No-Bake (Paleo/Vegan) BROWNIES

You're on the right track, eating healthy, feeling great...but, BAM! Out of no where comes a craving for something naughty. Something rich and sweet...NOOO! MUST...RESIST!

OR!!!

Maybe you don't have to. Maybe this time you should GIVE IN--WITHOUT sabotaging your whole agenda. After some experimenting and tweaking I have found what I think are a delicious (and HEALTHY) treat: no-bake brownies! They are paleo AND vegan, full of healthy fat, fiber, and protein, and a moderate amount of carbs and sugar (natural kind). DISCLAIMER: this is for chocolate lovers only! And they are more fudge-y than cake-y.

Let's not waste any time. Below is the recipe as well as a video (if you're one of those people who prefer to watch and learn! ...or just need a little entertainment today--although I did forget to mention the vanilla extract in the process of making it):

GI No-Bake Brownies

Ingredients:

Wet

1/3 cup Cashew OR Almond butter (plain/unsweetened for either option)

2 tbsp Coconut oil

*Date paste using 6-8 dates (see below)

1 tsp Vanilla extract

Dry

1/2 cup Cacao powder

1/4 cup Hemp protein powder (or your favorite protein powder)

1/4 cup Hemp seeds (or chia/flaxseeds...whatever is your fav)

1/4 cup Almond flour

1/4 tsp Sea salt

Instructions:

*I begin by making the date paste (see below)*

Melt cashew butter and coconut oil in a small pot on the stove on LOW, or in a microwavable dish, melting for 1 minute, then 30 second increments--JUST until it's melted. Transfer to a mixing bowl, and to that add the date paste and vanilla extract; combine. In another bowl, combine hemp protein, cacao, hemp seeds, almond flour, and sea salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet (you want to make sure you have all the wet ingredients to work with, which is why I add the dry to wet this time) and combine well. The consistency should be thick like play dough (gross comparison, but yeah). Transfer mixture to a loaf pan, small casserole dish, or even larger-sized Tupperware container, and press down until it is flat. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours OR freeze for 30-60 minutes. Once it is cool it is ready to cut; cut into 8 slices. DEVOUR!

*Date paste: De-pit the dates (if applicable), and soak them for 1 hour (or more) prior to preparation. Strain off MOST of the water (reserve 2-4 tbsp), then dump the mushy dates and reserved water into a food processor and puree until smooth. ANNND you're done!

SEE THE VIDEO HERE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEx2OLOyKpU

MACROS

Nutrition FactsServings 8Amount Per Serving 1Calories 213Total Fat 12 g Saturated Fat 3 gCholesterol 0 mgSodium 55 mgPotassium 330 mgTotal Carbohydrate 23 gDietary Fiber 5 gSugars 7 gProtein 7 g

These can be frozen for longer storage, or kept in the refrigerator for around a week (although they have never lasted that long in my house, so not like I really know). I hope you enjoy these treats as much as I have!