Delicious dairy free date brownies
Life without the occasional brownie is not for me! For that reason, I love trying to play with swapping and replacing ingredients for those with a better nutritional value. For these brownies I have not used refined white or brown sugar, but instead opted for medjool dates. You would honestly not notice the difference. But I will let you be the judge of that… Go on, have a go and let me know!
ingredients
340g of pitted dates
Hot water to soak dates
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup melted coconut oil
2/3 cup raw/pure cacao powder
½ cup ground almond
½ cup oatmeal (oat flour)
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
Optional extras
Dark chocolate chips
method
Preheat oven to 180°C.
Soak the dates in very hot water for 15 minutes. Drain them, and set aside about ¼ cup of the liquid.
In the food processor bowl, add the dates and whizz, regularly scrapping the sides until the mixture turns into a smooth paste as you gradually add the ¼ cup of reserved water.
Add the eggs one at a time, and whizz until all incorporated into the mixture.
Add the melted coconut oil and vanilla, and process.
Add the cacao powder, and whizz again.
Add the ground almonds, oatmeal, salt and bicarbonate soda and process again for 20-30seconds.
Leave the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the ground almonds and oatmeal can absorb some of the moisture.
Pour batter into a 12 x 8 baking pan lined with parchment paper. If using, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and use a spatula to push them in a bit.
Slide in the oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Let brownies cool for about 15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Will keep in airtight container in the fridge for 3 days (if needed!).
The Health Boost Tip
These brownies are very much an occasional treat but using non refined ingredients as much as possible make them a healthier option despite still being high in (natural) sugar . There is no refined sugar as dates do a wonderful sweet job. It is naturally gluten free with using the oatmeal.
