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Oat Flour Brownies

By Christine April 12, 2022 6 Comments

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
up close stack of brownies

Attention chocolate lovers – these oat flour brownies are for you! They're the thickest brownies ever and bake up super moist and fudgy. To make them even more rich and chocolatey, they are full of delicious, dairy free chocolate chunks.

This recipe is a little different than a traditional brownie recipe because it uses melted butter and involves dissolving the granulated sugar into the butter. Both of these things help keep these oat flour brownies incredibly soft and moist. It is sure to be your new go-to brownie recipe!

3 stacked oat flour brownies on a white plate

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Why this recipe is the best!

I love these oat flour brownies because they are the perfect balance between cakey and fudgy. Here are a few more great things about this recipe:

  • It’s perfect to satisfy your chocolate craving (chocolate fans, also check out these chocolate chip cookies!)
  • It can be made with store-bought or homemade oat flour
  • The batter only needs to rest for 10 minutes
  • It’s both gluten and dairy free
  • It makes 12 super thick brownies
piece of oat flour brownie on a white paper

Pro tips for making the perfect brownies

Because gluten free baking can be a bit tricky, there are some important things to consider when making this recipe. Here are a few baking tips to guarantee your oat flour brownies turn out perfect every time.

1. Measure by weight

Using a digital scale to measure the ingredients by weight is the best method of measurement in gluten free baking. This is a vital step in this recipe because it ensures the ingredients are measured accurately. More on why that's so important here.

2. Heat the specified ingredients on a stovetop

In this recipe, the butter is melted on a stovetop and is used to dissolve the sugar. The cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and eggs are then mixed in to the warm butter mixture. This process keeps the brownies moist and fudgy and helps bring out the rich chocolate flavor. Note that the butter and eggs do not need to be at room temperature since they are heated in this recipe.

3. Use a sturdy spoon to mix

To make mixing a little easier, you will want to use a very sturdy spoon when combining the dry ingredients with the liquid cocoa mixture. Because it will be on the thicker side, it may be slightly difficult to stir.

4. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes

Giving the batter time to rest before baking allows the dry ingredients to fully absorb the liquid ingredients. It also gives your brownies the perfect soft texture!

5. Cool the brownies for 30 minutes after baking

After pulling your brownies out of the oven, let them cool for about 30 minutes to set up before cutting into them or else they may be a bit crumbly or fall apart.

6. Helpful tools

These tools will help you to effortlessly prep your oat flour brownies: 

  • Digital scale
  • Medium saucepan
  • Sturdy spoon
  • Whisk
  • Large mixing bowl
  • 8” x 8” baking pan
hand holding an oat flour brownie

How to make this recipe

Ingredients & substitutions

labeled ingredients on a countertop
  • Vegan butter - This recipe was tested using Earth Balance vegan butter. Regular butter also works well for these brownies. Coconut oil may be another good dairy free substitution, however, it has not been tested in this recipe.
  • Granulated sugar - I would not recommend substituting the sugar in this recipe because it plays an important role in the overall texture of the brownies. I have not tested any sugar alternatives so I am not sure how the outcome would be affected.
  • Cocoa powder - I use Hershey’s brand cocoa powder. I would not recommend any substitutions in this recipe.
  • Pure vanilla extract - This recipe was tested with Simply Organic pure vanilla, but any high-quality vanilla extract will work great.
  • Eggs - I do not recommend using a substitution for eggs in this recipe. Because oat flour tends to be more crumbly, the eggs are needed to act as a binder in these brownies.
  • Oat flour - I use Bob’s Red Mill certified gluten free oats to grind my own oat flour. Any store-bought or homemade certified gluten free oat flour can be used in this recipe.
  • Flax seed - Flax seeds also act as a binder in this recipe. They can be substituted with chia seeds if desired. Find out more about chia and flax seed in this article.
  • Baking soda - There are no substitutions for baking soda in this recipe.
  • Espresso powder - There are no substitutions for espresso powder in this recipe, however, it can be left out if needed.
  • Salt - There are no substitutions for salt in this recipe.
  • Dairy free chocolate chunks - The Enjoy Life brand dairy free chocolate chunks work very well in this recipe. They're delicious and no one will ever guess they're dairy free!

Mixing the batter

steps to preparing brownies

Mixing up the batter for these oat flour brownies can be easily done in about 20 minutes. First, add the butter to a medium saucepan and heat on medium low until melted (step 1 above). Add the granulated sugar to the melted butter and stir over low heat until dissolved, about 30 seconds (step 2). Then, remove the mixture from the heat and add the cocoa powder. Whisk until fully combined (step 3). 

Next, add the vanilla extract. Add in the eggs one at a time, whisking between the addition of each egg until completely incorporated (step 4). Scrape the chocolate mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the oat flour, flax seeds, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt to the bowl and use a sturdy spoon to stir the mixture together for 1 minute (step 5). Finally, mix in the chocolate chunks (step 6) and then let the batter rest for 10 minutes before adding to the pan and baking.

Baking & Serving

brownie batter in an 8 inch pan

Once it's done resting, scrape the batter into a greased 8” x 8” baking pan. Bake the brownies at 350°F for 35-42 minutes – you can use a toothpick to test doneness. Remove them from the oven and let them cool for 30 minutes before cutting and serving.

