Given the number of requests lately that I’ve had for gluten-free recipes that are also nut-free, I decided to create a quick and easy brownie recipe made out of sunflower butter. What is sunflower butter? It is similar to almond butter, however it is made of ground sunflower seeds. These Sunbutter Brownies are a cinch to make and a chocolatey delight.
I find that most baked goods made with sunflower butter have a very strong aftertaste that is somewhat bitter. My children for the most part do not care for the baked goods that I have made with ground sunflower seeds, or sunflower seed butter.
These brownies however, are the exception. They were devoured by the Boulder High School freshman baseball team, a group of teenagers who seems to have turned my living room into their clubhouse. Not that I mind one bit! I love those boys, and they love their gluten-free desserts including these grain-free sunflower butter brownies!
Sunbutter Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup sunbutter
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup cacao powder
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a food processor, combine sunbutter, eggs, and maple syrup
- Pulse in vanilla, vinegar, cacao powder, salt, and baking soda
- Stir in chocolate chips by hand
- Transfer batter to a greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes
- Cool for 1 hour
- Serve
These grain-free brownies are rich and moist and call for just a few ingredients. If you’re looking for a grain-free brownie recipe made with nuts, try my Paleo Brownie recipe –here’s what one of my darling readers named Andrea had to say about them:
“Best gluten and grain-free brownie recipe I’ve ever had. Hands down.”
In the mood for an extra decadent brownie treat? Take a look at my Paleo Caramel Brownies. Looking for an egg-free brownie recipe? Try my Vegan Gluten-Free Brownies. If you enjoy my quick and easy recipes, sign up to get my email alerts so that you’ll be the first to know when I come up with fresh stuff!
erica says
wondering if you know of any sunbutter without sugar in it?,,,
Kristen says
SunButter and Once Again are a couple of brands that make sunbutter with no added sweeteners (they obviously make sweetened versions as well). There are probably other brands that also make it. I just know that those two do. Hope that helps!
Terri says
MaraNatha sun butter has no sugar:) I get mine at Walmart , price is lower there.
Lindsay says
I actually whipped up my own in the food processor. I make homemade almond butter this way because I prefer it over jarred. It did take a longer time to process than almond butter, probably because the high-fat content of the sunflower seeds, they blob just bounced around for quite a while.
Anyway, I figured since I was gonna dirty the food processor anyway, I might as well whip up my own sunbutter (rather than buying a jar just for this purpose). Bonus: you get to control what goes into your nutbutter, just seeds and salt in mine!
Kerry Turnham says
Good idea, I think I will do that too. Did you use 1/2 sunflower seeds or do you need more to get enough for the recipe, thanks
Lori says
Yum! I can eat nuts but prefer to limit my intake to small amounts (therefore, I don’t use almond flour for baking), so this sunbutter recipe sounds intriguing! Looking forward to trying this out… :)
-Lori
http://adventuresofasickchick.com
Maria says
We don’t use peanut butter in our house due to our son having a peanut allergy, so on a few occasions I’ve tried subbing Sunbutter for peanut butter in GF recipes – including some of yours, Elana. It didn’t go over so well with two of my kids (and myself), although my husband and youngest child would snarf them right down. I never quite figured out why it didn’t work as well in some treats, because I’d used Sunbutter in the past in place of peanut butter in cookies and everyone loved it. Ah, well. These brownies look so good, though, I’m going to try it again. Thank you!
Coleta says
Looks yummy. Saving this recipe for when I get my food processor.
Maria says
Will these brownies work without the chocolate chips? We can’t have the sugar in the chocolate chips. Thank you Elena. Our family loves so many of your recipes.
Lindsay says
I just made them without the chips. My brownies turned out really light, almost like a chocolate cake. Not sure if it was because the chips were missing.
Melissa says
I used the chocolate chips, and mine came out like a chocolate cake, too…so I don’t think it was the chocolate chips. I was glad to read your comment and see it was not just me!
Cindra says
Love the Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes Great hit for breakfast!! Can’t wait to try Chocolate Chip Cookies ;)) Thanks for you Recipes, Delicious!!
Lynn says
These look wonderful. I can’t have cacao for 3 more weeks so aim going to try making them with carob!
Beth says
I have the same question. Will fax eggs work? My guy is gluten free and allergic to eggs.
Laurie Pevnick says
I have the same problem with eggs. Since these are brownies, I’ll bet flax would work or what about using 1/4 c. fruit puree or applesauce or avocado + 1sp. GF baking powder per egg? Any of you game to try it? If so, let me know how they come out?
Kari Soto says
Same here! Allergies to gluten, dairy, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, corn, eggs, legumes, beans, and the list goes on… I love the rice crispy sun butter recipe in the book. Would love to make these brownies too.
Flax, chia eggs? Applesauce or avocado? gelatin? What substitute would work best?
I always hate to ask cause I feel like the only one who can’t do eggs… Relieved to see others asking too!
Janet says
I’m game to try with an egg alternative. I may try ground Chia seeds (my preference) or applesauce with the egg replacer (my son’s preference). He’s ana to egg.
Cassie says
You seem to know what you are talking about! Why not give them a try and let us know?
Linda says
Will flax eggs work??? I am not allergic to the ingredients in the brownies (which is fantastic), but I can’t eat eggs.
Lisa says
Thank you! Nuts don’t agree with us here and I am always challenged to find paleo nut free recipes. More, please! I’ll be making these this weekend!