no-bake walnut brownies (vegan + gluten free)

i love finding new ways to make some of our favorite treats a bit healthier.  brownies are certainly delicious, but they are far from healthy or low in calories.

brownies are typically loaded with butter, sugar, eggs, and flour . . . you know, all of the good stuff that makes them delicious.  however, these brownies don't contain any butter, sugar, eggs, or flour!  they're vegan and gluten free.

these brownies get their substance from walnuts and dates.  ground walnuts take the place of flour, and the dates naturally sweeten the brownies and bind all of the ingredients together.

since these brownies are "no-bake" they don't require any time in the oven, which is especially welcomed on a hot summer day when you are craving chocolate but don't want to heat up the house with the oven.

these brownies are awesome.  they come together in just a few short minutes with just a few simple ingredients.

they are so moist and rich.  they are dense and full of deep chocolate flavor with a wonderful hint of espresso.  the chunks of walnuts add a great crunch to them too!

no-bake walnut brownies (vegan + gluten free)
prep time: 5 minutes
chilling time: 15 minutes
yields: 16 small brownies
adapted from minimalist baker

ingredients:
1 1/4 cups raw walnuts, divided
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoons espresso powder
a pinch of sea salt
1 1/4 cups medjool dates, pitted

directions:
place 1 cup of the walnuts in a food processor and process until finely ground.  add the cocoa power, espresso powder, and sea salt.  pulse to combine.  transfer the mixture to a separate bowl and set aside.  place the dates in the food processor and process until only small bits remain.  transfer the pureed dates to a separate bowl and set aside.  add the nut mixture back into the food processor.  run the food processor while dropping small spoonfuls of the pureed dates down the spout of the food processor.  continue until you have added all of the pureed dates.  add the mixture to an 8-inch square baking pan lined with parchment paper.  press the mixture firmly into the baking pan.  chop the remaining 1/4 cup of walnuts.  sprinkle the walnuts on top and press them into the brownies.  place the brownies in the refrigerator to chill before cutting.

enjoy!

love, laurie

no-bake cranberry pistachio chocolate ginger granola bars

i'm absolutely in love with making homemade granola and granola bars.  don't get me wrong, store-bought granola is great and all, but there's nothing quite like making your own and knowing exactly what's in it.

over the weekend i made these no-bake granola bars.  they have such a wonderful depth of flavor thanks to everything that's packed in them: cinnamon, peanut butter, oats, pistachios, cranberries, chocolate, and ginger.  i opened up my kitchen cabinets and threw into these granola bars whatever i could find.  all of those ingredients are held together by dates.  dates are truly amazing.  they are like a natural sweetener (no need for sugar or honey in this recipe) and they act like glue to hold all of the ingredients together.

these granola bars taste amazing and they come together in no time at all.  you don't even need to turn on your oven to bake them.

they are packed with power ingredients, they are hearty, they are wholesome, and they are naturally sweetened.  they're vegan and gluten free too!

they make a great on-the-go snack.  healthy and easy!

no-bake cranberry pistachio chocolate ginger granola bars
total time: 10 minutes
yields: 8 granola bars

ingredients:
12 medjool dates, pitted
2-3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup unsalted pistachios, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips, chopped
1/4 cup crystallized ginger, chopped

directions:
in a food processor, puree the dates.  add the water gradually as the food processor purees the dates until a moist paste forms.  blend in the cinnamon and peanut butter.  transfer the paste to a large bowl and add the salt, oats, pistachios, cranberries, chocolate, and ginger.  stir well until everything is evenly incorporated.  line a 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.  spread the mixture evenly in the baking dish.  press the mixture down firmly with your hands.  cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars with a sharp knife.  store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.

enjoy!

love, laurie

no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars

we are suckers for anything with chocolate and peanut butter in it.  (really, there are few other combinations as wonderful as chocolate and peanut butter!)  over the weekend, we made no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars. they are so simple to make, and the best part is that there is no cooking or baking involved.  this dessert would be perfect for a last minute dinner party or for a quick dessert on a week night.  you can whip up these bars in just a few minutes, and then let them sit in the refrigerator to harden until you are ready to serve them.

no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars
adapted from six sisters’ stuff

prep time: 10-15 minutes

yields: 9-12 bars

ingredients:
2 sticks salted butter (melted)
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

directions:

in a food processor, finely granulate graham crackers into crumbs.  in a bowl, mix together the melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and peanut butter.  stir together the ingredients with a fork until well combined.  press the mixture into the bottom of an ungreased baking pan.  (for thick bars use an 8x8 baking pan, and for thin bars use a 9x13 baking pan.)  in a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in 30 second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds until completely melted.  spread the melted chocolate evenly over the peanut butter mixture.  cover and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes before cutting into the bars.

enjoy!

love, laurie