FAQ's about this recipe

How long can I store these brownies?

Once baked and cooled, these brownies can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to two days. For longer storage, wrap brownies individually and freeze.

What kind of oats should I use to grind my own oat flour?

Any certified gluten free rolled oats work great for homemade oat flour.

What does the espresso powder do in this recipe?

The espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor of these brownies to make them even more rich and flavorful.

Other recipes you may like!

  • Flaxseed Muffins (Dairy Free)
  • Gluten Free Lemonade Scones
  • Top 6 Almond Flour Alternatives (Ranked in Order)
  • Gluten Free Blueberry Cake
large piece of oat flour brownie on a white paper
4 stacked oat flour brownies on a white plate

Oat Flour Brownies (Dairy Free)

Chocolate lovers, these oat flour brownies are for you! They're the thickest brownies ever and bake up fudgy and full of delicious, dairy free-chocolate chunks.
4.34 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dairy free desserts, gluten and dairy free desserts, gluten free brownies, gluten free desserts, oat flour recipes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Rest time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Calories: 346kcal
Author: Christine

Ingredients

  • 12 Tablespoons vegan butter
  • 300 grams granulated sugar about 1 ½ cups
  • 90 grams cocoa powder about 1 cup
  • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 165 grams oat flour about 1 ⅓ cups
  • 1 Tablespoon flax seeds
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon espresso powder heaping
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 150 grams chocolate chunks dairy free

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium low heat until melted.
  • Add the granulated sugar and stir over low heat to dissolve, about 30 seconds.
  • Remove from the heat and add the cocoa powder. Whisk or stir to combine.
  • Add the vanilla extract and 1 egg. Whisk until egg is completely combined.
  • Add second egg and whisk. Add third egg and whisk until completely incorporated.
  • Scrape the chocolate mixture into a large bowl.
  • Add oat flour, flax seeds, baking soda, espresso powder and salt in large bowl. Use a sturdy spoon to stir mixture together for 1 minute.
  • Stir in chocolate chunks. Set batter aside while oven heats.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Spray an 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.
  • After a 10 minute rest time, scrape batter into the baking pan and bake for 35-42 minutes or until a toothpick tests done.
  • Let brownies cool for 30 minutes before cutting.

Video

Notes

  • Make sure to measure the ingredients by weight.
  • The flour and other dry ingredients should be at room temperature. Eggs and butter are heated on the stove, so they do not need to be at room temperature.
  • Unlike most gluten free recipes, the batter only needs to rest for 10 minutes.
  • Be sure to let the brownies cool for 30 minutes, otherwise they may crumble when trying to take them out of the pan.
  • The Enjoy Life brand of dairy free chocolate chunks was used in the recipe.
 
Did you make this recipe?Tag @zest_for_baking and use the hashtag #zestforbaking!

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 326mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg

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Comments

  1. Jo

    April 12, 2022 at 10:18 am

    5 stars
    Looks yummy! I like that it uses oat flour and flax seeds for extra fiber.
    Can flaxseed meal substitute for the flax seeds? Or should I use the chia seeds substitute instead?

    Reply
    • Christine

      April 14, 2022 at 8:41 pm

      Hi Jo,

      Thanks for asking! So flaxseed meal works great - use that.

      ~Christine

      Reply
  2. Nancy Saenz

    April 20, 2022 at 10:27 am

    I appreciate a healthy recipe for something sweet. Your directions and alternate ingredient ideas were well described. Oats are so good for us. I have gotten used to almond milk, and finding alternatives to unhealthy foods like bacon ( I use turkey sausage) and sugar loaded caffeinated drinks so use Bubble. Do you know of a tasty goat cheese?

    Reply
    • Christine

      April 20, 2022 at 9:29 pm

      Hi Nancy,

      Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate that!

      I have not found a dairy free sub for goat's milk. If I find one I will definitely share it.

      Thank you!

      Christine

      Reply
  3. Linnea

    May 17, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    3 stars
    I used Country Crock margerine, and two t. of flaxmeal (I was out of flax seeds), but these turned out very dry and crumbly. My family ate them, but it reminded me more of oatmeal with chocolate than a brownie. Perhaps I need to make my oatmeal flour finer or use different dairy free butter?

    Reply
    • Christine

      May 20, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      Hi Linnea,

      Oh goodness, they should definitely not be dry and crumbly. Did you measure the ingredients by weight? Some times when GF baked goods are dry it's due to too much flour or dry ingredients. Let me know, these are spectacular brownies and I would love for you all to enjoy them!

      Christine

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Christine, a gluten free baker living in sunny Texas! Zest for Baking is where you'll find gluten free (and dairy free) recipes, tips for substituting ingredients and help navigating the world of gluten free baking.

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Since 2013, Christine has been creating delicious gluten free baking recipes that no one would guess are actually gluten free. Her Zest For Baking recipes have been featured on The Daily Meal, Bloglovin' and Dr. Axe, to name a few. When she's not hanging out on Facebook or sharing pictures on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest, you can find her in her kitchen, creating more ZestForBaking.com recipes!

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