the recipe and the comments before posting questions. How many times exactly do you have to answer the same questions over and over because people are too lazy to read what you have taken pains to write?
Obviously there are some really good and thoughtful people who pose good suggestions and questions, but negative comments and silliness just wreck my head!
I am so glad that I found your site and I shall be making so many of your recipes. Fair play to you.
Derena from Ireland.
P.s. thanks for gram weights. Baking is a science and weight measures are more specific for me, as I never know how to do cups (should you pack stuff into cups, etc)
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Oh my word, I am sending you a virtual hug today Derena. I try my best to be gracious to those who do not read the recipe nor the comments. I should have some replies on auto respond 😉 And thank you for supporting the cooking by weight issue. I have always used weight as it is so accurate and so easy, just ‘tare’ the electric scale in between each addition. Super simple an makes less waste. If I had a comment of the day award, you would earn it today. Libby 🙂 x
Kathy says
This recipe looks wonderful! What do I use to line the baking pan?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I use baking paper, or you may call it baking parchment etc. It ensures the brownie comes clean away from the baking dish.
Miss M (@maraphina78) says
Is there a way to get this recipe in cups and full ounce measurements? Or are these done in weights and not fluid measurements?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
All my recipes are done by weight which is far more accurate and most countries don’t measure cream cheese or butter by the cup. Take a look at my conversion page, it might also help. I am writing all recipes in grams and are now adding the equivalent in ounces for all my American readers.
Lu says
Too complicated. No help at all. I’ll look elsewhere for recipes that use common measurements. Some of us are busy people and we don’t have time to measure by weight, nor do all of us have the money to purchase scales.
kristina says
Libby, thank you for posting with weight! I think this is far more accurate than by cups and if anything produces a more consistent result. I’ve definitely noticed a movement being made by many in the US going towards using weight measurements like most of Europe and Asia.
Contrary to what Lu says, this is very useful information and a true baker would know the value and have a scale in their kitchen. For everyone else, this just means more brownies for us!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you Kristina, I needed your lovely comment today. I do this website in my spare time and try my best to accommodate everyone as I am fortunate to be international. Yes baking with weight is so more accurate and gives consistent results. I will persevere and show how easy it is to cook by weight. I am adding cups where I can but it is so unreliable I would then get everyone complaining their recipe was too wet or too dry. More brownie all round I say 😉
Kate says
I agree with Kristina……. FAR easier to follow a recipe by weight! And I dont know who cant afford kitchen scales? *rolls eyes* Mine were like $7 off ebay lol
Thanks for all your delicious recipes……. Cant wait to get through them all!!! 🙂
Im just worried Ill eat all the brownies at once!!!! haha
Anna says
I know this is an old post, but i just had to reply to Kristina’s comment above. I live in Georgia, and grew up with grandmothers that used typical wet/dry measuring cups, or the oh so fun ” dump, pour, taste, and fix method”. (Granny Faye, you know I’m talking to you 😂) however I also went to culinary school where we were taught to weigh everything pretty much. I can tell you this, weighing your ingredients will always make your recipe turn out right. Every! Single! Time! It saves you time and money, because you’re not throwing said money in the trash everytime your recipe comes out nasty. In the US a kitchen scale can be bought at walmart for 10 bucks or less, so it Irks me for people to say, “oh I dont have the money for those kinds of things” take some of the money you are saving by not buying all that junk food you were, and go buy yo’self a kitchen scale. You’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it.
K, I’m done. Soap box officially put away.
Yvonne Chrisostomou says
Thank you so much for sharing your great recipes. So much appreciated . Yvonne ☺
JoeyJoJoJuniorShabbadoo says
Lu, that was the most ridiculous comment ever. I see you have no time to measure ingredients but definitely time to type mean comments. And a scale can be found for very little. P.S. she also took the time to post a conversion chart but I’m assuming you also don’t have the time to click that link. So. Rude.
Jw says
How Rude!
Thank you for posting in accurate measures. We don’t use cups in the UK, we use scales, most of which have a little button that swaps easily between grams and ounces. I’m put off by recipes in cups as they bare no meaning over here.
Looking forward to trying this recipe though, looks delicious!
