Date Brownies are 100% fruit sweetened, but you’d never know just by tasting them. They are made without flour or oil, and have a rich & chewy texture you’ll love!
Why You’ll Love Them
They’re delicious. These healthy brownies have a rich chocolate flavor, and a texture similar to the two-bite brownie bites you’d find at the grocery store. My kids gobble them up! (And they are quite picky.)
They’re naturally sweet. Dates are the perfect sweetener for this recipe, with a caramel-like flavor that isn’t too detectable. (Unlike banana or applesauce, which would contribute almost too much flavor to a chocolate dessert.)
They’re nourishing. Dates contain important minerals, like iron and potassium, and when you pair them with nutrient-rich ingredients like almond butter and cacao powder, these brownies will help you get more fiber and antioxidants into your day.
They’re perfect for special diets. If you’re trying to avoid added sugar, or are following a Paleo, vegan, dairy-free, or gluten-free eating plan, this recipe is perfect for you! Be sure to check out the substitutions below, if you need to make a swap.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe requires no added sugar– just pitted Medjool dates! You can add in a few mini chocolate chips, if you’d like a double-chocolate brownie, but that’s totally optional.
If you don’t have almond butter on hand, you can use any other nut butter you like, such as peanut butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter, instead.
Note: This recipe works best if your dates are soft and squishy. They should be easy to split apart with your fingers to remove the pit. If your dates feel too hard or dry, try soaking them in a bowl of very hot water for 10 minutes to help them soften up.
How to Make Date Brownies
1. Process.
Add the dates and water to a food processor, and process briefly to help them break down, about 60 seconds.
Next, add in the almond butter, ground flax seed, cacao or cocoa powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, vinegar, and salt. (The vinegar is here to help react with the baking soda, but you won’t taste it in the final brownies.)
Process again, until the batter looks thick and sticky. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the machine, if needed.
2. Scoop.
Prepare a mini muffin pan by greasing it with coconut oil or olive oil. Use a 1-ounce cookie scoop, or a tablespoon, to scoop the mixture into each slot of the prepared pan. You might not fill all 24 spots; I usually get 18 to 20 brownie bites from this batch.
Get your fingers wet, and flatten the tops of the brownies. If you’d like to add a few chocolate chips on top, now is the time to do so.
3. Bake.
Place the pan in an oven preheated to 350ºF and bake until the tops look dry, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, and let the brownies cool completely in the pan.
They will be quite fragile while they are warm, but will firm up with a chewy texture once they are cool.
Run a knife around the edges of each brownie, then use the knife to help you lift it out of the pan. Since these brownies are made without egg, they may sink slightly in the center, but the texture should still be amazing.
Store leftover date brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Or you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Using a mini muffin pan ensures that the brownies will cook correctly, with a perfectly chewy center. I don’t recommend trying this brownie recipe in square baking pan, unless you’re prepared for a potentially gooey center.
I haven’t tested it that way yet, but if you want to experiment with it, I would try using slightly more almond flour in that case. (I would start with a 1/4 cup more and see how the batter comes together.)
Yes, if you don’t need a vegan recipe, you can replace the ground flax seeds and water with a real egg, instead. In that case, you’ll blend the egg with the dates during the first step.
The vinegar will react with the baking soda, to help the brownies rise without using eggs. You can replace the baking soda and vinegar in this recipe with a teaspoon of baking powder, if you prefer.
Looking for more date-sweetened desserts? Try the Healthiest Cookies Ever, my Healthy Birthday Cake, or Peanut Butter Date Cookies for more ideas.
Healthy Date Brownies
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Medjool dates , pitted (6 ounces)
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup almond butter (or nut butter of choice)
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 5 tablespoons cacao powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and grease a mini muffin tin with spray oil, or your favorite oil, to help prevent sticking.
- In a food processor fitted with an “S” blade, combine the dates and water and process until the dates have broken down into a paste. (They may turn into a ball in the processor, which is also okay.)
