Sugar-free Gluten-free Brownies! from author @DarylWoodGerber

From Daryl aka Avery

THANKS TO ALL FOR MAKING INHERIT THE WORD a bestseller while it was on the Bookbub special $1.99 sale price!  Yay. My publisher was so excited! And I think a lot of people learned about the rest of the books in the series because of it. Wahoo.

In FUDGING THE BOOKS--which comes out in August--I focus on, you've guessed it, chocolate! I have a number of chocolate-themed recipes in the book: Pirate Booty fudge, Irish cream pie, browned butter chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate macaroons, and more.

But I can't share those until after the book comes out, so I've drummed up new chocolate recipe to share with you.  

Brownies. Not just any brownies.

As I stated last week, my husband has been diagnosed with diabetes. This has been a challenging week, trying to figure out his insulin, trying to figure out what he can and can't eat. He's not much into sweets, usually, which is a good thing, but he does like chocolate!!!

So, while I'm on the chocolate kick, I decided I would make brownies that my husband could eat.

Ahem...however...since I need to eat gluten-free, this became a double challenge. I mean, I needed to taste it, right? I wondered how the texture would be using a sugar substitute and how the flavor would turn out. 

Overall, I'm thrilled with the result. This is a "flourless" brownie. I used cornstarch as the thickener. [If you can't eat corn, try sweet rice flour.] The flavor is great! I think next time I might double the recipe so the brownies will be thicker, but truthfully, these are a nice "thin" morsel of brownie, and for my husband, they turned out to be the perfect size.

Hard to capture the definition. Sorry.

Also, note:  I served the brownies on Father's Day, and they were a tad drier than the first day they were baked. Hmmm. Nobody complained mind you, but I think I would stick a wet piece of paper towel in the storage container to maintain moisture from the get-go.

Other than that, yay!  Success!

SUGAR-FREE GLUTEN-FREE BROWNIES

Serves 16

Ingredients

6 tbsp. unsalted butter

¾ c. Swerve sugar substitute (you can use Splenda)

8 oz. sugar-free semisweet chocolate – I used Lily’s dark chocolate (there is Hershey’s, if you can find it)

2 eggs, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

3 tbsp. cornstarch

¼ tsp. salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square pan with foil (prefer a metal one), then lightly spray or butter, set aside.

In a small saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter, then add the sugar-free Swerve. Once the sugar-free sugar is incorporated, add the chopped sugar-free chocolate, stirring until smooth.

Remove from the heat and add the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla extract.

Using a mesh sieve (or a sifter), sift the cocoa powder and cornstarch into the saucepan, then add the salt.

Stir together, then beat the batter vigorously for 1-2 minutes. Beat until the batter is smooth and shiny.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for 22-24 minutes (know your oven) or until the brownies are set in the center, taking care not to overbake.

Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 45 minutes before removing and slicing into 16 squares.

Notes: I think this recipe could be doubled and be just as good. Maybe cook a little longer.

Remembered to take the picture AFTER using the chocolate.
Crinkly paper, but you get the idea.

******************

By the way, if you belong to Goodreads, I have a giveaway going. STIRRING THE PLOT, the 3rd Cookbook Nook Mystery, is up for grabs!  Hope you get in on the action.

And starting next week, EVERY WEEK, I will be offering giveaways on Mystery Lovers Kitchen through the release of FUDGING THE BOOKS. So check in often!

Also I'll be having a release party on Facebook on August 4th, so mark your calendars! Look for the event invitation.

And I'll be doing a giveaway August 3rd via my newsletter to someone (or a few someones) who are signed up to receive it! Don't delay. Sign up.

Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!

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