What Makes These No-Bake Brownies Healthy?

This recipe uses very minimal ingredients and the ingredients used provide significant health benefits.

Cashews & Walnuts- nuts are a great source of fiber, plant protein and healthy fats. They help promote satiety and sustained energy.

Cacao powder- rich in nutrients like iron, magnesium and potassium along with flavonoids that can help to reduce risk of heart disease and inflammation.

You can read more about it in this article.

Medjool Dates- high in fiber and antioxidants, dates are suggested to play a role in brain health, disease-prevention and may even help promote labor.

Read more in this article about it.

Additionally, they are a great natural sweetener with a caramel-like quality.

Can You Eat Raw Brownies?

This no bake brownies recipe does not have flours, baking agents or raw eggs.

They are vegan, paleo, grain-free and gluten-free, requiring no ingredients that need to be cooked/baked to a proper temperature before being considered safe to eat.

That means you can lick the batter too 😉.

Ingredients for this No Bake Cookie Brownies Recipe

Main Ingredients

Nuts: a mix of raw cashews and walnuts

Medjool dates: pitted,for sweetness and texture

Cacao powder: for the classic chocolate-y flavor and a boost of nutrients

Salt: enhances flavor. Chocolate and salt go hand in hand, am i right??

Three Layers of Chocolate Delight

The base layer is a perfectly fudgy, chewy and dense brownie.

The top layer is a rich, smooth layer of chocolate ganache “frosting” that melts in your mouth with every bite.

I know it sounds fancy, but I promise you it’s super simple and adding the second layer of ganache frosting will seriously level-up your brownie game.

Ganache Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients for the ganache frosting:

  • Cacao Powder
  • Coconut Oil
  • Maple Syrup
  • Nut Butter (I love cashew butter, peanut butter, and even granola butter.)
Pulse graham crackers, almond butter, and liquid in a food processor or blender.
Consistency should get to this point when adding liquid until it is slightly sticky and no longer crumbly.
Begin pressing down the cookie crust in an 8×8 cookie pan.
Next pulse the filling ingredients which will be walnuts, cacao, and dates.
The brownie portion should look like this prior to pressing on top of the cookie crust. separate into 2 pieces.
Press half of the filling on top of the cookie crust.
Next you will add your sandwich cookies.
Lastly, top the remaining brownie filling on top of the cookie layer.
Finally, coat the top with the ganace.
Store in freezer for 3 hours, slice into 9 pieces, then enjoy.

First, soak raw cashews and walnuts overnight with a pinch of salt (or soak in hot water for 2 hours). Drain and rinse.

Then, in a food processor, pulse together raw cashews, medjool dates (pits removed). Add cashew butter and blend again.

Add cacao powder and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and dough-y.

Now, press the dough into an 8×8 or 9×5 pan.

Chill in the fridge for an hour or freezer for 20 minutes while making the chocolate frosting.

To make the Chocolate ganache frosting:

In a microwave-safe bowl melt the coconut oil, then whisk in the cacao powder, maple syrup, and nut butter.

Lastly, pour it over the brownie layer and place it in the fridge for at least an hour or freezer (half an hour) to allow the frosting to set before cutting.

Sprinkle some extra walnuts and sea salt on top.

Useful Tips to Make the Best No-Bake Brownie

  • Line the pan with parchment paper for easy brownie removal.
  • Top brownies with extra walnuts and sea salt for added texture and flavor.
  • Place brownies in the fridge or freezer to allow the frosting to set before cutting.
  • Choose your favorite nut butter – I love a little bit of peanut butter (not paleo) for this no bake brownies recipe.

These no bake brownies are best stored in the freezer. When properly sealed in an airtight container they will last for up to two weeks.

Freezer-friendly means you can make a big batch to keep in the freezer so you always have some delicious healthy brownies ready to go.

This has been one of my favorite snacks in addition to 20 Freezer Meals For New Moms.

You don’t even need to let them defrost before eating… simply enjoy the chewy brownie layer and a rich and smooth chocolate ganache frosting straight out of the freezer.

If you want more of the “ganache” style frosting, you can let it defrost for about 5-10 minutes before enjoying. 

What’s your favorite type of brownie? Leave a comment below!

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN USE “TRIED IT” ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING #SHUANGYSEATS

Get the recipe:No Bake Cookie Brownies

Yield: 9 Squares
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
Fudgy, chewy no-bake brownies with a decadent, gooey chocolate ganache frosting and a sandwich cookie surprise inside. These raw cookie brownies are vegan and can be made paleo.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

Brownies

  • 2 cup raw walnuts, soaked-
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder
  • 1 cup medjool dates, soaked*

Cookie Crust

  • 9 graham crackers
  • 6 sandwich cookies, I love simple mill’s nut butter filled cookie sandwiches (it’s like a healthy version of Oreos)
  • 1/2 cup almond butter, smoooth*
  • 2-3 tbsp nut milk, or water, for the crust if it is too crumbly*

Ganache

  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil , melted*
  • 2-3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp nut butter, I used cashew butter*

Equipment

Instructions 

Cookie Crust

  • In a food processor, blend the ingredients for cookie crust (except for the water or nut milk), until crumbly and gooey. Add liquid one tbsp at a time until slightly sticky and no longer crumbly.
  • Press the crust mixture down in a parchment or wax paper lined 8×8 pan.

Brownies

  • Soak raw cashews and walnuts overnight with a pinch of salt (or soak in hot water for 2 hours). Drain and rinse.
  • In a food processor, pulse together raw cashews, dates (pits removed). Add cashew butter and blend again.
  • Add cacao powder and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth and dough-y.
  • Press the 1/2 of the dough on top of the cookie crust.
    Layer the 9 cookies, and then layer the last of the brownie dough.

Chocolate Frosting

  • In a microwave-safe bowl melt the coconut oil, then whisk in the cacao powder, maple syrup, and nut butter.
  • Pour it over the brownie layer and place it in the freezer (3 hours) to allow the frosting to set before cutting.

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.

Author: Shuang Shuang Liang