5-Minute Espresso Walnut Brownies

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Stack of homemade Raw Brownies

I learned something this week: Cocoa powder isn’t raw, it’s cooked. Therefore, just because a brownie isn’t baked like these fudgy beauties doesn’t mean they’re truly raw. This is good to know.

Batch of homemade Espresso Walnut Brownies on a baking sheet

You see I’ve been learning a lot about whole foods lately. It all started with my stumbling upon Sprouted Kitchen where whole foods are tasty, and then ordering the Sprouted Kitchen cookbook. Since then I’ve been treating the thing like it’s my new foodie bible, because it is.

After that profound discovery came My New Roots, which I could rattle on about for hours. But for the sake of being concise, Sarah Britton is a whole foods genius and I want to shrink down to pocket size so I can ride around in her chef coat pocket and learn everything she knows about holistic cooking.

Think she’d mind? (OK, raise your hand if you think riding around in a little pocket would be super fun?!)

Espresso and dates for making our delicious Raw Brownies recipe

Sarah’s taught me a lot about food recently. How medjool dates are best, organic is worth budging for, and cocoa powder is not the same thing as cacao powder, just to name a few.

As Sarah explains, COCOA (koe-koe) powder is cooked which strips it of 90-some percent of its nutrients. However, raw CACAO (kuh-cow) powder is rife with health benefits like calcium, iron, and beta carotene. And it’s one of the top sources of magnesium found in nature.

So you see, cocoa and cacao are very different things, which is important to know if you’re shooting for optimum health like I am (trying to) these days.

Walnuts and almonds for making Raw Walnut Brownies

Unfortunately I was not able to get my hands on raw cacao powder before making these no-bake fudgy brownies, so they are not technically raw. But I have just placed an Amazon order for a bag today so the next time raw brownies appear on this blog they will be so healthy they’ll boast too many health benefits to count.

Oh goody.

But in the meantime, if you don’t have cacao powder you can make these brownies. And if you DO have cacao powder you can make them, too. Yours will just be healthier. But don’t go rubbing it in our faces or we’ll come and eat all your brownies. And how would you like that? Well, that’s what you get for gloating…

Coffee beans and a parchment-lined pan with a batch of our Raw Espresso Brownies

These brownies may not contain any butter, sugar, or flour, but they are some of the best I’ve had. They are moist, rich, dense, full of intense chocolate flavor and a hint of espresso. The walnut chunks make it, in my opinion, but if they’re not your thing leave them out.

I’ve already eaten half the batch since making them last week and have another healthy recipe utilizing them coming up later in the week so stay tuned. You don’t want to miss this ooey-gooey chocolaty treat.

Tall stack of our super simple Espresso Walnut Brownies recipe

5-Minute Espresso Walnut Brownies (No-Bake)

A no-bake, fudgy brownie that’s refined-sugar-, gluten-, and dairy-free. Rich, moist, dense, and full of chocolate espresso flavor.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Tall stack of Vegan Espresso Walnut Brownies
4.89 from 54 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 20 (brownies)
Course Dessert
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 2 Months
Does it keep? 2 Weeks

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups raw walnuts (DIVIDED)
  • 1 cup raw unsalted almonds (roughly chopped)
  • 2 – 2 ½ cups medjool or deglet noor dates (pitted)
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder OR raw cacao if you have it
  • 1-2 tsp espresso powder or finely ground coffee (depending on preference)
  • 1 pinch sea salt

Instructions

  • Place 1 cup walnuts and 1 cup almonds in food processor and process until finely ground (amounts as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
  • Add the cocoa powder or cacao, espresso powder, and sea salt. Pulse to combine and then transfer to bowl and set aside.
  • Add the dates to the food processor and process until small bits remain. Remove from bowl and set aside.
  • Add nut and cocoa mixture back into food processor and while processing, drop small handfuls of the date pieces down into the food processor spout (or turn off food processor every few pulses, adding date pieces in a little at a time). Process until a dough consistency is achieved, adding more dates if the mixture does not hold together when squeezed in your hand.
  • Add the brownie mixture to a parchment-lined cake pan (8 x 8-inch or 9 x 13-inch) and add remaining roughly chopped walnuts (1/2 cup as original recipe is written). Toss to combine and evenly distribute, and then press down with you hands until it is flat and firm.
  • Place in freezer or fridge to chill before cutting. Store in an airtight container to keep fresh. Will keep in the fridge for at least 2 weeks and in the freezer for at least 2 months.

Video

Notes

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate based on the lesser amounts of dates and espresso powder.

Nutrition (1 of 20 servings)

Serving: 1 brownie Calories: 120 Carbohydrates: 12.6 g Protein: 3.1 g Fat: 8 g Saturated Fat: 0.9 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 4.2 g Monounsaturated Fat: 2.5 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 13 mg Potassium: 251 mg Fiber: 3.1 g Sugar: 8 g Vitamin A: 18.5 IU Vitamin C: 0.1 mg Calcium: 43 mg Iron: 1.4 mg

adapted from My New Roots 

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    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! We’re so glad you and your husband enjoyed these brownies, Giedre. Thank you for the lovely review! xo

  1. Lucy says

    Thank you so very much for this recipe. I am having problems with allergies and desserts and treats are so tricky. But we’ve made these a dozen times now. I toast the walnuts I top it with for flavour. My daughter adds frozen raspberries to hers. Then we pour a melted 100g bar of dark chocolate on top. We keep it in the freezer and have little pieces for dessert or a treat. I think I even prefer it now to real brownies.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Ooo yum, thanks so much for the great review, Lucy. So glad you’re both enjoying this recipe!

  2. Rachel says

    I didn’t have almonds so subbed for cashews and these turned out amazing!! Seriously so quick to make and I used a decaf coffee so my kids could enjoy.

  3. Yami Sheppard says

    These brownies are so good!
    I halved the recipe and used a loaf pan lined with parchment. Put in the freezer for ten minutes to set. They were the perfect density and so delicious.
    I also used almond flour instead of almonds because it’s what I had and it worked great!