GUILT FREE, gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free. They’ll satisfy your craving without the sugar and with the added healthy fiber of the garbanzo beans!
Shelly, a good friend of mine, made these brownies for us one evening. I was shocked to find out there is NO flour in these – they are a real treat – cake like and wonderfully tasty.
Notes
Try to keep family members away from the hot brownies so they have at least 15-20 minutes to cool first (or they will fall apart). I say this because my husband always sneaks in and tries to eat the first few...and they crumble. He just cannot wait!
NOTE: All ingredients were organic and everything was found at a local grocery store, except the Macadamia nut oil. Also, with the difference in opinion regarding the use of agave nectar other suggestions might be coconut nectar, organic Sucanat or maple syrup.
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups (about 10 oz. ) pitted dates
- 9 Tbsp high-quality cacao or cocoa powder (I used Alaska Bakers Cocoa - Organic)
- 1/4 cup macadamia nut oil (I didn't have Mac Nut Oil but I did have coconut oil which I used instead. Any good oil should work).
- 1/2 cup agave nectar (or 1/4 cup maple syrup)
- 2 cups canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained (one 15.5 oz can works)
- 4 eggs
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla (or almond) extract
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional - my personal addition because I LOVE NUTS!)
Instructions
- Measure the dates into a liquid measuring cup and pour in hot water to the 1-1/2 cup line, turning the dates over with a spoon until the water reaches all the dates. Let sit for at least 10 minutes. Pour off 1/4 cup of the liquid off the dates and process the rest in a food processor until it forms a smooth paste.
- Put the date paste into a large bowl and add the cocoa powder, oil and agave nectar, mixing well.
- Combine the beans, vanilla and eggs in a food processor and process until very smooth. Add the garbanzo mixture to the date mixture, stirring well to combine. Add the baking powder and cinnamon, stirring to combine, and pour your batter into a 9-inch, non-stick pan. If using glass, grease lightly with oil. (I used an 8 x 8" in the above photo which made a thicker brownie and took about 5 minutes more cooking time.)
- Bake at 325 degrees for 45 min. Poke with a toothpick. Does it come out clean? If it is, it's done!
Talk about GUILT FREE dessert eating! This recipe can be found in the Healthiest Meals on Earth cookbook.
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