small batch almond flour brownies

About These Small Batch Almond Flour Brownies

These small batch almond flour brownies are thick, chewy, and 100% gluten free thanks to almond flour! But don’t let the gluten free label scare you.

Even without regular flour, these almond flour brownies taste exactly like your favorite brownie recipe. They have the perfect chewy texture, lots of chocolate flavor, and just a subtle hint of nuttiness from the almond flour.

The best part? This recipe makes only a small batch of almond flour brownies! The recipe instructs you to bake the brownies in a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Doing so results in 8 petite brownies, or 2 to 3 bakery-style large ones.

small batch almond flour brownies

Why You Should Make Brownies With Almond Flour

Here are all the reasons to make these small batch almond flour brownies:

These almond flour brownies taste like regular brownies, but are 100% gluten free!

Earlier this month, I wrote that I wanted to expand my alternative baking skills. Part of that means developing my very own gluten free recipes. But real talk—gluten free baking has never really interested me. I find that most gluten free baking tends to taste… off. While they usually taste delicious, there’s always something a little funky about their texture. The baked goods are either too gummy, or too moist. To me, a good gluten free recipe should yield the exact same texture as non gluten free recipe.

Like these almond flour brownies!

I worked really, really hard to make sure that these almond flour brownies could pass as regular brownies. They have the perfect, chewy (but not TOO chewy) texture that is the hallmark of any good brownie recipe. In fact, many of my recipe testers were surprised to find that these almond flour brownies are gluten free!

The recipe uses no specialty ingredients beyond almond flour.

Most gluten free recipes rely on specialty flours and more “obscure” baking ingredients like xanthan gum to compensate for their lack of gluten. While I’m no stranger to shopping for these types of ingredients (you’re talking to the girl who has recipes that use citric acid, powdered blackcurrant, tonka beans, and more in her baking lollll), I take issue with the fact that, well, after you buy it, you’re left with a massive bag to use up. And that’s a problem if you’re an infrequent gluten free baker like me. Like, what am I going to do with the remaining 8 ounces of xanthan gum after I’ve used my measly teaspoon, lol? And ditto with specialty flours (which tend to go bad much faster than regular flour)?

As a result, one of my goals was to develop a gluten free brownie recipe with no specialty ingredients. Like these almond flour brownies!

Although you could argue that almond flour is a specialty ingredient, more and more grocery stores stock almond flour as part of their regular baking inventory. It’s also incredibly easy to make at home, too (see the Ingredients section of this post for more info). If you’re a regular baker, I guarantee that you’ll have almost everything you need for these brownies in your pantry without an extra trip to the grocery store.

The recipe is small batch.

Many of us are still working from home, socially distancing, slowly dying, etc. And sharing baked goods is hard when everybody’s either working from home or discouraged from gathering in big groups!

Unfortunately, many baking recipes are written for special occasions like celebrations, birthdays, and more. As a result, the typical cookie or bar recipe makes enough to feed a crowd. I spent the last year scaling down some of the most popular recipes on my blog to make smaller batches. I’ve been steadily adding to those recipes with new additions, too.

Like this almond flour brownie recipe! This recipe makes either 8 petite brownies or 2 to 3 large bakery-style brownies—learn more in the Baker’s Notes below.

The recipe comes together quickly.

Finally, one more thing about these almond flour brownies: they come together really quickly. All you need are two bowls (and truthfully, you can probably get away with just using one bowl, too). No stand mixer required for this recipe, folks! The batter takes about 5 minutes to make by hand. That’s it!

hands reaching for small batch almond flour brownies

Ingredients and Substitutions

Now that I’ve convinced you to make almond flour brownies, here’s your shopping list for the recipe:

Shopping List for Small Batch Almond Flour Brownies

  • almond flour
  • Dutch-processed OR natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • baking powder
  • kosher salt
  • unsalted butter
  • light OR dark brown sugar
  • granulated sugar
  • large eggs
  • pure vanilla extract
  • chocolate chips

And let’s talk about some key ingredients and their substitutions:

Almond Flour

You need ¾ cups almond flour to make these small batch almond flour brownies.

What is almond flour?

