Raw Brownies

I absolutely love these rich, gooey brownies! They’re free of gluten, wheat, refined sugar and dairy, and they're vegan! Furthermore, there’s no cooking involved and they contain only 3 ingredients! Perfect for when you need a quick sweetness fix!

One of those 3 ingredients is raw cacao (pronounced “cu-cow”), which gives them the delicious chocolate flavor. Unlike normal cocoa powder, which is chemically processed, cacao is rich in plant based antioxidants, iron, fibre, protein, potassium, calcium and magnesium. These give it a wide range of health benefits, from reducing fatigue and anxiety, to giving us younger looking skin and supporting a healthy digestive system - to name but a few.

Dates also have a rich nutritional content, benefitting everything from your blood to your bones, heart, digestive and nervous systems. They have anti-inflammatory properties and can give you a great boost of energy.

The original recipe uses pecan nuts, but I prefer to use hazelnuts because it makes the brownies taste of Ferrero Rocher chocolates! Hazelnuts are packed full of nutrients and antioxidants, and have their own anti-inflammatory properties - but you can use whichever nuts you prefer. Alternatively, if you have a nut allergy, you could try using sunflower seeds.

Prep time: Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes
Servings: 18 small or 9 large brownies

Ingredients for raw brownies:

• 140g hazelnuts
• 400g pitted dates
• 3tbsp raw cacao powder

Directions for raw brownies:

1. Pulse the nuts in a food processor, until they form a crumbly texture.
2. Add the dates and cacao powder, and blend again until the ingredients create a sticky mixture.
3. Place some baking paper onto a baking tray. Press the mixture into an even layer across the tray, using the back of a spoon. You want it to be roughly 1.5-2cm thick.
4. Place the mixture in the freezer for 1 hour.
5. Remove the brownies from the freezer, cut them into the desired quantity, and enjoy! They should be stored in the fridge in between nibbles.

This recipe has been adapted from the "Deliciously Ella” book.