These decadent brownies are made with only 4 ingredients, all of which are extremely healthy! The best part? They are 100% vegan! Even the pickiest of dessert-lovers will adore these brownies.
Dates are essential in these 4-ingredients brownies. We recommend using Medjool dates, as they add a caramel flavor. If your dates are dried, cover with boiling water for 15 minutes, then drain before use. Don’t forget to remove the pit! If you want to add an adult twist to these brownies, soak the dates in warm water with a teaspoon of rum.
We use nut butter as both a binding agent and to add some richness. In this recipe, we use almond butter, but any natural nut butter will do. Just make sure it’s the drippy kind. We want to avoid any binders or added sugars here, as it will affect the texture of the bars. Cacao powder is less processed and contains more antioxidants than cocoa powder, which is why we suggest splurging on it for this recipe. Feel free to use cocoa powder in a pinch.
Once the brownies are pressed into your pan, feel free to add any additional toppings like chopped nuts, extra chocolate chips, or even shredded coconut.
These brownies are rich, so serve with a cold glass of plant-based milk. Enjoy for breakfast, as a pre-workout, or as a midnight snack. Enjoy!
4-Ingredient Brownies
Equipment
- food processor
- loaf pan
- spatula
- mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups dates pitted
- ¼ cup warm water
- ½ cup creamy almond butter
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- ½ cup chopped almonds
- Vegan chocolate chips optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- Add pitted dates to food processor and pulse until coarse.
- Pour in warm water and process until a thick paste is formed.
- Transfer the date paste into a mixing bowl. Fold in almond butter and cacao powder.
- Finally, fold in chopped almonds and transfer the mixture into your prepared pan.
- If using chocolate chips, sprinkle a handful on top.
- Bake the brownies for 15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.
- Continue to cool the brownies on a kitchen counter for another 20 minutes. Don't cut into them just yet! They need to firm up.
- Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.