No-Bake Brownie Bites

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No Bake Brownie Bite rolled in a bowl of cacao powder

We’ve made a number of energy bites on the blog before, but these ones might take the cake. Or the brownie? Either way, these brownie bites are incredibly delicious.

My very first no-bake brownies can be found here, which were inspired by the super talented Sarah at My New Roots.

What you need to know: 7 whole food ingredients, 1 food processor, 15 minutes required; refined sugar-free; tastes like dessert; rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids; your friends and family will be in awe of your majestic healthy dessert-making abilities. Let’s do this!

Cacao powder, vanilla, almond butter, dates, walnuts, hemp seeds, and sea salt

Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds are packed with nutrition and offer a variety of health benefits:

  • Rich in vitamins and minerals, including B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, iron, and potassium. (source)
  • Excellent source of essential fatty acids (including alpha-linolenic acid, an important anti-inflammatory fat known as the plant omega-3). (source)
  • Contain all of the essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein). (source)
  • Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a moistening laxative and found in a variety of different formulations used to support health. (source)

Health Benefits of Walnuts

You know how walnuts are shaped like little brains? Well, some say that means they’re good for brain health!

We aren’t sure that’s quite enough evidence to prove they’re good for you, but let’s explore what research does say about the health benefits of walnuts (source):

  • Rich source of essential fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (that’s the anti-inflammatory fat found in hemp seeds, too)
  • Full of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, B6, folate, copper, phosphorous, and manganese
  • Contain a variety of antioxidants, including ellagic acid, catechin, and melatonin
  • Have shown benefit in a variety of conditions, including human studies showing improvement in cardiovascular risk, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, and cognitive performance
Food processor with dates, hemp seeds, walnuts, almond butter, and cacao

How to Make These Brownie Bites

To make these brownie bites, simply add your hemp seeds and walnuts to a food processor. Then add dates for binding and sweetness, cacao or cocoa powder for chocolaty brownie flavor, almond butter for richness and more binding, and a pinch of sea salt and vanilla for good measure. Then, blend into a clumpy dough.

Food processor with No Bake Brownies dough
Cookie scoop of batter for No Bake Brownie Bites

Then roll into balls. And say hello to super simple and decadent brownie bites! Enjoy as is or roll in cocoa or cacao powder for an even more intensely chocolaty treat.

Dates, almond butter, cacao, and walnuts next to a tray of Vegan Brownie Bites

We hope you LOVE these brownie bites! They’re:

Fudgy
Chocolaty
Naturally sweet
Nutty
& Deceptively wholesome!

Enjoy them as a snack or a healthier dessert any time a brownie craving strikes!

More No-Bake Brownie Recipes

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Walnuts and almond butter next to a bowl of No Bake Brownie Bites

No-Bake Brownie Bites

Unbelievably fudgy, nutty, vegan brownie bites with no baking required. Just 7 whole food ingredients and 10 minutes stand between you and these deceptively decadent treats.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Bowl of No Bake Brownie Bites topped with almond butter
4.98 from 67 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 14 (brownie bites)
Course Dessert/Snack
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 2 Weeks

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cup medjool dates (~14 dates, measured after pitting // if dry, soak in warm water for 15 minutes, then drain and pat dry)
  • 1/4 cup organic cacao or cocoa powder, plus more for rolling (or sub carob for chocolate-free / caffeine-free)
  • 3 Tbsp hemp seeds
  • 1/4 cup roughly chopped raw walnuts
  • 1 ½ Tbsp almond butter (creamy salted // or sub other nut or seed butter of choice)
  • 1 pinch sea salt (use more or less depending on saltiness of nut butter)
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • To a food processor add pitted dates, cocoa or cacao powder, hemp seeds, walnuts, almond butter (or other nut/seed butter), salt, and vanilla.
    Note: If you don’t have a food processor, you can try using a blender, but dates can be notoriously tough for blenders due to their sticky nature, so use a low speed if possible and pulse instead of blending.
  • Pulse until the mixture is well blended and starts to clump together (~30 seconds – 1 minute). If it’s too dry or crumbly and it doesn’t stick together when pressed between two fingers, add more nut butter or pitted dates (just ensure your dates are sticky and fresh, or it will only further dry out the mixture.)
  • Scoop out 1 ½ Tbsp amounts (we love this scoop) and gently roll into balls. As the original recipe is written, ~14 balls.
  • Enjoy immediately as is, or roll in extra cocoa, cacao, or carob powder for an extra chocolaty exterior. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer up to 1 month (often longer). Let come close to room temperature before enjoying for best texture (in our opinion).

