Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bars
Last night’s creation, Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie Bars, was inspired by our dear friends Victor and Sandy. They prepared an amazing dinner for us and we brought the dessert. With a chocolate creation already rolling around in my head, Sandy emailed me and asked if I could make something chocolaty! How perfectly did that work out?! :) To me it is always a good sign when silence falls upon the room when the first bite is taken. I watched Victor’s face to see if I could get a read on him as to if he liked it or not…his complete silence, his innocent concentration on his plate, and the witnessing of him scrapping up every last morsel and smudge of frosting off the plate, spoke volumes. No crumb was left behind. I will take that as a compliment.
The bottom layer is a rich, decadent chocolate, the middle layer is a scrumptious peanut butter layer and to top them both off, I dressed the brownie with a sinful chocolate frosting!
Ingredients for Chocolate Brownie Layer:
Yield: I used a 6×8 pan but you can change the size by adjusting the layer thicknesses.
- 3 cups raw walnuts, soaked & dehydrated
- 16 Medjool dates, pitted
- 2/3 cup raw cacao powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp water
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
Preparation:
- Place the walnuts and salt in a food processor fitted with the S-blade process until finely ground.
- Add the cocoa powder and process until the until the powder is incorporated. Then start adding in the dates.
- Add the water and vanilla and process mixture until it begins to stick together. It will create a ball that rolls around in the food processor but be real gentle at this point, if you over process it the walnuts will release to much oil.
- Line a 6-inch cake pan with a parchment-paper. This will make it easier to remove.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into the pan and distribute it evenly.
- Press down with your hand to compact.
- Place in freezer while you make the peanut butter layer.
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Ingredients for Peanut Butter Layer:
- 2 cups rolled, gluten-free oats
- 1 cup oat flour (see below)
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup raw agave nectar
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1/4 cup raw cold pressed coconut oil, melted
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp sea salt
Preparation:
- To make your oat flour, place the raw oats in the food processor and process until it becomes a fine powder.
- Add in the remaining ingredients, except for the coconut oil and blend until well incorporated.
- As the food processor is running, drizzle in the melted coconut oil. You may need to stop a few times and scrap the sides and spread the dough around evenly.
- Remove the chocolate layer from the freezer. Add 1 1/2 cups of this peanut better batter on top and press firmly with your hand. You can make peanut butter cookies with the left over batter.
- Place back in the freezer while you make the frosting.
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Chocolate Ganache Ingredients:
Yield: 1 cup
- 3/4 cup raw agave syrup or maple syrup
- 3/4 cup raw cacao powder
- 1/3 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
- 1/8 tsp plus a pinch salt
Preparation:
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
- Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the blender jar with a rubber spatula.
- Take the brownie batter from the freezer and pour on the frosting. Spread evenly, cover and chill until ready to serve.
Posted on Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 at 9:35 pm. Filed under: Bars Tags: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Refined Sugar Free, Soy Free RSS 2.0 feed.
This just looks too wonderful!
These are so delicious!
I am pretty new to raw food, and I made these in my cuisinart mini-processor so I had to break each layer into a couple batches, but it was still a pretty easy recipe. This would be THE recipe to try to convince people that raw desserts are every bit as delicious and rich as regular ones!
Highly recommend.
Thank you Jocelyn for sharing your experience. :) I can’t seem to get enough of the peanut butter layer myself …. but then there is the chocolate layer…oh dear, I LOVE them both. haha
Oh my gosh! These are heavenly!!! Luckily I have a freezer full of them now to munch on whenever cravings strike, lol! Thanks Amie Sue! Can’t wait to try your other recipes :)
That is so awesome Tiina! I am glad that you are enjoying them. Smart move to freeze some for later snacking. :) Have a blessed weekend! hugs
Just made these! They are chilling in the freezer waiting to serve later, I will keep you posted. SO excited! I am funny I bought the oats then I bought the oat flour. I will return the oat flour or maybe use it for something else!
Oh awesome, please do keep me posted :)
WOW these were AMAZING! Everyone loved them!! :)
Touchdown!!! Does the “happy chocolate peanut butter brownie bar* dance! Trust me, I have one. lol Thanks for letting us know Dana! Many blessings, amie sue
omg i was looking for the calories in the brownies and magically came upon this site and spotted your name! the brownies were AMAZING!
Magic! I love magic! :) They are amazing, I agree! Thank you for stopping in. Many blessings, amie sue
I love these bars! They are so very delicious. I’ve actually posted an adapted version of these on my blog, if you’re interested in taking a look. Thank you so much for the inspiration! :)
http://thefloursack.blogspot.com/2012/08/raw-chocolate-peanut-butter-bars.html
This to date is the most delicious raw dessert I have ever tasted. Incorporating raw into my diet since last year, and finding it hard to find really tasty treats. Thanks so much for this, its a keeper. A little time consuming, but worth the work.
I love that sound of that Michelle! You sound like a peanut butter fan like me. :) I could eat it daily but I don’t. I have to monitor my nut intake closely. I know it isn’t a nut but my body responds to it like other nuts. Thank you for sharing this with me. Have a wonderful weekend! amie sue
This was my first attempt at anything raw and I must say these are totally delicious!! My kids loved them as well and I love your website! I want a dehydrater now.
Awesom Nikki. I get such joy when I hear that kids love raw foods! Thank you for sharing. :) Go get that dehydrator! hehe
Hi Amie-Sue,
Do you have a recipe for cacao almonds.They are very expensive to buy. Looking for another recipe to
try, the one I use didn’t work to well.
Thank you.
Hi Michelle,
I happen to have a recipe call Cherry Relleno (Almond Stuffed Cherries)… you could just omit the cherry part and use the the chocolate base to cover the almonds. :) Have a great evening, amie sue
Omg !!! This is insane. The whole family loves it !! I think i over processed the first step as you said not to do, but was not sure when to stop. I was afraid that it would not stick together. Same day i made your “Fish Tacos” with the Tartar Sauce, and Cole Slaw Salad. What a meal !
Aloha
Goodness Carmen, you have been busy haha. I am thrilled that you are trying the recipes and enjoying them! As you make these recipes over and over you will start to recognize the process more. When making batters like this it is good to stop the machine and give the batter a pinch and see how it is sticking together. Have a blessed day, amie sue
Yes, and today I’m making your Raw Banana Walnut Bread ! I have been taking pictures, can i show you ?
Hi Carmen… of course! You can email me the photos to amiesue@nouveauraw.com. I would love to see them.:) Have a happy day, amie sue
sue the last page asks for Chocolate Ganache Ingredients: which includes 1/8 tsp plus a pinch salt. 1/8 tsp of what?
Rhonda…It’s Amie Sue, I notice you always call me Sue..no biggie but just letting you know. :) I am not sure I understand what you are asking me… I looked at the recipe and all the ingredients are listed. Please clarify so I can be of help. amie sue
Aime Sue! Wow. I finally got around to making this (with help from the bf). I admit to using organic, but not “freshly” made peanut butter, but that was the only deviation. We are in heaven. I warned him that the end result probably wouldn’t look as good as your pictures did, but in fact, it did! He’s taken home several pieces to share with his mom and other family and it’s been a hit out of the park :)
I’m not even half raw, but I know enough by now to know when I taste a winner, and this is IT! Thank you!
That is wonderful Anastasia! Thank you for trusting the recipe and giving it a try. :) Many blessings! amie sue