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Gluten Free Lemon Brownies Recipe

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4 from 86 reviews

These gluten free lemon brownies combine a fudgy, tangy lemon-flavored base with a smooth, creamy lemon cream cheese icing. Perfect for those seeking a moist and zesty dessert without gluten, these brownies are easy to prepare and bake to golden perfection with a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors.

Ingredients

Lemon Brownies:

  • 250 g (1¼ cups) caster/superfine or granulated sugar
  • Zest of 2 lemons (preferably organic, unwaxed)
  • 170 g (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
  • 2 US large/UK medium eggs, room temperature
  • 2 US large/UK medium egg yolks, room temperature
  • ½ tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
  • 45 g (3 tbsp) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 150 g (1¼ cups) plain gluten free flour blend (e.g., Doves Farm Freee gluten free plain white flour without xanthan gum)
  • ½ tsp xanthan gum (or ¼ tsp if the flour blend contains it)
  • ¼ tsp salt

Lemon Cream Cheese Icing:

  • 120 g (1 cup) powdered/icing sugar, sifted
  • 55 g (¼ cup) full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 10 g (2 tsp) lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • Zest of ½ lemon (preferably organic, unwaxed)
  • ½ tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Oven and Pan: Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line a 9-inch (23cm) square baking pan with parchment or baking paper, leaving some overhang to help remove the brownies easily after baking.
  2. Infuse Sugar with Lemon Zest: In a large bowl, add sugar and lemon zest. Use your fingertips to rub the zest into the sugar thoroughly, releasing essential oils to enhance the lemon flavor and aroma.
  3. Mix Wet Ingredients: Add melted warm butter, eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla bean paste or extract to the sugar and zest. Whisk gently just until combined without aerating, ensuring the batter remains fudgy rather than cakey.
  4. Add Lemon Juice: Whisk in the freshly squeezed lemon juice until fully incorporated into the wet mixture.
  5. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten free flour blend, xanthan gum, and salt until evenly mixed.
  6. Make Batter: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Whisk until smooth and free of flour clumps, resulting in a fairly runny batter.
  7. Transfer and Smooth Batter: Pour the batter into the lined baking pan and smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
  8. Bake: Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for 20-22 minutes. The brownies should be golden on top, with a toothpick coming out mostly clean, and the surface should still feel soft when lightly pressed. Be careful not to overbake to maintain fudginess.
  9. Cool: Let the lemon brownies cool completely to room temperature in the pan before applying the icing.
  10. Prepare Icing: In a bowl, combine powdered sugar, room temperature cream cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla. Whisk well until a smooth, runny frosting forms without lumps.
  11. Ice Brownies: Pour the icing evenly over the cooled brownies. Use a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the icing into a smooth layer.
  12. Set Icing: Allow the icing to set at room temperature for 1-2 hours until it is no longer sticky to the touch, depending on humidity. This cream cheese icing remains moist longer than typical icings.
  13. Serve and Store: Once the icing has set, lift the brownies out using the parchment overhang, slice, and serve. Store in a loosely covered container in a cool, dry place for 3-4 days. Avoid tightly sealed containers to preserve icing texture.

Notes

  • Use organic unwaxed lemons for the freshest zest and juice flavor.
  • Rubbing zest into sugar releases more oils for better lemon aroma and taste.
  • Avoid over-aerating the batter to keep the brownies fudgy, not cakey.
  • Under-baking slightly is better to achieve a soft, fudgy texture.
  • If your gluten free flour blend already contains xanthan gum, reduce the amount accordingly.
  • For a quicker-drying icing, omit cream cheese and use a simple lemon icing with powdered sugar, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla.
  • Store brownies with icing loosely covered to prevent the icing from becoming too soft and gooey.

Find it online: https://deliciousyum.com/gluten-free-lemon-brownies-recipe/