As of March 13, John and I have been married five years. We did it!
To celebrate I’m sharing 20 random facts about us that you may or may not know. Here goes.
- John hates the smell of brownies baking (hence this no bake recipe). He literally vacates the house when I’m baking anything reminiscent of them.
- I love sweets; he could care less.
- We both grew up in Kansas.
- We dated four months before getting engaged.
- We honeymooned in Breckenridge, Colorado, but didn’t ski once. (We ate our way through town and napped all day – it was perfect.)
- We were opposites growing up – he was into computers and I was into sports and my hair.
- We’ve lived in three states and moved 10 times in our five years of marriage!
- We both think Portland, Oregon, is the greatest city on Earth (where we currently reside and intend to stay forev-ah).
- Between the two of us, we’ve visited 14 countries since getting hitched.
- We don’t have kids but are expert succulent caretakers.
- I’m 2 years older than John. He’ll be 27 this year and I’ll be 29 (cougar alert).
- We’re lovers of good wine and coffee.
- I have one older sister, John is the oldest of six!
- Before Minimalist Baker I had many jobs, including web writer, barista, house cleaner, and waitress at approximately 100,000 restaurants.
- John went to law school and hated it. So I put him to work on Minimalist Baker (wink, wink).
- We desperately want to visit Iceland, Ireland, and pretty much every other country we haven’t been to yet.
- We have a Sunday tradition of eating pizza and watching Saturday Night Live.
- John is a voracious reader. I can hardly sit down long enough to write a grocery list.
- While I write the content and take the photographs for the blog, John does literally everything else. We make a good pair.
- I think he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Now that you’ve taken a virtual tour of our relationship, onto dessert! You deserve it.
These brownies are entirely raw (except for the frosting) and super fudgy and rich. They come together in about 20 minutes and require simple ingredients you likely have on hand right now – such as,
Walnuts
Almonds
Dates
Cacao (or cocoa) Powder + Nibs
Sea Salt
And the ganache? Oh man.
It’s butter-free and utilizes coconut oil for an extra creamy finish.
While your brownies are chilling, whip this up in about 15 minutes and you’re good to go!
Spread it on thick, friends. This isn’t the time to skimp.
These gems are everything you want in a brownie. They’re:
Rich
Dense
Super fudgy
Studded with walnuts (and cacao nibs) for crunch
Incredibly satisfying
Simple to make
& Highly shareable
One bite in and I was done for.
Hence the reason I shuffled downstairs and handed these off to our apartment manager. Brownies of any form are too tempting to have around the house.
Not to worry, though. I managed to consume three before giving them away. OK, maybe four…
John had none, obviously.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, or – our favorite – take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see. Cheers!
No-Bake Vegan Brownies with Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
BROWNIES
- 1 1/2 cups raw walnuts (divided // as original recipe is written, 1 cup (93 g) + 1/2 cup (47 g) // plus more for topping)
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 2 1/2 cups dates (pitted // if dry, soak in warm water for 10 minutes then drain // 2 1/2 cups equal ~15 ounces)
- 3/4 cup cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 Tbsp cacao nibs (plus more for topping)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
GANACHE FROSTING (optional)
- 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 cup dairy-free dark chocolate (chopped)
- 2 Tbsp coconut oil (melted // or sub vegan butter)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Place 1 cup walnuts (as original recipe is written // use 2/3 of the total if altering batch size) and the almonds in food processor and process until finely ground.
- Add the cacao powder and sea salt and pulse to combine. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
- Add the dates to the food processor and process until small bits remain. Remove 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 or blender spout.
- Process until a dough consistency is achieved, adding more dates if the mixture does not hold together when squeezed in your hand. You may not use all the dates.
- Add the brownie mixture to a small parchment lined 8×8 dish (as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and before pressing, add remaining 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts (as original recipe is written // use remaining 1/3 of walnuts if altering batch size) and cacao nibs and toss to combine and evenly distribute. Then press down with hands until it is flat and firm. I like laying down a piece of plastic wrap to prevent sticking and get it really flat.
