These no bake brownies are so easy to make and only three ingredients. They are also a healthy treat as they don’t contain any flour, eggs, butter or refined sugar.
I try to avoid turning on my oven as much as possible these days, so I am really enjoying no bake desserts. These brownies come together in about 5 minutes and then you just need to let them set. You can serve them as is or top them with an easy chocolate frosting to really make them chocolatey.
Ingredients
- Walnuts
- Dates
- Cocoa Powder
Walnuts
Walnuts can be substituted with other nuts like almonds, cashews or pecans. The nuts act as a binder for these brownies. I chose walnuts since walnuts are often added to brownies.
Dates
I recommend using Medjool dates, but they can be made with other types of dates. You do want to use a type of date that is very soft with a lot of flesh, which is why Medjool dates are so ideal. Drier, smaller dates don’t work. The dates in this recipe provide sweetness as well as the chewy texture for the brownies.
Cocoa Powder
Any unsweetened cocoa powder will work. You can also use cacao powder.
Frosting Options
While these brownies can be eaten plain, adding some sort of chocolate frosting on top will make them look even more delicious. Plus it makes them even more chocolatey. Some frosting options include:
- Using a Chocolate Spread
- Drizzling Melted Chocolate on Top
- Making a chocolate frosting (this is what I used)
More Healthy No Bake Recipes
- 3 Ingredient Healthy No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Oatmeal Bars
- No Bake Pumpkin Brownies (No Flour, Eggs, or Butter)
3 Ingredient No Bake Healthy Brownies
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw walnut halves
- 1 (packed) cup pitted medjool dates
- 4-5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder
Chocolate Frosting (optional)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil melted
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Add walnuts to food processor and pulse until nuts are very small, about the size of large crumbs. Add dates and 4 tbsp cocoa powder. Pulse until dates turn into a thick paste. The mixture should be sticky and it should hold together. Taste and adjust as needed. If you want a stronger chocolate flavor, add 1 more tbsp cocoa powder. If you want something sweeter, you can add more dates. If you feel that the mixture is not sticky enough or too dry, add 1-2 tbsp of water and pulse again.
- Line the bottom of an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Firmly press brownie mixture into the pan. Place brownies into the fridge to set (about 1 hour).
- If making frosting, combine oil and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth and completely combined. Your mixture should look like melted chocolate. Add in maple syrup. (Do not add maple syrup until the end. The maple syrup will cause the chocolate to seize and will thicken the mixture. If you add it with the other ingredients, it will make it very difficult to mix.) Stir until evenly mixed. Spread frosting over surface of brownies after they are set
- If you want the frosting to be firmer, place brownies back into fridge for 15-30 minutes or until frosting is more set. Slice brownies and serve. Store uneaten brownies in the fridge.
Notes
- Medjool dates can be substituted with other dates. Please see the post for more details.
- I recommend using a new package of dates or a recently opened pack, otherwise your dates may be a little dry.
- Walnuts can be substituted with other nuts. Please see post for more details.
- You can grind the nuts to the size you prefer. If you want bigger pieces, you can pulse them less. If you want barely visible pieces, pulse more.
- Please note that for the brownies in the photos, the frosting has not been refrigerated. I added my frosting on after removing the brownies from the fridge. For a firmer ganache-like frosting that is less messy, frost the brownies and then refrigerate them for 15-30 minutes until the frosting becomes firmer.
- I include other simple frosting ideas in the post.
- Estimated Nutrition does not include frosting
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
If the dough is too sticky, even after chilling, what can I add? I prefer not to use more cocoa powder. Would a little homemade oat flour work? If so, how much should I try to start?
The dough is sticky, but it should hold together. Is yours so sticky you can’t press it into the pan? It can help to lightly butter your hands or it may be that you didn’t mix the dough long enough to fully incorporate the syrup. We don’t recommend adding more cocoa powder and we haven’t tried adding oat flour, so can’t say how that will work.
OMG! These are so delicious! I used Deglet Nour dates as it was all they had at the shop, and added a small thumb of ginger peeled and chopped – it worked really well. My mix was also a little dry so added 1 tsp of maple syrup and it was perfect. So quick too – these will become a regular I think!
So glad you enjoyed them!
