These super fudgy dairy-free brownies are the ultimate easy-to-make chocolate dessert. Cocoa powder and coconut oil give these brownies a moist and gooey texture with a decadent dark chocolate taste. The crackly tops make them such an irresistible treat for all chocolate lovers, and they're so quick and easy to make!
Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, you can never go wrong with chocolate brownies for dessert. Making these brownies from scratch is no problem at all because they mix up in one bowl in just 5 minutes. No mixer is necessary!
No matter if you're embracing a dairy-free lifestyle or just looking for a quick and easy homemade recipe, these fudge brownies are the best way to satisfy your sweet tooth.
If you love easy baking, you have to give these red velvet cake mix brownies a try next. These cadbury mini egg brownies and these beautiful brownie blondies are more great options to add to your baking list!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These Brownies
- Quick and easy - This brownie recipe is so quick and easy to make in one mixing bowl. They are ready to enjoy in less than 1 hour.
- Rich and fudgy - These brownies are so soft and fudgy with a perfect crackly top.
- No mixer required - Because these brownies are made without butter, you only need a whisk and no mixer to combine the batter.
- Dark chocolate - Cocoa powder gives the brownies a rich dark chocolate flavor that all chocolate lovers will adore!
- No butter or dairy - These dairy-free brownies use coconut oil instead of butter for the best moist and gooey texture.
Ingredients
These non-dairy fudge brownies require just 8 simple ingredients that you probably already have at home. Below are helpful ingredient tips. Make sure to see the recipe card at the end for all ingredient information.
- Flour - Use all-purpose flour or gluten-free 1:1 baking flour.
- Cocoa powder - Use dutch-process cocoa powder for a rich dark chocolate fudge brownie. Most unsweetened cocoa powders will work.
- Granulated sugar - Sweetens the brownies and pairs nicely with brown sugar.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar adds a delicious caramel flavor.
- Coconut oil - Melted coconut oil adds moisture to the brownies, creating a gooey and fudgy texture. Vegetable oil, canola oil, and olive oil work as well.
- Eggs - Use room temperature eggs. This creates a crackly top on the brownies.
- Vanilla extract - Use pure vanilla extract for a rich flavor.
- Salt - A pinch of salt balances the flavors and enhances the chocolate taste.
Step-by-Step Instructions
You'll be surprised by how quickly and easily the brownie batter comes together. Here are step-by-step instructions for how to make dairy-free brownies from scratch:
PREP: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8" metal baking pan with parchment paper. This prevents the brownies from sticking to the pan.
STEP 1: Whisk together the melted coconut oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl until it resembles a paste that pulls away cleanly from the side of the bowl.
STEP 2: Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk thoroughly until smooth and evenly combined.
STEP 3: Gently whisk in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt until just combined. A few flour specks are okay - be careful not to over-mix the batter!
STEP 4: Once combined, transfer the brownie batter into the baking pan, making sure it is spread evenly in the pan and into the edges.
STEP 5: Bake the dairy-free brownies for 30-40 minutes. Check the brownies at 30 minutes and insert a toothpick in the middle. The top of the brownies should be crinkly and the toothpick should come out with moist crumbs.
TIP: Let the brownies cool completely in the pan before cutting and serving. If you are using a glass baking pan, the brownies may need to bake longer.
Expert Baking Tips
- Use a metal pan with parchment paper - A metal pan is better than glass for baking brownies evenly. Line the baking pan with parchment paper to prevent the brownies from sticking to the pan.
- Properly measure the flour - When measuring your flour, avoid scooping it with a measuring cup. Instead, use a spoon to sprinkle flour into the cup and level the top with a knife. This prevents dry brownies.
- Use room-temperature ingredients - Bring the eggs to room temperature before baking for a smooth batter and even baking.
- Don't over-mix the batter - For fudgy and moist brownies, stop mixing the batter as soon as the dry ingredients combine. Over-mixing causes dense and dry brownies.
- Don’t over-bake your brownies! It's best to under-bake the brownies a little bit to achieve the best fudgy and gooey texture.
- Cool before cutting - Wait until the brownies are completely cool before slicing.
Easy Brownie Variations
The best thing about homemade brownies is the flexibility they have! Here are some easy variations you can try:
- Small batch - Divide the recipe in half to make a small batch of dairy-free brownies. Watch the baking time!
- With vegetable oil - You can use vegetable oil in place of coconut oil if you prefer.
- Chocolate chips - Mix in dark chocolate chips for the ultimate chocolate brownies.
- Gluten and dairy-free - Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free 1-1 baking flour for wheat-free and dairy-free brownies.
- Add sprinkles - Make the brownies festive for any holiday or special occasion by adding colorful sprinkles on top before baking.
Try these oreo blondie bars for a delicious flavor twist with a crunch!
Frequently Asked Questions
These brownies work well with vegetable oil, coconut oil, or olive oil to achieve a delicious chewy and fudgy texture.
Fudgy brownies usually have a higher fat-to-flour ratio, which creates a moist, gooey texture and a rich, decadent chocolate taste. Generally, this ratio is achieved by adding more oil, butter, or real chocolate to the recipe.
Yes! To make small batch brownies, simply halve the recipe and bake the brownies for a shorter amount of time. Insert a toothpick into the center to check for doneness around 25-30 minutes.
Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines, Pillsbury, Enjoy Life, and King Arthur all have dairy-free brownie mixes available. Just be sure to check the ingredients on the box.
Storage & Freezing
Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for 5-7 days. This keeps them fresh and fudgy as long as possible.
To freeze leftover brownies, wrap them in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and seal them in an airtight container. You can freeze dairy-free brownies for up to 2 months. Let them thaw at room temperature before enjoying them again.
More Easy Brownie Recipes
Did you make these fudgy dairy-free brownies without butter? Please leave a star rating and review below. This supports my blog and helps other readers! Share your brownies on Instagram or TikTok and remember to tag me. To stay updated with new recipes, follow me on Pinterest and join my email list.
Recipe
Fudgy Dairy Free Brownies
Equipment
- 1 8x8-inch Aluminum Baking Pan with Parchment Paper
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- ¾ cup melted coconut oil (or vegetable oil)
- ¾ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)*
- ¾ cup cocoa powder (dutch processed preferred)**
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8x8-inch aluminum baking pan with parchment paper. Leave parchment paper hanging over the sides of the pan so that you can easily remove the brownies later.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted coconut oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture resembles a paste that pulls away cleanly from the side of the bowl.¾ cup melted coconut oil, ¾ cup brown sugar, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.2 eggs, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Add in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt and whisk until just combined. A few flour specks are okay. Be careful not to over-mix the batter!⅔ cup all-purpose flour, ¾ cup cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon salt
- Transfer the brownie batter to the prepared baking pan. Make sure it is spread evenly in the pan and into the edges. Top with chocolate chips if desired.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. The top of the brownies should be crinkly. Be careful not to over-bake or they will be too dry.
- Remove the dairy-free brownies from the oven and let them cool completely before slicing and serving. Enjoy!
Natalie says
These bronies look fantastic. Love added nuts and cacao nibs on top. I'll have to give this a try.
Samantha Ensinger says
Hi Natalie, adding nuts and cacao on top sounds delicious! Enjoy!
Giangi Townsend says
Want to reach in and have some now. They look amazingly delicious. A must try
Samantha Ensinger says
I hope you enjoy the recipe! They are such a delicious chocolate dessert to make at home.
Kayla DiMaggio says
These dairy free brownies were so delicious! I loved all the flavors and everything was so easy!
Samantha Ensinger says
Thanks for making the recipe, Kayla! Easy baking is the best. Glad you loved them!
Chris says
This recipe was so delicious! I made it today and they are almost gone! Just wow! Thank you for sharing this incredible recipe!
Samantha Ensinger says
Chris, thank you for the review! Brownies never last long in my house. They are just too good!
Freya says
These brownies were packed full of flavour and I love that they were dairy free. The recipe was so simple to follow too!
Samantha Ensinger says
Thanks, Freya! I am happy that the recipe was easy to follow and that you enjoyed the flavors.
Choclette says
I can't resist a brownie. I sometimes use coconut oil too as it gives the brownies a really good texture. Will have to try your version, it looks fantastic.
Samantha Ensinger says
I hope you enjoy making the brownies with coconut oil. It creates such a delicious taste and perfect texture. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Swoish says
I love me a good dairy free recipe! These were delicious!
Samantha Ensinger says
So happy to hear, Elizabeth! I hope you make them again sometime soon.
Emily says
These dairy-free fudge brownies are so delicious and chocolatey, much better than anything storebought! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Samantha Ensinger says
Homemade brownies are always better than store versions. Thanks for giving the recipe a try! Enjoy them!
Alyssa Hixenbaugh says
I love these dairy free brownies! I have to be dairy free because of my babies dairy allergy, so I love great dairy free recipes.
Samantha Ensinger says
Hi Alyssa, I am so glad these dairy-free brownies worked well for you! I have lots of other dairy-free recipes if you are looking for more desserts.
Sagen says
Hi Samantha! Thanks so much for sharing this simple recipe. These were super yummy. I loved that you used coconut sugar in the recipe as well. I can't wait to make it again.
Samantha Ensinger says
Coconut sugar is a great substitute for granulated sugar and adds extra flavor. I am glad you gave it a try and thought the brownies were yummy, I agree!
Lauren Klein says
I can tell a love of love and care went into developing this recipe! Love it!
Kayla DiMaggio says
Loving these dairy-free brownies! They are so easy to make and turned out delicious!
Samantha Ensinger says
Wonderful to hear you love the brownie recipe! Thanks for the review.
Margie says
These brownies are soo good! I used olive oil and they came out amazing. It truly has such a gooey and fudgey texture in the center that I love! I don't normally bake dairy-free but needed a recipe without butter since I was out. This might be a new favorite. I will be making it again, maybe with chocolate chips next time. Thanks for the recipe!
Samantha Ensinger says
Hi Margie, I'm so glad the brownies turned out well with olive oil. Baking without butter is so convenient sometimes! Enjoy the recipe and thank you for the review.
Mabel says
What a great recipe. My son is dairy-free and I made these for his birthday treat since he LOVES chocolate. They were a hit!! Going to print this out and make it again and again. Yum!
Samantha Ensinger says
Mabel, I am so happy your son loved these brownies for his birthday! Happy birthday to him! Thank you for such a nice review.