Quick Raw Brownies

This was inspired by the lovely Sarah Britton and her fab blog ‘My New Roots’. Sarah uses medjool dates but I prefer to use much cheaper pitted dates soaked in boiling water. I need to warn you that the dates do add a lot of sugar so this is something I would only have on a very special occasion. And a very small square.

makes enough for 6-8
takes: 15 minutes + 30 minutes cooling
100g (3.5oz) pitted dates
100g (3.5oz) almond meal
50g (1.75oz) melted butter
20g (0.75oz) cocoa powder (1.5 tablespoons)

1. Place dates in a heat proof bowl and cover with boiling water. Stand for 5 minutes.

2. While the dates are standing, weigh out your remaining ingredients into your food processor.

3. Drain dates and add to the food processor. Whizz for a few minutes or until you have a smooth mixture that clumps together.

4. Dump your mixture into a loaf pan lined with baking paper and use your hands to smooth out until it’s the height you prefer. Don’t spread the mixture over the whole base. Only use half or less.

5. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer. Then chop into tiny squares.

Variations

blondies – skip the cocoa powder

fancy – use pitted medjool dates and skip the boiling water and soaking steps.

dairy-free/paleo – use coconut oil instead of the butter.

sugar-free – replace dates with cooked sweet potato (no need to soak). Add a little vanilla extract for extra flavouring. I haven’t tried this though so you might need to add a little stevia to sweeten.

no food processor – just chop the dates as finely as possible and stir everything together by hand. You might need more butter to bring it all together.

nut-free – replace almond meal with ground sunflower seeds.

different nuts – use other ground or whole nuts such as pecans or walnuts. If using whole nuts, whizz in the food processor until you have a fine flour before using.

Shelf Life / Storage

Will keep happily in the fridge for a few weeks. And in the freezer for months.

Waste Avoidance Strategy

pitted dates / almond meal / cocoa powder – keep them all in the pantry.

butter – will keep in the fridge for weeks.

coconut oil – keep it on the pantry.

Problem Solving Guide

too dry / crumbly – either not enough soaking for your dates or not enough whizzing time. Pop back in the food processor with a little more melted butter / coconut oil and whizz until you’re happy it’s nice and moist.

too rich – these are pretty intense! Try serving really small squares. Next time cut back on the butter / oil.

too bitter – different cocoa powders have different flavour profiles. For now, sprinkling with a little sea salt can mask the bitterness.

gritty – there may have been a pit in one of your dates! Not much you can do now but next time check the dates before soaking.