- Add in the almond butter, ground flax, cacao powder, baking soda, vanilla, and vinegar and process again until a sticky, uniform dough is created. (If you need to add 1 more tablespoon of water to help it blend smoothly, that's okay.) The batter will be thick and sticky.
- Use a tablespoon or 1-ounce cookie scoop to help you scoop the dough into the greased mini muffin tin. Use your fingers to gently flatten each mound of dough. Because the dough is very sticky, it helps to get your fingers wet with water before pressing each mound down so your fingers won't stick to the dough.
- Bake until the tops look dry, about 12 to 15 minutes. (The centers will still feel slightly soft to the touch.) Remove from the oven and let the brownies cool completely, at least 30 minutes, before attempting to remove them from the pan. They firm up as they cool, but are very fragile when warm. Run a knife around the edge of each brownie to help loosen them to be removed, then serve immediately or store them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this date brownie recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like it!
Thank you for this great recipe. I cannot wait to try it.
Question: If I substitute applesauce or an egg for the flaxseed, do I omit the water?
Yes, that’s what I would try! You still might need a tablespoon of water if your dates are not soft, but I’d just see how it processes into a batter without the water.
These are fantastic! I’ve had to eliminate sugar from my diet and these have been a lifesaver! It’s great to have a dessert sweetened with fruit! Thanks so much for sharing!
Yes! Please more date sweetened flourless recipes! I am on the lookout for a blueberry muffin in this category.
I just made these and they are phenomenal!!! I’m not surprised those because everything I’ve cooked from your site is delicious! These are better than normal brownies, I can’t believe there is no traditional sugar or flour! Satisfies the chocolate cravings majority! This is my first comment but I love all your recipes, they help for the food lifestyle I’m trying to achieve (former fast foodie too). Thank you a million times over!
Holy cow! I have never left a comment on a recipe before, but I just made these and they were SO GOOD!!! I have been trying date sweetened recipes for a while now and never could mimic the texture of a true brownie until this recipe. I used tahini in place of a nut butter and a real egg. So good and no nut flavor at all. Just a normal tasting amazing brownie. I could eat this whole pan now!
I would love to see recipes with dates in any form!! I made these brownies and loved them! I then decided to bring the date amount up to a cup. It worked great! They were chewy even when not frozen! Thanks so much for this recipe, I can have brownies again!!! Thanks for all your recipes!!
I have made this recipe many times, they are absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for this amazing healthy recipe : )
I had my sister law over for lunch and wanted to have a little bite of sweet to offer after our meal, with the caveat that it had to be
date-sweetened and something I’d be comfortable feeding to my 16 month old. These were a hit on all accounts!
They look delicious! I don’t have a mini muffin tin. Would you suggest just using a cookie sheet and dropping “blobs” onto it, or using a regular sized muffin tin?
Thx 🙂
I found your website literally an hours ago and I’m so exited! Amazing healthy simple recipes broken into diet types, it’s everything I’ve been looking for! And I loooove that you give practical tips like freezing the pizza doe.. Thank you so much!
I’ve tried these twice now. Both times in a regular muffin tin, which seemed fine and the second time with dark cocoa, which I really liked! Great recipe. Your blog is making me believe I can actually reduce my sugar intake and still enjoy my life. I’d love for you to post up a gajar halwa recipe for the instant pot!!
Hi these look so great! What can I use instead of flax seeds? I’m not vegan. I saw you mentioned in another comment ground chia seed…. would regular ones work? Or an egg? Thanks!!
I went and got flax seed meal for this and omg they were soooo good!!! Tasted just like regular cake, my husband couldn’t believe they were sugar-free. Will have to double the recipe next time because they were gone within hours! Thanks for sharing!
These brownies are AMAZING. I modified the recipe a bit and doubled it so I could fit the batter in a square pan. My mod is almond flour instead of ground flax seed because I was out of flax seed. I used unsweetened baking cocoa one time instead of cacao powder because I was out of cacao, which I prefer. For fun I also chopped up a square of unsweetened dark baking chocolate and added that to the mix, which is quite good. Lastly, I was mostly using cashew or almond butter but I tried a version with unsalted organic sesame tahini and it was also very very good.
