This recipe was updated from its original posting on our health coaching website, The Healthy Row, on September 16, 2017.

This is one of my favorite recipes, just because it’s so easy to make, and I love, love, love chocolate! I’m a big lover of anything chocolate, which is also the biggest reason why I enjoyed baking with my mom at a young age… I basically ate everything we baked!

However, I’m no longer that little girl who cared only for my belly and not the rest of my body. And, since I’ve grown more conscious of taking care of my health (and sharing my treats), I’ve redirected my love for sugar-filled chocolates towards more wholesome kinds, free of refined-sugar, and ones that celebrate the wonderful cacao that when stripped of all the added junk, is wonderful for your health.

I also love to travel and always make it a point to stay where there’s a kitchen. Ovens are hard to come by, however, and baking equipment are not exactly practical items to lug around in suitcases.

And so, in times of travel, I stick mostly to creating raw desserts (which method has its own set of health benefits), just like these simple no-bake brownies that only require a basic blender, a mixing bowl and a sturdy spoon!

For this particular recipe, I used raw sunflower seeds which is a great source of the good fat that our bodies need. Among its many other benefits, it’s a powerful antioxidant that’s great for thyroid health.

This recipe creates a healthy version of the classic brownie that has a rich chocolate flavor, is naturally sweet and dense, but isn’t heavy as a treat! Because it’s refined sugar-free, and makes use of natural and whole ingredients, your body will be grateful for these benefits:

It’s a powerful antioxidant
Loaded with minerals
Good for your heart
Can lower blood pressure
Can balance cholesterol levels
Can protect your brain, heart, muscles and other parts of your body
Can promote healthy mental health, brain function and mood
Can enhance your immune system

No-Bake Cacao Nib Brownies

A healthy refined sugar-free, dairy-free and nut-free version of the classic brownie that has a rich chocolate flavor, is naturally sweet and dense, but not heavy as a treat! Made raw using sunflower seeds which is a powerful antioxidant great for thyroid health.

So easy to make, these simple no-bake brownies only require a basic blender, a mixing bowl and a sturdy spoon!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Raw

Keyword Dairy-free, Nut-free, Refined Sugar-free, Vegan

Servings 12 squares

Author Roanna Medina

Ingredients

2 Cups pitted dates
1 Cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 Cup oat flour
1/2 Cup raw cacao powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
50 grams raw cacao nibs or cacao beans broken into nibs

Instructions

Place the sunflower seeds in a blender or food processor, and pulse to ground to a flour-like consistency, leaving a few pieces and chunks. Set aside in a mixing bowl.
Place your dates (pitted) in the same blender or food processor (there's no need to wash it), and process until it turns into paste, scraping down the sides with a spoon or spatula as needed. Depending on how powerful your equipment is, you might need to do this in batches.
Mix in the oat flour and cocoa powder, and continue processing until well combined.
Pour out the mixture to a bowl with the sunflower meal, and add in all the remaining ingredients. Mix with a spoon or spatula until everything is well combined.
Line a square pan or container with parchment paper, transfer the final mixture in, and press down and spread evenly using the back of a spoon. *See important note below
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Remove the block out of the pan or container, and cut into squares.
Serve immediately, or store back in the chiller.

Recipe Notes

* If it gets too sticky, dab some extra virgin coconut oil on the back of the spoon, and continue pressing and until you reach a smooth and even surface.