Heather Greyvelle says
i also used to think weighing was cumbersome and time consuming and just too much trouble. that was before i tried making a recipe that way! to my astonishment, i discovered it actually cut down the measuring and adding time by at least half or 3/4, and cut clean up time to the bone. plus, no more scraping and scraping to get sticky stuff out of the measuring cup, poking it around trying to smash it in with no air-holes to start with, no washing it up after. i simply tare out the scale, plop or drizzle in until the weight is the correct number, and set the container back in the cupboard. omg, what a difference! after that first try, i was hooked. i am very grateful that you post recipes in weight! it makes my life so much easier. here is one grateful american. (not to mention the yummy recipes themselves).
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
YAYYYY, sending you a virtual high five. Once you give it a go, it is easier beyond belief, with less mess. Thank you my grateful American friend 🙂
Debra says
I made these today and they are delicious! The whole family loves them, cannot believe they are flour-less! I entered the recipe (exactly as you have it written) into My Fitness Pal and the amount of carbs came out as 7 per piece, not 1; all the other numbers you have for fat, fiber, protein are the same. I was wondering if you had any idea why there would be this discrepancy? Thank you!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Well this sent me on a mission. I went back through my saved recipe on MFP and found an error for the unsweetened cocoa values. I even got my bag of cocoa out of the pantry to compare and MFP is incorrect. I have updated the nutrition value with the correct values. This is exactly why I stopped using MFP for quite some time as they have too many user added entries which are incorrect. There are also values which are net or total carb values depending on the country of origin. Thanks for pointing this discrepancy out. I have used chronometer.com for some time now so and are slowly going back through my old posts and updating them. Always use my nutrition panels only as a guide and for complete accuracy, calculate using the brands of foods you used to bake with. Thanks Debra for being a keen set of eyes for me. Libby.
Shannon says
I use My Fitness Pal as well. However, after having multiple recipes I added come up with weird nutrition data, I googled it and found out that many people have issues with this. Apparentlybits not always accurate. Kind of makes adding your own recipes pointless and I was definitely disappointed. Maybe this is why yours is coming up with a different carb count?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I think so. I have given up on MFP. I use chronometer or ketodietapp.
Annissa Slusher says
This cake looks delicious! I love the smooth sheen on the top! Pinning!
Natalia says
Hi, can you please tell me how much packets stevia would that be? where I live we don’t have granulated sweetners, only real sugar… I made this with 10 packets and it was too bitter for my taste, so I think I did that wrong, everything else was just like the recipe and they turn out lovely and very firm, not grease at all, just bitter to my taste. Thank you for the recipe anyway!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I can’t tell you how many packets because each brand is slightly different. If you added 10 packets however and the taste was bitter, I think you may have overdone it. Too much stevia will leave a bitter taste. If you bake something and it turns out to be not sweet enough for you, you can always rescue it by serving with sweetened whipped cream. Never throw it away. 🙂
Michelle Stewart says
Made these tonight and they are delicious!!! I only had a bread pan (my 8 x 8 seems to have gone missing), so I had to bake a bit longer. Even so, they turned out YUMMMMMMY! Seriously like chocolate cake. 🙂
Thank you for the recipe. Excited to have a great tasting dessert that is super easy to make and very low carb.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yay Michelle, I am super excited you love them. They are pretty easy and pretty adaptable huh? I think many readers seem to love or hate these depending on their sweet tooth. Enjoy finding some new low carb treats here. Libby
August says
Tried this tonight. Added 9 packets of stevia and followed the recipe. They turned out super oily, bitter and eggy. 🙁
Was so looking forward to these but alas, in the trash they went.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Firstly I think you may have added too much stevia which can cause the bitterness in excess, and secondly did you use a stick blender with the blade attachment? I emphasise this in the recipe as the mixture needs to be emulsified in this recipe. Hand blending will always give an oily result. Don’t be discouraged, and don’t throw it away. You can usually salvage most recipes with sweetened whipped cream if the final result isn’t to your taste. Always taste before baking and adjust the sweetener to your liking. Those who have been sugar free for a long time will require less sweetener to those just starting out.