- Lift parchment paper to remove brownies from dish and use hands to slightly squeeze in the sides to create a smaller square – this will make the brownies slightly thicker and more dense.
- Transfer back to dish and place in freezer or fridge to chill for 10-15 minutes before cutting into 12 (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) even squares (If adding ganache, slice afterwards!).
- FOR THE GANACHE: Add almond milk to a mixing bowl and microwave for 45 seconds or until very warm. Alternatively, heat in a small saucepan until just simmering, then transfer to mixing bowl.
- Immediately add chocolate to warm milk and loosely cover. Don’t touch for 2 minutes so it can melt.
- Add salt and stir gently with a wooden spoon to incorporate, then add melted coconut oil and use a whisk to mix. Set in fridge for 10 minutes to thicken.
- Remove from fridge and add powdered sugar a little at a time to thicken. Whisk again to combine. If it’s still too thin, add another few Tablespoons powdered sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
- Frost brownies generously with frosting and then top with additional raw walnuts and cacao nibs (optional). Slice into 12 even squares (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
- Store brownies in an airtight container to keep fresh. Will keep for 3-4 days at room temperature, or in the freezer for at least 1 month (though best when fresh).
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with ganache.
Jye says
I made these today and they were pretty damn good, but I did have an issue with the ganache… The coconut oil didn’t combine with the chocolate, it literally poured out of the pan while the chocolate clung to the inside. And there was still a very strong coconut oil taste to the ganache from what oil did make it into the mix, which was a bit overpowering. I wonder if there is something else you could use instead of coconut oil… or maybe I’m just doing it wrong.
Hmm, I would say you didn’t whisk vigorously enough. Next time either use vegan butter OR refined coconut oil, which has a more neutral flavor (not coconutty at all).
Antonia says
hey! I didn’t use coconut oil at all because I didn’t have any so I just used any flavourless oil (I used avocado and it worked great!) you just need to make sure to mix well and it combines great
james says
i love this recipe very much! but I was wandering am I supposed to use already pitted dates or just take the pit out of regular dates? thank you so much!
Either way! As long as they’re pitted. I pit my own.
C. Fruity says
I just made these! I am going to surprise my boyfriend with them later. I didn’t have a pan to make them nice and square, so I just made a heart shaped one! Thanks for the recipe! Pretty easy to make and I give it 5 stars for sure. Yum.
C. Fruity says
Oh – and I used my ninja blender as food processor and it actually worked really well! I saw someone else wasn’t able to use their blender but I was – maybe because it has multiple blades and one that is more for food processing with a bowl.
Sam says
I thought I could use my vitamix as a food processor but I was very wrong. Turns out you can just chop the dates then knead all the ingredients together. Takes a lot longer but they still turned out very yummy!!
Amy says
For the info of the other lazy, disorganised bakers (without complex dietary requirements) out there:
– I substituted 100% cacao chocolate bar, grated, for the cacao powder, just using slightly less, and it seems fine.
– I substituted cows milk for almond milk in the ganache and it still turned out beautiful. Make sure you sieve the icing sugar!
– Also in the ganache, I used part milk chocolate and part solid cacao, again using slightly less, and the ganache is beautiful and very chocolatey.
Enjoy!
Jean says
I was surprised that I didn’t like these more. I did not make the topping and suspect it would make them much better. Wanted to keep a little healthier. I think I’ll try one of the other brownie recipes on this site and see if it hits home more for me.
Ashley says
What could I use instead of Walnuts? Im allergic but would love to try out this recipe? Could I use pecans instead??
Bonnie says
I used sunflower seeds and they worked great!
kirstyn Caldwell says
Used 1/4c Arbonne chocolate protein powder, 1/4c cacao powder, 1/4c cocoa. Added a little water to squeeze the base together before freezing because my dates weren’t as soft as I thought, total awesomeness. Thank you!!
amanda, says
what kind of chocolate foe the ganache? semi sweet? unsweetened?
