Brownie with Hemp Flour: Moist Cake Without Wheat
Recipe for moist brownie with hemp flour, without wheat and gluten. Measured amount of hemp flour and tips on how not to dry out the cake in the oven.
Brownie is one of the few cakes where hemp flour can be the only flour in the recipe. The reason is simple: brownie has little flour compared to chocolate, butter, and eggs, so the absorbency of hemp flour does not have time to dry out the mixture. Additionally, the earthy, nutty profile of this flour complements the bitter chocolate instead of fighting with it. In a light sponge cake, the same flour would be a problem; here it is an asset. Below you will find a recipe for a wheat-free and gluten-free version, the measured amount of hemp flour along with the difference compared to whole seeds, how to store it, and one moment in baking that determines whether the cake will be moist or dry.
KEY INFORMATION
• Fedora variety hemp flour contains 30.7% protein and 13.6% fat (Siano et al., Molecules, 2018).
• The flour retains almost as many polyphenols as whole seeds: 744 compared to 767 mg GAE per kilogram, while oil has 21.
• In this recipe, hemp flour is the only flour, as the brownie contains little of it compared to fat and eggs.
• Remove the cake when the toothpick has moist crumbs, not when it is dry.
What does hemp flour bring to chocolate baking?
Hemp flour adds protein, fiber fractions, and a distinct nutty flavor that enhances the bitter chocolate. In the composition analysis of the Fedora variety, the flour contained 30.7% protein, 13.6% fat, and 41.6% total carbohydrates (Siano et al., Molecules, 2018).
The last of these values is sometimes reported as fiber content, which is a misunderstanding. The authors marked carbohydrates from the difference, and this pool included cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin along with soluble and insoluble fiber. It is a sum of fractions, not just dietary fiber.
It is also important how hemp flour differs from ground seeds. It is made from the press cake left after oil extraction, so it loses most of its fat and gains in protein content. In the same study, whole seeds had 24.8% protein with 24.5% fat, while the flour had 30.7% protein with 13.6% fat. Adding ground seeds instead of flour would add almost twice as much fat to the brownie, and the mixture would not set in the oven.
A practical caveat is that hemp flour binds water more strongly than wheat starch flour. In a batter with a high fat and egg content, this does not hinder, but a one-to-one substitution in a recipe with a small amount of fat will yield a dry, crumbly bake.
How much protein and polyphenols remain in hemp flour?
Oil extraction removes fat from the seeds, while phenolic compounds remain almost entirely in the press cake. In the studied Fedora variety, the seeds contained 767 mg of gallic acid equivalent per kilogram, the flour 744 mg, and the oil only 21 mg. In other words, the flour retains about 97% of what the seeds had, while the oil retains practically nothing.
For baking, this means that hemp flour is not just a filler after oil recovery. It retains protein, which increases to 30.7%, and a phenolic fraction similar to the original. This distinguishes it from refined starch flours, which leave almost nothing but carbohydrates after milling.
Fiber was separately measured for whole hemp seeds: 33.8 g per 100 g of dry mass, including 30.9 g of insoluble fraction. They contained 25.6 g of protein and 34.6 g of fat per 100 g of dry mass (Mattila et al., Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2018). The same study states that above 30 g of protein per 100 g of dry mass were fava beans, blue lupins, and rapeseed cake, not hemp, so frequently attributing thirty percent protein to hemp seeds has no basis.
What do you need for brownie with hemp flour?
The chocolate should have at least 70% cocoa, as it builds the structure and bitterness that hemp flour complements well. Hemp flour is the only flour here and is used in small amounts compared to fat and eggs, so the batter does not dry out despite its absorbency.
Store hemp flour in a closed container in a cool place. After oil extraction, it retains 13.6% fat, which can go rancid in heat and light. In brownie, the effect is particularly severe, as the rancid taste compounds with the natural bitterness of dark chocolate, making the overall flavor unpleasantly astringent. Fresh flour smells nutty and slightly grassy.
- 150 g dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa
- 100 g butter or unrefined coconut oil
- 3 eggs size M or L
- 120 g brown sugar, xylitol, or erythritol
- 80 g hemp flour
- 2 tablespoons raw cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- half a teaspoon of sea salt
- optional 50 g chopped walnuts or 3 tablespoons shelled hemp seeds
How to bake brownie with hemp flour step by step?
