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These raw brownies are impossibly fudgy and chocolatey! Made simply with walnuts, dates, and cocoa powder, they’re a deliciously healthy no-bake dessert ready in minutes.
Mmm, rich, chocolatey brownies. What if I told you that behind the rich and chocolatey taste, there was no sugar, no oil, no flour, no butter, and no eggs? What if I told you they were made only of things that were actually good for you? And what if I told you that they require no baking, and actually take only about 5 minutes to whip up?
Meet these raw brownies: they’re vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar free, and 1,000% delicious. Over the years, these have become a fast fan favorite! My mom makes them all the time and always has a batch in her freezer!
What are raw brownies?
The first raw brownies I tried were a recipe from My New Roots, and it claimed it would change my life. But after one taste of the chocolatey dough, I was a believer!
What are raw brownies? Instead of making a traditional brownie dough with flour, sugar, and butter, these brownies are whipped together in a food processor. Raw brownies combine Medjool dates, walnuts, and cocoa powder into a fudge-y “brownie” that is just as satisfying as the real thing.
Tips for raw brownies
Here are a few tips for making this recipe:
- Find Medjool dates: Medjool dates are large, soft dates that are important for the recipe’s texture and sweetness. Look for them in the produce section, bulk bins at your local grocery store, or online.
- Food processor is key: A food processor makes blending the nuts and dates much easier. Start by grinding the walnuts first, then add the dates one at a time while the processor is running.
- Texture matters: The mixture should be crumbly but easily formable. If it forms into a ball in your food processor, that’s perfect! If it seems too dry, you can add another date.
- Serving suggestions: Dust with cinnamon for a simple finish, or for a more decadent treat, add a few dark chocolate chips. A sprinkle of sea salt creates a delicious sweet-salty combination.
Storing leftovers
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage. These brownies are actually delicious when eaten cold straight from the fridge!
A few variations
These raw brownies are perfectly delicious as is. I eat them straight up, but my mom likes to serve them with lightly sweetened Greek yogurt in a parfait. Of course, crumbled over ice cream would be perfect too. Here are a few more variations:
- Raw brownie parfait: Layer crumbled raw brownies with yogurt and fresh berries for a stunning dessert, as shown in our Berry Brownie Yogurt Parfait.
- Chocolate lover’s version: Add a handful of dark chocolate chips to the mixture for extra chocolatey goodness.
- Flavor enhancements: Add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to the mixture, or try a drop of mint extract for mint chocolate brownies.
- Raw brownie bites: Roll the mixture into small balls instead of pressing into a pan for bite-sized treats perfect for snacking.
- Raw brownie crust: Use this mixture as a crust for no-bake cheesecakes or tarts for an extra special dessert base.
Once you’ve tried raw brownies yourself, test them out on your family and friends (and make them guess the magic ingredients)! We did, and they received rave reviews!
Dietary notes
This raw brownie recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, egg-free, refined sugar-free, naturally sweet
Raw Brownies
These raw brownies are impossibly fudgy and chocolatey! Made simply with walnuts, dates, and cocoa powder, they’re a deliciously healthy no-bake dessert ready in minutes.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 small brownies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Blended
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups Medjool dates (about 12)*
- ¼ cup almonds (unsalted)
- 1 cup walnuts (unsalted)
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt
- Cinnamon
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates. Chop the almonds.
- Place the walnuts in the bowl of a food processor. Process on high until the nuts are finely ground.
- Add the cocoa powder and kosher salt. Pulse to combine.
- Turn on the food processor. As the processor is running, add the dates one at a time. Once all the dates have been added, the mixture should be crumbly but easily formable (it may form into a ball depending on how long you process it). Throw in the almonds and pulse a couple times to combine (if a ball has formed, you can also mix in the almonds in a bowl).
- Form the brownies: Line a small square dish with wax paper and press into the desired thickness (don’t worry if it does not fill the entire pan; the brownies are easy to shape). Alternatively, press the brownies into a mini-muffin tin or other mold. Place in the refrigerator or freezer for 5 to 10 minutes to firm up; they can easily be cut when cold.
- To serve, dust with cinnamon. (You also could add a bit of cinnamon to the brownie dough if desired.)
Notes
Adapted from My New Roots *Medjool dates are a type of date that is exceptionally large and sweet; it is important to find the real thing for this recipe. We were able to find them sold in bulk at our local grocery; they are also available for sale online. If you can’t imagine a dessert without chocolate, you could add a few dark chocolate chips if you’d like, or top with a bit of sea salt if you prefer the sweet / salty combination.
More healthy desserts you might enjoy
Outside of these raw brownies, want other ideas for healthy desserts? Here are a few of our favorite healthy desserts:
Thanks for a yummy and healthy dessert recipe!