Bloody Eyeball Brownies (paleo, gluten-free)

Bloody Eyeball Brownies without food coloring! This brownie base is paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free but these bloody eyeball brownies can be made with any brownie recipe. Perfect for Halloween!

9/2020 note: I’ve changed the brownie base. It now uses my famous almond flour brownies as the base instead of the previous recipe, which used almond flour + a little coconut flour.

I’ve teamed up with Taylor from Food Faith Fitness and Lindsay from Cotter Crunch today to bring you some fun and healthy Halloween ideas! We’ll get to my brownies in a minute, but first…

Spooky Halloween Paleo Snacks

Spooky Halloween Paleo Snacks!

Deviled eggs made to look like blood shot eyeballs! From Cotter Crunch
Lindsay from Cotter Crunch made deviled eggs made to look like blood shot eyeballs! All you need are green olives, spices, eggs, and your favorite paleo condiment to mix in! A favorite spooky appetizer for the kids (and adults) at Halloween parties, but also easy to make and healthy! Click here for the recipe —> Paleo Deviled Eggs
Paleo and Vegan Witch Fingers from Food Faith Fitness
Taylor from Food Faith Fitness made witch fingers. Coconut flour gives the classic witch fingers cookies a healthy, gluten free, paleo AND vegan makeover! They’re easy to make and always a hit at Halloween parties! Click here for the recipe —> Paleo Witch Fingers

And now for my contribution! I originally wanted to make a paleo brownie version of these grain-free spiderweb cupcakes. In those, white chocolate is used to make spiderwebs but since white chocolate is pretty far from paleo, I tried making the same spiderweb effect using a coconut butter based frosting. It just doesn’t flow like white chocolate, making spiderwebs impossible.

So I came up with these bloody eyeball brownies which I think are way more fun than spiderwebs! Don’t you just love it when something like that turns around for the better?! I first made the eyeballs with bananas but they didn’t look all that convincing.

Bloody Eyeball Brownies without food coloring! This brownie base is paleo, gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free but these bloody eyeball brownies can be made with any brownie recipe. Perfect for Halloween!

Then I remembered Shanna’s creepy eyeball martinis from last year and got myself down to the store to get some canned lychees! They look SO much better than bananas. Lychees + chocolate + strawberry is admittedly a weird combination but I went with it because it looks so creepy. I recommend eating the eyeball first before going to town on the brownie!

The coconut butter frosting is super simple but I prefer to avoid added steps and ingredients when possible. So I assembled a few eyeball brownies without the frosting but the red didn’t pop at all. If you don’t have coconut butter, you can use any firm frosting you’d like. What was great about this one was that it hardened in the refrigerator and when it came time to decorate the brownies in the morning, it was like a canvas. If I didn’t like how the strawberry jam blood fell, I could just start over.

Bloody Eyeball Brownies without food coloring! This brownie base is paleo, gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free but these bloody eyeball brownies can be made with any brownie recipe. Perfect for Halloween!

I assembled my brownies in the morning and when I looked at them again around 10pm, they still looked perfect. But I can’t guarantee yours will! I think it’ll probably depend on your jam.

As written, this recipe only makes 9 brownies. If you want to use a 9″x13″ pan, you can double the recipe and bake them for about 30 minutes. That results in some ridiculously thick brownies which you can see in the second picture. If I needed a ton of eyeball brownies, I’d probably double the recipe and bake them in TWO 9″x13″ pans and reduce the baking time. These are so dense and fudgy (you can’t tell by the pictures, but they’re almost like straight up fudge!) that it may not be the best idea for little ones to be eating such huge brownies. Or you could simply use a smaller circular cookie cutter! And if you hate this whole bloody eyeball thing, you can enjoy the brownies as is. They don’t need any add-ins, frosting, or anything.

If you’d like a different base, try these Paleo Delicata Squash Brownies from Fearless Dining!

These bloody eyeball brownies are frosted with coconut butter frosting and then topped with lychees and strawberry jam. The brownies are paleo, grain-free, gluten-free and dairy-free but any brownie base could be used!

