Paleo Brownies recipe

These are my wife's "almost famous" paleo brownies (slightly modified from Mark Sisson's "Primal Blueprint Cookbook")

Bacon and birthday candles optional, of course!

While not what I'd call health food, they are a delicious, "healthier" treat for that occasion when a cake is desired.  If you have trouble eating treats in moderation, I'd recommend making these only when you have lots of folks to feed, as they are GOOD! This dessert has shown a few of our "paleo-phobic" friends and family that we are indeed not suffering by how we choose to eat. For those who don't know, they will never suspect that these brownies (more like a moist, delicious chocolate cake) are grain-free and non-dairy!

Paleo Brownie Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup almond meal (We use Trader Joe's Almond Meal)
3/4 cup Dutch process cocoa powder (We use Droste. It is extra rich)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs (room temperature)
1 cup coconut milk (full fat variety in a can)
3/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cup extra virgin coconut oil (gently melted)
1/4 cup walnuts
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (melted)

Preheat oven to 350.

Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients until well blended. Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk eggs for one minute, then add coconut milk, maple syrup and whisk again. Add melted coconut oil and whisk until wet ingredients are completely blended. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and whisk well; be sure to scrape sides and bowl bottom so no pockets of dry ingredient remain. Fold in melted chocolate chips and walnuts. Batter will be thinner consistency than conventional brownies. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 35-40 minutes. Cool completely before cutting.

Enjoy in moderation... If you can! (bacon decoration is optional, of course...)

If you'd like to go all "birthday cake" on it, HERE is a good frosting recipe.

Wheat isn't health food? What in the world do you mean?

I know, it sounds crazy... I grew up thinking wheat was health food too.

"Wheat sustained entire civilizations for centuries!" I thought.

"It's loaded with heart healthy fiber, reduces cholesterol, and is super-duper yummy!"
"Can I never eat a doughnut again!?" I gasped...
Well, not to fear, no one is gonna take your doughnuts away.

However, cardiologist William Davis, MD makes a pretty good case that perhaps we need to take another look at our relationship with this grain.

For those who love to ready sciency-type stuff, Dr. Davis' book "Wheat Belly" is well worth a look.


Gluten has been getting loads of press these days. However, it turns out WGA and other proteins in wheat may be of much greater danger to most of us. This link to a short article by Dr. David Perlmutter is well worth reading.


Wheat, It's not the wheat your great grandma used to make pie crusts from.
If you want more of Dr. Davis, look here.