Heather says
I loved your post & everything about it. I loved this brownie recipe even more. My daughter is highly allergic to all things dairy, lactose or eggs. Which makes me sad because she’s missing out on so many good things. It makes baking especially tricky & this recipe is perfect for her. She can finally experience chocolate, & even better, yummy chocolate brownies!!!
Lydia says
Are these basically the same as your 5 minute espresso walnut brownies minus the coffee and ganache? These look better for some reason but id still like to add a tsp of ground coffee.
Very similar!
Sarika says
In the last couple weeks, I made these and your mint brownie ice cream. Both were crazy delicious. So glad I found your blog!
maria says
Made these for an Easter brunch. They were gobbled up by both adults and kids. Fudgy and delicious., will definitely make again. Thanks for the recipe. Great blog!
Amy says
I made this recipe last weekend and was so pleased by the results. They tasted great and I will certainly make them again. My only thing was that the ganache didn’t adhere to the brownie well, any suggestions for my next batch?
Hmm, maybe heating the ganache a little before spreading next time? It may have gotten too stiff while sitting…
Imogen says
Unfortunately I can’t eat peanuts either but oats sound great! Cannot wait to make them – THANK YOU SO MUCH! :)
Bonnie says
I swapped walnuts for sunflower seeds and almonds for pumpkin seeds and they turned out perfect
Imogen says
Great, will definitely give them a go. Thank you!
Great! Thanks for sharing, Bonnie!
Imogen says
Congrats on 5 years!
I don’t suppose there is anything I can substitute in the recipe for the walnuts and almonds? I’m a vegan and severely allergic to nuts but these brownies look jaw dropping-ly mouth watering-ly good so wondered if there might be an alternative. ThAnk yoU!
How about subbing raw or roasted peanuts!? Then it would take on a peanut butter chocolate flavor. Yum. Also, you can sub up to half with oats!
Cristina says
I fully plan on making these this Sunday as our Easter dessert and serving them with Stevie’s Dairy Free Cinnamon Coffee Ice Cream ( don’t worry I will tag you with a picture on instagram). Anyways, is there anything you would recommend for me to substitute the powder sugar with for the frosting?? I have to watch my sugar intake since I am hypoglycemic and would like to use something natural like maple syrup but wasn’t sure if it would whip up the same way! Thoughts???
Hi Cristina! You want something with a lighter texture than maple syrup. What about putting some coconut sugar or cane sugar in a coffee or spice grinder and whirling it into powder? Hope that helps!
Katie says
100%-ly SUPER yummy:)
I made these 5 days ago, and ate them all (aside from sharing two, or three) in 2 days. I go a bit crazy over chocolate, especially raw brownies. This recipe is THE BEST no bake brownie recipe. The ganache is super yummy, too.
I made these again today without the ganache, and am happy to have them again. :)
*I didn’t add salt, nor cacao nibs, both times, but it’s still the grandest brownie recipe.
Guila says
these are absolutely delicious! I made a batch for my mum who doesn’t eat any gluten and she adored these! Thank you for the recipe
Marcy says
Since my daughter became passionate about raw food diets, I’ve tried a few desserts, but these brownies top the list!
Gave a sample to a friend, who loved them too. Since all my baked brownies come out dry, this will now be my go-to brownie recipe. Very fudgy, especially with the icing. As a bonus, they’re perfect for Passover since they contain no flour!!
Alessandra says
I’m not making these brownies anymore!!! They are too good! I ate most of them in 4 days! Oh what have you done to me, chocolate is my kryptonite!!! I love them, thank you so much and happy anniversary! I’m making a batch tonight to give tomorrow to my friend and her mom! You’re awesome! ;-)
haha! Sorry about that! Thanks for the sweet note!
Kate says
I have made probably 10+ different raw brownie recipes and this one TOPPED ALL!!!:):):) love it. Thanks Dana:) I have made probably 20 or more of your recipes….every one is amazing! I always look for your emails every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday!!:):):) YAY! You’re by far the best healthy eating blog on the web.
Oh, thanks Kate! Such a sweet comment! Made my day :D
Heather says
I made these for a business meeting and everyone gobbled them up! They were putting them in napkins to take home, too.
