Raw date brownies require just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes for a healthier treat that’s perfect as an afternoon snack or on-the-go energy bar!
Woah, it’s Thanksgiving week. It creeps up on me every year somehow and here we are. Eeeek!
Then again, I did work my little tail off last week trying to get ahead a bit so I wouldn’t have so much “extra” to do this week.
I plan to take a breath. Slow down. Open my eyes and look around. Enjoy more giggles and snuggles with the kids.
And eat ALL the turkey day deliciousness!
Today’s we're all about some healthier desserts. Cause we’re coming into the season of cookie exchanges and parties and sugar overload.
So I’m bringing these 5-ingredient raw date brownies that I can feel good about eating any time of day.
Don’t get me wrong though. I indulge.
But it's nice to have some healthier, heartier treats on hand when I need an energy boost to get through a crazy day.
These wholesome raw date brownies are a great way to satisfy my insatiable sweet tooth and get my chocolate fix without going overboard during a time of year that’s always ripe with temptation.
They’re kinda like homemade Lara bar brownies - soft, chewy, chocolate-filled bites you can sink your teeth into.
They're naturally sweetened and they are hearty thanks to the walnuts that bulk them up and help keep me full.
Plus, they are gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and vegan-friendly. (Just swap agave or maple syrup for the honey if you need them to be vegan.)
And I particularly love that I can make such a small batch. It’s perfect for all of us to have one big or a couple small brownies. And then they're gone.
(You may also want to check out my raw brownie bites, a very similar recipe but in a rounded ball form. Great for popping! Or browse all of these healthy dessert recipes and ideas for more inspiration.)
These bars are also great packed for a school lunch or school snack or to wrap up to take to the office.
You could wrap and throw one in your gym bag or purse for an on-the-go treat, too. Great for days when you’re running from one thing to the next.
Wait, that's pretty much all the days, right?
OK, here are a few quick tips on making these.
Recipe Tips:
- Water/consistency: I use about a teaspoon of water for these, but it will depend on how dry your dates are. Add as needed. The mixture will be crumbly but should stick to itself when it’s ready if you press it between your fingers.
- Pan size: I pack these into a small 3" x 5.75” bread pan that’s lined with cling wrap to get them pressed together. You could use just half of a side of a regular bread pan or another small container.
- Double: You can also double the recipe and make it in a regular bread pan or quadruple the recipe and use an 8x8 pan.
- Optional fridge time: These are ready to go immediately - they hold together well enough that you can slice them right away. However, if I’ve got the time, I like to stick them in the fridge to get them to firm up a bit more.
- Yield: We either make 4 large or 8 small brownie bites from this recipe. The big ones are good as an energy bar substitute while the small ones are great for a quick snack or school lunch extra.
Last thing, what to do with any leftovers.
You can store these healthy brownies in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to a week. If they last that long.
I hope you give these easy no-bake brownies a try, whether it’s during the holiday season, the new year or when you just need a healthier snack.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. I have a whole collection of healthy chocolate recipes if you are looking for more yummy dessert inspiration.
5-Ingredient Raw Date Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts
- 10 large Medjool dates, pitted and chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1-3 teaspoons water, as needed (see notes)
Instructions
- Line a small 3" x 5.75” bread pan with plastic wrap and set aside.
- Place the walnuts in the food processor and pulse into finely ground.
- Add the remaining ingredients, without the water, and pulse until well combined.
- Add a splash of water, as needed, to get the mixture to come together. It will be crumbly but should stick to itself when you press it between your fingers.
- Press the mixture into the lined pan and smooth into an even layer, pressing down so it sets up.
- Slice and serve immediately (use the plastic wrap to lift the bars out of the pan to cut them) or refrigerate if you want to let the bars firm up a bit more. Store leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We can always use a healthy sweet chocolate fix! YUM!!!
Kathryn
Right?! I'm the same way 😊
J
Made these, exchanged 3rd tb cocoa for 1 tb peanut butter powder and added salt, omg. Thank you
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so glad you liked them! Thanks for sharing!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
Even though boy is married to me and my cocoa allergy, he is no different from most people- a total choc-aholic! I love making him decadent treats, but I'm ALWAYS on the hunt for a treat that's delicious, yet healthy and these totally fit these bill!! These raw brownies look fabulous, girl!! I love the walnuts, dates and honey in here and I know he will too!! I hope you guys have a beautiful Thanksgiving! Cheers!
Kathryn
I'm sorry you can't have these! But I bet Boy will enjoy them for both of you 😉 XO
Laura
Healthy brownies in 10 minutes?! I think I love you...
Kathryn
Haha, you NEED these in your life Laura! Hope you guys have a wonderful Thanksgiving! XO
Luci's Morsels
Wow what a quick and easy recipe Kathryn! Definitely going make this, I have all the ingredients already! xo
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Kathryn
Don't you love when that happens?! I hope you do try these - one of our favorite easy snack treats!
