Raw Vegan Brownies
These double chocolate raw vegan brownies are rich, decadent, and can be prepared in minutes with just a few ingredients. No baking required!
Recipe Features
- quick and easy – all you need is a few minutes, 4 ingredients and a food processor
- vegan and gluten-free – suitable for those with dietary restrictions
- freezer-friendly – keep a stash in your freezer for a healthier dessert option any time you need it
What You’ll Need
A complete list of ingredients with amounts and full instructions is located in the printable recipe card below. This section covers ingredient and substitution considerations.
- dates – soft, moist dates are important but you can use any variety
- walnuts – use raw walnuts that have no added ingredients such as salt or oil
- cocoa – regular cocoa powder is great, or use raw cacao powder to add extra nutrition
- chocolate – use chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
Optional ingredients include maple syrup, salt and vanilla to enhance the flavor.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1. Add the walnuts to a food processor and break down into a coarse, grainy flour. Some large pieces left behind are totally fine.
Step 2. Add the cocoa powder, dates, and optional ingredients (maple syrup, vanilla and salt) and blend everything into a thick dough.
Step 3. Add the chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips and pulse a few times to mix it in.
Step 4. Press the dough into a standard-sized loaf pan. Take a few minutes to press it in firmly and evenly. Pop the whole pan into the freeze for an hour or fridge for a couple hours.
Quick Tip: Line the pan with parchment paper so you can easily lift them out of the pan when they’re ready to slice.
Once the bars have firmed up, lift them out the pan, slice and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and FAQs
- Soft, moist dates are important in this recipe. If your dates are on the dry side, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using.
- For best results, use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients as volume measurements can vary greatly. You can grab one on Amazon for under $15.
The dough isn’t sticking together!
If the dough is crumbly and not sticking together it’s most likely because the dates you used were too dry. Add 1 tsp of warm water, blend again and check to see if you can press the dough between if your fingers.
If not, add another teaspoon of water and repeat this until you can. Just a splash of water should do the trick.
How should I store these?
These can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 3 months.
What kind of chocolate can I use”
I used Enjoy Life Mega Chunks to make these but you can Enjoy Life or another brand of dairy-free chocolate chips or chop up good quality dark chocolate. If you’re not vegan or plant-based, you can use any kind of chocolate you want.
Related Recipes
Loving no-bake brownies? You might like these ones too:
- Raw Hemp Seed Brownies
- Healthy Vegan Chocolate Coconut Brownies
- No-Bake Chocolate Espresso Brownies
- No-Bake Brownie Bites
- No-Bake Chocolate Orange Brownies
Feel like baking? Check out my black bean brownies or sweet potato brownies.
Did you try this recipe?
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I’d love to hear about it! Click here to leave a review and be sure to tag me @runningonrealfood if you post it on social media.
Raw Vegan Brownies
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 10 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These double chocolate no-bake brownies are so rich and fudgy no one will ever guess they’re vegan and full of wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup (190 g) walnuts
- 2.5 cups (425 g) pitted dates, loosely packed
- 1/2 cup (35 g) raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, optional
- 1/2 tsp sea salt, optional
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, optional
- 1/2 cup (85 g) dairy-free chocolate chunks, chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
Instructions
- Add the walnuts to a food processor and process to break down into a coarse, grainy four with some small pieces.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except for the chocolate and process again until it forms a thick, sticky dough.
- Add the chocolate and pulse a few times to mix it into the dough.
- Line a standard-sized loaf pan with two overlapping strips of parchment paper that are long enough to stick out either side of the pan. Firmly press the dough into the pan, taking a few minutes to work it into every corner and smooth it out.
- Place in the fridge for a few hours or the freezer for about an hour.
- Lift and cut into 10 bars. Store the bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 2 months.
Notes
The salt, maple syrup, and vanilla help enhance the flavor. The recipe will work without them but I recommend adding them for the yummiest result.
Soft, moist dates are important. Medjool dates work best since they’re so juicy but deglect noor or sayer also work. If your dates are on the dry side, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe.
If you blend everything up and the dough seems too dry and crumbly, add 1 tsp of warm water, blend again and check to see if you can know press it together between your fingers. If no, add another teaspoon of water and process again. Just a splash should do the trick.
For best results, use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients.
Keywords: no-bake vegan brownies, raw vegan brownies
UPDATE NOTE: This recipe was originally published on December 13, 2016. It was updated with new photos and text on May 6, 2020.
These were amazing! I ended up using cashews instead of walnuts and then rolled them into balls and coated them with extra cacao powder. I cannot believe how good they taste and how easy they were to make. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
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You are so welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed them.
Can you tell me what food processor you use to make this recipe a success? It sounds too easy to me.
I have an 8-year old Ninja food processor and it did the trick just fine. Any decent one, something around $100 will work great. It is indeed, very easy. Enjoy!
Wasn’t sure where to leave this comment, but I just wanted to say I got your plant-based ebook and every recipe I’ve made so far has been amazing!! Now I’m scouring your blog to find even more delicious recipes. This one is definitely going on the list!
That’s awesome! I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying it. Thank you!!
I made these raw double chocolate brownies and it tasted awesome. My kids too ate to their heart’s content. It is a guilt-free recipe. Thanks for it
These were so great! I soaked the dates as suggested, and also added in about a half cup of chopped walnuts at the end. SO GOOD! Next time I’ll mix in some coconut flakes, too.
They’re delish with coconut! The walnuts at the end sound awesome. Thanks for the feedback, so glad you enjoyed them!
Delicious- also can add some bee pollen for more protein & flavor -! Thanks you!
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I love this recipe and have made it many times now. Thank you Deryn! I recently gave some of these brownies to an older neighbor on his birthday and he really loved them too! I never feel bad giving something healthy and delicious to others, it’s a win win.
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Well that’s just amazing to hear, love the win-win!! So glad you’ve all been enjoying them. Thank you so much for the review.
These were so ridiculously good. I even misread the recipe and only added half the dates called for and they *still* turned out delicious! Can’t wait to take these to our Lenten potluck tonight. =)
Oops, I was mistaken about my mistake. I did add the right amount of dates!
Haha.. well I’m glad they worked out and you enjoyed them! Thanks for letting me know!
Hi! I was wondering if I could use all purpose flour instead of the walnuts because walnuts are prett expensive and I don’t want to use just all nuts.. Thanks and please let me know!
I’ve never made this type of recipe with flour but you could try it. As long as you have a thick dough, it should work. It will change the flavour and texture and I can’t guarantee how they’ll turn out, but let me know if you try it!
An incredible recipe, as always!! I threw in a little coconut oil and some shredded unsweetened coconut as well and it turned out great. I was wondering – when you decide you’re going to create a new recipe, where do you start? Where do your draw your inspiration from, and how do you know something is going to work out?
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Haha, I don’t always know something is going to work out. There are many, many, many failures that don’t make it to the blog! A lot of recipes I don’t continue with or if I like it, I might have to make it 3 or 4 times with adjustments before I feel ok to share it on the blog. I draw inspiration from my own recipes, cookbooks, other bloggers, Pinterest but mostly I’ll just get random ideas and go with them. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks!
Wooow okay that looks super delicious!!
Alina// http://seventyeightbyalina.blogspot.de/
Great recipe! Looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing, perfect for both adults and kids!
The kids will definitely loved it. I must try this one at home.
-Gustavo Woltmann
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These look so fudgy and moist! Definitely my kind of brownie! 😉
Oh man, they are so fudgy. And since I’m not the best baker, they’re fail-proof!
Oh my lord, these look amazing! And so simple… I’ll definitely have to give them a go.