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10 April, 2014

Gluten-free and guilt-free cashew brownies

Comments : 67 Posted in : eggless cakes, Gluten free baking, snack on by : apsara Tags: , , , , , , ,

 

The first flowers bloomed in my garden! I could not resist plucking a few to go with these brownies (I’m sorry, bees!) I’m taking these sweet treats to The Novice Gardener’s Fiesta Friday party, come join us there!

Ah, yet another brownie recipe, you say. But look closely, this one has no egg, no gluten,  and no added sugar. Did I mention it has a delicious cashew taste? This can be easily made vegan by substituting regular butter used here, with vegan butter.

I have tried using different flours to go with the brown rice flour, but oat flour works best and serves to hold the cake together or it gets too crumbly (as one can imagine, with no wheat gluten). It has a slight crunch from the rice flour and moistness of maple syrup blending well to make it delightfully tasty.

Scroll down for full recipe. These are some ingredients:

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Melt 6 pieces of semi-sweet chocolate and butter in a pan:

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Mix butter + chocolate mixture, applesauce, cashew paste, maple syrup, vanilla in a bowl.  Add dry ingredients (rice flour, oat flour, cocoa powder, starch,baking powder, soda) to wet. Add 2 pieces of chocolate cut into small bits. Spread in a baking sheet greased with canola oil. Flatten with spatula.

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After baking at 350 °F for 43 minutes:

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gluten-free and guilt-free cashew brownies

  • Servings: 20
  • Time: soak time + 50 minutes
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

wet:

raw cashews – 1 cup

water or milk- 1/2 cup

maple syrup- 1/2 cup

butter- 1/4 cup

Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate (56% cacao)- 6 pieces + 2 pieces (divided)

unsweetened applesauce- 1/8 cup

vanilla extract- 1 tsp.

dry:

brown rice flour- 3/4 cup

GF oat flour- 1/2 cup

baking powder- 1 tsp.

baking soda- 1 tsp.

tapioca starch- 2 tbsp.

unsweetened cocoa powder- 1 1/2 tbsp.

Method:

* Soak cashew in water for a few hours, preferably overnight. Drain water, rinse cashews and use a blender to make a paste with 1/2 cup water or milk.

* Melt butter and 6 pieces of the baking chocolate in a pan and stir to combine. Pre-heat oven to 350 °F.

* Mix all wet ingredients (butter, + chocolate mixture, applesauce, cashew paste, maple syrup, vanilla) together in a mixing bowl.

* Combine dry ingredients (rice flour, oat flour, cocoa powder, starch,baking powder, soda) in another bowl.

* Slowly add dry ingredients to the wet and mix with a spatula. Stir in roughly broken bits of the 2 pieces of baking chocolate.

* Spread in a greased baking dish, I used a glass 2.2 qt rectangular dish. Flatten the top with a silicone spatula.

* Bake for 40-45 minutes or till a clean knife inserted in the middle comes clean.

* Wait till it is completely cool, before cutting into smaller pieces!

 

67s COMMENTS

67 thoughts on : Gluten-free and guilt-free cashew brownies

  • April 10, 2014 at 9:44 pm

    Guilt free and gluten free..mindblowing Apsara. I need to try this.

    • April 10, 2014 at 9:45 pm

      yes, please do, Namrata 🙂

  • April 10, 2014 at 9:53 pm

    I have been planning to make brownies for a while. So now I can go the gluten free way!

    • April 10, 2014 at 9:58 pm

      sure. I like to experiment with GF baking just for a different taste. It is a good adventure!

    • April 10, 2014 at 10:12 pm

      thanks, Indu!

  • April 10, 2014 at 10:14 pm

    Hmmm, if this is gluten-free and gulit-free… mine if full-of-guilt! 😀 Looks yummy!! 🙂

    • April 10, 2014 at 10:17 pm

      ha ha, that’s fine, that will create some balance! Yours would be tastier though, a good selling point. 🙂

      • April 11, 2014 at 12:57 am

        I hope so! 😉

    • April 10, 2014 at 11:30 pm

      thanks, Sonal!

  • April 11, 2014 at 12:43 am

    These look delicious!! I love the addition of the cashews. I make some similar gluten free brownies also using oat fllour, tapioca and syrup. I use coconut butter and almond butter in place of oil/butter and it makes them rich and fudgy. I just love the cashews in this 🙂

    • April 11, 2014 at 9:22 am

      Ok, the nut butter version sounds really yummy too, will try it next time!

  • April 11, 2014 at 12:44 am

    I love that there’s no added sugar – will have to try these!!

    • April 11, 2014 at 9:22 am

      Do let me know how you like it Celeste!

  • April 11, 2014 at 8:30 am

    Mmm…anything that looks sweet, yet is guilt free…I’m all in! These look delicious! Pretty daffodils too 😉

    • April 11, 2014 at 9:24 am

      thanks, Nancy! Yes, I just love the daffodils.

  • April 11, 2014 at 8:50 am

    This is something I’ll have seconds (and thirds) of!

    • April 11, 2014 at 9:24 am

      Absolutely! I consume most of what I make, within a day 🙂

  • April 11, 2014 at 9:04 am

    Maple syrup and cashews – in a brownie. I have no excuse not to try these.

