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Fudgy Gluten-Free Sourdough Brownies

By Aran Goyoaga

Published on September 5, 2025

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 8

Fudgy Gluten-Free Sourdough Brownies

Ingredients

3 large eggs, room temperature200 grams granulated sugar 2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract 180 grams chocolate (70% cacao), coarsely chopped110 grams unsalted butter 50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder 150 grams gluten-free sourdough starter discard1 teaspoon (4 grams) kosher salt Flaky sea salt (optional), for topping

Before You Begin

This recipe requires a mature gluten-free sourdough starter. For the best chocolate flavor, we recommend using chocolate that is about 70% cacao. Superfine sugar will produce brownies with a shiny crust. You can substitute granulated sugar, coconut sugar, or an equal amount of granulated and dark brown sugar, but the crust will not be shiny. This recipe is excerpted from Aran Goyoaga's new book, The Art of Gluten-Free Bread: Groundbreaking Recipes for Artisanal Breads and Pastries.

Instructions

    preheat the oven

  1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.
  2. whip the eggs

  3. In stand mixer fitted with whisk, beat the 3 room temperature large eggs, 200 grams granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla on medium-high speed for 10 minutes until the mixture is thick and pale in color.
  4. melt the chocolate

  5. Meanwhile, place 180 grams coarsely chopped chocolate (70% cacao) and 110 grams unsalted butter in heatproof bowl and melt over pan with simmering water. Remove bowl from heat and whisk in 50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder until smooth.
  6. make the batter

  7. Add chocolate mixture, 150 grams gluten-free sourdough starter discard, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to egg mixture and whip on high speed until a smooth batter forms, about 30 seconds.
  8. bake the brownies

  9. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with sea salt, if using. Bake until top cracks, 20 to 25 minutes.
  10. cool the brownies

  11. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift out of pan and cut into squares. 
Fudgy Gluten-Free Sourdough Brownies
Photography by Aran Goyoaga. Excerpted from The Art of Gluten-Free Bread by Aran Goyoaga (Artisan Books). Copyright ©2025..

Fudgy Gluten-Free Sourdough Brownies

Headshot of Aran Goyoaga
By Aran Goyoaga

Published on September 5, 2025

Save

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 8

Ingredients

3 large eggs, room temperature
200 grams granulated sugar
2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract
180 grams chocolate (70% cacao), coarsely chopped
110 grams unsalted butter
50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
150 grams gluten-free sourdough starter discard
1 teaspoon (4 grams) kosher salt
Flaky sea salt (optional), for topping

Ingredients

3 large eggs, room temperature
200 grams granulated sugar
2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract
180 grams chocolate (70% cacao), coarsely chopped
110 grams unsalted butter
50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
150 grams gluten-free sourdough starter discard
1 teaspoon (4 grams) kosher salt
Flaky sea salt (optional), for topping

Ingredients

3 large eggs, room temperature
200 grams granulated sugar
2 teaspoons (8 grams) vanilla extract
180 grams chocolate (70% cacao), coarsely chopped
110 grams unsalted butter
50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
150 grams gluten-free sourdough starter discard
1 teaspoon (4 grams) kosher salt
Flaky sea salt (optional), for topping

Why This Recipe Works

Discard from a gluten-free sourdough starter provided the base for these moist, chocolaty brownies. For a crumb that was fudgy rather than cakey, we opted for whipped eggs instead of chemical leaveners for lift. Using room temperature eggs allowed them to achieve optimal volume; the eggs also added richness and helped bind the brownies together. A mix of dark chocolate (about 70% cacao) and unsweetened cocoa powder added structure and the perfect amount of chocolate, and a few teaspoons of vanilla extract rounded out the flavor.

Before You Begin

This recipe requires a mature gluten-free sourdough starter. For the best chocolate flavor, we recommend using chocolate that is about 70% cacao. Superfine sugar will produce brownies with a shiny crust. You can substitute granulated sugar, coconut sugar, or an equal amount of granulated and dark brown sugar, but the crust will not be shiny. This recipe is excerpted from Aran Goyoaga's new book, The Art of Gluten-Free Bread: Groundbreaking Recipes for Artisanal Breads and Pastries.

Instructions

    preheat the oven

  1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9-inch square cake pan with parchment paper.
  2. whip the eggs

  3. In stand mixer fitted with whisk, beat the 3 room temperature large eggs, 200 grams granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla on medium-high speed for 10 minutes until the mixture is thick and pale in color.
  4. melt the chocolate

  5. Meanwhile, place 180 grams coarsely chopped chocolate (70% cacao) and 110 grams unsalted butter in heatproof bowl and melt over pan with simmering water. Remove bowl from heat and whisk in 50 grams unsweetened cocoa powder until smooth.
  6. make the batter

  7. Add chocolate mixture, 150 grams gluten-free sourdough starter discard, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to egg mixture and whip on high speed until a smooth batter forms, about 30 seconds.
  8. bake the brownies

  9. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with sea salt, if using. Bake until top cracks, 20 to 25 minutes.
  10. cool the brownies

  11. Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then lift out of pan and cut into squares. 

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