Was your tahini runny, or thicker? Tahini seems to separate, and I’m hoping I don’t have to worry about it for this recipe!
Hi! This recipe looks delicious, and sounds amazing! Love that dates are used as the sweetener! I’m am going to try and make for a sweet treat for friends 🙂
Just made these and they taste absolutely fantastic! I used Tahini as my seed butter of choice. Next time I make these will be doing them with almond butter!! Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Absolutely incredible recipe! I omitted the balsamic vinegar and baking soda. I got perfect bites of deliciousness!
I made them a second time in an 8 x 8 dish! Turned out great! Thank you again for a great recipe!
Holy smokes! I don’t often comment on recipes, but…holy smokes! These are delicious! I used almond butter (it’s what I have on hand) following your instructions, and my brownies turned out dense, fudgy, and with crackled tops just like standard brownies. They are melt-in-your-mouth good. This recipe is definitely a keeper! Thank you!.
Cannot wait to try the recipe! Could I use a regular brownie pan if I don’t have a mini muffin tin? or put on a cookie sheet like cookies?
These are HANDS DOWN the BEST brownies I have ever eaten. I have been gluten free for 10 years, dairy and refined sugar free since January. I like to have one treat at the end of the day and I’ve never bought anything as good as these. Healthy ingredients, great instructions. I didn’t make any substitutions. The only place I slipped up was I didn’t notice it makes 24…I just divided it up in my 12 hole mini muffin tin. Even my gluten and sugar eating peeps loved them. Thanks so very much ❤️
These look anazing!!! I’m always looking for the healthy option. I was wondering what I could use if I dint have flax. Can I use chia seeds or an egg?
I think either option would work! Let us know if you try it.
So dang yummy I almost didn’t cook them. I’m going to make just the batter tomorrow to dip strawberries into.
Looks amazing! An egg-free brownie recipe yaaaay I’m so happy!
But since I’m allergic to all nuts, is it possible to use coconut butter?
Please say yes lol.
Hmmm, I’ve never tried it with coconut butter so I couldn’t say for sure. Since the coconut has fiber and fat, I think it should work? Let me know if you try it!
These are seriously delicious! I may have overdone it on my “pinch” of salt so I made some date caramel sauce to go on top! OMG. And they are definitely kid approved! My 5 year olds love them! I used Dutch processed cocoa and peanut butter but will definitely try cashew butter next time.
Great recipe.
DEFinitely would like more date-sweetened recipes!!
This the the BEST and healthiest recipe ever. There is no egg, no sugar, no oil, etc.
I couldn’t find any recipe that as good as this one. Neve ever! This is the REAL healthy and real yummy. It’s also easy to do and no need for fancy ingredient. I also love that the baker suggestS us other alternative considerately. Enjoy!
Absolutely delicious!!! I made these for my daughter’s lunch and they are such a perfect size!
SO good!! I was able to get 18 mini brownies. Definitely will make them again.
Awesome! Glad you loved them!!
I tried it ,from the surface it is dry and from the center it look like as it doesn’t cooked
As I eat the dough before cooking
I cooked them more than 30 min
I am following the medical medium protocol and not eating eggs, dairy, gluten or sugar. This hit the spot. We subbed apple cider vinegar, freshly ground pb and brown flaxseeds. It is delicious. And 1 satisfied me rather than overindulging like I used to with regular sugar. Thank you for posting this recipe!
This is by far the best healthy brownie I have ever tried. I have probably tried close to thirty of them and only one come close to this one. This date brownie recipe is my favorite in terms of taste and heath. Great job!
I made these today. Super easy and really delicious. I used peanut butter because that was all I had.
I brought these for coffee time at church where several people need GF options and they were a big hit!!
I accidentally used 2Tbsp flax meal and balanced it with an extra tablespoon of water.
