raw brownies

Happy Holiday Weekend….

I spent this morning in my kitchen (my favorite Sunday morning activity!) making home-made ice cream and these raw brownies. These sweet treats are packed with protein and omega 3’s thanks to the walnuts and hemp seeds. These ‘brownies’ don’t require any cooking and are super easy to make (as long as you have a food processor). This recipe comes form the Oh She Glows Blog by Angela Liddon. Enjoy!

For the brownies:

• 1 cup (100 g) walnut pieces

• 1/2 cup (70 g) hemp hearts

• 1 1/2 cups (275 g) lightly packed pitted Medjool dates*

• 1/2 cup (40 g) raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 1/2 teaspoons (7.5 mL) pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1 to 3 teaspoons (5 to 15 mL) water, or as needed

For the homemade chocolate:

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) virgin coconut oil**

• 1/2 cup (40 g) raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/4 cup (60 mL) pure maple syrup

• Pinch fine sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Sliced fresh strawberries, for garnish (optional)

Creating the Magic!

1. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan (or an 8-inch square pan for thinner brownies) with a piece of parchment paper, leaving some overhang to remove the brownies in one piece.

2. Place 1 cup of walnuts into a food processor and process to a fine crumb. Be careful not to overprocess, as too much break-down will turn the walnuts into butter.

3. To the food processor, add the hemp seeds and pitted dates and process until finely chopped and sticky.

4. Add the cacao powder (or cocoa powder, if using), vanilla, and salt and process until thoroughly combined. The dough should be slightly sticky; if it’s not, add water one teaspoon at a time and process the mixture again. I often add 1 to 3 teaspoons of water to achieve the right consistency.

5. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. If you have a pastry roller on hand, you can use it to roll the dough until smooth on top. Otherwise, simply press the dough down with your hands and ensure the edges are even. Place the pan in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

6. Prepare the homemade chocolate: Melt the coconut oil over low heat in a medium pot. Remove the pot from the heat and whisk in the cacao powder (or cocoa powder, if using), syrup, salt, and vanilla until smooth and thoroughly combined.

7. Remove the brownies from the freezer and pour on all of the chocolate topping. Carefully transfer the pan back to the freezer and let rest on a flat, even surface. Chill uncovered for at least 20 minutes, or until the topping is firm enough to slice. You might find the homemade chocolate will freeze a bit unevenly, but this is normal!

8. To remove the brownies, run a knife under hot water for a minute or so and carefully slide it along the ends of your pan to loosen the slab. Using the excess parchment paper, lift the brownie slab out of the pan and place it onto a cutting board. Run the knife under hot water again and wipe off excess water. Pressing the knife down slowly, slice the brownies into squares. Top with strawberries, if using.

9. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for several days, or tightly wrapped and frozen for 1 to 2 months. You can enjoy the brownies frozen, chilled from the fridge, or at room temp...your choice! I personally love them semi-frozen.

TIP:

* You’ll want to use soft, fresh Medjool dates for this recipe to ensure your batter is sticky enough. If your dates are firm, try soaking them in water for 30 to 60 minutes—drain well and use as directed.

** Instead of the homemade chocolate topping, you can melt 3/4 cup non-dairy chocolate chips in a small pot over the lowest heat, stirring until smooth.