vegan brookie
Once people hear that I bake vegan at high altitude, I am often asked if I also bake gluten-free. My baking style is complicated, and using gluten-free flour can have it’s own challenges. But I am nothing if not crazy for a challenge (or, perhaps, a glutton for punishment). So, when I discovered Otto’s Naturals cassava flour I went in search of a new recipe.
First I examined the flour. Cassava flour seemed like an interesting alternative flour in that it is grain-free, gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-free. I found a recipe that made brookies with almond flour, another alternate in the baking world, and I looked into almond flour to see how the two differed so I could tweak the recipe. You would have thought I should take it slow, never having tried the recipe or cassava flour. No, I jumped right in. I should have known better.
The first attempt was an absolute failure. But I had done my scientific research! I found out that cassava flour should easily replace all-purpose flour, but almond flour was more grainy and oily. So I made adjustments, but didn’t listen to my instincts. It was too dry. As in Sahara Desert dry.
For the second attempt I turned to my Chewy Vegan Brownies. The layers weren’t to be chewy, so I dialed back on that aspect. The new brookies were less dry and tasted better yet they were somewhat rubbery. It was time to delve further into my own past bakes.
My Brown Butter Blondies had good texture and baked well, so I used them as a modified template. Next I adjusted for the starchiness of the cassava flour. A little of this and a dab of that and I achieved a measure of success. The next, and final round, had a little more of this and a bigger dab of that to create a tasty vegan brookie that was also gluten-free.
The lesson here — to say no to gluten-free vegans? No, definitely not. What I really learned was that I am allowed to try, and try, and try again. Also, that I should listen to that inner voice and start experiments with something simple, like a cookie.
Until next time, happy baking!
Vegan Brookie - where brownies meet chocolate chip pan cookies
Equipment
- 1 8 x 8-inch baking pan
Ingredients
for the chocolate chip cookie layer:
- 3/4 cup cassava flour
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup firmly packed organic light brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon refined coconut oil melted
- 5 tablespoons vegan chocolate chips
for the brownie layer:
- 3/4 cup cassava flour
- 1/4 cup dutch process cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup organic sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 cup + 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons non-dairy milk
- 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon refined coconut oil melted
- 1 tablespoons vegan mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper with a bit of extra paper on two opposite sides. (This helps to remove the baked brookies from the pan). Set aside.
For the cookie layer:
- Sift the cassava flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar together into a medium bowl. Add the vanilla, non-dairy milk, and melted coconut oil. Stir with a spatula until well combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir until incorporated. Set aside.
For the brownie layer:
- Sift the cassava flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar together into a medium bowl. Add the vanilla, maple syrup, non-dairy milk, and melted coconut oil. Stir with a spatula until well combined. Add the mini chocolate chips and stir until incorporated.
To assemble the brookie:
- Dump the brownie batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Dump the cookie batter over the brownie batter and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 26 to 28 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the brookie is starting to pull away from the sides of the pan. Place the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes to cool, then lift the brookies out of the pan by the excess parchment paper and place them on a wire rack. Let the brookies cool completely before cutting.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge or on the counter for up to 3 days.
