These Chickpea Flour Brownies are super fudgy, healthy and easy to make. Gluten free and dairy free, you can make this chickpea flour brownie recipe vegan or nonvegan. So, if you’re craving healthier chocolate brownies with fewer carbs and calories, these gooey, velvety brownies are for you. I assure you: You definitely can’t taste the chickpeas.
Want to make brownies with canned chickpeas? Try Flourless Chickpea Brownies.
Are These Chickpea Flour Brownies Really Healthy?
Here’s why these naturally gluten-free chickpea flour brownies are my new go-to recipe whenever I’m craving a healthy, delicious chocolate snack or dessert:
- Over 5 grams of PLANT-BASED PROTEIN per serving
- ZERO CHOLESTEROL if you make vegan chickpea brownies
- Barely any saturated fat
- No processed ingredients in these chickpea brownies
- High in FIBER
- NO BUTTER
- Lots of IRON and POTASSIUM
- NO OIL
- SUGAR FREE if you use a sugar substitute such as zero-calorie monk fruit and make sugar free chickpea brownies
The bottom line: These Chickpea Flour Brownies are a lot healthier than your average brownie recipe. In fact, they are a quick, guilt-free, gluten-free snack for the whole family to enjoy anytime – for dessert, day trips, or when biking or at work.
Are you a chickpea fan? Check out the 30 BEST chickpea dessert recipes.
The Secret to Fudgy Chickpea Flour Brownies
So what’s in these fudgy chickpea brownies? Instead of butter or oil, these gluten-free chickpea brownies are made with puréed avocado. So, they double as chocolate-avocado brownies. As a result, they aren’t just packed with heart-healthy fat. After all, avocado also makes this plant-based chickpea brownie recipe unbelievably rich, moist and fudgy.
No one will believe you when you tell them that they are eating healthy chickpea-avocado brownies. You really have to try this grain free chocolate brownie recipe to see for yourself. Enjoy a bite of chocolate heaven, because this chickpea dessert is addictive!
Feeling adventurous? Try Eggplant Brownies.
Ingredients and Tricks for the BEST Chickpea Flour Brownies
Chickpea Brownie Batter
AVOCADO – Instead of butter, one large puréed avocado adds healthy fats and transforms these dairy free chickpea brownies into a silky smooth bite of heaven. Firstly, use a soft, ripe avocado. A ripe avocado is usually a little darker, but color can vary. So, make sure you can gently squeeze and indent the avocado with your fingers. It shouldn’t, however, feel “mushy.” Don’t use a rotten avocado, i.e., an avocado that has lots of dark streaks or brown spots throughout the flesh.
CHICKPEA FLOUR – Chickpeas are high in protein and starch which is known to improve the texture of baked goods. As for naturally gluten-free chickpea flour, you’ll find it in health food stores as well as Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern grocery stores. Be sure to check the bulk bins because that’s where you’re most likely to find the best price. You can, of course, also order chickpea flour online.
GRANULATED SWEETENER OF CHOICE – Sugar, your favorite granulated sweetener, or a natural, zero-calorie sweetener such as monk fruit which doesn’t have an aftertaste. Baking with sugar replacements such as monk fruit radically drops the carb-and-calorie content of this chickpea flour brownies recipe.
COCOA POWDER – unsweetened. I use organic cocoa powder and recommend selecting a quality cocoa powder for these gluten-free chickpea brownies.
BAKING SODA – adds some rise to this chickpea dessert.
EGG OR FLAX EGG OR EGG REPLACER – Whether vegan or nonvegan, this chickpea flour brownies recipe will blow you away.
NONDAIRY MILK OF CHOICE – I recommend using an unsweetened, dairy free milk such as almond milk which has barely any calories. If you use a sweetened milk, you may have to use a little less granulated sweetener or a little more cocoa powder.
Substitutions for Chickpea Flour Brownies
BANANA – If you have some mushy bananas lying around, you can replace 1/4 cup of the sweetener with puréed banana. But if you replace more than 1/4 cup of the sweetener with banana, you will get a distinct banana flavor, so I stop at 1/4 of a cup.
Healthy Chocolate Frosting and Brownie Toppings
CHOCOLATE-AVOCADO FROSTING – Chickpea Flour Brownies taste great with creamy, dairy free Chocolate-Avocado Frosting. Half a recipe of this vegan frosting, i.e., one avocado suffices for frosting the chickpea brownies. But if you make the entire low-carb Chocolate-Avocado Frosting recipe, you can freeze any leftover chocolate frosting or enjoy it on its own as naturally dairy free, keto, chocolate-avocado mousse.
CHOCOLATE CHIPS – I love dark chocolate chips, but semi-sweet, milk chocolate, and white chocolate chips also taste great on chickpea flour brownies. For fewer carbs and calories, opt for sugar free, keto chocolate chips.
RASPBERRIES – Jewel-toned raspberries go especially well with chocolate – or simply pop some on top of this dairy free delight for added color! Another reason to add some: Raspberries are a low-carb fruit, so there’s nothing to feel guilty about.
Or try my Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe (No Sugar) with Keto Cream Cheese Frosting.