Rachel Kacsur says
you have a lovely way of responding to folks who are frustrated! thanks for all you are doing to make the world a better place ; )
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
🙂 🙂 🙂
Gulshan says
Is it possible if I use 3 eggs and use half of the ingredients you described here? My dietic cacoa powder is not dark enough so I do want less eggy taste.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I have never tried half the mixture but I’m sure that would work. The trick to the less egg taste is to bend with the blade attachment of the stick blender and enough sweetener, or even add some more vanilla also.
Martin says
Works exactly as described, collapses just right . Couldn’t be any simpler . =]
Tamara says
I am new to lchf although been gf for nearly 2 years. I really love your recipes and have tried 3 already this week which have all been amazing! Where do you get the time for doing it whilst working and being a mum wow! I also love cooking but am really struggling with sweeteners. I HATE them. I have tried but they are just too sweet and I can tell that they have been used even in a small amount. Even the natural ones give me a headache i.e in drinks etc. What can I use instead?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Tamara what a sweetheart for being so lovely. I’m not too sure where I find the time, luckily I only work part time as a pharmacist and this has become more and more of my focus now. I manage to work around the children’s routines and squeeze things in when I can. Maybe I need to train them to run my site. They’re far more tech savvy than me 😉 As for sweeteners, I use a blend of stevia and erythritol
natvia
brand. But maybe you don’t need any sweeteners at all if you find them too sweet? I only use a fraction of what most low carb recipes use, I cant imagine using cups of sweetener like other recipes call for, more like tablespoons. Or how about stevia drops? I personally don’t use them because it’s too easy to accidentally add a drop too much but it may suit you being stevia and nothing else?me says
What can I substitute for cream cheese in this? Any ideas. I cannot have dairy, wheat OR cane sugar! (I bake with honey as a sweetener).
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
You can’t really substitute the cream cheese as it is a major ingredient and it would change the recipe completely. I’ll see if I can come up with a dairy free recipe soon 🙂
Angie C says
What about dairy free cream cheese? Doesn’t earth’s best or someone make one? I know I’ve used one before for cheesecake…. (son anaphylactic to dairy)
T says
Any update on dairy free option?
Bao says
I tried but i also got the soufflé texture and bitter taste (my fault for not tasting the batter before putting it into the oven and im not used to using sweetener yet beside adding them to coffee)
I think the texture is due to the hand mixer (i dont have hand blender), it adds too much air inside the batter i guess?
JB says
This is beyond delicious, absolutely loved it. I halved the recipe, used all butter (no coconut oil), and a quarter cup of swerve for the sweetener; added crumbled 85% dark chocolate on top before popping in the oven. Will have to bake another batch before Christmas as they’re almost all gone! Thanks so much for this lovely recipe. x
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thank you JB for such a glowing reference of the keto brownie recipe, and I love your suggestions. It’s such an adaptable recipe to which you can add anything you fancy 🙂
JamesG says
When I made this twice, I can’t get it to a brownie consistency but rather a soufflé type. Do I need to bake it longer?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
No it ends up more like a sturdy cheesecake texture than a crispy brownie, I’ll work on that idea soon 🙂
JustFluffy says
I made these today, been on keto for 4.5 months. Even though I read that they were more like a baked cheesecake, I wasn’t expecting the texture. I’m not a fan of dark chocolate so this was too bitter for me – if I make them again, I will add more Splenda and maybe more vanilla. I tasted the batter AFTER putting it in the dish and and that point I didn’t feel like re-mixing it, which was my fault. Still an easy recipe though and I’m thankful to have found it on Reddit.
Krista says
I find when using cocoa powder adding salt helps with the bitterness. I usually add a little pink himalayan salt and things turn out tasty.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Brilliant suggestion. Yes I often add salt to sweet baking to bring out the favours (an old chef trick is to add salt and fat to their dishes – they know a thing or two).
