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–+ servings
Fudgy brown chocolatey brownie squares on parchment paper.

Date Paste Brownies (No Sugar Added)

Jani H. Leuschel
These dark, fudgy morsels are a healthier treat with no added sugar (except for chocolate chips)! The texture is lovely and they are sweet without being over-the-top.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Healthy
Servings 25 brownies
Calories 96 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup dates pitted
  • ½ cup boiling water
  • ½ cup butter softened, or coconut oil
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup almond butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • ⅓ cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt fine, not Kosher
  • ½ cup chocolate chips dark or semisweet, optional

Instructions
 Start Cooking 

  • Wash hands thoroughly for 20 seconds, lathering with soap and rinsing with water.
  • Place dates in a small bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Using a spatula, press them down into the water. Let them soak and absorb water for 10 to 30 minutes.
    1 cup dates ½ cup boiling water
  • Place the dates and any remaining water in a food processor, and using the S-blade, process into a paste with them. Or, use a regular blender.
  • Add the butter (or coconut oil), eggs, almond butter, and vanilla and process until smooth.
    ½ cup butter 2 eggs ¼ cup almond butter 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • In another small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add half of this to the food processor and pulse a couple of times. Add the remaining half and pulse to combine.
    ⅓ cup whole wheat pastry flour ⅓ cup cocoa powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Gently, stir in the chocolate chips by hand if using. (Or, add any other mix-ins, like nuts.)
    ½ cup chocolate chips
  • Using a straight-edged spatula, transfer the batter into a square baking pan lined with parchment paper or coated with non-stick baking spray.
  • Place in preheated 350℉ oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Check for doneness at 30 minutes.
    Less time in the oven results in fudgier brownies, but the middle should be set. Longer baking will yield cakier brownies, but do not let the edges get too dark!
  • At the end of the baking time, remove brownies from oven and let sit in the pan for about 5 minutes to firm up.
    Grasp the edges of the parchment paper or foil and remove the brownie cake to a wire rack. Let cool completely before transferring the cake to a cutting board and slicing it into small squares.
    • I like to cut the brownies into very small pieces. To do this, I slice them into five equal strips each way.
    This will yield 25 brownies. If the edges are very crusty and brown, you may want to cut these off before slicing into squares so the brownies are not misshapen. It's also helpful to use a sharp knife and wipe the blade clean in between each cut.

Nutrition

Serving: 1brownieCalories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 80mgPotassium: 97mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 133IUCalcium: 19mg
Nutrition Facts
Date Paste Brownies (No Sugar Added)
Serving Size
 
1 brownie
Amount per Serving
Calories
96
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
7
g
11
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Cholesterol
 
23
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
80
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
97
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
9
g
3
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
6
g
7
%
Protein
 
2
g
4
%
Vitamin A
 
133
IU
3
%
Calcium
 
19
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword bake, chocolate, make-ahead
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