Almond flour is a “flour” made from finely ground almonds. I use quotation marks around the word “flour” because almond flour technically isn’t flour. Most flours are made from milling different types of wheat. But not almond flour!

Is almond flour gluten free?

Yes! Almond flour is typically used in gluten free baking since it contains no gluten.

Is almond meal the same as almond flour?

Okay, TL/DR: almond meal and almond flour are the same thing.

Some folks will argue with you and say that almond flour is made with blanched almonds. Blanching the almonds removes their skins, giving you a consistent pale yellowish white almond flour. Almond meal, on the other hand, are made with almonds that haven’t been blanched. As a result, almond meal contains almond skin and is dark brown and speckled in color.

But real talk: manufacturers don’t have any formal rules to follow when it comes to defining their labels as almond flour versus almond meal. Although there are some manufacturers—like Bob’s Red Mill—who do a great job of sticking to that definition above, there are many others who don’t. That’s why you’ll see almond flour labelled as “almond meal”, and vice versa. So don’t stress about it too much.

And what does it mean for these almond flour brownies? You can use either almond meal or almond flour in the recipe, no problem.

What about blanched almond meal? What is blanched almond meal anyway? And what about blanched almond flour?

Ah, yes. To make matters even more confusing, some manufacturers like to call their almond flour “blanched almond meal” or “blanched almond flour.” Both describes almond flour that’s been made with blanched almonds, resulting in the pale, yellowish white almond flour.

Can you substitute almond flour for regular flour?

Sort of. Contrary to what diet blogs tell you, you cannot substitute regular all-purpose flour with almond flour 1:1. Why? They’re made from completely different things. I mentioned earlier that most flour is made from milled wheat, while almond flour is made from, well, almonds (duh).

As a result, almond flour has way more fat than wheat flour. It also absorbs liquid differently. And bakers need to account for these different qualities by adjusting other ingredients in the recipe accordingly.

Where To Buy Almond Flour

Back in the day, almond flour used to be a rarity and typically only available in fancy grocery stores and hippie food co-ops. But now, most major supermarkets carry the stuff.

Looking for a brand recommendation? My favorite almond flour is from Bob’s Red Mill (who sells both almond flour and almond meal—see my essay about the differences between the two above, lol). I also like King Arthur Baking Company’s almond flour.

How To Make Almond Flour

Alright, you proved me wrong. You could not find any almond flour at any store. No worries! You can make it at home, too.

To make almond flour at home, pulse raw almonds in a food processor until finely ground. That’s it! Be careful not to overprocess the nuts—you might accidentally end up with almond butter, lol. Instead, pulse the nuts for 2 to 3 seconds at a time until you get the texture of a coarse meal.

hands holding small batch almond flour brownie bar

How to Make Brownies with Almond Flour

Here are the basic steps to make small batch almond flour brownies from scratch:

  1. Prep the ingredients. (Prep Time: 5 minutes)
    All you need to do is melt the butter, and make sure your eggs are at room temperature. That’s it! If your almond flour and cocoa powder is particularly lumpy, feel free to sift them. However, use your judgement! Almond flour clumps naturally on its own, so it’s normal to have small lumps in the flour at all times. I would just break up any bigger lumps by rubbing them in between my fingers.

  2. Make the almond flour brownie batter. (Work Time: 5 minutes)
    After prepping your ingredients, the brownie batter comes together really quickly. Simply whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Then, mix together the melted butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl. Combine the two and mix until just combined. That’s it!

  3. Assemble the almond flour brownies. (Work Time: <5 minutes)
    Pour the brownie batter into the pan, and use an offset spatula to smooth the top. Alternatively, because the brownie batter is a little thick, you can pick up the pan and tilt it from side to side to spread the batter. I also like to decorate my almond flour brownies with a scattering of chocolate chips.

  4. Bake the almond flour brownies. (Bake Time: 33 minutes)
    These small batch almond flour brownies need 33 to 35 minutes in the oven. It’s better to pull the brownies out of the oven early than leave them in too long—if you over bake the brownies, they’ll be tough. A skewer inserted into the center of the brownies should still come out with a few crumbs attached.
close up of small batch almond flour brownies

Recipe Troubleshooting and FAQ

FAQ: Questions About Baking Equipment

Why do you use a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan to make these almond flour brownies?

