Easy| Servings: 16| Ready In: 20 minutes + 1 hour to set | Yield: 1 (8×8 pan), 16 brownies
These raw, vegan brownies come together with just four simple ingredients: dates, walnuts, cocoa, and vanilla. This simple, gluten-free, plant-based recipe makes it easy to stay healthy, even while enjoying dessert. You’ll love the rich, chocolate flavor in these decadent treats…and won’t miss the dairy, oil, or syrup.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates (200 grams)
- 12 ounces walnut pieces (about 3 cups or 293 grams)
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder (66 grams)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- dash Salt
- 2-4 tablespoons warm water, as needed
How It’s Done:
To soften the dates: Cover the dates with warm water and let sit for about 5-10 minutes to soften. If your dates are already squishy and “fresh”, you might not need to do this step.
To make the brownies: Place the walnuts and cocoa in a food processor. Puree until you get a crumbly, coarse texture.
Remove the dates from the soaking liquid and squeeze out any excess liquid. Hold on to the soaking liquid! Add the dates to the food processor, along with the vanilla and salt. Puree. Blend until the mixture comes together in a big, sticky ball. If it’s not holding together, it’s too dry. Add some of the date soaking liquid (or water), a tablespoon at a time, until the mixture comes together.
Line a 8×8 inch square pan with plastic wrap. Remove the dough ball from the food processor. and place in the square pan. Use your fingers to press the dough into a single, even layer in the pan. Cover the top of the brownies with plastic. Place another 8×8 inch square pan on top and weight it down with a few heavy cans.
Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to “set”…or refrigerate overnight.
Remove the brownies from the pan, cut into 16 squares, and enjoy!
Chef’s Tool Tip: A bench scrape (aka pastry scrape) makes it easy to portion and cut these bars once they’ve set. This small gadget is essential for easy, quick cooking
Yield: 1 9×9 tray, 16 brownies
Chef’s Tips:
Keep it Raw Tip: For a truly Raw recipe, be sure to use cocoa powdered labeled “raw”. Most cocoa powder is roasted for a darker color and deeper flavor. You can find raw cocoa online and in specialty grocery stores.
Brownie Bites! This raw brownie mix can be broken into small chocolaty chunks and mixed into Banana “Nice” Scream or over vegan sundaes for the ultimate dessert. You can also use it as a crust for pies or fruit tarts.
Healthy Dessert: For a healthy, delicious topping, spread some fruit and nuts over these brownies instead of frosting. You can use sliced bananas with chopped peanuts. Or sliced strawberries with chopped pistachios.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1/16 of a recipe (1 brownie).
Calories 211.15
Calories From Fat (57%) 120.82
% Daily Value
- Total Fat 14.44g 22%
- Saturated Fat 1.6g 8%
- Cholesterol 0mg 0%
- Sodium 1.66mg <1%
- Potassium 294.97mg 8%
- Total Carbohydrates 21.74g 7%
- Fiber 4.39g 18%
- Sugar 14.76g
- Protein 4.49g 9%
- Calcium 0.37mg <1%
- Iron 34.15mg 190%
- Vitamin A 6.48IU <1%
- Vitamin C 0mg 0%
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