Count about 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes of work and 22 to 25 minutes of baking at 175 degrees, top and bottom heat, without convection. Line a pan measuring about 20 by 20 cm with baking paper. Brownie does not rise, so the thickness of the batter in the pan is the thickness of the finished cake.
- Melt 150 g of chopped chocolate with 100 g of butter in a water bath or in a small pot over low heat. Stir constantly and do not let it exceed 60 degrees, as the chocolate will seize. Remove from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Beat 3 eggs with 120 g of sugar and whisk for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture froths and lightens. Well-aerated eggs are responsible for the dense, moist structure of the brownie.
- Pour the cooled chocolate with butter into the egg mixture and add vanilla extract. Mix with a spoon or spatula, not a mixer, to avoid over-aerating the batter.
- Add hemp flour, cocoa, and salt. Mix briefly, just until the dry ingredients disappear. The mixture will be thick and dark brown, which is the desired state.
- If using add-ins, fold in the nuts or hemp seeds now with two or three movements. They do not need to be evenly distributed.
- Transfer the mixture to the pan, level it with a spatula, and bake for 22 to 25 minutes. Check with a toothpick starting at 22 minutes: it should come out with moist crumbs, but without raw batter.
- Cool completely before cutting, at least 30 minutes at room temperature or 15 minutes in the fridge. Hot brownie crumbles under the knife. Cut into 16 squares.
How to modify this recipe?
Brownie tolerates substitutions of fat and sweeteners well, but keep the amount of hemp flour unchanged. Eighty grams is the lower limit at which the batter still binds, and there is no point in exceeding the upper limit, as it increases bitterness.
| Variant | Change in the recipe | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| With raspberries | 80 g of raspberries pressed into the top just before baking | acidity breaks the bitterness of chocolate |
| Sugar-free | xylitol or erythritol one to one instead of sugar | erythritol gives a cooler aftertaste |
| Vegan | replace each egg with a tablespoon of flaxseed and 3 tablespoons of water | denser batter, check the chocolate ingredients |
| Without butter | replace 100 g of butter with avocado puree | milder flavor, slightly less crumbly cake |
The version with raspberries in tart format is described separately in the text about chocolate tart with hemp flour and raspberries, and the portioned equivalent can be found in the recipe for chocolate muffins with hemp flour. If you are looking for a bake where hemp flour combines with rice flour, check the recipe for carrot cake with hemp flour. More egg-free desserts are gathered in the text about oatmeal cookies with hemp seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much hemp flour can be added to brownie?
In this recipe, hemp flour is the only flour and 80 g is enough for 16 servings. The brownie contains a lot of fat and eggs compared to the small amount of flour, so it does not need a second flour as a dilution. A larger amount increases bitterness and dries out the cake.
Is brownie with hemp flour gluten-free?
Yes, because hemp is not a gluten grain, and the recipe does not contain any other flour. However, check the ingredients of the chocolate and cocoa, as they may be produced on shared lines with grains. If you have celiac disease, look for a gluten-free label on the packaging.
Does hemp flour contain THC?
Hemp flour is made from seeds, which may carry trace amounts of THC from surface contamination. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets the maximum allowable level for ground hemp seeds and products derived from them at 3.0 mg/kg. Brownies baked with such flour do not have intoxicating effects.
How to store brownie with hemp flour?
In an airtight container, it lasts up to 3 days at room temperature and up to 7 days in the fridge. Pieces can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove frozen pieces about 15 minutes before serving to regain the proper consistency and full chocolate flavor.
What can replace butter in hemp brownie?
Unrefined coconut oil provides similar moisture and carries the flavor of chocolate. 100 g of avocado puree replaces butter and changes the fat profile to a milder one. Peanut butter enhances the flavor but is denser, so reduce its amount by about one-fifth.
Why does brownie with hemp flour come out dry?
The most common causes are excess hemp flour and overbaking. Fiber fractions bind water strongly, and in a hot oven, they quickly release it. Check the cake starting at 22 minutes and remove it when the toothpick has moist crumbs, not when it is completely dry.
This article is for informational and educational purposes and does not replace consultation with a doctor. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or have chronic conditions, consult the use of supplements or herbs with a specialist.
Author: Michał Waluk · Published: 2026-06-22 · Updated: 2026-08-15