Great question! Most brownie recipes are baked in a 9 x 13-inch pan. This 9 x 13-inch pan is also known as a quarter sheet pan. To halve the recipe, you’ll need to use a baking pan with that has a surface area a half that size. You can typically get away with using a 8- or 9-inch square pan. But what if that’s still not small enough? What’s half of an 8-inch square pan?

Well, these specialty pans actually DO exist—they’re known as ⅛ sheet pans, or “eighth sheet pans”. But it’s rare that the average person will have one in their cupboard, so I worked to find another pan. I learned from one of my baker friends, Christina at Dessert For Two, that a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan basically has the same surface area as an eighth sheet pan. Pretty cool, right?

Note that this small batch almond flour brownie recipe won’t fill up the pan like it would if you were making a loaf cake. However, it will make enough batter to completely cover the bottom of a pan.

Can I use an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan instead of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan to make these almond flour brownies?

Yes! You can also use a smaller 8 x 4-inch loaf pan, too. Just know that your brownies will come out slightly thicker. You may need to adjust Bake Time accordingly.

Wait, I read your Small Batch Baking Tools Guide and bought the eighth sheet pan you recommended. Can I use that instead to make these almond flour brownies?

Absolutely! If you have an eighth sheet pan, feel free to use it in this recipe! Because of the pan’s shallow sides, it’s easier to see how the brownies are cooking.

Note that an eighth sheet pan is actually just a little wider than a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. As a result, you may need to adjust Bake Time accordingly.

I don’t have either a 9 x 5-inch, an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan, OR an eight sheet pan. What else can I use instead?

Other pans that could potentially work when making small batch almond flour brownies include a 6-inch round cake pan. One of my Instagram followers also made this similar small batch fudge brownie recipe of mine in this 4 x 4-inch pan. However, I can’t personally vouch for the results as I have only tried the recipe in a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. It’s likely that you’ll need to adjust Bake Time.

FAQ: Questions About Ingredients

Hm, I like gluten too much. Can I make this small batch almond flour brownie recipe but replace the almond flour with all-purpose flour?

No, please don’t! Almond flour is a completely different beast from all-purpose flour. It contains way more fat (since it’s basically just processed almonds). It also absorbs water differently than all-purpose flour.

As a result, you’ll need to adjust literally everything else in the recipe to account for this difference in hydration level. In fact, if you went ahead and used all-purpose flour in this recipe, it’s likely that your brownies will have a completely different (and even unpleasant) texture from mine.

But fret not! If you’re looking for a more traditional small batch brownie recipe, I recommend this small batch fudge brownie recipe. It uses all-purpose flour!

I’m allergic to almonds but not other nuts. Can I replace the almond flour with another type of nut flour?

Yes! You can replace the almond flour with another nut flour. If you’re going the store-bought route, I recommend substituting it with Bob’s Red Mill Hazelnut Flour/Meal or Fisher Nuts Pecan Flour.

FAQ: Questions About Recipe Techniques

I loved this small batch almond flour brownie recipe so much that I want to make a regular-sized batch. What should I do?

Aw yay! I’m glad you like the recipe. If you want to make a regular-sized batch of almond flour brownies, I recommend checking out this recipe by King Arthur Baking Company. I actually heavily adapted this small batch almond flour brownie recipe from the back of their almond flour bag! The recipe is also available on their site.

Can I swap out the melted butter with brown butter?

Absolutely! It’ll be delicious.

FAQ: Questions About Storing The Brownies

How To Store Small Batch Almond Flour Brownies

The brownies can be stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze almond flour brownies?

Yes! You can freeze the baked almond flour brownies.

To freeze the brownies, individually wrap any leftover bars in two layers of plastic wrap, then a layer of aluminum foil. The aluminum foil will prevent the bars from absorbing any other flavors or odors in the freezer. Freeze for up to 3 months.

When ready to serve, transfer to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. You can eat the brownies straight from the fridge, or rewarmed in the microwave.

