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Fudgy Date Brownies

January 20, 2017 by Audra 23 Comments

Fudgy Date Brownies

If you follow me on social media you may have seen me mention I gave up refined sugar for the month of January.

Yep- hell has frozen over and I’m trying to curb my sweet tooth just for a month to make up for an extra sweet December.

It’s been almost 3 weeks and it’s going pretty well. I was sick for the first week so that was easy, and since then I’ve been getting by on clementine oranges and large amounts of homemade pasta, (which is a future blog post don’t you worry.)

All was well and good until earlier this week when I really really wanted something. I wanted a cookie or just a bite of cake or something. Part of the craving may have come from having a particularly exhausting day, but truly I just love desserts and missed them.

Fudgy Date Brownies

So- I starting thinking about baking with dates, something both my mom and mother-in-law both had mentioned in the past.  I wouldn’t have normally considered omitting sugar from something like a brownie, but desperate times were upon me so that is exactly what I did….enter these fudge date brownies!

I did some research, tried a couple different recipes and ended up with this: a super fudgy, gooey, chocolate-y date brownie that is pretty damn good if I do say so myself.

Without the sugar you don’t get certain texture things I normally look for in a brownie- crispy edges and a crust on top, but I could deal with that.

They aren’t overly sweet of course, but sweet enough to taste rich and decadent. Date paste is the only sweetener in the actual brownie, but I did use a little raw honey in the glaze just for fun. (You could do the same with brown rice syrup, agave, or maple syrup.)

A little sprinkle of sea salt on top and I was a happy camper. PLUS- Hugo loves these and I didn’t feel the least bit guilty letting him indulge.

Fudgy Date Brownies

Am I a sugar-free convert? Not quite, but I am happy to be rid of the afternoon slumps, and most important to know I can give it up. I’ll be back with something sweet and sinful in February don’t you worry!

Check out the recipe for Fudgy Date Brownies below! Want another healthier brownie recipe? Check out this one for Fudgy Zucchini Brownies!

Fudgy Date Brownies

Fudgy Date Brownies

Yield: 16 brownies

Fudgy Brownies sweetened only with dates!

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter* softened (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 2 cold eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • Sea salt for sprinkling

For the glaze:

  • 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoons honey or other natural syrup-type sweetener
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter or coconut oil
  • 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Grease or line an 8x8 baking pan. Preheat oven to 350F.

In a food processor or blender, puree the dates and hot water until smooth. Measure out a cup of the paste (mine yielded exactly a cup,) and transfer to a large bowl with the butter.

Cream the butter and date paste until smooth.

Add the eggs, one at a time and vanilla extract, mixing until fluffy and smooth.

Add the cocoa and flour, and mix on low until well combined.

Spread batter into prepared pan, smoothing with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle a little sea salt on top.

Bake for 18-23 minutes, or until edges are set. Allow pan to cool while you prepare the glaze.

Whisk together the butter, honey and cocoa powder. Add vanilla and whisk until smooth. If the glaze seems a little runny- add a dash more of cocoa powder. If it seems too thick- you can add a splash of milk. Drizzle over the brownies and sprinkle with more sea salt.

Brownies will last for up to a week in a sealed container in the fridge.

Notes

*I didn't try, but I am sure coconut oil would work well as a sub for butter.

*Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen's Cocoa Brownies

© Audra

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Fudgy Brownies sweetened only with dates! No sugar and SO good!

Filed Under: Brownies, Dessert, Healthy, Recipes Tagged With: Chocolate

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Comments

  1. Joanne Bruno says

    January 20, 2017 at 9:02 am

    I am so impressed with you! I have been trying more to reduce sugar rather than totally eliminate it…but we have a Jeni’s ice cream shipment coming today so I’m sure that’s about to go out the window. These sound like the perfect way to get your sweet fix but in a healthier way, though!

    Reply
    • Sarah says

      March 25, 2019 at 4:14 pm

      I love these brownies!!! Such great texture and plenty of chocolate flavor to satisfy a craving! If you like chocolate but don’t want all the sweetness, these are the way to go. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
  2. Baker Momma says

    January 20, 2017 at 3:20 pm

    These look fantastic Audra. I’m also impressed and hope you saved me a sample.

    Reply
  3. KAtrina says

    January 21, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    This flavour is craaazy delicious!! Love it!

    Reply
  4. Jessica Johnston says

    January 23, 2017 at 11:03 am

    I’m trying these today for Lina’s school treat. I’m so excited!