I work for an organic/sustainable online grocery company, and getting my uber-healthy-eating co-workers to indulge in sweets, then ask for more, is nothing short of a miracle. The raw dates and nuts, and low-added sugar set their minds at ease.
I made them the night before, then let them in the fridge overnight to encourage the ganache to set a bit more firm, then I let them come to room temp before the meeting. They were so fudgy, and tasted like baked brownies. There was no faint taste of dates or nuts other than the extras added for crunch.
This recipe is a keeper, and a crowd-pleaser! Thank you for sharing it!
rita barber says
Made these yesterday and they were absolutely divine! Will make again… Thanks for the recipie
Jade Sheldon-Burnsed says
Oh my, these sound BEYOND! And I just loved reading your list. My husband and I are really close and it’s great to see that kind of partnership in other couples…
Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says
Looks delicious and I’m planning to make it:)
Dani says
Happy anniversary!
Those brownies are heaven. I made them yesterday and they turned out just wonderful!! So soft and chocolaty and the ganache on top is just to die for. I used hazelnuts instead of almonds because the store was out, and it worked very well.
Keep up the good work! Love you recipes, the photos, the texts!
Dani
So great! Thanks for sharing Dani! xoxo
Sus @ roughmeasures.com says
Congratulations on your 5 year milestone guys! Wishing you many more happy years, filled with many more yummy recipes!
Love this recipe, what a great idea to add a ganache on top! It looks divine.
John is missing out big time!
kathy patalsky says
Congrats to you two talented humans! I have to say I am glad to hear that you guys moved so much as well! We have moved ten times since getting married in 2006, living in three states. Gosh its an adventure, but I am so glad you guys found your forev-ah spot in Portland! And yes on Iceland. Dying to go there as well! And these brownies… well YUM of course.
geetha says
hi congrats on ur anniversary. vegan brownies look delicious. Im thinking of starting a food blog ur resources are of great help for me and im interested in genesis theme rather than thesis but idont know abc’s of coding what to do? your suggestions are highly appreciable please help me out.
Suzanne says
Congratulations!!
Thank you for your great site. I am a new vegan and was thrilled to find you. I’ve made several things already (the black bean brownies are in the oven now!) and everything has been great.
Have a great weekend! :)
Rich says
love these… i added hand ground cardomon for that extra lift… keep up the good work :)
tina says
Congrats on your anniversary!! I love the idea of raw brownies. I just discovered your blog a couple of months ago and have been following along ever since.
All of your recipes look and (the ones I’ve tried) taste amazing!!
Monique @ Ambitious Kitchen says
Congrats on 5 years. I’d marry you too if you made me these brownies.
haha, I do?
Meriem @ Culinary Couture says
That ganache though. I need it.
Jessie says
Congrats and happy anniversary! You guys are so cute :) I made these brownies today and they are AMAZING! Too good…I’ll be giving most of them away very soon :)
Have you ever tried substituting another nut for the walnuts? I want to make them for a friend who is allergic.
Thanks!
I think almonds would work fine in this recipe, as would pecans. Good luck, Jessie!
Merle says
I substituted a mix of pumpkin seeds and pecans for the base and they turned out wonderful! I also used hemp seed milk instead of almond milk (because i can’t do almonds), and I powdered my own raw turbinado sugar for the ganache. Love this recipe.
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Merle! Thanks so much for sharing!
Ada says
Amazing! I was drooling at the pictures when you first posted them but never got around to making them, but tonight I was so desperate I didn’t mind I only had enough ingredients for two brownies – I whittled down the amounts and oh wow, am I glad I did! I’m a university student with an autoimmune disease (so I’m short on time but make up for it in food intolerances..) and your recipes are really helping me out for quick food ideas and sweet treats, so thank you so much! And happy (late) anniversary! :)
Thanks for sharing, Ada! Glad we could help!!
Kara says
Thank you for sharing your recipes!
Would you know how many Medjol dates are equal to 2-1/2 cups?
I think like 40-50, depending on their size.
