Easy no-bake almond butter brownies with date caramel !!! 

Ohhh friends,

This is a goooood one.

Recipes like this one are the reason why I never think twice about going back to unhealthy junk food.

Because why would I, when I can enjoy delicious vegan and paleo almond butter brownies like these that are made completely of whole foods, unprocessed, made from scratch at home... free of preservatives, and refined sugars, and nasty ingredients.

What ingredients are we using to make these no-bake vegan and paleo brownies:

Let's talk about the wholesome ingredients we're using to make these delicious no-bake brownies

• Almonds + Walnuts - our nuts of choice for these tasty brownies. These two compliment each other so nicely and give these brownies a perfect nutty touch.
• Raw cacao powder - I love using cacao vs cocoa because cacao is less processed and contains more nutrition. I like buying my raw cacao powder at Trader Joe's.
• Medjool dates - We are keeping these no-bake vegan paleo brownies naturally sweetened by using dates instead of added sugar.
• Almond butter - I love making my own almond butter at home, but if you use a store-bought one make sure it only has almonds listed on the ingredients. Some store-bought almond butters have added sugars and other nasties.

And for that smooth creamy caramel layer we're using:

• Medjool dates - again, using dates for that lovely natural sweetness
• Almond butter - almond butter is going to add a lovely nutty flavor and creaminess to our caramel
• Vanilla extract to add some lovely vanilla flavor
• Coconut cream from a can - make sure it is mixed well. We want to use the entire thing, not just the fatty solid part. I like to give my cans a good shake before I open them to make sure it is mixed well. For you folks that live in the northern states and it gets really cold, you might want to put the can in warm water before opening it as the cold weather tends to solidify the cream.

how to make easy no-bake almond butter brownies:

Making these no-bake almond butter brownies from scratch is so easy and simple, any beginner can do it.

All you need, besides the ingredients, is a:

• food processor
• a square baking dish like this one (or something similar)
• and some parchment paper, preferably non-bleached like this one

First, you're going to make the mixture for the no-bake brownies. To do this, you are going to add the almonds and the walnuts to the food processor and process until you have a crumbly consistency. Then add the rest of the ingredients listed under "brownies" and continue processing until you achieve a sticky dough.

If the dough is not sticky and it feels dry and crumbly instead, then continue processing for another minute or so until it feels sticky.

Line the square baking dish with parchment paper, and using your hands you are going to press down the sticky dough to form the brownie base. Work the dough and press with your hands until you have an even and square brownie layer. Pop this in the fridge to set while you make the date caramel.

Using the same food processor (no need to wash it), throw in the dates, almond butter, and vanilla extract and process until semi-smooth. Start adding the coconut milk via the food processor chute little by little until you have a smooth caramel consistency.

Spread this vegan date caramel on top of the brownies. Top with chopped walnuts, chocolate chips or chopped/shredded cacao paste.

What is raw cacao paste:

Raw cacao paste is made from whole cacao beans and is never heated above 114F (depending on the brand you buy - I always purchase my raw cacao from TERRASOUL). Raw cacao paste can be used just as regular baking chocolate, however, the taste is very bitter - sort of like a really dark chocolate. This is because it is pure cacao, it has no sugar added.

I personally enjoy the bitter taste, especially in a dessert like this one that is already so sweet because of the brownie and caramel layers. I find that the bitter cacao shredded on top provides a nice contrast. I also enjoy the fact that this chocolate has no added sugar. It is very difficult to find true raw cacao in stores that doesn't have added sugars, oils, or other junk. So this is a nice alternative for those who prefer it.

This no-bake almond butter brownie recipe is perfect for so many occasions - birthdays, anniversaries, just-because.

With Valentine's day coming up, and most of us still choosing to celebrate at home, it is the perfect excuse to get in the kitchen and whip this delicious baby up for a loved one or special someone in your life.

I promise you, once you take one bite out of this brownie you will forget all about those store-bought chocolates that are so tempting this time of year. Just remember, all that junk food is loaded with refined sugars, industrialized inflammatory oils, preservatives and a bunch of other stuff that is not good for you. If you want to feel good inside and out, you need to eat good food.

I hope this year you skip those heart-shaped chocolates and make these easy peasy no-bake brownies instead. And if you do, come back here and let me know what you thought of them.

All right friends,

Happy Valentine's day. 'Till next week.

Want to see more healthy Valentine's Day Dessert ideas?

Easy raw vegan cake pops

Vegan rosy pink cake donuts with pitaya cashew frosting

Easy vegan banana cream pies in jars with coconut whipped cream