Best Recipe Tips

Best Ingredient Tip

  • In the recipe below, I instruct you to sift the almond flour and cocoa powder if necessary. How do you know if it’s necessary? If the ingredients have lumps bigger than the size of a pea. But note that almond flour clumps naturally on its own, so it’s normal to have small lumps in the flour at all times. Don’t stress yourself out too much if your almond flour refuses to stay lump free!

Best Baking Tip

  • It’s better to pull the brownies out of the oven early than leave them in too long—if you over bake the brownies, they’ll be tough. They might appear underbaked, but I promise that when they’ve cooled, they will be perfect.

Best Serving Tip

  • I mentioned throughout the post that this small batch brownie recipe makes 8 petite brownies, or 2 large bakery-style brownies. To make 8 petite brownies, unmold the brownies from the pan and slice them lengthwise. Hold the two long slices together, and slice them into quarters crosswise. This will create 8 petite brownie squares. For 2 large bakery-style brownies, simply slice the unmolded brownie block into two halves crosswise.

Video Tutorial for Recipe

Use the video player below to watch my Instagram Story tutorial on how to make these small batch almond flour brownies! You can click on the left and right hand sides of the frame to skip backwards and forwards through the different recipe steps. You can also hit the frame to “pause” it accordingly.


Alternatively, head to my Instagram profile to watch these Stories! The circles underneath my bio indicate saved Instagram Story highlights for various recipes. Click on one of the circles to play the video tutorial for the recipe. You may need to swipe left or right to find these almond flour brownies.

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Get the Recipe: Small Batch Almond Flour Brownies Recipe

This small batch almond flour brownie recipe is baked in a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and makes 8 petite brownies. The almond flour brownies are thick, chewy, and 100% gluten free with no weird ingredients.
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Ingredients

For the Small Batch Almond Flour Brownies

  • ¾ cup (2.65 ounces or 75 grams) almond flour, sifted if necessary
  • 6 Tablespoons (1.15 ounces or 33 grams) Dutch-processed OR natural unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted if necessary
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup (4 ounces or 113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 7 Tablespoons tightly packed (3.25 ounces or 92 grams) light OR dark brown sugar
  • 7 Tablespoons (3 ounces or 85 grams) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • chocolate chips, for garnish

Equipment

  • a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan

Instructions
 

For the Small Batch Almond Flour Brownies

  • Prep the oven and pan. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the pan's two long sides. Spray the parchment, too.
  • Make the dry mix. In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  • Make the wet mix. In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugars, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until just combined.
  • Make the batter. Sprinkle the dry mix over the wet mix and stir until just combined.
  • Assemble the brownies. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and use an offset spatula to smooth the top. Sprinkle the batter with chocolate chips.
  • Bake the brownies. Bake for 33 to 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the brownies comes out with a few crumbs attached. Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
  • Serve and store. Run a butter knife or offset spatula along the edges of the pan and use the overhanging parchment as handles to lift the brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Follow the instructions in the baker's notes to slice into 8 petite brownie squares, or 2 large bakery-style brownies. Garnish with flaky salt and serve. The brownies can be stored in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • In the recipe below, I instruct you to sift the almond flour and cocoa powder if necessary. How do you know if it’s necessary? If the ingredients have lumps bigger than the size of a pea. But note that almond flour clumps naturally on its own, so it’s normal to have small lumps in the flour at all times. Don’t stress yourself out too much if your almond flour refuses to stay lump free!
  • It’s better to pull the brownies out of the oven early than leave them in too long—if you over bake the brownies, they’ll be tough. They might appear underbaked, but I promise that when they’ve cooled, they will be perfect.
  • I mentioned throughout the post that this small batch brownie recipe makes 8 petite brownies, or 2 large bakery-style brownies. To make 8 petite brownies, unmold the brownies from the pan and slice them lengthwise. Hold the two long slices together, and slice them into quarters crosswise. This will create 8 petite brownie squares. For 2 large bakery-style brownies, simply slice the unmolded brownie block into two halves crosswise.
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Weeknight Baking:
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Over the past several years of running Hummingbird High, I kept a crucial aspect of my life hidden from my readers: I had a full-time, extremely demanding job in the tech world. In my debut cookbook, Weeknight Baking, I finally reveal the secrets to baking delicious desserts on a tight schedule.

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