No-Bake Brownies and Healthy Mini-Cakes

I promised to begin posting some of our favorite healthy desserts, so today I have two for you. Both recipes fit the bill for when you need something sweet, but don't want to sabotage your healthy eating lifestyle.

 

The Brownies are of the gooey sort; if you like yours more like cake, this may not be the recipe for you. (You could always add 1/4 cup of almond flour to the recipe and see if that makes it more cake-like, but I haven't tried it so I don't know if it will.) 

 

One of my daughters is a true chocaholic and these brownies pass her taste test AND satisfy her chocolate cravings, yet they're free of refined sugar and white flour--I call that a winning recipe. :)


Raw (No-Bake) Brownies & Frosting

1 cup walnuts

1 cup dates, softened

1/4 cup cacao powder, preferably raw

1/4 tsp vanilla 

 

Place walnuts, dates, cacao and vanilla in a food processor and process until a ball of dough forms. (Process well--until smooth)

Place brownie batter into an 8 x 8 in. baking dish and press down to form a consistent thickness.

Frosting  

1/4 cup raw cacao powder

1/4 cup coconut oil, (liquid)

 

Mix cacao and coconut oil by hand or in blender until emulsified. Frost brownie. Freeze for 10 minutes and then cut into squares and enjoy! 

The following recipe would work as a donut if you have the pan for it. If not, just make muffins as we do.  The glaze topping is optional, but it adds a wonderful touch. You won't believe how sweet it tastes--with no sugar!


Paleo Mini-Cakes (Muffins)

1/4 cup almond flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

3 eggs

2 Tablespoons honey

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 

Mix all together. Bake in muffin cups @ 350 F. for 10-15 minutes, or until brown. Add glaze topping. (optional)

 

Glaze Topping

1 banana

2 Tablespoons milk

 

Microwave 30 seconds and then mash up banana and milk. Add another dash of milk, if necessary, to bring to glaze consistency. Use a knife or pastry brush to glaze muffin tops. 

 

You could also sprinkle cinnamon or chopped nuts, (or even chocolate mini-chips) over the tops of muffins after glazing, if desired.  My favorite is finely chopped nuts.   

In a hurry? 

If you absolutely must have something sweet but don't have time to make something, my go-to solution is organic dark chocolate. Trader Joe's has some good selections. A small piece of chocolate, which I sometimes slather peanut-butter over, is a craving-quencher that is very low on sugar but high in antioxidants.  You may be surprised to find that one or two bitefuls is really enough to give you that feeling of having indulged in something decadent, but without the guilt. Try it!

Giveaway Still Going On

Don't forget that the giveaway of Inspiring Women of the Faith is still going on. Leave a comment to be entered. Each comment counts as one entry.

 

10 comments:

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Forgot to mention that the brownie recipe can be doubled or tripled; and we like them straight from the fridge. :)

Donna J. Shepherd said...

Those both sound delicious!

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Will you try to make them, Donna? :)

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Maybe for your next tea party!

chappydebbie said...

I like the fact that it is 'no-bake' since I try not to use my oven during the hot summer months. However, I do not like dates, so if I try these, I will have to substitute them for something else. I will check out the prices for the ingredients when I go grocery shopping...on a tight budget. Thanks for sharing.

Mary Preston said...

These delicious morsels seem to be Gluten Free. My daughter would thank me for this recipe. She needs a Gluten Free diet for her health.

Anne Payne said...

Yummy sounding sweets! I guess I need to find a Trader Joe's :)

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Deb, the cocoa masks the dates pretty well, but you could try soaked raisins. Just be sure to soak them really well.
I know what you mean about not using the oven during the summer. ;)
Mary, yes, I'm sure your daughter would be able to enjoy these.
And Anne, even Kroger has some good organic dark chocolates available (in the natural foods department) so try your local big-chain grocery. I do like Trader Joe's, though!

Carol R. said...

What is your recipe for a healthy ice cream? I know you told me the ingredients but I forget and I'd like to know amounts, too.

Linore Rose Burkard, Novelist said...

Hey, Carol,
I'll do a post on healthy ice creams!