Sophia says
These look amazing! We have been following your blog for a while and recently launched our own! Since we are a brand new blog and would love love love if you took a look around our blog! There is a recipe for Crunchy Chickpeas that we think you might like. You might also enjoy our Chunky Monkey Cookies!
Rebecca says
Made these tonight and oh my WOW. I will NOT be giving a single one away. :) Well, maybe my husband can have one. Maybe. :)
haha, great! Thanks for sharing, Rebecca!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy says
Love the combo of the brownies + ganache! I make those brownie bites all the time, but will have to now layer on the delicious chocolate ganache! Happy anniversary btw! I have a 50 random facts about me page, so I loved getting to know you guys better!
Sierra says
these turned out very delicious. Only issue was the brownie part wasn’t thick enough / was too sticky. I used cashews instead of almonds, maybe that was it. I’m also gonna try to see if leaving them refrigerated longer will allow me to cut them.
Kate says
Time out: John has FIVE younger siblings?! This is news to me! Congrats on five years of marriage, you too. I miss you!
Kate says
*you two. I need more coffee.
haha, more coffee is always a good idea. Thanks friend!
Brittany says
Oh my, these brownies are unbelievable. My favorite desserts incorporate whole foods like dates and nuts. Amazing job, yet I can’t believe John didn’t even have a nibble! I suppose your love for sweets and his lack thereof are the perfect balance. Agreed about Portland.
Elizabeth at Pineapples and Polka Dots says
I can’t wait to try these! They look like a healthier, more wholesome alternative for a treat that I love. Thanks so much!
Gaby says
These look so rich and delicious!!! Happy Anniversary :)
Jessie Snyder | Faring Well says
I just love you two. And these brownies. Happy five years (!!!)
Lindsay @ The Live-In Kitchen says
These look amazing! That ganache is calling my name. Congrats on five years! We are coming up on ten! It goes by fast.
It was so great to meet you guys last year! Congrats on 10!!
Hannah says
I used peanuts and pecan for these, as I didn’t have the others on hand. They are so dang good! Like someone else said, they taste just like real brownies! Thanks for another great recipe. And happy anniversary!
That’s awesome! I let a friend try these and they didn’t even realize they were no bakes. Glad they went over well with your friends, too!
Alanna says
Happy anniversary you guys!! You are the sweetest couple ever. Please tell me you argue once in a while or I will be forced to hate you. ;) Your no-bake brownies are THE BOMB! They saved me when I did a cleanse last year. Can’t wait to try this ganachey version. <3
haha, thanks Alanna! Of course we have our disagreements. But we are just a really good match and he’s just kind of so adorable I can’t stay mad. Hugs from OR!
Ashley says
Congratulations on 5 years! And I’ll add an extra congrats for the creation of these ridiculously awesome raw brownies. That fudgy ganache layer looks amaaazing!
Robin says
Vegan or not – these are amazing!! I did not make the icing, as I am not a fan of icing on brownies (or cake even)…I could not stop licking the spoon while making and I have “sampled” twice now to see how they have firmed up in the fridge. Everytime i make brownies I always use a round pan (??!!) I think it’s so I can sample the “edges” as I cut them into squares.
Congrats on 5 years of marriage – and many more to come!
Oh, by the way, the brownies taste like brownies, not almonds, walnuts or dates – so picky eaters could probably be fooled (IMHO).
Ah, thanks Robin! So glad you enjoyed these. xoxo!
Elly says
Happy Anniversary to you both! It warms my heart to see people happy together like you are, I’m a suckered for a good love story :D and ohhhhh boy those brownies! I haven’t made a raw dessert in too long, but I’m scared to make these cause I don’t have anyone nearby to give them to haha! Just myself ;)
Ah, thanks Elly! Glad you enjoyed the post + hope you love this recipe!
Taylor @ The Girls on Bloor says
Totally making these for dessert tonight! It’s been waaaayyy too long since I’ve had any sweets!
Let me know how it goes!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
A big, chewy brownie is the best. I love that thick ganache on this!
Charlene @ That Girl Cooks Healthy says
Wow, I’m so going to make these brownies this week. I’m an avid chocolate lover so I cannot miss this opportunity.
