Chocolate Orange Brownies (Gluten Free) – Dark and Dangerous
These tried and tested gluten free Chocolate Orange Brownies pair a classic flavour combination in fudgy, citrus-infused, dangerously dark and moreish brownies. Free from gluten and nuts. Optional dairy free.
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Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Brownies – A favourite flavour combo in a favourite treat
Meet my Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Brownies… Dark, delicious and dangerously moreish. They are made with dark orange chocolate, ‘spiked’ with a little extra orange extract for a truly citrus-infused experience. Tempted?
Chocolate and orange has become a bit of a favourite flavour pairing in the UK. From loaf cakes to cupcakes… to tarts, cheesecakes and mousse… I found a chocolate orange cocktail over at BBC Food, too.
At Gluten Free Alchemist we even have Orange marzipan covered in chocolate… AND… A full-on homemade simple Chocolate Orange wedding/celebration cake with Orange Chocolate Macaron.
But somehow, the combination in brownies (another favourite obsession) brings the two flavours together in perfect harmony. There’s no separation… These gluten free Chocolate Orange Brownies infuse into a single heavenly, densely fudgy slice. If you like your brownies a little bit fruity, this one’s for you.
What Chocolate can I use to make Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Brownies?
This recipe for Chocolate Orange Brownies uses real chocolate that already has orange infused into the bar. But for those of us who are Coeliac or gluten avoiders, the chocolate used needs to be carefully selected.
PLEASE NOTE… that although I topped mine with Terry’s Chocolate Orange slices, these are NOT certified gluten free. There are no gluten ingredients, but they do have a ‘MAY CONTAIN’ warning for wheat. Therefore if you are either Coeliac or allergic, you MUST choose a different brand.
But which one? Currently (UK December 2020)… Cadbury’s Orange Bournville is safe and adds an extra texture dimension with zesty orange bits embedded in the chocolate. Alternatively, the similar Tesco Zesty Orange chocolate bar and Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Belgian Dark Chocolate Orange are good… As is the Lindt Excellence Dark Orange Intense Chocolate Bar.
I can’t find a suitable safe orange chocolate bar… Can I still make these brownies?
Yes… You can. If you are unable to find a suitable orange chocolate bar, then it is fine to use plain dark chocolate. The recipe already adds a little intensely flavoured orange extract for extra zing. So, if using plain dark chocolate, simply add extra orange extract to compensate.
Does the chocolate have to be dark chocolate?
Yes. When making my Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Brownies, be sure the chocolate is dark chocolate. Dark chocolate will melt and blend better into the base brownie mixture. But it will also complement the citrus beautifully and ensure the brownies have the intensity of chocolate they deserve, without extra sugar.
These beauties should and do pack a serious chocolate punch… enough to top up the winter serotonin banks with just one square… And if like me, you are not big on all the sickly sweet, diabetes-inducing, but apparently Instagram-fashionable brownies that seem to have everything from caramel to a full-on sweet shop thrown at them, rest assured. These gluten free chocolate orange brownies are definitely less sweet than many. And they need nothing extra to make them perfect.
Can I make these Chocolate Orange Brownies with ordinary wheat flour?
For obvious reasons I haven’t tried making my Chocolate Orange Brownies with ordinary wheat flour… However, for those of you not gluten free, I am fairly certain that the recipe will take a straight sub of gluten free for wheat flour.
Can I make this recipe dairy free?
This brownie recipe is already wheat free, gluten free and Coeliac safe. It can also be easily made dairy free with a simple sub of the butter for a good dairy free block equivalent and the use of confirmed dairy free dark chocolate.
The recipe does however rely on eggs and I have not tried making it with any alternative. Thus, it is not currently suitable for Vegans. Sorry.
When to eat Chocolate Orange Brownies
Chocolate Orange Brownies (whether gluten free or not) are a decadently divine treat at any time…
The chocolate-orange flavour combo is particularly popular as a Christmas recipe. And it is equally delicious at Easter and for other celebrations. But… these brownies are also simple enough to be taken on a gluten free picnic, popped in a lunch box, or stashed in a Tupperware to keep you sustained on a hike or when travelling gluten free.
But why stop there? For something extra special, upgrade and make a full-on chocolate-lover’s dessert… Grab a bowl, top with your favourite ice cream or custard and devour…
Made this recipe?
However you choose to eat them, if you do make my gluten free Chocolate Orange Brownies recipe, be sure to make my day by letting me know. It can be pretty lonely in the kitchen with my ‘cauldron’ sometimes… Knowing my creations are being enjoyed around the world gives me the motivation to keep at it, so that I can bring more and more wonderful recipes from my kitchen to yours.
Leave a comment or tag me on social media (links at the top) with your photos… And don’t forget to rate the recipe as well…
Not a fan of Chocolate Orange?
If Chocolate Orange isn’t your thing, that’s fine. There are plenty of other brownie options to choose from at Gluten Free Alchemist…
- Pear & Walnut Brownies
- Beetroot Brownies
- Blackberry Brownies
- Banana Brownies with Coconut
- Coffee Brownies
- Simple Fudgy Gluten Free Brownies
- Super Gooey Chocolate Brownies
- Peanut Butter Brownies
- Granola Brownies
- Cherry Brownies
- Gluten Free Christmas Brownies (Reindeer and Trees)
- Toblerone Brownies
For everything else, check out our amazing Gluten Free Recipe Index
Gluten Free Chocolate Orange Brownies
Key equipment
- 8 inch/20 cm square baking tin
- Oven
- small saucepan or microwave and glass bowl
- large mixing spoon/spatula
Ingredients
- 300 g dark orange chocolate dairy free if needed – ensure chocolate is gluten free as required. See NOTE
- 150 g unsalted butter or dairy free block alternative
- 3 large eggs room temperature – UK large (Canadian ‘Extra Large’; Australian ‘Jumbo’; and US ‘Extra or Very Large’)
- 70 g golden caster sugar
- 70 g soft light brown sugar
- 1 tsp orange extract See NOTES re increase if using plain dark chocolate
- 130 g plain gluten free flour blend I used GFA blend A – See NOTES
Instructions
- Base-line a square non-stick 8 inch/20 cm baking tin with baking paper.
