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    Home / Recipes / Brownies & Bars

    Vegan Brownies

    Nov 10, 2017 · Updated: May 17, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

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    These vegan brownies that are creamy as fudge, nutritious with walnuts and magnesium-rich chocolate, plus a secret ingredient that makes the chocolate flavor deep. Naturally gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, grain-free and high in protein and fiber.

    a brownie with a bite on a table with a jar of date paste

    These vegan brownies are no bake, and soo chocolate-y thanks to the addition of a special chocolate-enhancing ingredient - cold coffee! Like my chocolate peanut butter brownies, and my chocolate buckwheat brownies, coffee is the secret to a deep chocolate flavor.

    Table of Contents
    • Why You'll Love Them
    • Ingredients
    • Tools Needed
    • Steps to Make
    • Variations
    • How to Serve
    • More Brownies
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You'll Love Them

    Super easy to make. Make these brownies in minutes in a blender or food processor. Press them into a loaf pan, frost and chill for 15 minutes.

    Nutritious for a brownie. Walnuts provide fiber, antioxidants but also good fats and essential fatty acid omega-3. They also provide iron, selenium, calcium, zinc, vitamin E and some B vitamins. Cocoa also adds nutrition including mood-boosting magnesium.  And the dates add zinc and lots of healthy fiber. I even added a touch of cinnamon this recipe to help balance blood sugar.

    Ingredients

    Date Paste - Soak 10 Medjool dates for 10 minutes in just-boiled water, or soak the dates overnight in water in the refrigerator. Then blend up the dates with ⅓ cup of water until you have a paste of apple sauce texture. Or use my date paste recipe here to make it in bulk and freeze it.

    Date paste is awesome in so many recipes including my Samoa Cookies, and my Avocado Chocolate Tart. Dates are high in fiber and magnesium, so a much healthier sweetener than refined sugar.

    Walnuts - I use fresh raw walnuts. You can also use half almonds, or ⅔ cup of any nut butter for an even fudgier brownie.

    Cocoa powder -Unsweetened, and either regular or dutch processed is fine.

    Additional ingredients
    - brewed coffee, cinnamon and salt

    Tools Needed

    • Measuring cups, spoons
    • Loaf pan, parchment paper
    • Food processor

    overhead of frosted vegan brownie

    Steps to Make

    Step 1: Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Soak the dates in just boiled water for 5 minutes.

    Step 2: Blend up the dates with water in a blender until creamy. 

    Step 3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the blender and blend to create a smooth batter.

    Step 4: Press the batter into a parchment-lined loaf pan, and flatten with the bottom of a measuring cup. Chill while you make the frosting.

    Step 5. Microwave the chocolate chips and coconut milk for one minute. Stir until smooth. Pour over the brownies and refrigerate about 5-10 minutes.

    Step 6. Cut the brownies, and store refrigerated.

    frosted vegan brownie slab uncut

    Variations

    Make them nut-free. Swap the walnuts for a mix of raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds. The brownies will be a bit dryer but nut free! Or use a seed butter for a moister brownie.

    How to Serve

    These brownies are wonderful as is, but here are some fun ways to serve.

    1. With a scoop of ice cream on the side.

    2. Chopped into bite-sized chunks and dipped in chocolate.

    3. Slice in half horizontally, and spread ice cream to make an ice cream sandwich.

    More Brownies

    Chocolate Buckwheat Brownies
    Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies
    Cauliflower Brownies
    Oreo Cookie Brownies
    Sweet Potato Brownies

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    📖 Recipe

    a vegan brownie with a bite

    Vegan Brownies

    Created by Dee Dine
    These vegan brownies that are creamy as fudge, nutritious with walnuts and magnesium-rich chocolate, plus a secret ingredient that makes the chocolate flavor deep. Naturally gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, grain-free and high in protein and fiber.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 156 kcal

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups & spoons
    • food processor
    • Loaf Pan

    Ingredients
      

    No Bake Brownies

    • 1 cup walnuts or ⅔ cup nut or seed butter
    • ⅓ cup cocoa powder
    • 1 tablespoon brewed coffee
    • 1 cup date paste (blend up 10 soaked and pitted Medjool dates + ⅓ cup water)
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • pinch of salt

    Smooth Fudge Icing

    • 3 tablespoon coconut milk, canned, full fat
    • ¾ cup chocolate chips
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Soak raw medjool dates in just boiled water for 5 minutes.
      Line an 8-inch by 4-inch pan with parchment paper.