Leanne Winters says
scrummy, im in love with these x
Heather says
Happy Anniversary. I love the list. But, hates the smell of brownies baking? Is that possible?
Brooke says
Any substitution suggestions for cacao nibs?
Just omit them or sub more chopped chocolate!
Wilma says
Happy anniversary! These look amazing. I just started following your blog, and I love it. Your food photography is really great. Food never looked so sexy!
Thanks Wilma! So great to hear from new readers :D
Kristine says
Thanks so much for the Vegan recipe. We are just embarking into Vegan lifestyle and this looks delicious!
Fionnuala says
First of all, happy anniversary! Secondly these look and sound fantastic. I’l have to just call them no bake brownies in our house as hubby is seriously anti-vegan, but I will be trying them since the kids adore dates and walnuts.
Thirdly, if you are going to Ireland, contact me for tips on where to go, what to do and most importantly where and what to eat.
Fionnuala
Ah, thanks Fionnuala! So kind! I’ll put out a little alert when we’re headed that way :D
Emilie @ The Clever Carrot says
Ahh! CONGRATULATIONS!!! You guys are too cute, seriously. I loved this post. It’s so great to see what’s on the other side ;) And of course, chocolate (freaking’ delicious!) brownies!!! You are a machine. And these pics! xoxo
So much love. Thanks Emilie!
Emma {Emma's Little Kitchen} says
Firstly, these look aaahhhhh-mazing. Secondly, congratulations lovebirds! I celebrate my five year anniversary next month, and I too got engaged after 4 months (when you know, you know!). Best wishes!!
I think we were both professional speed daters :D Congrats to you guys as well!
Therese says
this looks absolutley gorgeous! I am so happy I discovered your site- I have still so much to learn about food photography and I might consider buying your guide :) awesome work!
Millie | Add A Little says
This looks delicious and oh so epic!
SUZI says
HAPPY 5 YEARS AND MANY MORE. THE BROWNIES LOOK INCREDIBLY GREAT! WHAT IS THE NUTRITIONAL BREAKDOWN? LUV TO YOU BOTH.
Should be there now! Sorry about that.
Michelle says
I cannot wait to try these brownies. And I must thank you for this recipe because, you’re not going to believe this, but my son cannot stand the smell of brownies baking either. He loves food and cooking, but can’t stand the smell of a lot of things cooking. Strange, huh? I’ve been a longtime follower of your blog, but I’ve not posted here before. And I am curious, what part of Kansas are you from? I only ask because my husband and I are both from a small town in Kansas.
ha! Two of a kind your son and my John. Thanks for saying hi! We’re both from around the Wichita area. You?
Michelle says
We’re from the very southeast corner, Baxter Springs.
Always nice to meet a felllow Kansan.
Cassie says
I love raw brownies! These look amazing!
Kristin says
I’m not eating sugar. Is there something else I can use as a substitute for the powdered sugar in the frosting?
How about blitzing some raw cane sugar or coconut sugar in a spicer grinder to make it into a powder? Otherwise, omit it!
Dawn says
Can you use dates to sweeten the ganache instead of sugar?
MPaula says
My local newspaper has a travel section on Saturday. They recently featured Iceland. One amazing fact is that only the perimeter is populated because there is no way to travel into the interior.
Ashley @ The Party Girl says
Congrats and thank you, I now weigh 500000 pounds. But it feels so good. ;)
Saskia says
Congrats! Continued love, happiness and (food) joy to you both.
Just wondering whether you used a food processor or your vitamix for these? I can only buy a blender or a food processor and am wondering which route to go down….any advice is greatly appreciated!
Kathryn Mader says
I’ve asked myself the same question and I would go with a blender…can’t live without a blender for smoothies. It seems that you can do some food processing in a blender, and a blender is easier to clean.
Bonnie says
I have a vitamix and food processor, but only make date bars in my food processor. I don’t know if it would work in a vitamix. Having the larger diameter mixing area is key for sticky dates. Good luck deciding!