madeactually says
I’m on a Ketogenic diet and made these today so I’d have something for a dessert on Thanksgiving. I used coconut oil and butter together, added in walnuts and for sweetener I used Xylitol. They turned out very good and I’ll be making them again. Thanks for the recipe!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I love hearing how everyone adapts my recipes, that’s the beauty of them, making them our own. Thanks for the lovely comment 🙂
Allison says
I just made these to bring for thanksgiving tomorrow and OMG are they good! I love that they have a crust but the inside is like mousse. Definitely amazing with whipped cream on top and I can’t wait to have more tomorrow 🙂 I think I may have added a bit too much stevia as it was a little bitter/sharp taste but still so amazing
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thanks Allison, and I am so happy you liked them. Yes stevia can be tricky but once you get used to the amount and sweetness you require it gets easier. Personally I use less rather than more to avoid that bitter aftertaste and then if it turns out not sweet enough, you can always serve with sweetened whipped cream and berries. I hate waste 😉
Kathi says
These brownies are fantastic! I’ve made them a few times and they always come out perfectly. I highly recommend trying them if you haven’t already.
Andrea says
So, this turned out really strange for me. It rose all around the edges, sunk in the middle, and was still very eggy, even though I blended more than thoroughly. And ideas??
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
If it was eggy, I always advise you to see which cocoa powder you are using, if it is not chocolatey enough, add more and more stevia to your personal taste. And yes it does puff up, then settle into a firm slice.
Hazel Porter says
I made these tonight exactly as written for the base and added a few pecans and Lily’s chocolate chips to the top. Neither of those sank in, which surprised me. Smelled like heaven while baking and what a treat to eat! I used Truvia for baking and it was just the right sweetness and not bitter nor eggy to me. Thank you for such an awesome recipe and I will definitely make this again and again.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thanks Hazel, I love your idea of pecans and chic chips – what a fabulous suggestion 🙂
@jpfitnessdiary says
Just made these and they turned out amazing. I love the soft and moist texture! Thanks for the lovely recipes. 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Brilliant, I am so glad you loved them. 🙂
Ian A says
Tried this recipe a couple of times and it is excellent. I used erythritol not stevia and it was fine.
They are nice by themselves but a couple of suggestions to try:
– with cream
– with strawberries/blueberries and cream
Non-keto partner also made a dessert – this brownie as the base while still hot, covered with Baileys and topped with whipped cream…!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Far out, that sounds amazing with Baileys and whipped cream. I haven’t had Baileys in years, maybe I need to make a low carb version. I love a challenge 😉
Randy Walker says
I love the texture of this brownie. If you’re judging sweetener by tasting the batter, add more than you think you should. I noticed that sweetness is lost in cooking.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Great idea, thanks Randy.
Ev says
Have made this so many times, so yummy especially with cream. Thanks Libby ☺
TW says
Made them, tasted great except for the strong stevia blend taste that was strong at the end of the bite. Otherwise they are awesome. I did notice that next time, I will add the melted coconut oil last cause it clumped up terribly. I topped it with whipped cream and was good ok, except for that strong stevia blend taste.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Always add ‘sweetener to taste’. Taste before adding any more, as you can always add more, but you can’t take it out. It shouldn’t matter if the coconut oil clumps, because the beauty of this recipe is that it all gets blended with the blade attachment of the stick blender. Glad you liked it.
Tamara says
I’m confused how do I measure with ounces? I only use measuring cups, do u know what cups I should use ?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Most people use an electric scale and zero between each addition. It is so accurate compared with cups (and cups vary from country to country) and so many ingredients cant be measure in cups such as cream cheese, coconut oil etc.
Shelley says
No, MOST people don’t have a scale. It sounds delish but now that I’ve seen the “measurements” I don’t dare make it! What shame! 🙁
Breanna says
These are my favorite! I’ve made them twice now and they’ve turned out perfectly both times. Would highly recommend weighing the ingredients as the recipe recommends. I converted the amounts on the first batch and it still turned out but definitely better the second time.
I love these brownies as a dessert with whipped cream and raspberries – so decadent! I also find myself eating them for breakfast because it’s easy to grab one when I’m running out the door in the morning.
Thanks, Ditch the Carbs!!! You make staying on track with a Keto diet attainable! 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Breanna what a lovely comment. They’re pretty decadent aren’t they, yet really simple. I’m so glad they have become a regular with you, wait until you see another flavour I have developed soon. Watch this space!
Sonny says
Hi…I’m super confused and terrible with math.. What is the size of 1 serving?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Great question. The recipe serves 12 so I use a square or rectangle dish and cut 4 rows across and 3 rows down = 12.
