Skillet Brownies

If you’re into super fudgy and ooey gooey brownies, you’re going to LOVE this recipe for gluten free skillet brownies. It has that perfect glossy, paper thin crust on top with a melty center and chewy edge. The texture is all due to a secret ingredient that makes this skillet brownie extra rich.

This post is sponsored by SunButter and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Butternut Bakery possible!

How to make the BEST skillet brownies

It’s all in how you mix the batter! In order to achieve that perfect paper thin top and gooey center, it starts with the eggs and sugar.

For this recipe, you will need 1 cup brown sugar and 2 large eggs plus one egg yolk. The brown sugar helps add chewiness that would otherwise come from the gluten in regular all-purpose flour. The extra egg yolk serves the same purpose while also enhancing the richness of the batter.

If you would like to make this a refined sugar free recipe, subbing the brown sugar for coconut sugar will do the trick!

How to get a crinkle top on brownies

Start off by whisking together the sugar and eggs…and I mean REALLY whisk them. In the photo below, you can see how the mixture becomes pale, creamy, and fluffy with small air bubbles all throughout. This takes about 3-5 minutes of rigorous whisking…a small price to pay for amazing brownies.

This is what gives you that paper thin crust on top because we’re whipping air into the egg whites. As the brownies bake, those air bubbles help lift the sugar crystals near the surface, causing that shiny crackly top.

It also helps dissolve the sugar which creates a creamy and rich texture.

Speaking of texture, another important step is to gently fold in the dry ingredients – being all-purpose gluten free flour and salt.

After the eggs and sugar are whipped to the right consistency, mix in the melted chocolate, butter, cocoa powder, and the super secret ingredient. These have all been melted together on the stove top prior to this step.

Once that’s mixed in, ditch the whisk and switch to a rubber spatula. Dump in the flour and salt and gently fold it into the batter. This ensures most of those air bubbles (that you worked so hard for) stay in tact.

And since this brownie recipe is gluten free, you don’t have to worry about over mixing as much as you would a regular brownie recipe. Typically, you want to leave a few ribbons of flour in the batter to ensure you don’t over mix. Otherwise, you’ll over-work the gluten strands which leads to a tough brownie. But again, not really an issue here!

Last but not least, fold in that mound of chocolate chips. This only adds to that ooey gooey center so it’s an absolute MUST in this recipe! The more the merrier.

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How to make dairy free and gluten free skillet brownies

I am all about making super simple substitutions when it comes to gluten free and dairy free baking. Not everyone has access to the many varieties of gluten free flours out there, nor do they want to store them in their kitchen. And with dairy free alternatives being more and more popular, it’s much easier to get your hands on common dairy free baking necessities.

For gluten free baking, my go-to is the standard all-purpose gluten free baking flour with xanthan gum mixed in. It works great every time and you just need one bag. Although, if you can’t find one with xanthan gum, simply mix 3/4 tsp of xanthan gum into the 3/4 cup of flour for this recipe. The ratio is 1 tsp xanthan gum to every 1 cup of flour.

For the dairy free portion, I use a plant based butter that works the EXACT same as regular butter. It melts the same, bakes the same, and tastes the exact same. What I love about this ingredient is that it’s becoming way more accessible compared to even just a year ago. I find mine at my local grocery store.

Also make sure to use dark chocolate as this contains little to no dairy. For the chocolate on top, melt together 1/2 cup of chocolate with 1 tsp coconut oil. It creates the perfect thin consistency for drizzling and acts almost exactly like a ganache. It’s an optional addition but highly recommended!

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The SECRET ingredient to extra fudgy skillet brownies

Drum roll please….the secret to getting EXTRA fudgy and SUPER gooey skillet brownies is with…..SunButter!

Yep, drippy natural SunButter creates the PERFECT texture in these cast iron skillet brownies. It’s kind of like magic.

The reason why SunButter works so great here is because of its flavor. It’s not as strong as a nut butter so it goes nearly undetected among all the chocolate. You get all the benefit of the texture without the flavor, so no one will ever know why these brownies taste so dang good. We’ll just keep that between us.

Of course, I also love using SunButter where the flavor can shine! Like in my SunButter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge and Gluten Free SunButter Millionaire Shortbread Bars. That’s what I love about it, it’s such a flexible ingredient that can be used for both flavor and/or texture.

SunButter caries a variety of sunflower seed butters, but natural SunButter is the only way to go for this recipe. It’s a bit thinner and has a higher oil content to create that extra gooey center.

To be honest, it’s hard to explain just how good it makes this brownie recipe. After one bite, you’ll know exactly what I mean. You know something is extra special about this brownie, you just can’t quite put your finger on it. You’ll just have to try and see for yourself!

How to serve skillet brownies and cast iron alternatives

I devoured this skillet brownie. I just could not stop eating it. With a spoon, with two spoons, with my hands, it was not a pretty sight.

That being said, there are a few different ways you can eat this skillet brownie. If you like an ooey gooey brownie that hardly holds together, just dig a spoon right in when it’s still warm.

If you try to cut a slice when it’s fresh from the oven, it won’t hold its shape which is why the spoon route is the immediate way to go.

But, if you prefer a chunk or a slice, let it cool completely. The brownies will still be ooey gooey but more on the fudgy side. By this point you’ll be able to slice into it and pick up a piece for yourself.

Another pro to this recipe is that it STAYS fudgy for a few days. I accidentally left it out all night uncovered when I was testing it, only to find that super fudgy texture still intact the next morning. It honestly looked like I just baked it!

To store it, wrap the skillet in plastic wrap and leave out at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer, store in the fridge for up to 10 days.

Cast iron skillet alternatives

Now if you’re thinking, I really want to make these but I don’t have a cast iron skillet. Don’t worry! These brownies can also be baked in a regular baking pan.

Bake in an 8×8 baking pan but increase the time by 3-5 minutes. The brownies will be a bit thicker in the baking pan so you want to ensure that they bake all the way through.

The edges might not turn out as chewy as they would in the cast iron, but the brownies will still be delicious! This is just due to the fact that cast irons heat up and cool down really fast, so the edges of the brownie are blasted which heat much faster.

If you have any other questions about this recipe, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

For more skillet desserts, check out my:

• Vegan and Gluten Free Apple Crisp
• Nutella Stuffed Deep Dish Cookie
• Gluten Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Make sure to tag me @butternutbakery on Instagram or comment below if you make these Gluten Free Skillet Brownies. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card, the buttons above or below this post, or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!

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