*This post for bite sized raw brownies first appeared on March 2, 2012. The recipe has been slightly edited (like to include a chocolate peppermint drizzle option perfect for St. Paddy’s Day!) and the photographs updated.
I totally remember making these raw brownie bites for the first time 5+ years ago, throwing a bunch of random healthy things in the food process and being blown away at how “brownie-like” they ended up being. They’ve been made many times since and each time I would say to myself, “you really should update that post because those things literally look like shit cookies, Gina”. Well, it finally happened.
Gave me a great excuse to use the cute biscuit cutter I found at an antique shop and the chocolate peppermint drizzle definitely helped to pretty things up in the looks department. If you’re not as concerned with how they look, know that they taste just as good rolled into balls instead (which will also save you about 10 minutes of prep time).
I couldn’t resist a little peppermint addition to the chocolate drizzle mainly because I adore mint + chocolate but it also coincidentally just happens to be all festive and stuff too given the time of year. Enjoy! FYI – text below is original (which basically means it makes no sense 5 years later).
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These bite sized raw brownies are a healthy way to satisfy a chocolate craving made with nuts and dried fruit and topped with an optional chocolate drizzle.
I’m deeming March the month of clean eating.
Granted, I eat pretty “clean” to begin with but I’m just kind of curious what positive effects I’ll see if I make my normal 80/20 rule when it comes to food closer to a 95/5 kind of rule.
99% of the time that 20% haunts me immediately after dinner as I plop myself on the couch for an episode of whatever we’re watching and my brain just starts screaming CHOCOLATE! GIVE IT TO ME!
I really have no problem keeping it clean for the entire day leading up until that point. In fact, I enjoy eating healthily all day. But there’s a switch and it gets flipped right around 8pm.
Want to know what happens when you try to satisfy a chocolate craving with some fruit, coconut & cacao nibs?
You fail.
Epically.
And then the chocolate craving just intensifies, you go to bed mad and have really weird dreams about ex-boyfriends. At least that’s what I’m chalking the dreams up to.
Otherwise, I have no excuse and I’m not really sure how I feel about them if that’s the case. It’s weird waking up to your husband when you’ve been dreaming about another guy all night…
So I made balls.
Because that’s what I do best.
Except this time I froze them and then smashed them down with a fork because I think those little lines are pretty and because I’m fresh out of ball jokes. (edited to add: this was the old version of this recipe, I used a biscuit cutter for these updated pictures)
These raw brownie balls (that aren’t really balls) are anything but a brownie actually. But somehow they sure as heck almost taste like one.
I almost don’t even want to tell you they’re made with prunes because I’m sure you just read that and laughed.
Or worse, clicked out of here instantly at the ridiculousness of me trying to convince you that a dried fruit used to keep you “regular” tastes like a brownie would in raw form.
BUT IT DOES! Swear. And if you have doubts on the deliciousness of them, I implore you to give this prune smoothie a try. It will change your mind on prunes forever.
So, knowing that Ulysses might be asking for a divorce if he had to suffer through 29 more days of unsatisfied 8pm chocolate cravings, these raw brownie bites came to be.
Now that I think of it, maybe the dream was some weird foreshadowing that I needed a solution to the 8pm crazies…
That makes sense, right?
Love this Raw Brownie recipe?
Try other delicious bites like Apple Cinnamon Cookie Bites, Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookie Bites, and Dark Chocolate Kahlua Coffee Bites.
Raw Brownie Bites
Ingredients
For brownie bites:
- 1 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup cashews, (or macadamia nuts)
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 6 prunes
- 2 tablespoons cacao nibs
- 1/4 banana
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of kosher salt
For chocolate drizzle:
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips, (*see note)
- 1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract, (*optional for mint flavor)
Instructions
- Combine nuts and flax seed in a food processor and process until finely ground.
- Add remaining ingredients to the food processor and process until the dough just starts to come together into a ball.
- Transfer dough out onto a large piece of parchment paper and form into a ball. Place another piece of parchment paper on top and gently roll out into a disc shape about 1/4-1/3″ thick. Using a biscuit cutter, cut out small circles in the dough, re-rolling as necessary to use up all the dough. Arrange the brownie bites on a parchment lined baking sheet and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the chocolate drizzle by melting all the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until smooth. Remove the brownie bites from the freezer and drizzle with the chocolate mixture (you can garnish with additional cacao nibs here too if you’d like). Allow the chocolate to set. Keep brownie bites refrigerated in an airtight container to store.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I’ve never seen a raw recipe with prunes and I am glad I’ve found one! I love prunes but I am not a fan of dates.
Have you ever tried other raw recipes with prunes?
Can we omit the banana and add more prunes? Do you think that prunes can always be a substitute for dates in raw recipes? Thanks!
I wouldn’t omit the banana entirely as it provides some sweetness. Not sure about always subbing prunes for dates, but I bet you can in many recipes.
Hi there
Thanks for this awesome recipe!
I tried out this recipe but instead of cacao / cocoa powder i used protein powder. I ended up using this protein powder and it turned out pretty good! https://helpforfitness.com.au/products/100-gold-whey-protein
The protein powder was chocolate so it turned out well!
Thanks for your recipe
Angeli – Help For Fitness
Hi Gina. I’ve been following for about a month now (subscribed via Google Reader) – love your blog – and finally attempted a recipe (this one!!) last night.
They were delicious and easy to make – but my mini food processor (I’m talking like 3-4 cup little tiny cheap one from Target) was screaming like a banshee just to make it through step 1.
I need to upgrade and was wondering if the one in your “store” is the one you use. I know you “endorse” it and probably get a small commission (which I’m fine with, so I hope you don’t read that as being snarky)… but I was just curious if that’s the actual model you cook with.
Keep up the good work!! Someday I’ll sneak some of these recipes past my boyfriend’s healthy food radar :)
Hi Alicia- I can relate to the mini food processor screaming, up until this past Christmas I had a mini one too that was horribly pathetic with more than 3 cups of anything. To answer your question, yes, the one in the Amazon store is the one I have. All the stuff in there is stuff I own, I wouldn’t put anything that wasn’t. I’m in love with the food processor, it’s seriously night and day from the mini ones. And yeah, if you purchase anything from clicking through my site to the Amazon store it does generate a small (like pennies, seriously ;)) revenue for me. But regardless, it’s a great model no matter how you purchase it :)
Yummmmm! Do you think I could use regular cocoa powder instead of dark? I should probably just restock on the dark…I know it’s worth it!
Yeah, I think that would work fine too :)
So true! I have the same thing happen around 8pm. I crave chocolate and salty snacks like crazy. These look great. I think I will try them with dates since I don’t have prunes but have a 5lb box of dates in my fridge.
if you do, let me know how they turn out with dates. I assume they’d work well (hence the note in the recipe) but just curious!
The last balls were amazing … these probably will be too. PS: I giggle every time you say balls in your posts. I’m 12.
I need to make March a month of clean eating too…but I definitely started it off with a whole lot of chocolate and sugar. Love these little balls!
Ooh, I never thought of using prunes in my raw desserts. But the last time I ate prunes, I had a terrible stomach ache. Probably because I ate the entire bag? ;)
Granted I had a glass of wine or two :) I am Just DROOOOOLING OVER THESE!
I always give into my 7 pm chocolate craving. ALWAYS!!!