- Pre-heat the oven to 180 C/350 F/Gas 4.
- Using a heat-proof bowl, melt and stir the chocolate with the butter over a saucepan of lightly simmering water, or in the microwave (medium setting, 30 second bursts, stirring between each).
- Once melted and smoothly blended, set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugars together until well-blended and airy.
- Add the orange extract and beat through.
- Add the chocolate mixture and beat until blended.
- Lastly, add the flour and fold through with a wooden or silicone spoon/spatula until combined. The mixture should be a thick dropping consistency – If it feels a little too thick, add a splash of milk and fold through.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking tin and smooth the top.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until just firm to the touch.
- Remove from the oven and leave in the tin to cool completely.
- It may help to refrigerate before slicing to make the cutting easier, and then bring back to room temperature before eating.
Notes
Nutrition
© 2019-2026 Kate Dowse All Rights Reserved – Do not copy or re-publish this recipe or any part of this recipe on any other blog, on social media or in a publication without the express permission of Gluten Free Alchemist
These tasted great, and very easy to make. I will try the plain choc ones next time, I love a good brownie.
Thank you Emma 😁😊
Can you freeze these brownies?
Hi Emma. Yes. They should freeze fine kept in an airtight container (max 2 months).
You had me at the Brownies. I love the Chocolate and Orange combo and these brownies are perfect!
Thank you Sandhya. It’s such a great pairing x
Dark and Dangerous is JUST how I like my Chocolate Brownies Kate, and these are STUNNING! Thanks for linking to #CookBlogShare week 10, Karen
Thank you Karen. You’re welcome x
Chocolate and orange is a brilliant flavour combination and these sound so good!
Thanks Corina… A classic! xx
Oh wow, I love chocolate orange AND brownies so these look like the best of both worlds for me 😀
Thanks Kacie xx
These brownies look amazing and I love the idea of the orange and chocolate flavors together.
Thank you Judee. Chocolate and Orange is such a great combo x
Hi Kate, I made this Chocolate Orange Brownie recipe this week and oh My! It is delicious. Thank you so much for your flour blending information and I have gone ahead and made myself a batch of each and made these brownies using Flour Blend A. Would love to have sent you a photo but couldn't work out how to do it! I used 3 bars of Lindt Orange Intense Chocolate. I am looking forward to trying more of your recipes!
Hi Carol
Thank you so much for letting me know. I am so glad they turned out well and (more importantly) that you enjoyed them.
Also so pleased you have gone with the home flour blending. I think it ultimately works out cheaper and gives so much more flexibility when you want to tweak a recipe here and there!
Shame you couldn't send a pic. If you make them again, e-mail one to me. XX
The new recipe format is great, Kate. Can't wait for your bread recipe (saw it on Insta) in this format. I really need a new bread recipe to try; I'm ready for a change! Helen ��
Thank you Helen. Took some photos for the bread recipe finally yesterday. It's definitely a good one x
What an addition to brownies! I love adding a bit of orange extract to baking. I think it gives a real hit of taste.
Thanks Ness. It certainly does x
These brownies sound so perfect to me & I love the combination of chocolate and orange!! I know I would love these! It's been a long time since I got myself Terry's chocolate. I think it's time to get some again. 😀 Thanks for sharing, Kate. Happy Fiesta Friday!
Thank you Jhuls x
I am always behind a good choc orange brownie – I can practically smell the orange coming off these!
Ha! Thanks Claire. The smell when they were baking was awesome x
These brownies look gorgeous! I love that you have incorporated two of my favouritest things here – chocolate and orange! 🙂
Thank you Priya. Chocolate & orange is such a perfect combo x
These brownies look delicious – I think that brownies are such a great gluten free bake because they don't need lots of flour. But it must be frustrating to have Terry's tell you their chocolates MAY contain wheat. I would be tempted to decide that my one would not contain wheat but as I now have two generations in my family with coeliacs with no symptons and only the younger generation having any symptons, it would be difficult to know if there was wheat if you had no symptoms! Anyway I would prefer these at easter than those cheap easter eggs!!!!!
Thank you Johanna. The 'may contain wheat' is a difficult one. I am sure a lot of the time it is there to cover company backsides. We take a view depending on what the product is and actually it is very rare to get 'glutened' as a result of 'may contain'. I am probably more lax when it comes to myself than with Miss GF. x
Wow they look SO fudgey!
Thanks Kat x
Oh chocolate orange is definitely acceptable all year round and Easter is so not just about eggs! Love how dense and fudgy these are and they would make me so happy especially as you've used dark chocolate orange in particular which is my favourite! Thank you for sharing these with #BakingCrumbs 🙂 x
Ha Ha! Agreed. Using Orange chocolate was definitely a good move xx
How absolutely gorgeous and amazing do these brownies look. Just how I like them, super dark and fudgy. Isn't that the complete point of Brownies? I was in love at first sight. My husband would eat the whole tray of these in one evening. (I'm not joking) Thank you so much for sharing them with#BakingCrumbs
Thanks Jenny. I'm with your husband…. I could eat a whole tray in an evening too! Mmmmm…. did I? x
I am a real fan of chocolate oranges and these brownies sound so good. I know they would be so popular in our house!
Thanks Corina. They have a divine melt-in-the-mouth fudge quality to them. They have certainly been popular here! x