Video

Notes

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with cacao powder.

Nutrition (1 of 14 servings)

Serving: 1 brownie bite Calories: 107 Carbohydrates: 19.7 g Protein: 2.2 g Fat: 3.3 g Saturated Fat: 0.4 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.89 g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.82 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 9 mg Potassium: 248 mg Fiber: 2.6 g Sugar: 16.1 g Vitamin A: 36.37 IU Vitamin C: 0.03 mg Calcium: 28.44 mg Iron: 0.73 mg

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    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi, they’re definitely similar in flavor, but these are more fudgy and the others are more firm like an energy firm. Hope that helps!

  1. Janel says

    These we so good and so easy to make. I made the recipe exactly as is. I think my dates or almond butter may have been a little dry (bottom of the jar), so it wasn’t coming together; I added a tsp of water at a time until came together into a nice ball. I’m glad that worked… I will 100% be making these again!

  2. Jasmine says

    These were easy to make and honestly really yummy! The only thing I’ll say is I don’t think the cocoa dusting at the end really adds anything other than inducing a coughing fit. :P These might be better drizzled with a nut butter or just plain, but the cocoa powder makes it a little dry.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thank you for sharing, Jasmine! We’re glad you enjoyed them without the cocoa powder dusting :)

  3. Christina says

    I used pecans instead of walnuts and ground flaxseed instead of hemp, and we loved these! I’m going to trying making them with walnuts when I get more dates. Thanks for the recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Christina! xo

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yes! We’d recommend using ground flax seeds, chia seeds, or you can just leave them out.

  4. Janet says

    When I saw the photo and read through the ingredients (all good and healthy, and available in my pantry), I just had to make these. Instead of rolling them into balls, I pressed them into a shallow tin and make a little hole into which I popped a fresh raspberry (raspberry and chocolate go together so well). Then I cut them into small squares. They were really yummy, very chocolatey and satisfying. Thanks for the yummy recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Oooo fresh raspberries – YUM! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Janet! xo

  5. Laura says

    Mmmmm, so fast and delicious! Sweets for me these days are very rare, and only fruit-sweetened, so these are a special treat!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Salma, you can leave them out, or replace with flaxseed meal or chia seeds. Let us know how you like them!

  6. Shari says

    What is the purpose of the hemp seeds in the recipe? What do you think about subbing sesame seeds for the hemp seeds?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Mostly for the health benefits and drying them out slightly. Sesame seeds should work! Flaxseed meal or chia seeds would also work, or you could just leave them out!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Kirsten, you can leave them out, or replace with flaxseed meal or chia seeds. Let us know how you like them!

  7. vanessa says

    these were so easy to make thank you! and so happy i can now sub refined sugar for dates. i want to make a second batch but ran out of vanilla extract. OK to still make without or is vanilla extract an absolute must? thanks again!

  8. Tiffany J says

    Made these and they were delicious! Didn’t have almond flour so blotzed some almonds and peacans. I think this recipe would also be lovely with a toasted hazelnut base! I also only had peanut butter so used that instead. Totally recommend and will be remaking these!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Naomi, you can leave them out, or replace with flaxseed meal or chia seeds. Let us know how you like them!

  9. Katelyn says

    Superb recipe! Even my picky husband loved them. Trying to make us healthier snacks for throughout the day and this definitely will be on rotation in our lunches!

  10. Heather says

    OMG… fantastic. I didn’t have hemp seeds, so I substituted ground flax seed. I also used Deglet Noor dates. They were still perfect. Spot on taste. We just loved them. Do not hesitate; just make these. So good!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Heather =) Thank you as always for the lovely review! xo

  11. Lynn says

    These look incredible! The caramel looking drizzle at the very end looks extra delicious also. Is that in the recipe? Am I missing it or is there a link to a separate recipe for that?
    I cannot wait to try these. :-)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! That’s just a drippy almond butter =) But it does look like caramel! Let us know how you like them!

