CHOCODATE brownie (clean) recipe. Super Easy and delicious... Recipe Friday!

Recipe Friday!

I will be posting a favorite recipe of mine every Friday. I hope you ENJOY!

I have been wanting to make more Paleo (clean) bars or brownies. For the kids. So I decided to make my CHOCODATE brownies for the win. These are made and sweetened with dates. I did some research on the health benefits of the date. Check it out...

Date is the name of the fruit of the Date Palm, which is believed to have originated somewhere in the desert oases of northern Africa and perhaps, southwest Asia. The people of the Middle-East consume dates, as a part of their staple diet, mainly owing to its high nutritional values. This nutritious fruit provides extra energy to the human body. Apart from being rich in natural fibers, dates also comprise of a lot of other nutrients, like oil, calcium, sulfur, iron, potassium, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium etc. In fact, it is said that, one date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. Regular intake of dates also helps you in maintaining healthy eyesight and it cures problems related to night blindness

Health & Nutrition Benefits Of Eating Dates

• Since dates get digested very easily, they are consumed as a source of quick energy.
• Milk, when boiled with dates, become a very nutritious and invigorating drink for children and adults, especially during convalescence.
• The nicotinic content in dates makes them an excellent cure for intestinal disturbances.
• Regular consumption of dates has been found to check the growth of pathological organisms and help in the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
• Being a laxative food, dates have been found to be beneficial for those suffering from constipation.
• For alcoholic intoxication, drinking water, in which fresh dates have been rubbed or soaked, is said to be quite effective.
• Studies have shown that consumption of dates, soaked overnight and crushed, is good for those who have a weak heart.
• It has been seen that, dates serve as a tonic for improving sex stamina as well as sterility due to functional disorders.
• Researches have revealed that dates are effective in preventing abdominal cancer.
• Dates have a tonic effect and thus, hold great medicinal properties.
• Dates which consist of sugar, fats and proteins are rich in vitamins. Intake of dates with the paste of cucumber helps in solving the problem of over-slimming. As dates are rich in calories, they are sufficient enough to meet the daily calorie requirements of the body.
• Rich in potassium, dates helps in regulating a healthy nervous system. Regular intake of potassium, present in dates, reduces the chances of stroke. Dates also help in reducing the LDL cholesterol.
• Dates are rich in vitamin A and have a lot of antioxidant properties which help in enhancing the eyesight and solve night blindness problems. Dates help in maintaining a healthy and sound skin, its Vitamin A content also resists lung and oral cavity cancers.
• As dates are rich in alkaline food, they help in neutralizing the acidity. To get maximum benefits consume dates early in the morning.
• Dates contain stimulants, which make the uterus muscles stronger. Regular intake of dates during the time of pregnancy helps in the dilation of uterus and reduces bleeding. It also contains elements which enrich the breast milk.
• High in iron content, dates helps in treating anemia. They are also rich in fluorine, which reduces tooth decay.

With all the health benefits and sweet taste of the date, why wouldnt you cook with it? So here is my personal recipe for a batch of CHOCODATE brownies.

Ingredients

1 cup dates (whole or chopped)

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

2 heaping tbsp. of cocoa

1 cup nuts (I used raw almonds)

1/4 cup of dark cacao chips (the darkest you can stand) I used 85%

2 eggs

1 tbsp of vanilla

Preheat oven 375

In a food processor or blender chop dates, coconut, cocoa, almonds, and cacao till fine. Add egg and vanilla, blend till mixed well. Spread on waxed paper on pan. It will be thick and sticky, spread it out as evenly as possible. You don't want it too thick on the edges or they will get overcooked. I try to square it out like a bar.

Place in oven for 15-20 minutes. The edges will start to turn light brown. The middle should remain spongy and soft. Use a pizza cutter or knife to cut into squares.

My husband and kids absolutely loved them. They thought it was great that they could have brownies for breakfast. One win for mom. If you guys decide to make these brownies, let me know how you like them. They are very easy to make.

Your turn! Do you have a healthy dessert that you make for you family? I would love to hear it.

Leave me a comment below:)