How to Make Gluten-Free Brownies with Chickpea Flour
This grain free, vegan or nonvegan, chickpea flour brownie recipe is really easy to make. You’ll find the full instructions with measurements below in the Recipe Card.
- Firstly, line the bottom of a square 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper and spray the sides with baking spray.
- Then, purée the soft, ripe avocado.
- Next, put the ingredients in a bowl and mix them.
- Pour chickpea brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and bake.
- Let the brownies cool for 10 minutes before flipping and removing the pan.
- Then, let them fully cool.
- Lastly, frost with optional vegan Chocolate-Avocado Frosting or your favorite brownie frosting or topping.
Trending now: Fudgy Black Bean Avocado Brownies.
Tools to Make Chickpea Flour Brownies
- 1 square 8 x 8 pan – Be sure to line the bottom with parchment paper and spray the sides with baking spray.
- Parchment paper – to line the bottom of the pan.
- 1 hand-held emulsifier or food processor – to purée the avocado so it’s silky smooth.
- 1 large mixing bowl – to mix the brownie ingredients.
- 1 electric mixer, stand mixer or food processor – to mix the brownie ingredients well, so your chickpea flour brownies are smooth and soft.
If you like baking with chickpea flour, also check out golden yellow Chickpea Flour Pie Crust.
FAQs about Chickpea Flour Brownies
Chickpea flour is a versatile and nutrient-rich ingredient that has been used in cooking for centuries. Made from ground chickpeas, this gluten-free flour is a popular staple in many cuisines around the world, including Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean. With its high protein and fiber content, chickpea flour is a healthy alternative to traditional wheat flours.
Chickpea flour and besan are not the same thing. While chickpea flour is ground from whole white chickpeas (garbanzo beans), besan (gram flour) is ground from split brown chickpeas (chana dal). So, the flours have a similiar flavor but differ slightly in texture. By the way, you’ll find several recipes made specifically with besan flour in my post on the 30 best chickpea desserts.
Since chickpea flour doesn’t contain contain gluten, it doesn’t rise or have the same texture as wheat flour. So I recommend sticking with dedicated chickpea-flour recipes.
According to Healthline, one cup (92 grams) of plant-based chickpea flour contains the following nutrients:
– Calories: 356
– Protein: 20 grams
– Fat: 6 grams
– Carbs: 53 grams
– Fiber: 10 grams
– Thiamine: 30% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI)
– Folate: 101% of the RDI
– Iron: 25% of the RDI
– Phosphorus: 29% of the RDI
– Magnesium: 38% of the RDI
– Copper: 42% of the RDI
– Manganese: 74% of the RDI
Yes, to make a vegan egg, simply combine 3 tablespoons of chickpea flour with 3 tablespoons of water. Then, give it a few minutes to thicken and gel.
Or try easy Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake with an irresistible, death-by-chocolate frosting.
How to Store Healthy Brownies
To store: Place these grain free chocolate chickpea flour brownies in a sealed container and refrigerate for up to one week. They are a great snack and taste great all week.
To freeze: You can also store your vegan or nonvegan Chickpea Flour Brownies in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. I love doing this, because I love having some chickpea brownies handy for a snack or excursion.
Recipe Card
Chickpea Flour Brownies Recipe
Equipment
- 1 1 Square Nonstick 8 x 8 Pan or 1 Round 8" or 9" Nonstick Cake Pan Be sure to grease or spray the sides with baking spray.
- 1 Hand-Held Emulsifier or Food Processor to purée the avocado so it’s silky smooth.
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Electric Mixer, Stand Mixer or Food Processor
Ingredients
Brownie Batter
- 1 cup Avocado, pureed usually 1 large avocado. For one recipe, I use 230 grams of avocado.
- 1 cup Chickpea Flour (100 grams)
- 1 cup Granulated Sweetener of Choice (190 grams)
- 1 cup Cocoa Powder (75 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Egg or Flax Egg or Egg Replacer
- ½ cup Nondairy Milk of Choice I use unsweetened almond milk.
Optional Frosting & Toppings
- ½ recipe Chocolate-Avocado Frosting Recipe
- ½ cup Chocolate Chips or more
- Raspberries to sprinkle on top
Instructions
Brownie Batter
- Puree the avocado
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Line the bottom of a square 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper and spray the sides with baking spray.
- Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Pour brownie batter into the prepared baking pan and bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes. They are ready when a knife comes out clean.
- Let them cool for 10 minutes before flipping and removing the pan.
- Let them fully cool.
Optional Chocolate-Avocado Frosting & Other Toppings
- While the chickpea brownies cool, make the Chocolate-Avocado Frosting Recipe.
- When the brownies are cool, frost them.
- Top with chocolate chips, if desired.
- Top with raspberries, if desired.
QUERINO DE FREITAS says
OHHHHHHH, I MUST TRY MAKING YOUR GRAM FLOUR BROWNIES…I WILL DO MINE WITH COCONUT OIL………THANKS QUERINO
Cathy @ Cathy's Cake Salon says
Great! Let me know how they turn out!
Aleide says
I love these brownies. Very soft and chocolatey. It’s hard to believe they are so healthy.
Cathy @ Cathy's Cake Salon says
Thanks for letting me know! Glad you liked them.