  12. Kamilia says

    Just finished making this, and they are amazing, and so easy! I just left out the hemp seeds. Thanks for the recipe.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, perhaps sunflower seeds or peanuts (if not allergic)? Let us know if you try it!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Cathy, they should be okay with other dates, but medjool tend to be especially moist and sticky. If you have deglet noor, they’re a great sub!

  13. Lauren T says

    These balls are amazing. I make a double batch every week for a mid morning snack. I’ve made so many “bliss ball” recipes over the years and this is my favourite. I’ve also used peanut butter in place of almond butter which is just as yummy

  14. maren says

    So good! exactly what I was craving. I used cashew butter since thats what I had on hand and a threw in some shredded coconut because I had a craving for coconut and chocolate together. I also rolled half of them in the coconut instead of cacao powder, though the ones coated in cacao were the best because of the added chocolate. I also only added the tiniest splash of maple syrup and found they were plenty sweet from the dates.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Maren. Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications!

  15. Amy says

    These little bites are FANTASTIC!!!. My entire family including the 2 year old love them. I like that I can use them as a snack for my kids and not feel guilty about giving them something sweet!

  16. Sena says

    Yum! I did not have hemp seeds but had ground flax and substituted with success. I rolled some in cacao and some in crushed walnuts. Sticky, gooey brownie bites in minutes!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Great! Thanks for sharing, Sena! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  17. Sofia says

    LOOOOVED IT!!! Made half the recipe and loved it… ,maybe next time I’ll add some date syrup just to sweeten them a little bit more! :P it worked with dried apricots and dates…. that’s what we had in the pantry :D

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Sofia. We are so glad you enjoyed them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  18. Leslie says

    These were super easy to make, and I had all of the ingredients on hand. I love it when that happens. I’m in between food processors so I used my Ninja. It worked fine. A serving for me isn’t one. It’s more like 6! Another great recipe from your website. Thank you!!

  19. Nadia says

    I have been making these every week for the past month. Such a good pick me up in the middle of the workday! I use my super seed mix (ground flax, chia and hemp) instead of just the hemp seeds. I also add in almond pulp, from my last batch of almond milk, instead of the walnuts. Love finding ways to use my almond pulp!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoy them, Nadia! Love your creative modifications too. Thanks for sharing!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’d suggest chia or flax seeds. Or you could probably leave them out. Let us know how it goes!

  20. Pamela Perkins says

    These are so yummy!!!! I don’t have a food processor or a blender so I used my Nutribullet. It needed just a bit more moisture to get it to mix well so I put a drizzle of maple syrup in and it was perfect. The second batch I rolled the balls in unsweetened coconut…so good!!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks for the lovely review, Pamela! We’re so glad they turned out well. Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  21. Nora says

    These are SO good – thank you so much for developing this recipe, you are the whole reason I can quit sugar! I didn’t have hemp seeds so just left them out, and I substituted peanut butter for almond butter. Amazing.

    • Steph says

      I did not expect these to come out this amazing and really taste like brownies. Next time I will def roll them around in a chocolate sea salt coating. Still THE BOM, exactly what I was craving for a sweet snack, healthy, easy and quick to make!! Thank you :)

  22. CindyLu says

    These are amazing! I doubled the recipe, used crunchy peanut butter since I had it on hand and skipped the hemp seeds since I did not have any and DID NOT want to track them down. I just LOVE this site and the vegan recipes! I don’t even do a test run when I make a recipe! That is TRUST, hey?

  23. Alana Detcheverry says

    These are amazing! My new go to. I can’t eat almonds so I subbed organic sugar and oil free peanut butter. Thank you!

  24. Nicole says

    I didn’t have almond butter and subbed peanut butter, which seemed to take over a bit unfortunately but these were still really yummy and a great way to get a healthful chocolate hit.

  25. Doraleen says

    Excellent recipes but after printing several copies, I find that there is a lot of bulk from multiple pages per recipe and the recipe file is bulging. Could you format them to be contained on one page if possible? Thanks.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Doraleen, did you use the print button in the recipe box? That will reduce the number of pages.