I would really like to try your recipe your recipes I should say but you don’t give the amounts of the difference ingredients. So what’s up with that?
The full recipe is in the recipe box at the end of the post and does include ingredient amounts along with instructions.
I have a wheat allergy. I see this recipe and I have the ingredients in the cabinet, so what the heck, right? I’m pulsing the ingredients in the food processor and as they come together, my daughter and I can’t wait, so we open it and taste. How is this even possible. What purpose does refined sugar and flour serve in our lives?! All we need are these brownies!! Gonna add some peanut butter to the frosting and see what happens.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much!
I’ve made these brownies 3 times this past month, my family LOVES them and my sister-in-law says they are the best brownies she’s ever tasted!
I add a sprinkle of sea salt into the date/walnut mixture.
Wondering if anyone has tried freezing these and if so, do they freeze/thaw well?
I’m so glad your family loves them! I haven’t tried freezing, hopefully someone else can let you know
They freeze perfectly. I actually had to keep mine in the freezer because they were too sticky to even keep in the fridge. They only needed a couple minutes before eating, as they never froze solid, even after weeks.
Thanks for sharing that!
I love ?. However, I eat 98% fresh and raw. So, last week I asked the UNIVERSE for something tasty, nutty, and chocolatey. Sunday as I looked over the news headlines, this article appeared: Chocolate Cookies, only three ingredients; no refined sugar, no eggs, no flour, no bake chocolate cookies. Ingredients: cacoa, almond butter, and maple syrup. I had cacoa, substituted coconut oil for almond butter, substituted dates for maple syrup, added cashew flour, and sprinkled tops with hazelnuts and English walnuts. My grandson said they tasted like Ferro Rocha. My request to the UNIVERSE was answered. I made my second batch this evening. They are everything I could imagine and more. They look like cookies. They hold up like cookies. But they taste HEAVENLY! AH SO HEAVENLY! Thanks so much for the recipe.
I love chocolate!
Thank you for sharing. I’m glad your request to the universe was answered!
I made the brownies without the frosting, they were delicious. Thank you.
I’m glad you liked them!
I love this recipe! I think it tastes wayyyy better than a normal brownie! My mom got very sick earlier this year (flu and covid together) and she can no longer have refined sugar. Natural sugar is okay for her. She no longer wants me to make regular brownies for her. All she wants are these. She says for her they are more like a fudge protein bar, but she said she can’t eat anything else like this. I am so glad you put this recipe together! Thank you thank you!!!
Thank you for your kind comment. I’m so glad you and your mother are enjoying this recipe!
Omg these are SO tasty! Will double the recipe next time!
I’m so glad you liked them!
I used pecans instead of walnuts, and deglet noor dates instead of medjool dates, but this recipe came out amazing! It was very moist and had a rich chocolate taste, loved it! 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
Great recipe .Super yummy 🙂 Thank you
I’m so glad you liked the brownies!
Omg I did my shopping,got all the ingredients that I need to make my brownies just to finish reading through how to prepare….I DON’T HAVE A FOOD PROCESSOR.
I guess I can zip lock and squeeze away any frustration
I’m sorry
I made these with mixed raw nuts as in the base. I used older dates so the mix was dry, I just added 1/4 cup of melted coconut oil and it worked like a treat. So delicious! Glad to find an easy Healthy raw recipe that is refined sugar free!
I’m so glad they worked out for you!
Awesome! Texture is very similar to fudgy brownies and the taste is exceptional. I substituted Deglet dates and black cocoa powder. I prefer the black cocoa powder for added depth of flavor and extra fiber and protein. These are so good I’m afraid I’ll be eating them more often than I should!
I made these with Deglet Dates and black cocoa powder. They taste amazing! I like black cocoa powder in place of regular cocoa powder for depth of flavor and extra fiber and protein.
Thank you for sharing. I love the idea of using black cocoa powder
Unbelievable. Wasnt expecting it to be this good. Added more dates wasnt sweet enough. Doubled frosting. Cant wait to share with my gluten free, dairy free friend and others
I’m glad you got it to work for you!
Luvd the recipe.. it sure was yumilicious!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed!
I would love to try this but I only have roasted walnuts available. Is that okay?
that should be fine as long as they are unsalted.
so super easy to make and is delouses
I’m so glad you liked them!