This recipe for my ultra-fudgy, fruit-filled, no bake brownies is both decadent and good for you while also being easy to make. It's one of those kitchen equations that boggles the mind and satisfies the most intense chocolate cravings! These delectable healthy brownies are going to change the way you think about dessert.
{This recipe for healthy brownies was made in partnership with California Grown! We received compensation in exchange for these posts. Opinions are always our own. If we don’t love it, you don’t hear about it. Thanks for your continued support!}
I'm a sucker for dessert; it's true - my sweet tooth is unstoppable! I can't even stroll through the kitchen this time of year without grabbing a piece of leftover Halloween candy or a freshly baked holiday cookie. Luckily for me, I happen to have a secret weapon that my tastebuds can't resist; chocolatey,fruit-filled No Bake Healthy Brownies.
You read that right; fudgy, fruit-filled brownies that require no baking, and are actually really good for you as opposed to their baked brownie counterparts.
Can brownies be healthy?
Well, yes. Of course, they can! Brownies come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and recipes - even healthy ones.
While this may not be your typical flour and sugar-filled baked brownie recipe, this delicious dessert still tastes like a decadent fudgy brownie and that is actually what counts right?!
Ingredients needed to make this recipe for no-bake brownies.
This recipe for no-bake brownies only calls for a handful of ingredients that are mostly pantry staples. A few ingredients are rich and decadent while the majority of them are packed with vitamins, nutrients, and fiber.
The equipment list for this recipe is short too, but you will need a full-size food processor to break down the dried fruit and nuts to the correct consistency. If your food processor is small you will have to work in batches.
The decadent ingredients.
- Brown butter
- Cocoa powder
- Maple syrup
The California-grown fruit and nut components.
Image courtesy of Hilary Rance for California Grown
What was the inspiration behind this recipe for healthy brownies?
I recently returned home from an agricultural tour of the fruit-filled San Joaquin Valley with California Grown and let me tell you - it was INCREDIBLE, DELICIOUS, and quite possibly changed the way I will think about dried fruit forever!
I mean come on - we took a ride on a raisin harvester during the peak of California DOV raisin harvest, who gets to do that?!
We visited quite a few places, so I have written a handful of articles and recipes across This Mess is Ours and California Grown that were inspired by the experience for you to enjoy.
Click on any of the links below to learn more about my recent trip to the San Joaquin Valley!
The Best Places To Visit In California's San Joaquin Valley
If you are planning to visit the San Joaquin Valley there are lots of amazing things to do and see!
While the valley is predominantly rural, it also has bustling cities to explore.
Click here to plan your trip to the San Joaquin Valley!
Dried Fruit; A Pantry Staple Begging To Be Explored
We visited the Madera Fossil Discovery Center, where we had breakfast underneath a giant mammoth with the California Dried Fruit Coalition!
So, what do fossils have to do with dried fruit? Fossils, or rather the soil that surrounds them, has a lot to do with dried fruit. The rich soil that sustains over 250 of the 400+ specialty crops grown right here in the fertile San Joaquin Valley soil was also once home to diverse Pleistocene life.
Click here to learn more about the Fossil Discovery Center!
Quady Wines; Creating Exceptional Wines in Madera
Quady Winery creates incredible wines that are delicious expressions of the fruit-filled San Joaquin Valley. Their unique winemaking style is rich, full-bodied, and perfectly balanced. You won’t find another winery quite like this one!
Click here to learn more about Quady Winery.
If you tried this recipe for my healthy brownies I would be so grateful if you would rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below!
PrintBrown Butter No-Bake Healthy Brownies
Inspired by a recent trip to the fruit-filled San Joaquin Valley, our fudgy No Bake Healthy Brownies taste incredibly decadent, but are actually filled with good-for-you ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Chill time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 16 pieces 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
4 ½ tablespoons salted butter
9 California prunes, quartered
9 California dates, pitted and quartered
1 cup cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
¼ cup maple syrup
1 ½ cups slivered California almonds
2 cups California raisins, I used DOV (dried on vine) grapes from Life's Grape.
¾ cup California walnuts
Instructions
Line an 8-inch square cake pan with parchment paper, set aside.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium low heat. As the butter melts it will sputter and foam. As it cooks down the foaming will subside and the butter will begin to brown. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Combine the prunes, dates, cocoa powder, maple syrup, almonds, and slightly cooled browned butter in a food processor fitted with the "S" blade. Process for 4-5 minutes or until well combined. You may notice the moisture in the food processor is steaming and warm at this point; that is normal.
If there are any white flecks of almonds remaining add another tablespoon of cocoa powder and blend again until they disappear.
Add the raisins and walnuts, and process for another 1-2 minutes to combine.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and place a second sheet of parchment on top. Use your hands to work the brownie "batter" into the corners of the pan. Smooth your hand using pressure along the top piece of parchment to create a flat, even surface.
Remove the top piece of parchment. There may be a little liquid pooling on top of the brownies in areas at this point from the brown butter and maple, it is normal and will soak back in just leave it there.
Place the pan of brownies into the refrigerator and chill for 2 hours or until firm.
Remove the brownies from the tin. Dust the top of the brownies with a bit of sifted cocoa powder then slice and serve.
Stored covered, in the fridge, these healthy brownies will keep for up to 3 weeks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 284
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 30.2 mg
- Fat: 14.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.3 g
- Protein: 5.8 g
- Cholesterol: 8.6 mg
If you are looking for a recipe for a more traditional baked brownie recipe check out the recipe below.
Gluten-Free Olive Oil Brownies
My Gluten-Free Olive Oil Brownies have the perfect crackly top, a walnut-studded fudgy center, and they are absolutely impossible to resist.
Click here for this recipe for brownies.
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