
Chewy. Chocolatey. Sweet. Spicy. These no-bake brownies are the perfect after-dinner treat or pick-me-up snack.
They're packed with antioxidant-rich goodness in the form of nuts, cacao, and cinnamon. The subtle spiciness from the cayenne will sneak up on you. You won't notice it right away, but it will linger just a bit on the back of your tongue as you finish savoring these little bites of joy!
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Spiced Cacao + Date Brownies
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw walnuts
- ½ cup raw almonds
- ½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- ⅓ cup raw cacao powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1⅓ cup medjool dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup cacao nibs
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Method
- Put the nuts in the food processor and run until finely ground.
- Add the remaining dry ingredients and process until evenly combined.
- Add the dates and vanilla and run for about 60 to 90 seconds or until the mixture starts sticking together.
- Press dough into parchment paper and sprinkle with cacao nibs (optional), then cover with another piece of parchment and roll out dough to flatten with a rolling pin until about 1 inch thick.
- Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut dough into rows and then 1-inch squares. Another option is to shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.
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Rachel Druckenmiller, MS is a Wellness Director, Culinary Nutrition Expert, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and Baltimore-based food blogger. After using food and natural medicine to heal chronic acid reflux and years of childhood illnesses, Rachel has learned that eating nourishing, real food is key to helping us look and feel our best and most energized.
In February 2015, she was recognized as the #1 Health Promotion Professional in the U.S. by the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA). In May 2015, her blog, Rachel's Nourishing Kitchen, was named as one of the Top 50 Clean Food Blogs by the Academy of Culinary Nutrition. Rachel offers a refreshing approach about what to eat and how to live in an inspiring and energizing way and provides dozens of delicious dairy-free and gluten-free recipes. She is a sought after speaker on the topic of healthy eating and workplace well-being. She teaches cooking classes and nutrition workshops and turns eating well into something we want to do instead of something we feel like we have to do. Rachel believes in “upgrading” our diet to nourish and fuel our bodies, so we can transform our lives and health.
Follow Rachel and her recipes on her blog, Rachel’s Nourishing Kitchen, and on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.