Raw Fudgy Brownies

Happy Memorial Day everyone! This weekend has been dedicated to getting our garden ready. So exciting. I love being able to eat the produce that I have grown. It is so much more rewarding, and it seriously tastes so much better! Not only was it planting seeds and plants in the garden, but I also made a garden box for my herbs. Of course, I could not have done it without the help of my dad. He is the greatest most talented woodworking man I know. From a pergola, desks, jewelry boxes, frames, tables, a TV stand, a bunny hutch, a light post, a mail box, to now a herb box garden. I probably missed some other random projects he has done. Every time I say I want to make something, he knows it is not going to be easy because I never want to make it how he does. So I always challenge his thinking, but my ideas have yet to fail. I guess I am stubborn in that area. I will post pictures once I get it all finished! 

Anyway now on to the featured recipe today. Everyone loves a good brownie every now and then. I mean seriously, who could not like a dessert that is chocolatey, fudgy, and just overall delicious!! Getting the perfect brownie consistency was always a struggle for me. It was either too cakey or just not good. Low and behold this raw brownie recipe is fudgy and delicious. You betcha these brownies are healthy. What a surprise because they could fool anyone!! 

This recipe is from My New Roots and remains on of her most popular recipes! So that just tells you it is a winner right there. Even if I could eat normal brownies, I do not think I would want to after eating these babies. They are seriously SO good especially if you warm them up just a tad before eating them. I mean my whole family loved them...yes, even my dad. The next day he even asked me if I was going to make any other healthy desserts! I think I may be converting him to my weird eating habits! Finally.

These are truly a must try. Definitely make sure that your brownies are sticky enough. I think I was too impatient and did not put enough dates in them, so my batch was slightly crumbly. But that did not make them taste bad by ANY means. Also, I would advise you to use Medjool dates and not substitute them for any other kind. The brownies will still be good if you do, but the Medjool dates have a carmel flavor that is absolutely amazing in these brownies. If you want to read more about the health benefits of these brownies, visit My New Roots.

Raw Brownies 
Recipe from My New Roots

Ingredients:
2 cups whole walnuts
2 1/2 cups Medjool dates, pitted
1 cup raw cacao
1 cup raw unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
1/4 tsp. sea salt

Directions:
1. Place walnuts in food processor and blend on high until the nuts are finely ground.
2. Add the cacao and salt. Pulse to combine.
3. Add the dates one at a time through the feed tube of the food processor while it is running. What you should end up with is a mix that appears rather like cake crumbs, but that when pressed, will easily stick together (if the mixture does not hold together well, add more dates).
4. In a large bowl (or the pan you plan on putting the brownies in), combine the walnut-cacao mix with the chopped almonds. Press into a lined cake pan or mold. Place in freezer or fridge until ready to serve (it is also easier to cut these when they are very cold). Store in an airtight container.

*My batch fit perfectly in a 8x8 square pan.

4-layer Banana Chocolate Cake

Yes, that right a 4-layer banana chocolate cake that is delicious and healthy. This cake is made without refined sugar, and it is still scrumptious! I got this recipe from My New Roots. As you will notices, many of the recipes that I will post will be from this blog. Sarah Britton is the talented nutritionist behind the My New Roots blog. She has inspired me quite a bit, so I suggest you take a look at her blog sometime.

I made this cake for my dad's birthday in January. He loved it!! If it passed my dad's test it will pass anyone's test. I was thrilled when he approved. Much of what I make that is healthy he is very much skeptical about because it is definitely out of the ordinary with ingredients. However, lately I have been impressing him with my odd combinations. Such a good feeling because I am trying to show him that healthy is not always bland and disgusting. Slowly but surely I am winning over his heart to eat healthy...I know it even if he will not admit it.

So as I keep posting recipes, if I mention it was a winner for my father too, you can make it for everybody and anybody, and they will love it. I am a big fan of winning over hearts to eat healthy! It makes me so joyful when someone is very skeptical about a healthy food and then when they try it, they absolutely love it! One recipe at a time I will keep working on getting my family and others around  to enjoy healthy eating. Not only does the food taste much better, but after eating you will feel much better! Hope you enjoy this amazing cake and win over hearts as they indulge in a piece!

Chocolate Banana Birthday Cake with Maple Glazed Walnuts

Recipe from My New Roots

Banana Cake

Ingredients:


¼ cup  milk of your choice

6 Tbsp. melted coconut oil or ghee


6 Tbsp. pure maple syrup


1 tsp. pure vanilla extract


2 ¼ cups mashed ripe bananas (approximately 5 medium bananas)


2 cups light spelt flour 


1 tsp. baking soda


1 tsp. baking powder


½ tsp. sea salt


1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C.

2. Lightly oil and dust two 8” round cake pans with flour, shaking out excess.

3. Put the milk, oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and bananas in a blender and blend until smooth.


4. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients. Add banana mixture and combine using as few strokes as possible. Fold in walnuts. 


5. Pour batter into cake pans and smooth the top. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Approximately 30 minutes.

Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:


2 cups light spelt flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder


2 tsp. baking powder


1 tsp. baking soda


½ tsp. salt

1 cup pure maple syrup


1 ¼ cup milk of your choice

6 Tbsp. melted coconut oil or ghee


2 tsp. pure vanilla extract


1 tsp. apple cider vinegar



Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. 


2. Lightly oil and dust two 8” round cake pans with flour, shaking out excess.


3. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flours, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine.


4. In a separate bowl combine the maple syrup, milk, coconut oil, vanilla and vinegar. Whisk to combine. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk to remove any lumps. 


5. Pour batter into cake pan and smooth the top. Place in the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Approximately 30 minutes.

Maple Glazed Walnuts

Ingredients:

1 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

Directions:

1. In a dry skillet over medium heat, lightly toast walnuts until fragrant. Add maple syrup to the pan and toss quickly to coat. Remove from pan to let cool.

Dark Chocolate Glaze

Ingredients:


1 cup milk of your choice


200 grams high-quality extra dark chocolate 


1 vanilla bean, scraped

pinch sea salt

Directions:

1. Slice vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and place them in a small saucepan.

2. Add cold milk to the saucepan and warm slowly over medium heat. When hot, remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir until fully melted, whisk in a pinch of sea salt and glaze cake immediately. If the glaze sets, simply reheat to melt again.

Chocolate Banana Birthday Cake with Maple Glazed Walnuts - Assembly

Directions:

1. Bake cakes together, on the same rack if possible so that they cook evenly. Let cool completely. Remove from pans.

2. While cakes are baking, make the Maple Glazed Walnuts and Chocolate Glaze.

3. Start with one half of the chocolate cake on the bottom, spoon on about 1/4 of the glaze, with the majority being around the edge so that it oozes out when you place the next layer. Place a banana cake layer on top of the chocolate layer and spoon on glaze, repeat until the top layer. Pour the remaining glaze on the top of the cake and top with Maple Glazed Walnuts. Serve.