Bloody Eyeball Brownies (paleo, grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free)

  • Prep Time:
  • Cook Time:
  • Ready in:
  • Yield: 9 brownies

Ingredients

    For the brownies:

  • 1 1/3 cups (133 grams) finely ground blanched almond flour (this is called ground almonds in many countries)
  • 3/4 cup (86 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (196 grams) refined coconut oil, melted (you can use unrefined if you don't mind the coconut taste) or butter for a non-paleo version if you can have dairy
  • 1 1/2 cups (300 grams) coconut sugar - it's best to weigh this! (granulated sugar for a non-paleo version)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large (50 grams each, out of shell) eggs, room temperature
  • For the frosting:

  • 6 tablespoons (90 grams) coconut butter (not coconut oil!)
  • 1 tablespoon (20 grams) honey
  • 3 tablespoons canned coconut milk
  • a dash of salt, optional
  • To assemble:

  • Canned lychees
  • Blueberries1
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup strawberry jam

Directions

    For the brownies:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line an 8"×8" (20cmx20cm) pan with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the melted butter or coconut oil, sugar, and vanilla extract. Once combined, add the eggs one at a time, and stir just until combined (don't use a hand mixer like in the video!).
  4. Add the dry mixture to the wet and stir just until almost no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix!
  5. Bake for 23 minutes. The brownies will puff up a little bit and may crack a little bit around the edges and the top will appear dry and crisp (not at all wet). When you remove it from the oven and tilt the pan, it may appear to move a little but shouldn't look super jiggly. A toothpick inserted into the center will come out wet. A toothpick inserted into the sides will come out with some moist crumbs on it, but not totally raw batter. The brownies will continue to bake as they sit in the pan and will firm up as they cool.
  6. Let cool completely and then chill until they firm up and they become fudge-like. This makes cutting out circles easier.
  7. Notes!For the frosting:
  8. If your coconut butter is hard, very gently heat it until it's soft enough to combine with the other ingredients. I did mine at 30% power in the microwave for a few seconds. It just needs to be soft! Not melted. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined. If your coconut butter melted a little bit, the frosting may look clumpy and greyish. Don't worry as it it'll turn white and solid looking once it comes to room temperature!
  9. To assemble:

  10. Cut out circles using a biscuit cutter (mine was 2.5"). Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting over the top of the brownies. Place the brownies in the refrigerator for at least an hour so that the frosting firms up. This isn't necessary but it makes the decorating process easier. Refrigerate until almost ready to serve.
  11. Rinse the lychees and pat them dry with paper towels. Place a blueberry in the center of the lychee and place on a paper towel lined plate until all the eyeballs are ready. Place the eyeballs on the frosted cupcakes. Spread about 1 - 1 1/2 teaspoons of jam over the eye.
  12. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Notes

  1. I used chocolate chips but the openings in the lychees were too big for them. I had to fill the lychees with a little banana to keep the chocolate chips propped up.

Recipe by  | www.texanerin.com

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49 comments on “Bloody Eyeball Brownies (paleo, gluten-free)” — Add one!

1 comment is awaiting moderation!

  • Jules Shepard says
    March 9, 2019 @ 7:59 pm

    What a GREAT Halloween treat! You’d never catch me eating one but I know the kids would love it – what fun!

    Reply
  • Victoria says
    October 26, 2018 @ 7:30 am

    Did you use sweetened canned coconut milk for the icing? I used unsweetened and it tasted terrible. I made a double batch of brownies and frosted half of them. The second batch of icing I added 4 tbsp of confectioners sugar to try to add some sweetness but it went all grainy and greasy. I would also add that for me, using the unsalted butter in place of coconut oil in the brownie batter, that they were too greasy/oily. Next time I would reduce the butter/oil back by 1/3 or 1/4, like use 1/2 cup plus a tablespoon for a single batch. Otherwise the brownies taste pretty good, but I’m wondering what I screwed up with the icing.

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Victoria
      October 28, 2018 @ 6:18 pm

      I’m sorry for just now seeing your question! I didn’t use sweetened canned coconut milk (I’ve never even seen that so I’m sure). You used coconut butter and not coconut oil for the frosting, right? Because it’s naturally a bit sweet and with the honey and coconut milk, which are also a bit sweet, it’s nothing but naturally sweet ingredients. I’m sorry you thought it was terrible!

      Reply
      • Victoria replies to Erin
        October 29, 2018 @ 12:35 am

        I shouldn’t have used the word terrible, that was too strong. Yes, I used coconut butter (nutiva coconut manna brand). Not my taste I guess. The brownie base was very good though!