    • April 11, 2014 at 9:26 am

      I guess not 🙂

  • April 11, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Super creative, sounds great!

  • April 11, 2014 at 10:26 am

    Guilt-free brownies are the best kind! I love using Baker’s chocolate and your addition of applesauce and cashews to this recipe are great ideas. Thanks for bringing this to the party–I ate a bunch of Jhuls’ brownies already, but I can have your whole tray too since they’re guilt-free! 🙂

    • April 11, 2014 at 12:22 pm

      sure, Ngan, I’m making another batch already 🙂

  • April 11, 2014 at 11:31 am

    Mmmmm,…your cashew brownies look utterly delicious too!!Another must try. Yummmmm..

  • April 11, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    I have been reading a lot about soaking cashews to use in recipes… so interesting. These look like they were delicious!

    • April 11, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      thanks, Josette. Yes, I’m into using soaked nuts in baking, it worked well in the brownie.

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  • April 11, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    I’m so thrilled to see that there is life after gluten free. Years ago, our good friend was diagnosed with celiac disease…and it was so difficult for him to transition… It’s just nice to see that there are sweets and wonderful food that can be prepared for him now. I think I just might make these brownies for him… wonderful post!

    • April 11, 2014 at 7:42 pm

      thanks! I hope your friend likes this.

  • April 11, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    Guilt free brownies?? Sign me up, Apsara!

  • April 12, 2014 at 12:20 pm

    Wow Apsara! Really want to try this but i am so out of ingredients right now. Why do you stay so far away…it would be so nice if you were just around the corner 🙂 I could keep eating all the yummy stuff you make 🙂

    • April 12, 2014 at 12:21 pm

      I know Harini, I wish we were closer too! 🙂

  • April 12, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    Well, it doesn’t get any better that guilt-free brownies! Awesome recipe!

    • April 12, 2014 at 5:56 pm

      thank you, Julianna. I’m glad you like it!

  • April 13, 2014 at 4:41 am

    Guilt-free brownies!! Gotta try these soon, thank you Apsara 🙂

    • April 13, 2014 at 8:37 am

      you’re welcome 🙂

  • April 13, 2014 at 5:32 am

    Woohoo, guilt free brownies! Love the look of these, and it looks like the party-goers all loved them too. 😀

  • April 13, 2014 at 10:54 am

    The brownies look delish 🙂 guilt free n what more do I need… Thank you for sharing the recipe

    • April 13, 2014 at 12:14 pm

      thank you, Rekha and thanks for visiting!

  • April 13, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    I think you’re on to something here, Apsara. Guilt-free brownies can potentially be a girl’s best friend. This girl, anyway, who must have something chocolatey on a daily basis. I can eat this every day and not feel guilty. Yay! 🙂

    • April 13, 2014 at 6:10 pm

      I think you are talking about me here 🙂

  • April 13, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    Guilt free and your list of ingredients really impresses me. This is a different recipe for me but one I must try – I like the applesauce in it as I make my own and can it every year – thanks for sharing 🙂

    • April 13, 2014 at 6:12 pm

      thanks, Judi! Yes, please try it 🙂

    • April 14, 2014 at 11:56 am

      thanks, Priya

  • April 14, 2014 at 7:14 am

    These brownies look beyond divine! Love the addition of cashew and a guilt-free dessert is always my favourite!

    • April 14, 2014 at 11:59 am

      thank you! and thanks for visiting 🙂

  • April 14, 2014 at 5:27 pm

    I made them yesterday & they rock. So lovely. Xxx

    • April 14, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      wow, thank you Sophie, for the review! You’re the best 🙂 XOXO

  • April 14, 2014 at 11:05 pm

    I will get a crazy craving for brownies randomly, I love that you came up with a more “guilt-free” recipe so I can indulge without feeling so bad occasionally, these look very rich 🙂

    • April 14, 2014 at 11:08 pm

      I get those cravings almost everyday, that’s why I like to make this often 😉

  • April 25, 2014 at 7:07 am

    These look great – I am trying my best to cut down on wheat so I will be trying these for sure!

    • April 25, 2014 at 8:38 am

      thanks, hope you like it!

  • Kripa
    May 1, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    Apsara, I made these brownies today and they were sooo delicious…the taste got better and better as the brownies cooled down…however I wondering if I could add something to make it a little more fudgy…is it possible? do you have any suggestions?

    • May 1, 2014 at 5:05 pm

      Kripa, sorry I had to go when I typed the last comment. So, going by the link, you could add some almond/peanut butter, and additional chocolate to get a fudgy texture.

  • May 18, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    They look so yummy!!! I can’t wait to try it once I buy some cashews. 🙂 Do you think I can replace the butter with coconut oil for my dairy-free needs? Please let me know. Thank you Apsara. 🙂

    • May 19, 2014 at 8:29 am

      thanks so much. Yes, I’m pretty sure you could use coconut oil or maybe coconut butter would be a good substitute for the butter. 🙂

      • May 19, 2014 at 12:17 pm

        Thanks for letting me know. When I have time to make it, I’ll let you know they turn out. 🙂

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