Gooey and fudgy chocolate brownies that don't require any baking. These No Bake Brownies are packed full of healthy fats, raw ingredients and sweetened with just dates, banana and a little liquid sweetener.
Even better is that they are stored in the freezer, making them a delicious cool treat on a hot day, and hidden out of sight as they are seriously tempting. All the ingredients for these raw brownies are ones you would have for breakfast too, so that means brownies for breakfast!
If you make any recipe from our blog, it should be these. We make these No Bake Brownies every couple of weeks (as soon as we run out really) and they never fail to disappoint. We make them to take to dinner parties, as house warming gifts and even with a Christmas twist. These are for every occasion.
Raw vegan brownies are a mixture of almonds, cocoa and dates with water to hold it together and then it is topped with a creamy sweet chocolate topping that is kind of a thick ice cream texture once frozen.
If you are looking for some more no bake recipes, then why not try our No Bake Chocolate Energy Balls or our Chocolate Dipped Raw Brownies?
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Why You Will Love Them
- Low calories - Just 200 calories a brownie.
- Raw - There is no baking needed for these raw brownies making them really easy to make.
- Stored in the freezer - This makes it great for a cool treat and a lighter alternative to ice cream.
- Full of healthy fats - All the nuts in these no bake brownies make them a good source of healthy fats.
- Gooey and fudgy - No butter, sugar or eggs, but they still have a super fudgy topping.
- Kids love eating AND making them - Get them involved.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Almonds - This is the main ingredient in the base and makes it nice and crunchy. You could use another nut, like pecans, walnuts or peanuts, or even a mixture.
- Cocoa - This is what makes raw brownies all chocolatey and delicious. Some goes in the crunchy base and some goes in the gooey topping. Try to use the best quality cocoa powder you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
- Water - This helps to loosen the base mixture up and helps it bind together.
- Desiccated coconut - It adds a little bit of extra texture to the base, as well as some coconut flavour.
- Dates - This is what sweetens the base and makes it nice and sticky too. For the softest, sweetest brownies, use Medjool dates.
- Bananas - You would never believe it, but the gooey fudgy topping is made with bananas as the base. They are sweet and creamy and when the other ingredients are mixed in, it doesn't have an overpowering banana flavour. You could swap this for avocado and use some extra liquid sweetener.
- Almond butter - This mixed in with the banana makes it super creamy. You could use peanut butter or cashew butter instead. We like to use a smooth nut nutter, so it gives a really smooth topping.
- Liquid sweetener - This is what sweetens the top layer. We used the Sweet Freedom brand as it is made from fruit, so this is all sweetened naturally. You could use honey or maple syrup if you wanted to keep it vegan.
- Orange extract - Chocolate orange is just the best flavour combination isn't it. You could use peppermint extract if you prefer, or just leave it out.
Variations
Why not add some flavour into these brownies, so it isn't just all about the chocolate! We used orange extract, as chocolate and orange is such a delicious flavour combination. But you could use mint extract instead.
You can also change the flavour by swapping some or all of the dates for a different dried fruit. Dried cherries, cranberries or apricot work well and they all compliment chocolate well.
How to Make No Bake Brownies - Step by Step
- Step 1: Put the almonds, 30g of cocoa, the desiccated coconut and dates into a food processor.
- Step 2: Process until it forms a crumb like consistency. Mix in the water.
- Step 3: Tip this mixture into a lined 10x8 inch brownie tray and press down with your hands so it is packed down and even.
- Step 4: Put the rest of the cocoa powder, honey, orange essence, almond butter and bananas into a food processor.
- Step 5: Blend until until smooth.
- Step 6: Spread onto the pressed crumb mix and then put it in the freezer and freeze for 2-3 hours until the topping has hardened.
- Step 7: Remove from the freezer and slice into 12 squares.
Are they Healthy?
As always, healthy is a subjective word. But the ingredients in these no bake brownies are kept to a minimum and all raw and natural. We sweetened them with just some dates, fruit syrup (you can use honey or maple syrup) and banana.
They are pretty high in calories, due to the nuts and dried fruit, but you could lower the calories by cutting this batch into smaller portions. The serving size of these brownies is pretty generous, but you could get 16 or even 20 smaller brownies out of this recipe and it would reduce the calories a lot.
This brownie recipe is bursting with healthy fats and no "weird" or artificial ingredients. You know, like chickpeas or black beans that you seem to see in a lot of healthy brownie recipes.
All the ingredients are things that kids probably know and love already, making them very popular with kids - who also enjoy getting messy and making them too.
Extra Tips
- We used just almonds in the base of these brownies, but you could use a mixture of almonds, pecans and walnuts.
- Make these brownies a different flavours each time. Orange or mint extract are good because they go well with chocolate.
- We used almond butter, but any nut or seed butter would work in this recipe.
- If you aren't a fan of banana, you can swap it for avocado in the topping.
