Healthy 4 Ingredient No Bake Brownies
These healthy brownies require no baking and are so rich, fudgy and packed full of chocolate flavor, and only need just four ingredients! These 4 ingredient no bake brownies have no beans, eggs, butter, oil, grain flour or sugar but you’d never tell- They are naturally gluten free, paleo, vegan, refined sugar free and dairy free!
I would like to preface today’s post that similar to this recipe (ironic, a brownie too), today’s offering is visually unfortunate.
Thank you.
I would also like to add that I am a goose. I forgot to include cocoa powder in the ingredients……so it’s actually 5 ingredients. Blame my grain brain.
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Can we take a minute to talk about dates? Not the romantic kind (unless you crush on the dried variety…), but the dried kind.
Growing up, dates were rarely eaten in recipes, except for sticky date pudding. In the Persian culture, dates are a natural sweetener often enjoyed with mugs of freshly brewed tea, in place of sugar. Amongst many food bloggers (especially the healthy kind!), dates are a delicious inclusion in bites, bars, granola bars and my personal favorite- used as a ‘caramel’.
If we’re being honest here, I’m not the biggest fan of them.
When it comes to recipes on here, I shy away from dates and most dried fruits. I think it stems from me only sharing recipes and using ingredients I use very consistently- Sure, I could start using dates on here, but it kind of goes against my beliefs and those on the blog. Why use ingredients that I don’t personally enjoy or have no real interest in consuming? So there you go. No dates on here just yet…..but perhaps one day!
It’s no secret that I DO love brownies, especially those which need three ingredients or four, if we go the protein route. I was keen to try a no bake version of this, which had a delicious, gooey and fudgy texture. Most ‘no bake’ brownies I’d seen were similar to a ‘Larabar’- A combination of blended nuts, dates and dried fruit. Because the concept of dates and dried fruits are so foreign here, I clearly had to omit those and come up with my own version which needed none of those. I stuck to my tried and tested basics (including my beloved coconut flour) and voila- Healthy 4 Ingredient No Bake Brownies!
These healthy no bake brownies literally take five minutes to make and the hard part is waiting for them to firm up slightly in the fridge (or if you’re being impatient, the freezer)! They only require four ingredients and the best part? You can totally snack on the mix as it is because there is no butter, eggs, oil, grain flour or sugar in the entire recipe-Like I did when I made these flourless sweet potato brownies! These brownies are so rich, moist and gooey, you’d seriously be in disbelief that they are good for you, but they are! They are also totally acceptable for those who follow a vegan, gluten free, paleo and dairy free lifestyle!
HACK! I tried it with both canned pumpkin and mashed sweet potato and while both worked well, I preferred the pumpkin- It wasn’t as ‘sweet’ and brought out the rich cocoa flavor better However, the option is totally there for you!
Make these healthy 4 ingredient no bake brownies and let’s leave the dates to the tea.
Just kidding, but kind of not.
Healthy 4 Ingredient No Bake Brownies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut flour sifted
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder sifted
- 1/2 cup nut butter of choice I used smooth almond
- 3/4 cup pure maple syrup can sub for honey, agave or brown rice syrup
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree OR mashed sweet potato
Instructions
- Line a deep baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add your coconut flour and cocoa and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, melt your nut butter with your maple syrup until combined. Pour mixture into the coconut flour and mix well. Stir through the pumpkin puree until fully incorporated and batter is even.
- Pour batter into the lined baking dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Notes
Add chocolate chips for an added boost of chocolate.
Healthy No Bake Giant Cookie For One
Healthy No Bake Chocolate Cake Batter Bites
Healthy Edible Breakfast Cookie Dough for One
Are you a fan of dried fruits and/or dates?
Do you drink tea with something other than sugar? Seriously, mum. Why dates?!
And just today I said I have 2 cans of organic pumpkin that I forgot about! Perfect
😀 YES! Meredith, you’ll love these!
These look delicious – I love the idea of freezing for best flavor. Is there any way you can provide the baking dish size for these? ‘A baking dish’ is a rather vague instruction. Thank you!
Of course! sorry, Jill! I tend to change it up based on how thick or thin I want them- In fact, a loaf pan works really well for thick brownies “:)
I’m not huge on dates either but that might be because they require my food processor. I noticed as life got busier I used less dates and more coconut sugar! if something has dates in it I’m less likely to try it honestly.
Really? Glad we’re on the same team! 😀
Omg, I thought I was the only that didn’t like dates in recipes! My reason is that they are kind of pricey, so for pricier items I’d rather enjoy them in their natural form.If I’m really desperate I’ll try to sub in raisins.
Pumpkin on the other hand, I love!! I always keep 6 or so cans on hand!
YES!!! We’d better stock up before they go in hiding before the warm weather hits!
I don’t love dates. Dried fruit I like. Give me some dried apples or strawberries any day! And these brownies.
ohhh dried apples are SO good! 😀 a whole pack totally counts as a serving of fruit.
I’ve actually never ever put sugar, or anything for that matter, in tea. I’ve never thought about it! I occasionally do with coffee but most often I drink it black. And super strong!
YES. Seriously, BEST way to drink coffee.
I like using dates occasionally as a sweetener for brownies or just to snack on. I usually use them if I forget to buy sugar hahaha. I think my favorite dried fruit is a raisin. People don’t give those suckers enough credit.
They are pretty good!
i am now imagining eating two of these brownies sandwiched together with peanut butter and dipped in chocolate as I am on my way to gymnastics practice and I can’t get that image out of my mind. My coach may or may not yell at me for a lack of focus today, all thanks to you and your magic brownie powers!
Dude, if you did that, you’d do a quadruple twisting yurchenko.
I drink my tea with honey and lemon 🙂 Such a good brownie treat for my Galentine’s Day celebration!
😀 You said it!
I love dates. They’re a great source of potassium, fiber, and vitamins. So much better than sugar. The brownies look great! I’ve been craving chocolate like crazy lately. It must be because of all of the delicious Valentine’s Day treats that are everywhere. 🙂
Haha they sing to me in the supermarket!
I don’t eat dates very often, but they are super sweet! I like to use them as a caramel sauce by blending one with some almond milk and cacao. It’s delicious! Thank you for making these brownies super easy and hassle free!
ohhh wow…that caramel sounds divine!
One of my favorite snacks is dried out Medjool dates and almond butter. I hate them when they’re squishy and soft, but let them dry out or pop them in the oven to caramelize them I can’t stop slathering them in almond butter and eating them. MMMM.
Also, these brownies look tight.
Um….that sounds delicious!
I mean, everyone should have cocoa powder lying around, so basically 4 ingredients, right? Also, send me some.
Right? It’s totally salt and pepper equivilant.
These look awesome! Love how healthy they are with just a few ingredients and the fact that they are super simple to make. 🙂
🙂 right? thanks so much!
This is speaking to meeee I love a good no-bake and these look soo frickin good!!!
🙂 Thanks so much, Christina!