Vegan No Bake Brownies (Gluten-Free)
These Vegan No Bake Brownies are the perfect treat that are also paleo-friendly, gluten-free, and grain-free. This easy clean eating dessert recipe can be made in 30 minutes or less. Try these healthy brownies today!
When you’re craving a treat but don’t have time to bake anything, try these no-bake brownies made with almonds, dates, and cocoa powder. Dates are naturally sweet and make the perfect addition to desserts made with clean ingredients.
These brownies made with healthy ingredients are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth or chocolate craving!
Why You Need This Recipe
- These delicious no-bake brownies can be made in 30 minutes or less. The ingredients are super wholesome, too, with dates and chocolate chips as the main sweeteners.
- You can freeze them in a zip-top bag or freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. This makes it easy to choose these vegan no-bake brownies instead of an unhealthy dessert full of processed sugar.
- They taste delicious with just simple ingredients! I mean, do we even need another reason?
Key Ingredients
- Almonds pair really well with chocolate and gives these brownies some nice texture along with healthy fats.
- Medjool dates are dried which makes the natural sugar more concentrated and makes them perfect for clean desserts and sweet desserts. Most raw vegan brownie recipes uses maple syrup to sweeten, but I like using dates in this version. The dates help add structure and natural sweetness to the brownies.
- Coconut oil works a little bit like edible glue and holds the brownies together without the addition of butter.
- Cocoa powder adds chocolate flavor along with minerals and antioxidants. You can also use cacao powder for even more dark chocolate flavor.
- Vanilla extract enhances the recipe and all of its ingredients. It gives dessert that something extra.
- Sea salt brings out the flavors of the chocolate and the almonds. A little bit goes along way with salt in desserts.
- Chocolate chips are the perfect addition to these indulgent no-bake brownies. These double chocolate brownies are delish!
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Substitutes
- If you don’t want to use coconut oil, you could use almond butter, natural peanut butter, or cashew butter instead.
- You could also use a loaf pan if you don’t have a square pan. The brownies will just be thicker.
- Want to make these no bake brownie bites into a protein-rich dessert? Try adding a scoop of your favorite protein powder (try chocolate protein powder) to the original recipe (note that the nutritional information will change depending on what type of protein powder you use; see my list of the best healthy protein powders).
Recipe Steps
Making this recipe is so easy! You do need a food processor, but that’s the only special equipment you need.
Step One
The first step is to gather up all of your ingredients and then throw them all into the food processor (except for the chocolate chips).
Step Two
After you’ve blended everything up, add the chocolate chips and process them until they mix with the other ingredients.
This keeps the chocolate chips slightly intact so you get that rich chocolate flavor in every bite.
Step Three
Press the mixture into a glass pan and chill until you’re ready to serve the date brownies. You can line the dish with parchment paper, but I do not think you need it.
Step Four
Serve them chilled or at room temperature.
I think you will agree that these no-bake vegan brownies are the perfect easy treat every day or any special occasion. This easy recipe is also great for potlucks and parties.
Recipe Tips
- These brownies will keep in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze any leftovers for up to 2 months.
- Do you prefer a more traditional brownie recipe? Try my Vegan Zucchini Brownies.
Recipe FAQs
Most chocolate chips are not vegan because they contain milk products. Be sure to look for chocolate chips that are labeled vegan or dairy-free. I like the Enjoy Life brand.
Yes, you can use walnuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds.
Yes, but the texture of your raw brownies might be different. I have not tested this recipe with almond flour, but I’m sure it can be done.
This recipe is not meant to be baked.
More Healthy Dessert Recipes You Might Like
- Chocolate Chip Cassava Flour Muffins
- Double Chocolate Almond Butter Energy Balls
- Cinnamon Sweet Potato Bread
- Black Bean Brownies
- Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake
- Vegan Pumpkin Brownies
Don’t Miss These Chocolate Vegan Desserts!
I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.
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Vegan No Bake Brownies (Gluten-Free)
These Vegan No-Bake Brownies are the perfect treat that are also paleo-friendly, gluten-free, and grain-free. This easy clean eating dessert recipe can be made in 30 minutes or less.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups slivered almonds
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (about 10 pieces)
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa or cacao powder
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place the almonds, dates, coconut oil, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and sea salt in the base of a food processor.
- Process on high for about a minute, or until the mixture starts to get crumbly.
- Stop the food processor and add the chocolate chips. Process an additional 30 seconds or until the chocolate chips break up a little bit.
- Remove the lid from the food processor and transfer the mixture to an 8-inch by 8-inch glass baking dish. Use your hands to press the mixture evenly into the baking dish.
- Refrigerate the brownies for at least 15 minutes so the mixture can start to firm up.
- When you’re ready to serve the brownies, use a knife to carefully cut the brownies into 12 pieces. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- These brownies will keep in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze any leftovers for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Food processor
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/12 of recipe
- Calories: 226
- Sugar: 24.5 g
- Sodium: 48.9 mg
- Fat: 12.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.9 g
- Fiber: 4.3 g
- Protein: 4.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is studying to be a holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.
Just came across your blog. Thanks for your recipes!
Question: doesn’t adding the chocolate chips add a bunch of processed sugar to the mix, such that it’s not paleo anymore?
Or do you have a special type of no-sugar chocolate chip that I’ve missed?
Thanks!
You can use 100% chocolate chips or stevia-sweetened chocolate chips..or just a really dark chocolate chip that has very little sugar.
Challenge: make it nut free? Want to play around with this recipe and see if it can be done??
Do seeds count? You could easily swap out the nuts for pumpkin or sunflower seeds!
I love this no need to bake and looks so delicious!
Thanks Carrie!
Can I use almond flour for the ground almonds? If so, how much?
Your pictures are gorgeous as always! And how could a picture of delicious brownies not turn out?!
Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe and for having the giveaway =)
Thanks, Kimmy! If I had been on the ball, I would have made you a batch of the brownies to share with you today. But, I have another treat for you instead. 🙂
I really wanted a chance at wining, but I don’t do social media. Can you add my name to the drawing? I would love to win this book.
Thanks for the note, Paula! Another reader asked me the same question. I certainly understand and respect your decision to stay away from social media. If I weren’t a blogger, I might do the same. 🙂
For the purposes of a giveaway, I’m using the company called Rafflecopter because it protects me from liability (who knew there was liability in running such a simple giveaway…ahhh, life in the 21st century). Anyway, I used to pay for the service where I had more options, such as not requiring social media entries. My business revenue plummeted after I stopped selling my app, though, so I cannot afford to do the paid option anymore. Sorry for the long answer to your short question, but essentially the social media option though the free option with Rafflecopter is my only choice for now. I hope this will change in the future…I am working on an e-book where I will start to earn income again (or, at least, cover the costs of running my blog).
This recipe is AMAZING! I made it tonight and it was a huge hit with my husband!!
Yay!!! So glad you loved the brownies, Tammy (or, at least, your hubby did). 🙂
Let me clarify 🙂 🙂 we BOTH devoured them! 🙂
LOL, Tammy. 🙂
I am disappointed that you only allow social media users to enter your giveaway. Those of us who eschew Facebook and Twitter like whole foods cookbooks, too!
Hi Linda, I can totally identify with you not wanting to use social media, but Rafflecopter won’t let me run the giveaway any other way unless I upgrade to a paid plan (which I used to offer, but my finances keep me from doing that right now). Apologies, but please know I appreciate your input and I’ll see if I can make a change in the future.
YUM! I don’t think I’ve ever tried making raw brownies before. Definitely need to give these a try!