- You can make these no bake brownies a little bit more indulgent by stirring some melted dark chocolate into the topping.
- Make sure to keep these brownies in the freezer. They melt very quickly (especially in the warmer months), so just cut off the piece you want and put the rest in the freezer until you want another piece. The batch will keep in the freezer for 1-2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't think these taste like banana - it gives it the sweetness rather than the flavour. But, I have heard from some people (who don't like banana), that it does taste like it. So, is there an alternative?
Banana is pretty much what makes up the majority of the topping, so it's fairly important. But, you can swap it for avocado which will give it the same creamy texture, but not the sweetness, so add some extra sweetener.
If you use the sweet freedom syrup, then these are vegan. You could also use maple syrup to keep them vegan.
There is only one way to store these, and that is in the freezer. You could keep them in the fridge, but they would get pretty melty. Keeping them in the freezer holds them together. Although, you want to leave each slice out of the freezer for 5 minutes before eating it for the perfect texture.
More Chocolate Recipes
If you’ve tried this no bake brownie recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
No Bake Brownies
Ingredients
- 150 g (1 cups) Almonds
- 30 g (0.33 cups) Cocoa powder - for the base
- 60 g (0.66 cups) Cocoa powder - for the topping
- 6 tablespoon (6 tablespoon) Water
- 4 tablespoon Desiccated coconut
- 150 g (1 cups) Pitted dates - chopped
- 4 tablespoon (4 tablespoon) Liquid sweetener
- 1 teaspoon Orange extract
- 4 tablespoon (4 tablespoon) Almond butter
- 2 Banana
Instructions
- Put 150 g Almonds, 30 g Cocoa powder, 4 tablespoon Desiccated coconut and 150 g Pitted dates into a food processor and process until it forms a crumb like consistency. Mix in 6 tablespoon Water.
- Tip this mixture into a lined 10x8 inch brownie tray and press down with your hands so it is packed down and even.
- Put 60 g Cocoa powder, 4 tablespoon Liquid sweetener, 1 teaspoon Orange extract, 4 tablespoon Almond butter and 2 Banana into a food processor until smooth.
- Spread onto the pressed crumb mix and then put it in the freezer and freeze for 2-3 hours until the topping has hardened.
- Remove from the freezer and slice into 12 squares.
Recipe Tips
- We used just almonds in the base of these brownies, but you could use a mixture of almonds, pecans and walnuts.
- Make these brownies a different flavours each time. Orange or mint extract are good because they go well with chocolate.
- We used almond butter, but any nut or seed butter would work in this recipe.
- If you aren't a fan of banana, you can swap it for avocado in the topping.
- You can make these no bake brownies a little bit more indulgent by stirring some melted dark chocolate in to the topping.
- Make sure to keep these brownies in the freezer. They melt very quickly (especially in the warmer months), so just cut off the piece you want and put the rest in the freezer until you want another piece. The batch will keep in the freezer for 1-2 weeks.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Tonya says
What if I want to take these on a road trip and can't keep them frozen. Will they hold up in a cooler?
Liezel says
I don't know much about baking but I just love eating brownies and cakes. But thank you for sharing your raw chocolate fudge brownies. You inspired me to bake. I will surely make brownies. I hope I can bake them well.
Christina says
I'm allergic to Dates so what can I sub in for Dates?
Leah says
Danni, these are amazing! I used my blender since I don't have a food processor and they still came out amazing! I used the mixture of nuts(almond,pecan, walnut). What a great recipe! Thank you!!!
Lauren says
I made these yesterday for a Memorial Day BBQ. They got a thumbs up from most. I like that they are a healthier sweet treat for my 5 and 3 year olds (they are dessert junkies). I don't have room in my freezer for a whole pan, so I divided the brownies between 16 foil muffin cups. Worked well! Thanks for the recipe!
Grandma says
what can I use instead of the dates?????
Kelly says
So. Delicious. Best dessert for my birthday ever!!! and so easy my husband can make them for me :)
Shelby says
I made these this week, I added protein powder into the base and upped the dates to 250g. They were amazing! I cut into 35 small squares so they are like a popper before a workout!
Abigail says
Oops. I just read it wrong. Sorry!
Abigail says
This might be a silly question, but what do you mean by cocoa? What's the difference between cocoa and cocoa powder? I'm in the U.S. and so perhaps it's a different name for something that I'm familliar with?
amy anderson says
r u able to leave the almond butter out at all? i cant find it or any other nut butters at my local supermarket?
Amanda says
She has a recipe to make almond butter on this site and that is what she uses when she makes these (just read her answer to somebody asking this same question on her facebook page)
Keeley says
I made these tonight and don't think they'll make it to the bake off charity we are doing at work tomorrow.... too good!!
Jamie says
I liked that you used honey instead of white sugar. Good job! Never thought of including dates ether.
Bet. says
Awesome Look out Cadburys.
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
Awesome recipe!!! I'm going to try this!!