Whole Wheat Carob Brownies

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly oil a 8-inch square baking pan.

Whisk together the rice flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt, and carob powder in a large bowl until evenly combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey or maple syrup, oil, apple juice, and vanilla extract until well blended.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix; the batter should be slightly thick and uniform.

Fold in the carob chips and chopped walnuts, if using, until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon.

Bake for 20–25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

Remove the pan from the oven and let the brownies cool in the pan for at least 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.