I use a Vitamix, but you can definitely use a food processor as well. In fact, I think it’s quicker to use a food processor.
Lucy says
Happy Anniversary! These looks totally, ridiculously scrum-my! Can you actually stop just being so amazing and creating all these wonderful, delicious recipes? Actually don’t stop, that’s a lie but – gah!
mmmm, sorry? ha, hope you love this one, Lucy!
Hope says
oh my gah, ganache on a date brownie. That’s genius.
Christine says
I am new to a dairy free diet. Does it matter whether I use almond milk or anothet type such as soy milk? Are they interchangeable in this recipe? Love your gorgeous photography!
Krystal says
I find that almond milk is better for vegan baking. You can’t even taste it. Soy milk has a distinct flavor and your end result may not taste as good as you’d hope. Also, you might want to use unsweetened almond milk, or soy if you so desire. Anything sweetened might alter the baking process. Cheers!
I don’t recommend soy in most things because it does have a strong flavor. Stick to almond milk or rice milk when in doubt!
PJ says
Thank goodness I read all these emails! Our family is allergic (not intolerant of the lactose in milk) to cows, goats, & soy milks and are not happy with almond milk but can drink it. I can digest organic rice milk and saw this small note saying I can use it. YAY! Of course I truly don’t need a recipe for another sweet BUT this one sounds like a keeper. Thank you!
I’m new here and wonder if you use apricots to sweeten things, such as pies? Yum!
Christine says
Thank you both for your help…looking forward to doing some better tasting non-dairy baking!
liz@ lizinpdx says
I. Just. Love. It. !!!!! So sweet. You two. Ugh, the feels.
But. . .but. . .who doesn’t like the smell of brownies baking?!
haha, I know! It’s pretty much his one “flaw.” I can live with that!
Jessica says
Happy 5 years and to such a successful blog together, I loved reading the list! These look amazing :)
Kristen says
So I only have sweetened Cocoa powder to bake with! Do you recommend altering any of the other ingredients?
It should be fine, but if you want, you would use slightly more oats and slightly less chocolate to compensate sweetness :D
1stopvegan says
Hi Dana ? I also love your facts and am looking forward to trying this recipe. You just said add more oats and less chocolate if using sweetened cocoa, however I don’t see oats in this recipe. Is there another recipe?
Thanks, Anna
Ah, I believe we meant nuts versus oats! But you could also use oats. Mainly we just wanted to make sure the sweetened cocoa powder didn’t overpower the brownies.
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
I think I died of cuteness about five million times while reading that. And also, laughed out loud (as per usual) at “cougar alert”. I love all the traveling you guys do and that this blog is your shared project. I remember when you first posted these raw brownies and this upgraded version is so pretty! That ganache looks to DIE for. Pinning!
haha, thanks medha! You get me.
Neeli @ Neeli's Unique Creations says
Congrats on your 5 year anniversary, that’s really awesome. You both seem very happy with each other and what you do together on the blog. I wanted to move to Portland, Oregon about 8 years ago because I was accepted into 2 culinary arts schools, but I found out that it rains a lot in Oregon and I changed my mind. I have heard that this particular city is absolutely beautiful, though. Maybe one day my family and I could visit Oregon just to check it out. These brownies look amazing.
It does rain quite a bit, but it’s not as bad as some people thing. For instance, it didn’t rain all of February, which is supposed to be our worst month! And coming from the Midwest where the winters are so brutal you can barely leave the house, I’ll take a little overcast weather over ice storms any day!
Neeli says
I’m from Michigan and our winter was brutal last year and this year. I moved to North Carolina towards the end of 2010 and back to Michigan in 2012, but I’ve had it with these crazy winter and plan to move back down south.
CakePants says
My eyes are about to pop out of my head on account of how AMAZING these brownies look!! The fact that they’re vegan is just icing on the cake (brownie?)! Congrats on 5 years – that’s quite a milestone :)
haha, thanks! Hope you try them out!