Dawn at Girl Heart Food
WOW!! As soon as i saw these I knew I loved them. I need these in my life! And I love how they are healthier so I can guiltlessly eat more than one (or two)....hehehe 😉 There's so many tempting treats this time of year and it's so nice to have a healthier option. Gingerbread house making for adults? Where do I sign up? That sounds so fun! Though, for the past few years hubby and I would pick one up and it ended up on the shelf because we got distracted with other things going on during the holidays and we would actually decorate it a little while later, lol 😀 Your grandmother's brownies look completely delicious too. I'm a sucker for brownies, especially freshly made. Now I'm getting hungry 😉 Have a lovely thanksgiving with your family!! XOXO
Kathryn
Brownies make me hungry, too 😉 And these are a good way to satisfy that craving without going too overboard. (My girl friends and I do the gingerbread thing every year - one of my favorite traditions! You need to visit me and come with!) Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! XO
Bethany @ athletic avocado
The raw brownies are such a great snackie when your craving chocolate! Love that they are so simple to make!
Kathryn
Absolutely! They totally give me my chocolate fix - and fast! 😉
Bethany
I love how simple these are! My daughter loves chewy foods so I'll have to try these with her.
Kathryn
Oh I bet she'll love these Bethany! Hope you give them a try!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus
I love raw desserts like this! They're so simple, and you get the bonus of knowing exactly what's in it. Can't wait to give it a shot!
Kathryn
Yes! I completely agree Nicole!
Courtney
Ooh, these look like sweet, chocolaty goodness! It's always a bonus when I can get my chocolate fix in such a healthy way! 🙂
Kathryn
Absolutely agree! 😊
Kate Cortez
Any idea on the calorie count for these?
Kathryn
Hi Kate! Sorry, the nutrition card was missing from this recipe, but I had the tech team behind it get that fixed so it's back. There are 240 calories for one large bar. (If you want a smaller snack, you can cut those in half - I love doing that for just a quick energy bite.) Hope you try them!
Julie
Having recently discovered medijool dates I always have them on hand. So when I came across these this morning thought I’d give them a go. I added everything to the processor at the same time & blitzed as I don’t mind a bit of texture from the walnuts. I rolled into balls & covered in coconut. So now my mind is in overdrive. Maybe next time I replace the vanilla with rum. This is a great base recipe there are so many things you could add just let your imagination run wild. Also didn’t need any water. I find you can eat them straight from the freezer guilt free.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so glad you love them Julie! Thanks for sharing! And YAY for all the fun variations, you're right that there are so many different flavors you can add. 🙂
Dawn
I did a quick search online for vegan desserts using dates as I had a lot on hand that had been sitting around a while. That's when i found your recipe.
These were really very good. I liked them a lot. The smallest pan I have is about 8 x 8 so my brownies were very thin, but the flavor was great. Next time I'll double or triple the recipe.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you enjoyed these Dawn! 😊 You can also check out my raw brownie bites, which are really similar. (I made some of those myself yesterday!) https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/raw-brownie-bites/
GAYLE
CAN I USE ALMONDS?
Kathryn Doherty
Hi, I don't think almonds would work the same way here. Both the flavor and texture would be very different.
Lisa
Can I use a ninja since I don’t have a food processor?
Kathryn Doherty
You could try it with a blender, just be careful to pulse and continually stir the ingredients well so you can break things down evenly but don't completely blend everything up into a paste. There should still be some texture. Hope that helps!
Norma
wow. I am rushing out to get some dates. Those brownies look out of this world. Wish that I had all of the ingredients and I would be in the kitchen right now.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Be well.
Kathryn Doherty
I hope you enjoy them!
Tammy
Hi. Can these be frozen? If yes, for how long? I'd like to incorporate these into my weekly meal prep. Thank you.
Kathryn Doherty
I have not tried freezing these Tammy (it makes a small batch and we always go through them), so I'm not sure. I would think they could freeze beautifully, just not sure if the texture works after they defrost. Would love to hear if you try it!
Christa
Do these require refrigeration?
Kathryn Doherty
Yes! You can enjoy them immediately but otherwise, they need to go in the refrigerator. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Maury Ballenger
This is a great recipe to start with! I ended up using more dates because I think I had smaller ones. I also added cocoa nibs & a little almond butter to help hold it together. Instead of pressing it into a dish, I used 2 oz ramekin dishes & sprinkled them with pomegranate and açaí powder.
Kathryn Doherty
Sounds like a delicious variation! Thanks for sharing!
Debbie
Can I substitute pumpkin seeds for walnuts due to allergy?
Kathryn Doherty
I'm not sure pumpkin seeds would work as a substitute given the very different taste and texture. The brownies might not set up. You could try these chocolate peanut butter energy balls for something similar that doesn't use walnuts (and you can easily sub in almond butter or try a sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter if needed): https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-energy-balls/
Hope that helps!
Lisa Toogood
Can you replace the walnuts with a different nut if you do t have walnuts?
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Lisa! I have not tested these with another type of nut and I'm not sure it would work quite the same, given that these are raw and the walnuts are an important part of the texture, as well as the flavor. Would love to hear if you try it though!
Shannon
If you would please put the amount of dates in some other measure besides the count, because I think if you have smaller dates it throws off the recipe. I love this recipe and I plan on making more of it! Thanks so much!
Kathryn Doherty
You need about 1 cup of chopped dates for this recipe. Hope that helps!
Shannon
Excellent. What an amazing recipe. Thank you.
Kathryn Doherty
Oh that's great to hear, I'm so happy you loved it! Thank you for sharing!