Move over gluten free; there's another diet that's been making waves in the health food industry. Lately, more and more people have been switching over to a grain free diet. With the most common reason being food allergies, a grain free diet is a bit more restrictive than a gluten free one. On a grain free diet, all types of grains are strictly off-limits. And with that being so, most flours are as well. When switching to a grain free diet, many people are concerned that they will no longer be able to enjoy their favorite baked goods. And while you may not be able to consume traditional goods like cakes and brownies anymore, several swaps can be used to create tasty grain free versions. If you're looking for a way to have your cake and eat it too, then Grain Free Brownies are the recipe for you. Continue scrolling to discover what a grain free diet is and how you can easily create treats like brownies while remaining within the diet's guidelines.
What Is Grain Free?
A bit different than a gluten free diet, a grain free diet restricts all types of grains, not only those that contain gluten. For some individuals, grains can cause inflammation, similar to how gluten does for those with gluten intolerance. Following a grain free diet can help those individuals relieve inflammation, restore gut health and ease digestive issues. So, what does a grain free diet entail? A grain free diet eliminates all grains, including rice, corn, oats and quinoa.
Foods to Avoid on a Grain Free Diet
Not exactly sure which foods contain grains and which don't? Here's a list of the most common foods to avoid when following a grain free diet.
- Cereal
- Granola
- Bread
- Quinoa
- Pasta
- Rice
- Corn
- Oatmeal
- Crackers
- Pancakes
Foods to Enjoy on a Grain Free Diet
That being said, there are still plenty of foods that you can consume on a grain free diet. Some of the most commonly enjoyed grain free foods include:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Meat
- Fish
- Nuts
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Legumes
- Seeds
For a more in-depth overview of what you can eat on a grain free diet, check out this article: What Can You Eat on a Grain Free Diet?
The Downsides of a Grain Free Diet
Wondering if you should switch over to a grain free diet? If you're experiencing digestive upset, we recommend seeing a doctor to determine the cause of your symptoms. A grain free diet isn't for everyone, and there are some downsides to following one if you don't need to. Whole grains are rich in vitamins and minerals, essential to good health, and cutting them out of your diet could cause a lack of these nutrients and affect your overall energy levels. Grains are also rich in fiber which promotes healthy digestion, and enjoying them regularly can help prevent diarrhea and constipation.
Grain Free Baking
When following a strict diet, the key to success lies in baking your own food. Homemade recipes allow you to make substitutions based on your nutritional needs and create a recipe unique to you. With a bit of creativity and research, you can recreate your favorite baked goods and stay on track with your health goals.
Though it may take a bit of trial and error initially, using grain free ingredients and grain free recipes is a sure-fire way to ensure you're not missing out on your favorite foods. One of the most critical factors of a grain free recipe is using grain free flour. Several grain free flours and mixes can quickly help you recreate desserts like brownies. Here's a quick overview of the flours we enjoy baking grain free goods with.
Grain Free Brownies
Are you ready to try your hand at making grain free brownies? Then, we have just the best brownie recipe for you. Making rich, fudgy, and chocolatey gluten free brownie has never been easier with our Grain Free Brownie Mix. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to create your best batch of grain free brownies yet!
Ingredients
- 3 Eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup Oil
- 1 package Bob’s Red Mill® Grain Free Brownie Mix
8 x 8-Inch Pan Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F
- Oil an 8 x 8-inch pan.
- Mix eggs, oil and brownie mix in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. If you want to add dark chocolate chips or chocolate chunks to your batter, make sure to coat them first with a little bit of the grain free brownie mix so they don’t sink to the bottom of the pan.
- Pour the mixture into the 8 x 8-inch pan.
- For a fudge textured brownie, bake the mix for 20-22 minutes until it has set and the middle no longer jiggles.
- For a cake-like brownie, bake the mix for 25-28 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the middle and come out clean.
- Allow the brownies to cool before cutting.
- Once cooled, you can drizzle melted chocolate or dark chocolate, melted natural peanut butter, almond butter or cashew butter.
