Butter-free brownies in a jiffy

In the mood for some chocolatey goodness to start your week? This brownie recipe is basically a gift from above. It’s so easy to make and caters towards even the pickiest of dietary restrictions. Whether you are gluten-free, paleo, vegan or looking for low-fat desserts only, this recipe will work for you. The best part might just be the fact that this recipe has cut out all ingredients that like to cling to the waist and thighs (like sugar, icing, butter, etc.) And since it’s no-bake, they can be ready on time for those of us who have little patience when it comes to satisfying the sweet tooth.

When shopping for ingredients, making sure you have a ripe avocado is key (feel for a fruit that’s squishy just as you would for a guacamole recipe). As for the nuts, you can leave them out or include them. The type is up to you. Walnuts are always a safe go-to for most brownie recipes. Bonus: They are loaded with omegas which give moods a boost! As for the chocolate chips, look for ones with a higher cocoa percentage and skip out on milk chocolate if you want to keep the recipe as healthy as possible.

Here’s what you need. On your mark, get set, mix!

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES

12 dates with pits removed

1 ripe avocado

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup nuts (choose your favourite kind)

1 cup chocolate chips

Put all ingredients into your mixing blender. Blend until smooth. (Small chunks are OK.) Line an 8 x 8 baking pan with wax paper. Spread mixture evening with a spatula. Allow brownies to set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. To speed up the process, stick them in the freezer and they will be good to go in 15 to 20 minutes.