Can I just say this Vegan Gluten-Free Skillet Brownie has officially blown my mind?! It's the best of all worlds because it's mini, perfect for two, and uncontrollably fudgy and gooey. Did I mention it also happens to be refined sugar-free, eggless, & dairy-free? This is truly the perfect recipe for those times you want a cast iron brownie!
I made my first skillet cookie a few months ago (my Vegan Gingerbread Cookie Skillet) and it was SO good that I knew it was time to bring a brownie friend to the party. All you need is one 5-inch mini skillet, a mixing bowl, a whisk, and a spoon to enjoy this recipe.
Not only is this brownie skillet gluten-free & vegan but it can also be whipped up in one-bowl. The best part? It's one of those desserts where there is absolutely no shame in eating it right out of the pan. That is what skillet brownies are meant for-right?!
I tested this recipe several times to get the perfect ooey gooey consistency. If you want to know what this tastes like it's honestly a mix between a chocolate lava cake and a fudgy brownie. Definitely expect a gooey center and crackly brownie edges. YUM!!
Ingredient notes:
Since this recipe calls for some specific ingredients, I'm jumping into them here. The full list of skillet brownie ingredients is in the recipe card, but this gives some important substitution ideas too.
- Gluten-Free Flour
This was my first time baking with a 1:1 Gluten-Free flour mix and I was BLOWN away by the results. I originally tested this recipe with all-purpose flour and it was amazing, so I subbed in Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1:1 Baking Flour Tbsp for Tbsp in this recipe and got the exact same results (*please note, gram measurement does vary by flour type and GF flour tends to weigh slightly more). The texture is a teeny bit different between gluten-free and a flour-filled brownie, but it is barely noticeable.
I've only tested this recipe with Bob's Red Mill GF flour, so it is the flour I recommend for this recipe. I don't recommend subbing in other GF flours like cassava, almond, oat, etc unless it is a 1:1 baking mix from another brand.
- Maple Sugar
I recently received some Maple sugar and knew I had to try it in this recipe. It keeps this brownie refined sugar-free, while still making it sweet and delicious.
If you can't find maple sugar, coconut sugar or a mix of white/brown sugar also works 1:1 in this recipe. I do not recommend maple syrup or liquid sweeteners in this recipe as it will alter the texture and baking results.
- Ground Flax
This acts as the brownie egg replacement when mixed with the non-dairy milk and helps to bind these egg-free brownies together. If you don't have ground flax, chia seeds also work 1:1.
I personally haven't tried this recipe with any store-bought "egg-replacer" but the flax mixed with the oat milk in the recipe basically makes ½ of a flax egg or ½ egg if you are looking to substitute.
- Chocolate Chips
Let's be honest, the best brownie recipes are made with chocolate chips. Agree?! I used Lily's dark chocolate chips for this recipe as they are naturally sweetened with stevia and SO good.
I also used them in my favorite Mini No-Bake Chocolate Tarts recipe. However, use whatever vegan chocolate you prefer.
How to make a vegan skillet brownie
Once you've assembled all your ingredients, this one-bowl & egg-free brownie recipe couldn't be easier!
The first step is to melt the vegan butter and then whisk in the maple sugar. It's super important to use melted butter for brownies and mix in the sugar before adding other ingredients so it can dissolve.
Unlike cookie recipes where we whip the butter and sugar together for volume, we want these dairy-free brownies to be super dense and fudgy. This texture can only be accomplished with melted butter.
Once the butter and sugar are mixed, add in the remainder of the ingredients (except the chocolate chips) and mix until a thick brownie batter forms. Then, gently fold the chocolate chips into the batter.
Pour the vegan brownie batter into the 5-inch mini skillet and bake at 350F for 20-22 minutes. It's okay if the middle is slightly undercooked when you remove the skillet brownie from the oven as it will continue cooking out of the oven.
Then, top this vegan gf brownie with ice cream, some extra vegan chocolate sauce, and dig in! All you need is a spoon to enjoy this delicious treat.
FAQ & Tips:
If you do have any leftovers, just cover the cooled brownie skillet with plastic wrap and store it directly in the fridge for 2-3 days.
For whatever reason, I actually really enjoy this fudgy brownie cold, but if you do want to reheat any leftovers just pop the skillet back in the oven at 200F until warmed.
Just don't reheat in the microwave- skillets are not microwave safe!
Yes! If you are looking to double this recipe, you can bake it in two 5-inch skillets or one large 9-inch skillet.
I truly hope you all love this small-batch, vegan, & gluten-free skillet brownie. It's a decadent treat for two (or one!) and is truly one of my go-to gluten-free and guilt-free dessert recipes. Enjoy!
-TSG
More vegan & gluten-free dessert recipes you will love:
If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star review on the recipe card. I always appreciate your feedback and support! You can also follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for our newsletter!
Vegan Skillet Brownie
Ingredients
- ¼ cup vegan butter melted
- ⅓ cup maple sugar can be subbed 1:1 for coconut sugar
- 2 Tablespoons oat milk
- ½ Tablespoon ground flax
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 6 Tablespoons 1:1 Gluten-Free flour mix
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2-3 Tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F and lightly grease a mini cast iron skillet.
- Begin by melting the vegan butter. Then place it into a mixing bowl and whisk in the maple sugar to dissolve. Next, add in the oat milk, ground flax, and vanilla and whisk together.
- Add the sifted dry ingredients to the mixing bowl including the gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together until a thick brownie batter forms. Then, add in the chocolate chips and gently fold into the batter.
- Add the brownie batter to the cast iron skillet and use a spatula to smooth. Then, add to the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes until cooked on the outside and slightly undercooked from the center. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes to allow the middle to set. Then, eat right out of the skillet. Enjoy!
Notes
- To store as leftovers, wrap the cooled skillet in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Enjoy cold or pop back into the oven at 200F until warmed. Please do not heat the skillet in the microwave.
- Please read blog post for additional substitution ideas and suggestions if you are missing any ingredients
Mansi says
Hi Megan, this looks delish! I am going to make this for NYE for my husband and I. I want to use Einkorn wheat all purpose flour. You have mentioned you tried this with all purpose flour as well. So I should use the same measurements, right? Thanks, Mansi!
Megan says
Sounds like a great way to enjoy NYE! I have only made it with white all-purpose flour and that was a 1:1 substitution for the gluten-free all-purpose blend, but I think it would vary with Einkorn flour. I've personally never baked with it, but from what I read it absorbs less water/liquid so you may have to experiment a bit to see what amount of flour you need.
Mansi says
Thank you so much. I am making it tonight with Trader Joe's GF flour. Happy New Year!
Danielle says
Would this work if making in individual ramekins? This looks divine for a birthday dessert and I’d love to give it a try but in individual portions 😍
Megan Horowitch says
I'm honestly not sure as I haven't tried it, but it may work if you split it into two ramekins. If you try it let me know how it goes!