Gluten-free hot cocoa brownies filled with gooey, sweet marshmallows and rich cacao powder that are perfect for the whole family. Instead of using chocolate chips that are loaded with refined sweeteners, I used unsweetened cacao chocolate chips and mixed them with syrup for an equally delicious chocolate chip option.

Talk about a house favorite. My entire family LOVED these….I mean loved, on a very deep level. That makes me happy. But what’s not to love – a rich, gluten free brownie that has gooey and sweet marshmallow melted in the batter so each bite tastes like a warm and comforting hot chocolate – expect slightly better if I’m honest. Yes, please.

Instead of using a premade cocoa mix, I used cacao powder (a favorite of mine for so many reasons) along with pure maple syrup and coconut sugar as sweeteners to replace the forbidden refined sugars (a big no-no OK?).

, I recommend choosing cacao powder that’s both organic and fair-trade certified. Many popular cocoa powders go through “dutch processing,” which stripes the cocoa powder of key nutrients. Fair-trade cacao powder is rich in nutrients and creates a decadent, bold chocolate flavor, which places it above the well-known unsweetened cocoa powder. An easy way to ensure the hard-working farmers who manage the sensitive cacao tree crops year-round are fairly compensated is by purchasing fair-trade certified organic cacao powder. Fair-trade cacao powder is also carefully harvested and processed to limit its exposure to chemicals and pesticides that are a detriment to overall health. Cacao powder is high in antioxidants, more specifically polyphenols. Polyphenols found in cacao powder help lower inflammation, improve blood flow, reduce cholesterol, and aid in blood sugar control. Cacao powder is also rich in both flavanols, which is a plant compound that has positive health benefits, and tryptophan, which is an amino acid that works with the body to produce serotonin. These two properties improve heart health, provide antioxidant protection, and aid in sleep and relaxation. So, go ahead and enjoy a chocolate dessert. Just make sure you use fair-trade organic cacao powder! My Dark Chocolate Mousse with Fresh Raspberries recipe is a great place to start.