How to store brownies and can you freeze brownies? Yes, you can. Just double wrap them in plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Uncut brownies don't dry out as much as cut ones do. But what if you’re not ready to bake them yet, how long can brownie batter sit at room temperature? Since this fudgy brownie recipe calls for eggs, it shouldn't sit out for longer than two hours before baking.
9 x 9-Inch Pan Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Oil a 9 x 9-inch pan.
- Mix eggs, oil and brownie mix in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the mixture into the 9 x 9-inch pan.
- For a fudge textured brownie, bake the mix for 15-18 minutes until it has set and the middle no longer jiggles.
- For a cake-like brownie, bake the mix for 20-23 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the middle and come out clean.
- Allow the brownies to cool before cutting.
Featured Ingredient: Grain Free Brownie Mix
Our Grain Free Brownie Mix is a delicious and quick-to-prepare mix that captures all of the scrumptious flavor and tempting aroma of traditional baked goods sans grains. Made with coconut sugar, almond flour, cassava flour, cocoa and salt, it uses wholesome ingredients to make a guilt-free chocolate dessert. Mix up a batch of these brownies today to see what you've been missing!
Additional Grain Free Brownie Recipes
If you loved the grain free brownie recipe above and want to spice up your next batch, try making one of the tasty recipes below.
Grain Free Peppermint Brownies
Rich, delicious and super simple to make, all you need is our Grain Free Brownie Mix and a bit of peppermint extract to create a batch of brownies sure to get you in the holiday spirit. Baked in under half an hour, these Gluten Free Peppermint Brownies will surely level up the dessert table.
Grain Free Cream Cheese Brownies
If you're searching for a dessert sure to impress guests, these Grain Free Cream Cheese Brownies are just the thing. Moist, chewy and loaded with flavor, a cream cheese swirl is added to balance out the rich flavor of chocolate. Plus, when made with our Grain Free Brownie Mix, only five ingredients are needed to make this delicious treat!
Flours to Use When Baking Grain Free Brownies
Arrowroot Starch
Arrowroot Starch is easy to digest and excellent for gluten and grain free baking. Extracted from the roots of the arrowroot plant, it is a low-allergy flour with a bit of flavor. Use it to create baked goods or as a thickener in sauce, soup, stew and pudding.
Cassava Flour
Cassava Flour is a versatile grain free flour made from the whole root of the cassava plant. It features a mild flavor and delicate texture, perfect for gluten and grain free cooking and baking. A significant source of carbohydrates, it's often used as a replacement for wheat flour in grain free treats. This flour has a lot in common with tapioca flour. But cassava flour uses the whole root, while tapioca flour only uses the starchy parts.
Make delicious grain free cassava flour brownies by following this Cassava Brownie Recipe.
Chickpea Flour
As the name suggests, chickpea flour is made from chickpeas—one of the creamiest and tastiest beans around. This grain-free flour lends a sweet, rich flavor to the dish when used in baked goods. Our Bob's Red Mill Chickpea Flour is freshly milled and 100% stone ground.
Coconut Flour
Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour is created from the highest quality desiccated coconut and is a delicious, nutty and slightly tropical alternative to wheat and other grain flours. A popular gluten and grain free flour, you can use it to make brownies, cookies, cakes and more.
For a sweet, grain free treat that's healthier than traditional brownies, make these Coconut Flour Brownies. Top them with peanut butter, powdered sugar, caramel sauce, or ice cream to take this dessert to the next level.
Potato Starch
Potato starch works well in baked, risen treats like cakes and brownies and is often used to replace cornstarch in several baking recipes. When combined with other grain free flours, potato starch adds moistness to baked goods and is an essential ingredient in gluten and grain free baking.
For a classic brownie recipe that uses potato starch, follow this Brownie Recipe. The combination of Gluten Free Oat Flour, Sorghum Flour and Potato Starch recreates the loved texture of traditional brownies sans gluten. While this recipe does contain grain, it's safe for individuals with celiac disease to enjoy.
Now that you know how to make the best grain free brownies around, it's time to put that knowledge to the test. Try out one of the recipes above, or use a grain free flour like cassava flour to make your own. Add in your favorite nut butter, chocolate chip, espresso powder, cocoa powder, or maple sugar. We're confident it will be your best batch yet, no matter which recipe you choose! From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy baking!