        Reply
  • Danielle says
    October 23, 2017 @ 9:53 pm

    About how many brownies did you get from the 8×8 pan? I would like to make them for our work party at an eye dr office lol
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Danielle
      October 24, 2017 @ 4:05 pm

      I got 9! It’s up in the yield. :)

      Reply
  • Kim Beaulieu says
    October 10, 2015 @ 7:07 am

    These are so cool, they would be a huge hit at any Halloween party. SO many cute recipes, so little time.

    Reply
  • Marjory @ Dinner-Mom says
    October 9, 2015 @ 10:33 pm

    Ewww…I literally cringe at the site…these are PERFECT for halloween!

    Reply
  • Katerina @ Diethood says
    October 9, 2015 @ 2:18 am

    These are the cutest!!! You guys did an amazing job!

    Reply
  • Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
    October 8, 2015 @ 7:47 pm

    What a fun idea!! I love creative Halloween ideas, and these are great. My son would go crazy for getting to eat an eyeball :)

    Reply
  • Beverley @ sweaty&fit says
    October 8, 2015 @ 5:56 pm

    Oh MAN i love how creepy and gory these are!! what a great idea using lychees as well. i love those little guys. so good

    Reply
  • Andi @ The Weary Chef says
    October 8, 2015 @ 3:04 pm

    I think those eyeballs are looking at me! lol. All the recipes are so gross yet delicious! I can’t wait to try these fun treats!

    Reply
  • Tonia from TheGunnySack says
    October 8, 2015 @ 6:59 am

    Gross! ;) And PERFECT for Halloween!

    Reply
  • Cookin Canuck says
    October 8, 2015 @ 4:34 am

    You guys came up with some great creepy ideas! That eyeball makes me cringe – but knowing it’s a lychee makes me want to eat the whole thing. :)

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Cookin Canuck
      October 14, 2015 @ 5:41 pm

      Thank you! And wow. I’m surprised and happy that they gave you such a strong reaction!

      Reply
  • Brenda@SugarfreeMom says
    October 8, 2015 @ 3:09 am

    You’re eyeball brownis looks really gross but in a good way lol for Halloween, I mean really real looking! Super creative! Love all the cute ideas!

    Reply
  • Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
    October 8, 2015 @ 12:30 am

    I absolutely LOVE this recipe! Finally a halloween treat that I can make my kids without all of the junk! Great job!

    Reply
  • Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
    October 7, 2015 @ 11:54 pm

    These are so deliciously creepy, I love it! Fabulous roundup, too!

    Reply
  • The Food Hunter says
    October 7, 2015 @ 11:52 pm

    I want to have kids just to make these!

    Reply
  • Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
    October 7, 2015 @ 11:48 pm

    Good call on going with the canned lychees!! I never would have thought of that. Boy are these creepy! I would still eat them, though :)

    Reply
  • Angie says
    October 7, 2015 @ 6:41 pm

    These are so cute! I’m going to try and get my son to let me make these for his birthday. I think he’d love them!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Angie
      October 14, 2015 @ 7:25 pm

      I hope he will and has a happy birthday! :)

      Reply
  • Lauren @ Hall Nesting says
    October 7, 2015 @ 3:43 pm

    Holy Cow! These look incredible! What a gruesome yet delicious treat!

    Reply
  • Beth says
    October 7, 2015 @ 3:03 pm

    Erin, I totally appreciate all the thought and time that went into these! I’m a huge fan of fun halloween treats, so I could definitely see myself making these!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Beth
      October 14, 2015 @ 7:25 pm

      Aww, thanks! I ate so many brownies in the process I thought I was going to be sick. So I certainly appreciate your appreciation. :D

      Reply
  • Tasha @thatssoyummy says
    October 7, 2015 @ 2:34 pm

    These are ghoulishly perfect for Halloween! How fun :-)

    Reply
  • rachel @ athletic avocado says
    October 7, 2015 @ 2:21 pm

    you guys did such an awesome job with this epic roundup! These brownies are adorable and i love that they are made paleo :)

    Reply
  • Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
    October 7, 2015 @ 1:21 pm

    So fun to do this with you girl, and I totally adore these brownies!!! Pinning them!

    Reply
  • Medeja says
    October 7, 2015 @ 11:51 am

    Wow! These brownies look amazing!

    Reply
    • Erin replies to Medeja
      October 14, 2015 @ 7:27 pm

      Thanks, Medeja! :)

      Reply

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