    To make the brownies:

    • Make the date paste.  Rinse and pit the dates. Blend them with ⅓ cup of water into a smooth paste.
    • To the blended date paste in the blender jar, add in the walnuts and cocoa powder - blend again until smooth. Then add in the coffee and cinnamon and salt. Blend again until smooth.
      1 cup walnuts, ⅓ cup cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon brewed coffee, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, pinch of salt, 1 cup date paste
    • Then, press the mixture into an even layer in the pan and freeze for 5 minutes before frosting.

    To make frosting:

    • Microwave the chocolate chips and milk for 60 seconds in the microwave. Stir until smooth.
      3 tablespoon coconut milk, canned, full fat, ¾ cup chocolate chips
    • Pour frosting on to chilled brownies. Set in the refrigerator until frosting sets about 15 minutes before cutting with a hot knife. Dip a knife into boiling water, wipe it dry and cut the brownies.

    Store

    • Slice into 8 squares. If you store in the freezer, let them thaw 10 minutes before eating.

    Notes

    These brownies are wonderful as is, but adding frosting takes them to the next level. Here are two easy ways to add a frosting layer:
    1. Just melt chocolate chips in a microwave at 60 seconds and pour it on! 
    2. My next favorite brownie frosting is a simple ganache. Just heat up ½ cup full fat coconut milk, and pour it on ¾ cup of chocolate chips. Stir until melted and pour the glorious ganache on your brownies.
    Or, don't forget ice cream. Serve a brownie with a scoop of ice cream or even whipped cream. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 241mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword vegan brownies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    About GSG

    Welcome to GSG, a healthy food blog sharing plant based recipes for healthy desserts and recipes, making clean eating easy!

    About Dee

    Chocolate and ginger enthusiast. Animal lover, a nutritional juicing aficionado, and probably chopping chocolate in my Washington DC kitchen right now. Read about Dee → »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Edgar

      February 04, 2018 at 11:11 pm

      5 stars
      Looks absolutely amazing Dee, I’ll be definitely making these and using chai tea instead of coffee! ❤️

      Reply
      • Dee

        February 05, 2018 at 10:42 am

        Oh what a great swap idea Edgar! Glad you like the recipe! Dee xx

        Reply
    2. Nisha

      November 21, 2017 at 12:36 am

      5 stars
      These fudgy brownies look heavenly, Dee! I know they must be super creamy and indulgent because you used coconut (my favorite ingredient)!

      Reply
      • Dee

        January 02, 2018 at 2:20 pm

        Nisha, I agree, an amazing ingredient! Dee xx

        Reply
    3. Ela

      November 19, 2017 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      OMG Dee!! You are leaving me speechless. These brownies look to die for! Seriously, they look so fudgy and chocolatey, I want to eat the whole batch. Adding coffee to brownies is probably the best idea ever! Wonderful photos my dear 🙂

      Reply
      • Dee

        November 19, 2017 at 9:15 pm

        Aww thank you Ela! Yes, coffee does enhance chocolate, and doesn't add caffeine so it's a win-win. And thank you for your kind words! Dee xx

        Reply
    4. Nadia

      November 19, 2017 at 1:10 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious and so chocolaty Dee! Love that you added coffee to complement the richness of the chocolate 😀 Yummy!!!

      Reply
      • Dee

        November 19, 2017 at 9:15 pm

        So glad you like the idea of coffee, Thank you! Dee xx

        Reply

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    dee dine

    I'm Dee! Welcome to GSG! Eating healthier and lighter, with plenty of fruits and veggies, can be fun, especially when chocolate and desserts are involved. Here you'll find plant-based recipes that everyone will love. About Dee →

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