A week ago yesterday, I had one of the more surreal experiences I’ve ever had in my 35 years on earth. Nothing too crazy or bizarre, but enough to get me pretty darn excited for the 3 months leading up to it! Myself and a fellow blogger were chosen to share some of our favorite recipes and love of running on a TV show called My Family Recipe Rocks. O.M.G. What?! We didn’t submit recipes or fill out an application, we were just found through the glory of the internet. How cool is that!?! This recipe for my raw vegan brownie, and peanut butter whipped cream (also vegan) were featured on the show, along with my vegan chili.
With few ingredients and no baking time, this recipe is a household staple for us. They are so easy to make, you just need a food processor and some simple ingredients.
Ingredients
1 cup pecans (almonds work too)
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted
5 tbsp. cocoa powder
pinch or two of sea salt
1 tbsp. maple syrup (optional)
1 tbsp. chia seeds (optional)
2 cans coconut milk, full fat (must be canned, not the kind you drink; can be found in the baking aisle)
1/4 cup peanut butter, creamy
2 tbsp. maple syrup
Instructions
1. In a food processor, grind up pecans until coarsely chopped and crumbly.
2. Add pitted dates and process until well combined, but still crumbly looking.
3. Combine cocoa powder and salt in a separate, small bowl and then sprinkle over pecan and date mixture; pulse a few times.
4. If you are using maple syrup and chia seeds, you can spoon those over the mixture. Process until well combined and ingredients starts to barely ball up in the processor.
5. Spoon mixture into a square glass tupperware or baking dish, lined with parchment paper. Make sure your container is NO larger than 8"x8". The smaller the dish, the thicker the brownies so it's up to you on the container size. 8"x8" will produce a thickness like that pictured above.
6. Press the brownie mixture down into the dish until firmly packed together. A flat potato masher works well to get it nice and even.
7. Brownies can be cut and served immediately or placed in the fridge for 2 hours and served chilled; which will also make them more firm.
8. Store any leftovers in fridge. Eat plain, or topped with coconut peanut butter whipped cream!
1. Place cans of coconut milk in the fridge overnight to allow for separation of coconut cream and coconut water.
2. When ready to make whipped cream, chill mixing bowl in the fridge for ~ 20 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, stir together peanut butter and maple syrup to make a thin, sweet, peanut butter mixture and set aside.
4. Remove coconut milk cans carefully from fridge and gently tip them upside down and open the bottom of each; this will make it easier to pour off the coconut water, since the coconut fat floats to the top of the can.
5. Once the bottom of the can is removed, gently pour off the coconut water into a storage dish and set aside for use in other recipes or smoothies. Store in fridge. The coconut cream should easily stick to the inside of the can.
6. Scoop all the cream out of the cans, directly into the chilled bowl. Turn mixer on medium speed to whip cream into a fluffy whipped CREAM. This should take about 1-2 minutes.
7. Turn mixer on low speed, and slowly add peanut butter mixture, one tablespoon at a time until all of mixture has been added. Whip on high an additional minute or until mixture thickens.
8. Serve immediately or place in fridge for up to one week. Whipped cream will stiffen once chilled. Great on brownies, bananas, fingers, anything!!
Who knew that such a simple ingredient list could yield such an incredible desert! I’ll be eating this for breakfast lunch and dinner for the next few days!
Hahaha, ME TOO! So good with coffee!
How cool! I love that show!
It will air on May 19th! AHHHHHH 🙂 Pretty darn excited. 🙂
Wow, congratulations. That’s so cool! I love that brownie recipe too. It looks divine! I will definitely be trying it. Thanks!
Thank you! and you’re welcome! 🙂
I haven’t tried the whipped cream yet, but the brownie is awesome! So fast/easy/yummy. I’m really digging your site.
Thanks Kelley! And now I just spent a good 30 minutes on your site! haha Miss you and Mark! LOVE the new house 🙂 Glad you are enjoying the blog!
I happened to watch it today l love it not only l enjoy watching you guys cook yummy food but Yuma az was home for now l am a California girl not by choice lol l also was a runner but do to auto immune disease l can’t run anymore l miss those day take care blessings
I am wondering when you’re going to come out with the recipe book for all these great recipes that you two have? I like watching you two on TV both look great. and what is your friends blogs names?
Thanks! I’ve thought about doing a cookbook someday, but that is a long way off! Danae’s blog is thereciperunner.com.
i just saw the recipe this morning on My Family Recipe Rocks and i can’t wait to try this for the Memorial Day Weekend. coincidentally i made a choclate cake last weekend through a recipe i found on the internet and thought to myself, gosh this has a lot of oil in it. needless to say, i was delighted to see how super healthy this recipe is. can’t wait to try it. 🙂 thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it!
Where can anyone find the pudding recipe you used with your friend on the TV show?
Hi Krista, you can find it on the Live Well Network’s site: http://livewellnetwork.com/My-Family-Recipe-Rocks/recipes/Egg-less-Vanilla-Pudding/9101872
Your recipes are great. When I watched you on My Family Recipe Rocks, I thought at first you ate raw until I saw that delish! dish you made with Satan. Can’t wait to try your recipes!
Thank you! I do get the occasional raw meal in too! 🙂
My dad called me tonight bc he had seen you on TV. He said that you made him think of me bc you are vegetarian (he refuses to admit there is a difference between vegetarian and vegan!) 🙂 and bc I am a runner. Honestly, I think what he really wanted was for me to offer to make him these brownies. Holy Cow. Peanut Butter frosting looks super-duper dangerous; Good thing I like to live on the edge. 🙂
Great blog and I liked you on FB. Can’t wait to keep pace with you! 😉
Lana @ Monday’s Nugget
http://www.mondaysnugget.com/
What a great back story! The peanut butter coconut whipped cream is very dangerous! 🙂 Thanks for the new Like on Facebook. I’ve added you to the blogs I follow. Looking forward to reading your posts. Happy running!
Hi, I just made these tonight and absolutely loved them – even my husband who is pretty picky eater liked them. Thanks so much for the easy, wonderful recipe.
You’re so welcome! I’m happy to hear they were a hit 🙂
I’m so happy that I came across the My Family Recipe Rocks show. Without it, I wouldn’t have discovered your blog. Tonight I caught a rerun which featured your raw brownie with peanut butter cream recipe. OMG, I can’t wait to make it along with a multitude of other dishes you’ve posted. I’m always looking for healthy recipes that don’t skimp on flavor. Congratulations on your success!
Thank you so much Julie! I’m very happy you found my blog too! 🙂
Watched the Live Well show tonight and liked what I saw.
I plan to make the vegan chili for New Years!
I already had a similar recipe like the salad (love it).
The dessert – most definitely make!
Looking forward to following your blog, more.
I’m a busy grandmother and enjoy the healthier recipes!!
Blessings
Awesome!! 🙂
I love these brownies! I added a dash of cayenne pepper. This is my new favorite treat!
Awesome!! I’m so happy to hear that. 🙂
Saw My Family Rocks the other day…. where can I find all three recipes that were on that episode? Love the one above, but what about the vegan pudding? Would love to have all the recipes. Thanks!
Hi Deb! The pudding wasn’t vegan actually, Danae made the pudding so it should be on her website. Reciperunner.com or you can also find it on My Family Recipe Rocks website. The chili is on my site too, and featured in the scrolling image bar at the top, or on the recipes page.