Lindsey pena says
Mine was watery is that normal while blending
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It should be liquid, unlike any other brownie you have probably made before. Quite similar to the consistency of heavy cream.
Diane says
Confused. Help please. I’m wanting to cut recipe in half. I have a scale that measures in grams. Are ingredients measured by weight (as is grams or ounces) or by volume using measuring cups. I am confusing myself by overthinking! So half of 100g is 50g and half of 2.2oz is 1.1oz but are they by weight or volume? Hope you follow me on this. Am I going crazy? Thanks much!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
No problem, they are by weight. I used to use cups but they are so inaccurate and there are US and UK cups so I do everything on my electric scales by g and oz. I occasionally use cups or ml for liquids (or in some older recipes here that I haven’t updated yet).
weinaus says
Trying to figure out how much butter, cream cheese and cocoa . . . why tsp then g???
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I write all my recipes in grams and teaspoons as metric and cooking by weight is accurate and the best way too cook. I have now been through over 200 recipes and converting them into cups (volume) for my readers who still like to cook the old fashioned way. No one weighs out half a teaspoon, which is why I continue to use it rather than stating 2.5g 🙂
Mayren says
Your brownies look delicious!! But I have a question, does the cream cheese has to be softened? Or does it have to be cold?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It can be straight from the fridge! The beauty of this recipe is that it gets blitzed with the stick blender so easy peasy.
Jenny Williams says
I tried this recipe tonight and substituted butter for the coconut oil as I am allergic. I used Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa but I suppose it wasn’t rich enough? They taste eggy. I used 1 more TBSP of Stevia. Is there any way we can use 1 more tsp of vanilla flavoring in this? I mixed it very good.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Absolutely add more vanilla if you like. I made it the other day without cocoa and just vanilla – oh my word, I love vanilla. This recipe is quite divisive as there are those who have been sugar free and low carb for some time and absolutely love this, others who are just starting out find it quite bitter, especially if their cocoa is not rich enough. I am finding a few people are using drinking cocoa not baking cocoa which won’t cover the egg taste enough, you can always add more cocoa also. Always taste the mixture and adjust before baking to be sure. You can also serve it with berries and cream if it is not sweet enough.
misst says
yum!!! Thank you! How long does it store for or does it freeze ok?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
It probably wouldn’t freeze very well, but I keep mine in the fridge in the summer and in the pantry on the winter for 3 days.
kristy says
Anyone know whether these freeze ok? Seems unlikely, but though I’d ask
S says
can cream cheese be subbed? by heavy cream or yogurt?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sorry but I doubt it. It won’t bake as firmly as cream cheese does.
Emily says
I tried to convert from metric to US, and obviously failed. My batch was bitter and not sweet at all. I was so excited to have a good way of adding fat into my LCHF diet, because I am not doing well at the high fat part.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
The only way it would be bitter is probably due to your stevia you use. I use
Natvia
which is a blend of erythritol and stevia and doesn’t have any bitter taste. Most of the stevia drops are too easy to under/over dose. If you want to add more fat, take a look at my range of fat bombs. But first find a stevia that works for you and taste between each addition.Szilvia says
fantastic recipe but pls, there IS coconut in it! 😀 otherwise its great for my boyfriend on keto diet who DIES for chocolate 🙂
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Contains “no coconut flours or shredded coconut”, so yes there is coconut oil in there, but none of the coconut flour that some people find gives low carb recipes an odd texture, and no shredded coconut that so many low carb recipes are based on. I use coconut oil as often as I can but you can easily substitute it for butter if you prefer. I’m so glad your keto boyfriend loves chocolate, he’s a keeper 😉
Teresa says
Thank you for giving a substitute for the oil. I was so excited when I read no nuts no coconut! Then disappointed when I read the ingredients. I’m allergic to both 🙁
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sorry, it means no coconut flavour, shredded coconut or coconut flour – all of which are pretty much in all low carb baking. But yes if you have an allergy, use butter – yay!
Donella says
I don’t have a stick blender . What could I use instead? Would my hand mixer work or maybe my Ninja blender with blades.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
I’m sure your Ninja would work brilliantly. Anything that really stops the mixture going lumpy.