Anna says
yess!! It’s pouring rain and I’m bored at home ahhaha now I know what I can do :)
Delaney says
Congratulations! You two make such an awesome duo :) and thank you for this delectable looking recipe, I hope I can try it soon!
Eleonora says
These brownies look delicious! Lately I’ve been wanting to try making my own raw bars or similar so I’ll definitely be trying these! Just one question – for the chocolate ganache, will it slightly taste like almonds or coconut? Unfortunately I don’t like either! :(
Nope! It really doesn’t. It’s quite neutral.
Leah M @ love me, feed me says
Aw! I love the fun facts. And the look of these brownies! Swooning over the photos, the food, and how cute this post is. Happy anniversary!!
Chrissy says
Happy Anniversary! And I’m dying over this ganache right now. I cannot wait to try it!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
My VERY FIRST!!! blog post 6 years ago, early 2009 was raw vegan brownies. Life, the blog, everything has sure changed but my love for the simplicity of this recipe has not! Your brownies are gorgeous!
Thanks Averie! So kind. I’ve missed your sunshiney comments over here!
Michelle @ Hummingbird High says
Aw, your random facts are very cute! Although I’m a little confused why John hates the smell of brownies baking… like… what??? Does he hate the smell of cookies and pie baking too?
haha, nope! Just brownies. It’s a complex. if that’s the worst thing I have to deal with, it’s totally fine!! He also just happens to love chocolate chip cookies and apple pie. So, I win even without the brownies :D
Abby says
Awww, happy anniversary to you two! You’re such a cute couple and seem totally perfect for each other. <3
These brownies!! They look insanely delicious… decadent & fudgy. And these photos are incredible.
Thanks Abby! So kind. Hope you try this recipe!
Mabel @ Ma Bella Vita says
Awwww love your list of facts and those brownies look amazing.
I wish I was one of those people that “could care less” about sweets. Lets just say I am very far from that. :)
We’re in the same boat! I wish I didn’t care :D
Kelly says
Whoa. These look so good! I love love love brownies. I just found your site (??) and pretty much want to make everything! We moved to Portland a couple years ago and I agree, it’s the best :)
ah yay! Welcome!! How’d you find us? Cheers to living in the best city EVERRRR.
Kelly says
I did a Google search for a gluten free crepe recipe and your green tea crepes came up! I had heard your site mentioned a few times but I don’t really follow many food blogs- I follow yours now though and I pretty much want to make everything you post, ha.
Kathryn says
Love the facts about you and John–so sweet. Oh, and the brownies look good, too. ;)
love. Thanks Kathryn!
Kelly says
Happy Anniversary! These look absolutely delicious!!
XO Kelly
Marta says
I’d love this post even if it wasn’t actually about brownies, and that says something! ;)
ah, thanks Marta! xoxo
Susanne says
Happy anniversary. I enjoyed reading your 20 facts, especially about your excellent plant care skills. The brownie recipe looks amazing and I plan to give it a try shortly.
haha, thanks Susanne! Hope you love these.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
happy anniversary!! you guys are awesome! and i love how these brownies look.
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Happy Anniversary you two! You’ve accomplished and traveled much in your five years! YaY! There’s nothing like doing what you love, and loving where you live; that makes for one happy life! Congratulations !!! These brownies are delicious and that ganache! Gah! Thank you for this Dana!
Thank YOU for following and for the kind words!!
Rachel @ Breast Cancer Maven says
Your love of sweets vs the hubbs indifference is just like how it is in my house. Anything with ganache and I am in. Thank you for the tasty looking recipe.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
These look amazing!!! I loved reading all your random facts :) Happy anniversary!
Tom ~ Raise Your Garden says
Congrats on 5 years! It’s always nice to see people still happily married. For me, it’ll be 10 years, lots of give and take (I ended up getting that cat I didn’t want) but it’s worth it. Two kids, two dogs, a cat and like you guys lots and lots of succulents later, we’ve found our happy place. These brownies look great, funny how your husband doesn’t have a sweet tooth. I bet he doesn’t like coconut either. Am I right?!?
Congrats to you on 10 years! thanks for the encouragements, Tom. Hope you love these brownies!