    Reply
  5. Krystle Jade says

    April 2, 2017 at 2:28 pm

    Suuuuper fudgy (virtually fudge) style brownies, they were not what I expected but still absolutely delicious. Really dense, smooth texture great cold or warm with ice cream and not sickly sweet either which makes them incredibly moreish! I love them, thank you for the recipe :)

    Reply
  6. Michele says

    July 31, 2017 at 11:59 am

    Omg!!! these are the best brownies ever!!! Girl , you got it right!! I didn’t have unsalted butter so just used regular, used organic ingredients, and unbleached flour. I could have just made a meal of the date paste and butter and stopped there…..but I didn’t. Thank you for this awsum natural sugar recipe. I had dates just sitting in my fridge not sure what else to do with them. This is my new go-to brownie recipe.

    Reply
  7. Ceyda T. Paul says

    August 30, 2017 at 11:28 am

    I love these brownies. The frosting (with coconut oil) is perfectly smooth and shiny, better than ganache! When I made them a second time I tried adding 1/4 cup pecan butter and adding 1 or 2 tablespoons maple syrup, but it did not improve the flavor that much. They are perfect just the way they are. Thank you Baker Chick!

    Reply
  8. Betty Woods says

    February 5, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    I made these date brownies for myself and my son. I used Pillsbury gluten free flour, added 1/4 cup brewed coffee and used 1/4 cup monkfruit natural sweetner. Instead of Cocoa powder, I used 1 square bakers pure chocolate. I also lined the 8×8 pan with parchment paper for easy to cut and remove from pan. They were really good!

    Reply
  9. Karen Alford says

    March 1, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    Made these on a snow day. Really tasty and would make again. Thank you,

    Reply
  10. Jen says

    April 23, 2018 at 11:38 am

    Just made these brownies! Thank you for posting such a fab recipe, they taste wonderful.

    Reply
  11. Ameena says

    May 23, 2018 at 7:10 am

    This was awesome! The kids loved it! We all loved it actually! I had dates sitting in the fridge and found your recipe. Will definitely be making it again Thank you ☺️

    Reply
  12. Nancy says

    February 1, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    How many calories in one brownie?

    Reply
  13. Sophie says

    June 17, 2019 at 8:29 am

    Hi Nancy! I was very bored, so thank you for giving me something to do. My math may be off, but I don’t think so. Here’s assuming you only eat one brownie if, say, you cut the pan into 12ths.
    Without the glaze: 205.7
    With the glaze: 233.03
    P.S: I just love this recipe. It’s certainly one of my favorite brownie recipes. Hopefully this helps!

    Reply
  14. Kayla says

    June 30, 2019 at 3:52 am

    Currently baking this now and looking forward to it!!
    Just wondering if anyone has a substitute for the butter?

    Reply
    • shapelessjourneys says

      June 29, 2020 at 7:52 pm

      I substituted with co onut oil! It took a bit longer in the oven for the toothpick to come out clean but very delicious!

      Reply
  15. Stephanie says

    December 4, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    Can I substitute almond flour?

    Reply
  16. Christa says

    January 12, 2020 at 12:39 am

    Can’t wait to try! I am confused about the note re: date paste (“mine yielded exactly a cup”) since the recipe says to make the paste with 1.5c dates and 1c water. How could 1c water with 1.5c dates added to it still be just 1c liquid??? Anyway, I care about the liquid because I was wondering if I could use milk instead of water and soak overnight then blend to make the paste part perhaps? I often like the richness from subbing milk for the water in recipes

    Reply
  17. Amy McLean says

    April 9, 2020 at 6:44 am

    These are amazing!!! My new go to receipe for brownies!!

    Reply
  18. Sian Rule says

    April 17, 2020 at 12:48 pm

    Have been trying to eat less sugar for a while now and discovered the joy of dates!! This recipe was so easy and the results delicious.

    Reply
  19. Mandy says

    April 17, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    I love these! I’ve made them several times, and add cinnamon and walnuts. Delicious. Thanks for the recipe! I try to cut down/out sugar, but most sugar reduced recipes either replace it with another sweetener (stevia), or also remove eggs, butter, and flour. I’m happy to have found this one!

    Reply
  20. shapelessjourneys says

    June 29, 2020 at 7:50 pm

    I veganized the recipe by using coconut oil as butter and a banana + 1/4 cup of applesauce as egg replacers. Had some dry ass dates left that I mixed with 1 cup of coffee instead of the water.

    I also only had 1/4 cup of cacao powder! I thought I had more and started the recipe before realizing I did not have enough. But I made it anyway.

    Because of the egg replacers/coconut oil it took 20min. longer in the oven for the toothpick to come out clean.

    But ohh myyy! This recipe is definitely a keeper! Love it! Fudgy deliciousness! My vegan housemate said it was probably the best vegan brownies he’s ever had!

    Will definitely make again! Next time with the right amount of cacao powder! 100/10 recommend!

    Reply
  21. Dawn says

    September 9, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Hot Water splashed out of the food processor. I had to soak dates first

    Reply

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