Introducing Date Brownies – a delightful treat that’s 100% sweetened with fruit, yet you’d never guess it from the taste. These brownies are crafted without flour or oil, delivering a rich and chewy texture that’s sure to satisfy your cravings.
Why You’ll Adore Them:
- Delicious Flavor: Indulge in a rich chocolate experience reminiscent of store-bought two-bite brownie bites. Even picky eaters, like my kids, can’t resist!
- Natural Sweetness: Dates lend a perfect caramel-like sweetness without overpowering the chocolate taste. Unlike banana or applesauce, dates strike the ideal balance for a chocolate dessert.
- Nourishing Ingredients: Packed with essential minerals like iron and potassium, dates, combined with nutrient-rich almond butter and cacao powder, provide fiber and antioxidants for a wholesome treat.
- Diet-Friendly: Ideal for those avoiding added sugar or following Paleo, vegan, dairy-free, or gluten-free diets. Check the substitutions below for tailored options.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
No added sugar is needed—just use pitted Medjool dates! For a double-chocolate twist, consider adding a few optional mini chocolate chips.
If almond butter isn’t available, feel free to use any preferred nut butter like peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
Note: Ensure your dates are soft and pliable for optimal results. If not, soak them in hot water for 10 minutes to soften.
How to Make Date Brownies:
- Process: Add dates and water to a food processor; process briefly to break them down (about 60 seconds). Add almond butter, ground flax seed, cacao/cocoa powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, vinegar, and salt. Process until the batter is thick and sticky. Scrape down the sides if needed.
- Scoop: Grease a mini muffin pan. Use a 1-ounce scoop or tablespoon to fill each slot. Wet your fingers and flatten the tops. Optionally, add chocolate chips.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake until the tops look dry (12-15 minutes). Let brownies cool in the pan; they firm up with a chewy texture as they cool. Run a knife around each brownie, then lift them out.
Storage: Keep leftover brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
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FAQs:
- Square Pan: Mini muffin pans ensure a perfect chewy center. Avoid using a square pan unless you’re okay with a potentially gooey center.
- Almond Flour: While untested, you may experiment by using slightly more almond flour, starting with an additional 1/4 cup.
- Real Eggs: For non-vegan versions, replace flax seeds and water with a real egg, blended with dates in the first step.
- Vinegar: Reacts with baking soda to help the brownies rise without eggs. Substitute with a teaspoon of baking powder if preferred.
Notes:
- Nutritional Information: The provided nutritional information is based on one of the 22 brownie bites. Please note that these values are automatically calculated and serve as an estimate, not a guarantee.
- Optional Chocolate Indulgence: For those who don’t mind a touch of added sugar, consider incorporating up to 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips into the recipe for an extra indulgent double chocolate brownie experience.
- Recipe Update (January 2023): This recipe underwent an update in January 2023. Changes include a reduction of vinegar and vanilla by 1 teaspoon each (previously 2 teaspoons for both). Additionally, cashew butter was swapped for almond butter due to variations in cashew butter brands. Feel free to revert to the original amounts if you prefer.
- Nut or Seed Butter Variation: While any nut or seed butter is suitable for this recipe, be mindful that the chosen option will significantly influence the flavor. For instance, using peanut butter will yield a peanut butter-flavored brownie, and sunflower butter will provide a nut-free brownie with a distinct sunflower butter taste. Choose a nut or seed butter that aligns with your preferred flavor.
- Whole Nuts Substitution: If you prefer using whole nuts instead of nut butter, double the specified amount (e.g., 1/2 cup nut butter = 1 cup whole nuts). Grind the nuts in the food processor before adding dates and water to maintain the desired consistency.
Experiment with these variations to tailor the brownies to your taste preferences and enjoy the delicious results!
If you try this date brownie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it!