Samantha says
Can these be stored room temp?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Yes, i keep them in an airtight container, or they sit in the baking dish in my microwave to stop me looking at them 😉
k8jede says
Got a recipe for blondies? My niece can’t have chocolate, otherwise this recipe would be okay for her.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
How about a baked cheesecake? Just don’t cover it with the chocolate ganache. It is a vanilla flavour so would maybe suit her?
AJ says
This is more of a review of this recipe for anyone glancing at the comments trying to decide if they should make this, (since that’s what I tend to do) than an actual comment to Libby (however, please be assured that I enjoyed this recipe immensely and applaud your culinary creativity).
I made this almost exactly to specification except that I used 20 grams of honey as my sweetener (I have stomach problems with many calorie free sweeteners so often I will either go without or splurge on a small amount of honey) and to be honest I would probably use a little bit more next time. I noticed some of the commenters had a problem with the batter being too runny so I added the eggs last in a 3-2-1 pattern just in case I had a problem, but I didn’t. The batter was a perfect consistency for me.
I let the finished product cool for about 15 minutes before tasting and I have to admit that at first I wasn’t very impressed. I thought the consistency was too egg-y for a brownie replica; but, not one to be detoured or discouraged, I put them in the fridge to chill for a few hours and found that the consistency changes to a more solid mousse texture which was very nice.
Because I had not used enough sweetener in mine, they turned out quite bitter, but still delicious. To fix this I made a mixture of cream cheese, heavy cream, almond extract, and vanilla extract and spread that on top of the brownies with some crushed blackberries on top of that. Depending on your personal carbohydrate/sugar needs are when making the recipe this may or may not be an option for you if you need a quick fix, but it worked well for my blunder.
For anyone trying to decide to make this, I’d recommend it! It is a fantastic low carb substitution for brownies and it is very simple to make.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hey thanks AJ for those tips. I too always read comments in blogs, you get honest feedback there 😉 If anyone has had a difficulty with this recipe, I have emailed them back and forth and together we worked out there have been 2 problems – 1) not used a stick blender with the blade attachment so the mixture has not been mixed thoroughly enough or 2) they have not used dark enough cocoa powder (don’t use the drinking stuff, too bland). These 2 tips, along with your fabulous suggestions will really help. The other thing with all low carb recipes, depending on how long you have been low carb, and depending on how sweet you like things, will determine whether you like it or not. If you are used to a sweet cake with frosting, you may want to add more sweetener to the keto brownie. Low carb baking is so more variable than regular baking because of how far along the low carb journey we all are.
Thanks for commenting and giving your tips AJ, Libby 🙂
Liz Nichols says
Thank you SO much for this recipe, the kiddies love it and can take it to school!!! Absolutely brilliant!! If you have more nut free recipes that are good for lunch boxes (baked type things) I would LOVE to see them, I so want the kiddies to enjoy this way of eating with us but I really struggle with their lunches. Thank you again, absolutely delish!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thanks Liz, I’m working on it for sure. My older 2 can take nuts but my youngest can’t so I know how you feel. Try my Grain Free Granola Bars. I have made them with just a mixture of seeds, and no nuts, and they were brilliant to take to school. Add cinnamon, ginger, whatever you fancy then drizzle with 90% (or dark) chocolate – yummo.
Robyn F. says
I made this tonight. It tastes pretty good BUT the texture is that of a baked chocolate cheesecake. Not only is the top shiny, so it the inside. It definitely didn’t thicken into a mousse like consistency but was ire chocolate milk like. I’ll have to try again.
Tammy says
You don’t know how happy I am to find this recipe! So tired of the coconut flavor and I have an allergy to tree nuts so no almond flour which is in so many low carb recipes. I can’t wait to try these. Thank you so much!!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Brilliant Tammy. You’re exactly the kind of person who I developed this for. Soooo many people are telling me they are so fed up, dislike, or are allergic to coconut flour and shredded coconut. I’ve already had people baking this and posting pictures of their results on Facebook. Some are adding walnuts and all other things to their liking too. Enjoy xxx
sally says
I’ve also an allergy to coconut as well as tree nuts and need to be low carb too. I also need a good recipe for a crumble mix that the whole family can eat.
