Date and Cocoa Brownies​

These date and cocoa brownies​ are made with only 5 wholesome ingredients and they also happen to be vegan, gluten-free and no-bake! They have a decadent texture of a traditional brownie while keeping things on the lighter side. Topped with a simple peanut butter ‘caramel’ and rich dark chocolate. The perfect healthier treat to satisfy your chocolate cravings.

Why I love making these date and cocoa brownies​:

I know you’re sceptical, and I would be too, but I’ve been making these date sweetened brownies for years. It actually originated from these 2-ingredient date and tahini ‘caramels’ that I made a few years ago (which are also amazing btw and you should definitely try them too!). I thought why not add cocoa and see what happens, and I’m so glad I did, because the results was the most delicious healthier brownies.

You don’t even have to bake them, which I think is a bonus, especially if you’re making it during summer. A chilled dessert just hits different on a hot day. They’re great if you’re invited to a BBQ and want to take a decadent treat that’s easy to make and fuss-free.

These chocolate and peanut butter brownies​ also make a great snack for little ones. They only have 1 tbsp of added sugar in the whole recipe. The rest of the sweetness comes from the dates which are naturally super sweet, so no need for extra added sugar. They’re also a great way to get some fibre and healthy fats into their diets.

Why I think you’ll love these no-bake chocolate and peanut butter brownies:

Aside from being good for you, these brownies are incredibly easy to whip up. Because they rely on the natural binding power of dates and peanut butter, there’s no complex baking science required.

They are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan-friendly, making them the perfect crowd-pleasing treat to keep in the fridge for whenever that chocolate craving calls.

Also, they can easily be adjusted to your likes and preferences. Not keen on peanut butter, use another nut butter. Want a lower calorie option, omit the peanut butter layer. Would like a bit of crunch, add some roasted nuts in. The options are endless.

Oh, and did I mention each serving offers 10g protein and 7g fibre? Not bad for a delicious sweet treat!

What you’ll need to make these date and cocoa brownies:

Dates – I love using these Medjool dates. They have the perfect soft, fudge like texture and caramel taste. They blend easily and give these brownies the best bite.

Peanut butter – smooth unsweetened peanut butter, but you can use any nut butter you have or like. I have made this recipe with pistachio butter too. If you need a nut-free recipe, you can use a seed butter like tahini or sunflower seed butter. We’ll use more peanut butter to spread on top of the brownies, but you can omit this layer if you’re not the biggest fan of pb or if you’re looking to cut the calories per serving.

Cocoa powder – This is where the rich chocolate flavour will come from. Use plain baking powder (not drinking chocolate) with no added sugar. As well as flavour, it will pack your brownies with a ton of antioxidants!

Salt – Just a pinch is all you need to help enhance all the flavours and make your brownies taste that bit more decadent.

Dark chocolate – Adds a satisfying crunch, deep chocolate flavour, and a touch of extra sweetness. Always choose a chocolate you love eating on its own; if you don’t enjoy the taste by itself, it will affect the final flavour of your recipe.

Date and Cocoa Brownies​

These date and cocoa brownies​ are made with only 5 wholesome ingredients and they also happen to be vegan, gluten-free and no-bake! They have a decadent texture of a traditional brownie while keeping things on the lighter side. Topped with a simple peanut butter ‘caramel’ and rich dark chocolate. The perfect healthier treat to satisfy your chocolate cravings.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

chill time 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Health Food

Servings 8

Calories 357 kcal

Equipment

• Foor processor
• Heat-proof bowl
• Small bowl
• Spatula

Ingredients

 

MetricUS Customary

 

1x2x3x

• 220g Medjool dates or soft dates
• 150g smooth peanut butter
• 45g cocoa powder
• Pinch of salt

Peanut butter caramel layer

• 100g smooth peanut butter
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• Pinch of salt

Chocolate topping

• 100g dark chocolate melted

Instructions

 

• Add the dates to a food processor along with the peanut butter and blend until you have an even mixture. Add the cocoa powder and salt and blend again to combine.
• Press the mixture into a cake tin lined with baking paper – I used a 22×12 cm loaf tin.
• Mix the peanut butter caramel ingredients in a bowl, then smooth over the brownies.
• Pour over the melted chocolate and freeze for 30 minutes.
• Slice into 8 squares. You can make smaller bite size versions if you prefer.
• Store in an air-tight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

Store in the fridge for a firmer texture, or you can store it at room temperature as long as your kitchen isn't too hot! 

Nutrition

Calories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 10gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 0.4mgSodium: 138mgPotassium: 548mgFiber: 7gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 46IUCalcium: 52mgIron: 3mg

Keyword brownies, dark chocolate, dates, gluten-free, healthy dessert, medjool dates, no added sugar, no-bake, peanut butter, vegan

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you enjoyed these date and cocoa brownies​, you may also like:

• 5-Ingredient No-Bake Chocolate Covered Brownies
• No-bake Pistachio Brownies
• Healthier Miso Brownies