  26. Diana says

    Another delicious recipe! I didn’t have any hemp seeds so I used the rest of my chia seeds and it added a nice texture :)

  27. Dina says

    Mmmmm super tasty energy bites😋
    I added some spices- cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg. I substituted almond butter for peanut butter. I blended in a blender, needed some extra peanut butter…

  28. Elizabeth says

    Made these for my two coworkers at work who are both picky and tend to eat fancy but not always healthy, and they really really loved them and kept talking about how much they loved them afterwards. :)

  29. Emily says

    Love, love, love these! Very easy to make and a delicious grain-free / dairy-free / gluten-free dessert! Thank you MB!

  30. Nicki Papadakis says

    I followed this recipe just like it was and these brownie bites came out perfect! I love it (my husband loves them too!) Quick, easy, and just what our sweet tooth craves. I love your recipes. Thank you for sharing them and for helping us to eat healthy!

  31. Federica says

    Making these Brownie Bites twice this week. They are a hit in our household and looking forward to making them for friends this holiday season. Thank you Minimalist Baker!

  32. IngridW says

    I just made these and I was extremely happy with the results! I’ve been a Sarah B. advocate for many years now, and I’ve made all of her raw brownie recipes including the ones on her books. I love the approach you took on this recipe and I thought adding almond butter (homemade) into the mix was honestly superb and genius. Something that I find easier when making them is to add the dates one at a time instead of adding all at once. I didn’t have hemp seeds so I used hemp protein powder instead. Delicious recipe and perfect for my pregnancy cravings ;) THANK YOU

  33. Iris says

    I used hazelnut butter insted of almond and is craaaaaazy delicious! I am pregnant at the moment and I planed to have them stashed in the fridge to snack druring the afternoons when I need an energy boost… the only problem is I made them 2 hours ago and they are almost gone because I can’t stop eating… so much for my plan…

  34. Katie says

    What a treat! The brownie bites are delicious and taste luxuriously like truffles. I added a tablespoon full of ground coffee for an extra energy kick.
    I will make them again and again as they’re so easy to prepare!

  35. Jen says

    Wow! I just made these as written, and they are absolutely fantastic! Dangerously delicious! I’m so glad I have two teenage boys who can help me eat them; otherwise, I’m afraid I would eat them all myself — right now! Thanks for such an easy awesome recipe!

  36. Olivia says

    So delicious and fudgey! Took a while to get to the right consistency in my food processor, but then super easy to form into balls. Awesome for a snack at work!

  37. Carol Edwards says

    I was having a PMS attack and needed chocolate fast. These little beauties did the job. Made them in 5 minutes….ah relief and oh so delightful.

  38. Mandy says

    I rarely make “ball” recipes, but I am so glad I decided to give this one a try. The recipe couldn’t be any simpler, and it is a healthy alternative to a regular brownie. The texture and flavor are on point! Freaking delicious!

  39. Caitlin Boucher says

    These are so amazing I could eat the entire batch they are so yummy!!! Tastes so much like brownies and were very easy to make. I’ll be making these weekly for a healthy dessert :)

  40. Rayla says

    They were great. I did make a couple changes based on what I had available.

    – I swaped the hemp seeds for flaxseed meal (because I didnt have any hemp on hand). That seemed to work great but they are SUPER filling.

    – I swaped the almond butter for peanut butter because of an almond allergy.

    – I added a touch of maple syrup and a touch of soymilk to get the texture a little more gooey without add more nutbutter.

    The family loved them but everyone agreed they were very very filling and I am sure with the dates and the flaxseed they will clean us right out. Everyone also agreed that they wouldnt really describe them as a brownie but more like a wholesome chocolate bite. They would be awesome for a hike or adventure or work snack.

  41. Stepheney says

    I made these this weekend with my 3 year old. I’m always trying to look for recipes that are toddler cooking friendly and this is one is great. We do not have a food processor, we did use the pulse setting recommendation and everything worked out just fine. We will definitely be making again.

  42. Katarina says

    Beautiful! Made these with my kids, only replaced almond to hazelnut butter. Kids are thrilled! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  43. Julia says

    Those are OH SO GOOD! So easy and fast to make and call for ingredients I always have on hand. Another absolute winner. 👌🏻❤️

  44. Tracy says

    These are great! I wanted to try them, but didn’t have hemp seeds on hand, so I used unsalted peanuts in their place. They ended up being coarsely chopped, and added yummy texture!