These are the best brownies. Thank you for the great recipe!
I’ve never left a review on any recipe before, though I have made many, many recipes I’ve found online. I just have to say that I am SO IMPRESSED by how these turned out. I didn’t have chia seeds or flax, so I used your 1 egg + 3T water substitute suggestion. The texture is light and fluffy and beautiful! I also live at high altitude, so I was afraid they would collapse, but they did no such thing! Planning on serving them with coconut cream whipped cream for my friend’s birthday tomorrow. Thank you so much, I’m so excited about these!
Thanks so much for letting me know! I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Just made these and they’re delicious!
Just made a half batch of this in the blender, and it was super good! I don’t have a mini muffin tin so I just baked it in a large ramekin for longer (20 min) and it turned out perfect, very fudgy and moist. I’ll definitely be making it again.
I was craving chocolate today and only had cacao power in the house. I was excited to find this recipe! These adorable little brownie bites turned out great! I used sunflower butter and added chopped walnuts. My dough turned out stiff but not too sticky. I don’t have a mini ice cream scoop, so I rolled tablespoon-sized chunks of dough between my hands into balls, then popped them into the mini-muffin tin and flattened slightly. They baked up perfectly, with just the right chewy texture. My only quibble is they weren’t sweet enough! Personal preference. Next time I will add a tablespoon of liquid sweetener like agave or date syrup. Thanks, Detoxinista, for a excellent recipe!
These are amazing and everything I hoped for! I made 6 in a regular muffin tin, cooked them for 12 minutes and they were perfect.
This brownie recipe is amazing! I just had one question though, how would I go about adjusting the sweetness? If I add less dates/water, which ingredients would I add more of?
AMAZING! So good. Used apple cider and just threw it all in the vitamix (After soaking cut dates in the water, warmed, for a bit). I also liked the flavor of tahini even better than cashew.
This sounds delicious and I can’t wait to make them. Can I use paper muffin liners, sized for the mini muffin tin? Or would they stick too much to the paper?
Has anyone tried hazelnut butter in this recipe?
I have made these twice using tahini because that’s all I had and they are delicious!! I also don’t have a mini muffin tin and just used a normal sized one and baked as directed. I top each one with 4-5 mini chocolate chips. I love this recipe!
Amazing! So good, I’d make them over real brownies… if only they weren’t so hard to get out of the muffin tin 😳
I guess mini muffin liners could be a possibility? I don’t know why I haven’t tried that yet! Glad you enjoyed the taste!
Hi! What are your thoughts on cacao butter instead of a nut butter? Thanks! Can’t wait to try these
I haven’t tried that yet, but I’d love to hear if you end up experimenting with it!
Looks amazing! I can’t wait to try. Can I make these in a 8*8 pan? Do I have to adjust the measurements?
Just made these with unsweetened unsalted sunflower butter and they turned out great! Seem to taste very similar to the cashew butter ones I previously made. Although, full disclosure, I eat a lot of sunflower butter so maybe I don’t notice the taste difference as much as others would. In any case, thanks for another awesome recipe!
I loved this recipe so much that I’m writing a review! This was my first time using dates as a sweetener, and they did not disappoint. My blender isn’t the greatest, so the dates were probably not as smoothly blended as they should have been. However, this didn’t bother me, and these still tasted like delicious brownies with a hint of peanut butter. (I’m eager to try this with other nuts, but my grocery store options were limited this time.) Even my husband loved these, and he is sometimes skeptical of my healthy versions of treats. This is a five-star recipe that I am definitely going to make over and over again!
These were amazing! So tasty and fudgy
These are UNBELIEVABLE! I’m writing this after stuffing my face with 4 of them, completely guilt-free! My 3 year old granddaughter thinks I’ve lost my mind after I told her she can have another one. We really have to watch her sugar intake due to being highly sensitive, but she doesn’t react adversely to these in the least. I’m lucky to live in San Jose where fresh dates are endless so I will be making these regularly for sure. Thank you for this Megan!