The best dairy free brownies mix together the best of both worlds: gooey brownies that are so fudgy and amazing, and a delicious dairy free treat! Make these dairy free brownies with coconut oil or any other vegetable oil you like! If you like these, you'll love my Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, my Dairy Free Banana Bread, and my Vegan Coconut Cake Recipe!
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Dairy Free Gooey Brownies Recipe
This dairy free brownies recipe is my new obsession! Just like my Chocolate Walnut Brownies, they're super fudgy and moist with a crackly top, and those big chocolate chunks are so gooey! I make them all the time and they're a hit with everyone! If you're a chocolate lover, this easy recipe will be one of your go-to dairy free desserts!
What can I use in brownies instead of milk?
I actually don't add milk to most brownies other than my Condensed Milk Brownies, but my typical brownie recipes do contain dairy in the butter and chocolate chips. This fudgy brownies recipe uses vegetable oil and dairy-free chocolate chunks as an easy swap that keeps that amazing flavor and texture!
Are any brownie mixes dairy free?
Do store bought brownies have dairy? Actually many of them don't! Depending on the brand you buy, many store bought brownie mixes are made without milk or butter. And then the ingredients you add (oil, eggs, and water) don't add any dairy either! But if you're sensitive to dairy, definitely check the label for any traces of milk in the batter or in the chocolate chips.
Dairy Free Brownies Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you'll need to make these dairy free gooey brownies!
- vegetable oil - feel free to make these dairy free brownies with coconut oil, olive oil, or neutral oils like canola or avocado oil!
- eggs - make sure your eggs are room temperature to help them mix well into the other ingredients and allow the brownies to bake evenly.
- vanilla extract - always grab a good-quality pure vanilla extract. Or better yet, check out my post on how to make vanilla extract at home with just 2 ingredients!
- granulated sugar & brown sugar - this combination of sugars adds the right amount of sweetness and chewy richness to these brownies! You can use either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar.
- all-purpose flour - always measure your flour by weight or by using the spoon and level method.
- unsweetened cocoa powder - natural cocoa powder is what gives these dairy free brownies their fudgy flavor and texture! I like the Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, but use whatever variety you prefer.
- espresso powder - I love how the coffee flavor of espresso powder enhances the rich chocolate flavor in these dairy-free brownies!
- salt - very important to offset the sweetness and boost flavor!
- dairy-free chocolate chips - I like using Enjoy Life Mega Chunks, but any dairy free chocolate chips you like will work! I love the dark chocolate flavor that they add to these brownies!
Equipment
The main tool you'll need for these brownies is a 9x9 baking pan and parchment paper to bake them up. Otherwise, you'll just need some basic mixing tools like a mixing bowl, a whisk, and a rubber spatula!
Instructions
You can find detailed instructions below in the recipe card, but here are the basic steps to make these dairy free brownies: mix up the batter, bake, and enjoy!
Whisk together your wet ingredients: oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, until smooth.
Sift in your dry ingredients: cocoa powder, flour, espresso powder, and salt, into the bowl and fold until just combined.
Fold in dairy-free chocolate chips or chunks.
Pour your brownie batter into your prepared pan, add extra chocolate hips on top, and bake!
Hint: for gooey brownies, be sure not to overbake!
Healthy Dairy Free Brownies with Coconut Oil
With some easy substitutions, you can make healthy dairy free brownies with coconut oil, coconut sugar, and egg substitutes!
- Coconut Oil - you can feel free to substitute coconut oil or avocado oil for other types of vegetable oil in this recipe.
- Sugar - you can make this recipe with unprocessed sugar by using coconut sugar or your favorite no-calorie sweetener!
- Egg Substitutes - you can use Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer or a flax egg to make vegan brownies!
Dairy Free Brownies Without Chocolate Chips
You can definitely make these dairy free brownies without chocolate chips! Either just leave them out, or substitute cacao nibs or dried fruit!
Best Dairy Free Brownie Mix
If you want brownies without the dairy but don't want to make them from scratch, the best dairy free brownie mix I've tried is Duncan Hines Fudge Brownie Mix! It contains no dairy and requires no milk to prepare it!
Storage
You can store these brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To freeze them, let your brownies cool completely. After that, if they've already been cut into individual brownies, then wrap each one in plastic wrap and place in the freezer to freeze solid. Then once they're frozen, place them in a freezer bag for up to two months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of the Ghirardelli brownie mixes I've seen contain chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or chocolate syrup that all contain dairy.
You can just cut this recipe in half and bake it in a 9x5 loaf pan instead of a square pan!
Youll love my Oat Milk Pancakes if you're looking for a delicious dairy-free pancakes recipe! Or check out my Vegan Coconut Cake for a dairy-free and egg free treat! And if you love brownies, use this recipe as the base for my S'mores Brownies or my Raspberry Chocolate Brownies!
Top tip
To get clean cuts on your brownies, let them cool completely and chill for a bit before cutting.
If you try this recipe, I would love it if you could leave a star review rating and comment below! It’s so wonderful hearing your feedback! And don’t forget to share your creations with me by tagging @chenee_today on Instagram!
Equipment you may need
Ingredients
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs - room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar - packed
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour - - measured by weight with a kitchen scale or with the spoon-and-level method
- ½ teaspoon espresso powder - optional; alternatively, you can add a tablespoon of strong coffee
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dairy free chocolate chips - or chocolate chunks; ; plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9" baking pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together oil and sugars until combined.
- Add in eggs and vanilla extract and beat for one minute until smooth and thickened.
- Sift cocoa powder, flour, espresso powder, and salt into the bowl and fold with rubber spatula until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Add batter to prepared pan and smooth to the edges. Top with more chocolate chips.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until center is set – take out at 25 for more gooey brownies.
- Cool in pan for 20 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Video
Nutrition
Jill
Great flavor and texture in these brownies. So glad I don't have to sacrifice flavor when giving up dairy!
Chenée Lewis
Absolutely! I'm so glad you like them!
Vanessa
Yum! I made them with avocado oil and they were absolutely delicious.
Chenée Lewis
Wonderful! So glad to hear it!