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hi Sally, You can remove the coconut oil in these keto brownies and replace entirely with butter if you like. As for a crumble mixture, that would be really tricky as most are based on shredded coconut or nuts such as ground almonds, both of which are not suitable for you. I’m thinking you could perhaps try ground seeds such as pumpkin, sunflower, linseeds etc and flavour with cinnamon, nutmeg and add melted butter and sweetener to form a crumble topping.
lowcarbdiabeticJan says
Great recipe idea again Libby … and yes children / school have to be so careful with nut allergies etc.
All the best Jan
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Thanks Jan. Have you joined my diabetic group boards on Pinterest yet? Follow me there then I can add you too 🙂
Natalie says
I tried these today, and not sure what I did wrong but it looked like chocolate milk going in and it puffed up in the oven almost over the edge of the tin. Also it tasted like a ccoa flavored omelette not brownie. Do you think the eggs I used were too large? I’ve checked the recipe a few times and I am sure I got it right 🙁
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hmm, yes maybe your eggs were too large? I cannot think of anything else. I’ve just weighed my eggs to help you out and they average 62g if that is of any help. When my mixture is made it is more the consistency of a thick unset mousse. The cream cheese, butter and coconut oil start to thicken with the cold eggs once you blitz them altogether with the stick blender. Did you use dark cacao powder? Enough sweetener? I’m sure we can figure this out. I’ve already had people posting photos of their baking results on Facebook and I tested this probably 20 times before posting so I know it works, but maybe I need to stipulate size of eggs? Thanks for pointing it out.
helene says
coconut oil has a definite taste. unless u use refined. or the mct oil. butter tastes butter.
Diana says
You just made my day – I am making these tonight!!!
Joannah says
It’s in the oven right now – looked more like chocolate milk shake when I put it in.
Donna says
Sorry, But what are the measurements in regular measure instead of ounces?
Tamara says
I find your day job ironic! 🙂
Thanks for all your great ideas – keep ’em coming!
Jo says
Fabulous recipes and food ideas. Thank you for an amazing website. This is making my LCHF journey so much better!
thehomeschoolingdoctor says
Eggs aren’t nuts? (Joke) Man. I’ve got to get either eggs or dairy back in my diet somehow. You watch. I will. And I’ll be all over these. Lovely photos. –Terri
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
You’re the second person today asking me for egg free recipes, game on! I love a challenge. Any requests Terri?
jen says
Can you clarify the stevia? Do you mean like the concentrated stevia powder like the better stevia by now? Or do you mean like truvia? Really want to try this!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Hi Jen, I use Natvia brand which is a mix of stevia and erythritol and measures spoon for spoon. Or you can use sweetener of choice which is comparable to 3 tbs sugar. Always taste before baking as my sweet taste may be different to yours and depends on how long you have been sugar free for.
Dodie Price says
Dang it! Here I was expecting something with NO coconut, and there it is, coconut oil. Bah!!
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sorry it should read no coconut flours or desiccated coconut. I was trying to refer that it doesn’t have any coconut flavours in it as so many low carb recipes, especially baking, are based on shredded coconut or flour and I have so many people complain that they hate the taste/texture of coconut. Have amended. Coconut oil has no favour but you can use butter instead if you prefer.
Fiona says
totally going to make this straight away… looks so easy and divine! Thanks for the great work 🙂
suziebeck5 says
I love almond flour etc but yes its an issue if the kids want to take the baking to school. this recipe looks amazing- I can’t believe the things you come up with! You’re incredible!! Thanks xo
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Aw thank you Suzie. I love, love, love cooking and baking and finally found I can combine my hobbies of eating, baking, health, design all together. I will continue to count the tablets as my day job (I’m a pharmacist), but I love doing this just as much. 🙂
Deborah says
Um is coconut oil not a coconut product?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
Sorry it should read no coconut flours or desiccated coconut. I was trying to refer that it doesn’t have any coconut flavours in it as so many low carb recipes, especially baking, are based on these and I have so many people complain that they hate the taste of coconut. Have amended.
sally says
What can I swap the coconut oil for as cocoNUT oil is nut based and on my allergy list?
Libby www.ditchthecarbs.com says
You can use all butter if you like, that would be really rich and amazing 🙂