Gluten-Free Avocado Brownies

These gluten-free brownies are so fudgy they will blow your mind. The surprise is that they are made with avocados topped with a fun, green avocado frosting!

Two gluten-free brownie recipes in one week!? Craziness I know but Sunday’s was a single serving while today’s was made with avocados, and let me tell you they were crazy fudgy. Nearly had to scrape them out of the pan and eat them with a spoon fudgy. “It’s so fudgy I’m going to die!” – paraphrased quote from Agnes of Despicable Me.

Who knew avocados could render such a consistency in baked goods? Then to literally top it off, they are frosted with a green avocado frosting. Surprisingly you do not have to worry about the frosting turning brown. Evidently sugar is the secret weapon against avocado-oxidation.

Whip these up and see if anyone suspects they are anything other than regular fudgy brownies with some frosting you decided to “dye green”. I know most people I offered them to not only had no idea they were gluten-free but could not detect the avocado. The suspiciously green frosting was the only clue.

Two years ago: Baked Banana Almond Pancakes

GLUTEN-FREE AVOCADO BROWNIES

Makes 16 brownies

Ingredients:

BROWNIES

2 large ripe avocados, peeled and mashed (about 1 1/8 cups)

8 oz. dark chocolate chips, melted

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup hazelnut meal

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

3 Tbsp canola oil

4 oz. dark chocolate chips

FROSITNG

1 large ripe avocado, peeled and mashed

2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Liberally spray a 9-inch square pan with non-stick spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed avocado and melted chocolate. Whisk in sugar until combined, then add chocolate hazelnut spread, eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well. With a large spoon stir in hazelnut meal, cocoa, baking powder and salt until just combined. Add oil and stir until well distributed. Fold in chopped chocolate, then spread evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until middle is set. Remove and let cool completely.
3. While the brownies cool, prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl, beat the avocado with an electric beater until creamy. Add in vanilla then slowly add in powdered sugar at low speed. Add more powdered sugar until it reaches desired consistency. Frost brownies once cooled. Cut into squares and enjoy.

Source: Adapted slightly from How Sweet It Is.