  45. Kristen says

    These were so good! Love the salty and sweet combo. I used Wild Friends smooth peanut butter (loved your other post comparing peanut butters) and pecans because pecans are my favorite. I only got 12 bites but would definitely make again!

  46. Susanne Mueller says

    This was a lovely easy recipe to make.
    I have a pretty basic blender to I chopped the dates and walnuts up into very small pieces beforehand and it turned out great.

    The recipe was a bit bitter for me though, maybe because I was using unsweetened almond butter, I did end up having to use 1tbs maple syrup. I also didn’t have hemp seeds so I substituted with pumpkin seeds. It still turned out great

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Susanne! Thanks for sharing. I’m wondering if the bitterness actually came from the pumpkin seeds as I find they can have quite a strong flavor? In any case, glad you enjoyed them!

      • Susanne Mueller says

        It could have been! I will try it again with hemp seeds and then give an update. I think it was the cocoa powder I was using though, it has a very strong dark chocolate taste

  47. Pragya says

    Hi,
    I’m sorry to ask this question, but is there any substitute for hemp seeds that won’t take away from the brownie flavor?
    I don’t get hemp seeds easily where I am.
    Thank you

  48. Kelly says

    I don’t normally love date-heavy recipes but these are great! I used half almond half peanut butter and put a little extra cacao for richness. Filling and yummy!

  49. AN says

    Uhm, everyone needs to RUN and make these immediately! I have made a few MB recipes that I thought were amazing but these are by far my fave. They were incredibly easy to make, and so delicious. If you think they look good, they taste even better.

  50. Kaitlyn says

    I made these with my toddler and I LOVE them. I subbed a couple of ingredients because you know, quarantine. But wow. They are amazing. Also as a breastfeeding mama I am always looking for quick snack I can grab and these are a perfect pop of delicious and nutrition. Another great recipe from minimalist baker!

  51. Beth says

    I made a half batch because I was low on dates. Subbed flax for hemp seeds. They turned out so well! They will be a tasty addition to my Halloween candy plate! Thanks!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Oh actually that’s a great idea. I’d say chia would be lovely. That or more walnuts or some sunflower seeds!

  52. Kat says

    I made these as soon as I saw today’s blog post. Love the chocolatey flavor and how easy they were to make. I’m planning on making them regularly as they are a very satisfying snack or dessert. Thanks for another five star recipe!!

  53. Ellen says

    Delicious!!! Super easy and I just made them without looking at the recipe – I just watched the video. Dana is right: you can measure but you really don’t have to. It’s a very forgiving recipe. A healthy sweet treat for the win!

  54. Emma says

    I made these about a minute after you posted them, and I kid you not, after my first bite my eyes rolled back into my head. These are amazing!! I used Dutch processed cocoa which added tons of chocolate ooomph. 10/10

  55. Katie says

    I’ve made this several times. Minimal mess, minimal time, super forgiving. I always end up adding more nut butter as I find my mixture is often dry with the recipe written as is, but a few more tbsps of nut butter and I’m in business.

  56. Shea Selby says

    I made this recipe but altered some of the ingredients and amounts. I used about a cup of dates + trail mix from trader joes (it’s what I had in my cabinet) + extra PB. Turned out amazing, super simple, and great taste! I was a bit skeptical of the ‘dough’ as it was pretty crumbly but when I started rolling them up, they came together beautifully and didn’t break apart. Such a great, adaptable recipe.

  57. Ella says

    Just made these and they’re SO. GOOD. It’s the perfect sweet but not too sweet treat. Recipe is also so easy to follow.

  58. Trinity says

    Can’t wait to try! I would love maybe a blog post (sorry if you have one already done) describing the differences between cocoa and cacao powder! I appreciate you saying both can be used in this recipe. Are they 100% interchangeable?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      They’re quite similar. The main difference being cocoa powder has been processed at a higher temperature. This means cocoa has slightly less nutrients intact and has a more intense chocolate flavor (especially Dutch processed). And cacao retains more nutrients and has a slightly less intense chocolate flavor.