It’s a Tuesday night express post! Fortunately, there’s only so much words can do to enhance the appeal of raw brownie bites, which are mighty enticing as it is.
The idea for these raw, vegan brownie bites came from the raw chocolate cupcakes I posted recently. Indeed, it’s essentially the same recipe (walnuts, cacao nibs, cocoa powder, dates), rolled up into little snack sized globes. Simple stuff, but one of the things I like about raw desserts is that one single technique (nuts, dried fruit, seasonings) can serve as a base for pie crust, crumble topping, snack bar, snack ball–whatever you want, really. When chocolate is involved, so much the better.
Raw Vegan Brownie Bites
Ingredients
- 2 cups walnuts
- 2/3 cup cacao nibs
- Generous pinch sea salt to taste
- 1/4 cup raw cacao or regular cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups pitted dates
Instructions
- Place the walnuts, cacao nibs, sea salt, and cacao powder in a food processor and process for about 30 seconds, or till everything is pretty well crumbled up.
- Add the dates and process for another twenty seconds or so. The mixture should be sticking together. If it's not, keep processing till it sticks together easily when you squeeze a little in your hand. If you need to, adding a few more dates will help bind it together.
- Shape the "dough" into balls that are about 3/4 - 1 inch thick by rolling it in your palms. Store in the fridge for 30 minutes, and then they'll be ready to serve. Makes 24-30 balls. Recipe can easily be halved. Will keep, stored in the fridge, for two weeks.
I like keeping these little guys in larger mason jars, or smaller ones to transport around as a snack. Mason jars would also make a cute presentation for holiday gift-giving!
This is one of the most satisfying-yet-simple dessert/snacks I can think of. Appropriately, I just featured these guys as part of a feature in Washingtonian Magazine’s Well + Being blog today. It’s for the magazine’s “food diary” series. While I typically don’t show daily eats–it’s just never been my blogging beat–I thought this would be a fun opportunity to share some of my routine with the magazine’s readership. Check it out if you’re interested!
Enjoy the recipe, friends! Tomorrow, a new Green Recovery story. At last 🙂
xo
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Walnuts are such a delicious nut in bites/balls! One thing I love about this kind of dessert is how easy and quick it is to through together, and there are so few dished to clean afterwards haha… Often with baked goods I feel overwhelmed by the prospect of all of the dishes that need washing, but one food processor? Count me in!
I’m also looking forward to that Green Recovery post 🙂
*throw together, not sure what happened there
Gena, these are fabulous! Right on with my favorite foods. I usually use almonds in a raw recipe, but I’ve come to adore walnuts lately. Their omega 3 content has really been beneficial to me, along with their satiety rating. Thanks for sharing this recipe! I love your beautiful photos and will be sending my Green Recovery Story your way very soon:)
Great post.
I was just reading your “food diary” piece and I was thinking I wanted to try those brownie bites! I can’t wait to give them a try! Thanks for sharing!
This is definitely one of those treats that can convince ANYONE that raw desserts are divine (and fun to make).
need them STAT.
I love that about raw desserts. The same basic recipe can be used in so many ways!
I read the magazine post, and I really enjoyed peeking into a day of your eats! I love your blog because it isn’t just a food diary, but at the same time I think it would be fun to see your daily eats once in a while. It’s a great example of how to balance a vegan diet over the average day.
I made some similar balls over the weekend, but not so healthy as I then dipped them in chocolate!
Yumm!! I was craving chocolate yesterday. I should make these tonight. Thanks Gena!
I’m totally making these this week! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m eating a raw ball right now!! Its an almond butter-raw protein powder ball. But these brownie ones sound great!!
These sound great! Sometimes, the simpler, the better. When I make these, though, I am going to add some peppermint extract for a lovely, cooling flavor. I can’t wait to see how they turn out!
I’m definitely someone who likes to have a little something sweet after a meal. These would do the job perfectly!
These look amazing, I can’t wait to give this recipe a try. I love the mason jar idea too, the perfect transport system. Me thinks I’ll be bringing my own dessert to Thanksgiving… 🙂
I’m going to make these because, although I’m not a big fan of chocolate, because I think they would taste nice with a hot cup of black coffee. 🙂
What doesn’t taste good with a hot cup of black coffee?
(Also, not a big fan of chocolate? Did we discuss this? I’m not sure I believe you.)
these look delicious! they look like the chocolate dunkin donut holes i used to love when i was little, except a million times healthier.
They’re so good, Caitlin! Hope you enjoy them.
I loved your ‘Food Diaries’ article!! (I also loved your comment back to the typical, token cantankerous commenter). I find it really handy to see an entire day of vegan eating, to get ideas for balance etc in my diet, also to help me stray away from repetition.
How could you not finish your day with 2 of those raw brownie bites? YUM!
Hahaha. Glad you appreciated the response. Comes with the territory 😉
Glad you liked the post, too!
My sister inlaw makes something pretty much identical to these. She gave me the recipe a few months ago and I made them, but with half walnut and half macadamia nut. But what really finished these off beautifully is that I live in Australia and had recently come across a native bush food – roasted and ground wattle seeds from the acacia victorie tree. The seeds taste like mocha coffee but are naturally caffeine free. So I rolled the brownie bites in wattle seeds. Oh my goodness! If they were good before this just took them to a new level of decadent! You’re probably not likely to come across them in Washington (they’re still hard to find here), but if you ever do, do try them. xx
Yum! Thanks Rach.
I made this last week and they were absolutely yummy ! The only problem with them is that they taste better after a few days (like all dark choc things, imop) but making them last that long is very difficult !
Will be making some more tonight 🙂
Thank you so much for the wonderful recipes and ideas you give on your blog !
These are super cute =) And they sound so simple to make. I love portable snacks.
What are cacao nibs and where may I find them?
Hi Gena!
I am thinking of making these for an upcoming workshop. Do you know what amount of cacao powder I could use instead of the nibs?
Thank you!
Delicious. I bet these would be better with just the walnuts but I didn’t have as much as I had thought in the panty. Did a mix of cashews, almonds, and peanuts. Still rolled out nicely. I was amazed how much they tasted like baked brownies. Thanks!
Husband and I agree… these brownie bites are exceptionally good and so worth making!!!
Thanks for sharing your recipe. I used almonds and tossed in some figs I needed to use up. Other than that, I followed your recipe. I am eating one as I type. Yummy! Not a Vegan but stuff like this could sway me. I tried Chocolate Moose Dragon Cookies by Liz Lovely yesterday and they are Vegan too. But I had to make something sweet until they arrive (ordered some after sampling one). Well done Vegans!
So very delicious and simple to make! Yummm
I just made them, and ate one, without letting its flavors meld. Very good.