Date brownies are dense, rich and fudgy brownies sweetened with soft, sweet and sticky dates. These decadent chocolate brownies with dates are quick and easy to make and are refined sugar free. Enjoy these date and cocoa brownies plain or topped with a simple fudge glaze.
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Why Should You Make This Recipe
Take a quick look around my blog and you’ll quickly notice how much I love brownies made with special ingredients. I adore my Almond Flour Brownies, Avocado Brownies, Espresso Brownies, Banana Brownies, Peanut Butter Brownies and Dairy Free Brownies. This date brownie may just be my new favorite. I know you’ll love this recipe because:
- Simple pantry ingredients. You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make a batch of quick, simple and simply decadent fudgy date brownies.
- You love rich, fudgy refined sugar free brownies. If being super quick and easy to make wasn’t reason enough, these lower sugar brownies boast the same delightful flavors and textures of regular homemade brownies. In fact, with healthier ingredients such as dates, they may actually be even better.
Ingredients
Before I show you how to simple it is to make this date brownie recipe, make sure you have these ingredients ready to go.
Date Brownies
- Dry Ingredients: Gather your all purpose flour, espresso powder, cocoa powder and salt.
- Wet ingredients: Gather your dates, water, butter, eggs, vanilla extract and chocolate chips.
Chocolate Glaze
Gather chocolate chips, maple syrup, cocoa powder and milk.
Substitutions
Making these brownies with dates is super simple and you probably already have everything you need. But, in case you’re missing something, here are my recommended substitutions to make these brownies any time you want.
- Dates: Feel free to use your preferred dates. I love using pitted Medjool dates from Trader Joes.
- Espresso Powder: This is a flavor boost and makes the brownies taste even more chocolate-y. Feel free to omit.
- Hot Water: This breaks down the dates and helps to create the date paste. Feel free to use hot coffee or even tea if you like.
- Unsalted Butter: Vegan butter or plant based can also be used in place of regular unsalted butter.
- Cocoa Powder: Any type of unsweetened cocoa powder will work well in this refined sugar free brownie recipe. However, I love using dutch process cocoa powder for its mellow, but intensely chocolate-y flavor.
- Eggs: This is an essential ingredient for these rich and fudgy date chocolate brownies. This recipe hasn’t been tested without eggs.
- Vanilla Extract: This is more for background flavor and nicely enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
- All Purpose Flour: Make these date filled brownies gluten free by using a good 1-1 gluten free flour. I recommend using the one from Bob’s Red Mill. Measure based off the weight of the flour (90 g) versus cup for cup.
- Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips: I like to add a handful into the brownies for even more chocolate flavor! Feel free to omit if needed. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate or dairy free chocolate chips also work well in these dense and fudgy brownies.
Variations
- Almond Flour Date Brownies: Follow my recipe for Almond Flour Brownies, but replace the sugar with the same amount of date paste as written in this brownie recipe.
- Two Bite Date Brownies: Prepare the recipe as written. Instead of pressing the brownie batter into a prepared pan, grease a 24 ct. mini muffin pan with butter or non stick spray. Scoop 1 tablespoon sized scoops of brownie batter into each of the prepared mini muffin cups. Bake the mini brownies for 12 - 15 minutes at 350 F (177 C). Cool the brownies in the pan for 30 minutes before using a knife to gently pry the brownies out of the pan.
How To Make
Learn how to make date brownies in a few simple steps.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper along the bottom and two sides. In a heat safe bowl add the dates and espresso powder. Pour hot water over the top of the dates and espresso powder. Gently stir to ensure the dates are fully mixed into the water. Allow the dates to soak in the hot water for about 15 minutes. Pour the dates and espresso water mixture into a blender or food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth and like a loose paste consistency.
- In a mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment incorporate the butter and date paste on low for about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium speed. Mix the butter and date paste for an additional 1 -2 minutes or until the butter and dates are smooth and well combined. On low, mix in the eggs, vanilla extract and cocoa powder one at time until smooth and well combined. Once the wet ingredients are well combined, mix in the salt and flour on low until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips if you like.
- Evenly scoop the date brownie batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 25 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool the brownies in the pan for 30 minutes. Lift the brownies from the pan to fully cool on a cooling rack.
- Add the chocolate chips, cocoa powder, maple syrup and one tablespoon milk to a microwave safe bowl. Heat the mixture in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the mixture is fully melted, smooth and well combined. Pour the glaze on top of the cooled brownies.
How To Store, Freeze and Thaw
- Store: These fudgy brownies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container the day they are made. For longer storage, keep the date chocolate brownies in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week.
- Freeze: Make sure the brownies are completely cooled to room temperature. Cut the brownie into your preferred amount of pieces. Individually wrap each fudgy brownie in plastic wrap and place in a ziplock bag. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: The easiest and tastiest way to thaw your fudgy date cocoa brownies is to let them sit overnight in the fridge. Enjoy at room temperature or from the fridge (this is my favorite way).
M’s Expert Tips
- Soak the dates in hot water. Soaking dates in hot water allows them to soften enough to blend into a smooth paste. Add a tablespoon of espresso powder to the liquid for an even deeper chocolate flavor.
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature: This allows the ingredients to mix together more evenly which requires less mixing, resulting in deliciously chewy brownies.
- Use an 8x8 pan metal pan. This recipe was created using an 8x8 aluminum pan. If you are using a glass baking dish, you may need to add a few more minutes to the baking time.
- Line the baking pan with parchment paper. This helps to release the brownies from the pan more easily. You can also lightly grease the pan if you prefer not to line it with parchment paper.
- Look for the signs the brownie is done. Use the baking time as a guide rather than a strict rule. Signs a brownie is finished baking are a set center with baked edges that have slightly pulled away from the edge of the pan.
- Fully cool the brownies. You may be very tempted to slice into these date sweetened brownies, but a little cooling time makes them even more amazing and gives them time to firm up.
- Use a plastic knife for perfectly sliced brownies. Fully cool the date chocolate brownies to room temperature. Then use a plastic knife to cut the brownies with clean and perfect lines.
FAQs
Are date brownies healthy?
These brownies with dates are a healthier alternative to traditional brownies due to the brownies being sweetened with dates.
How many dates equal 1 cup of sugar?
Blending about 12 dates with a bit a liquid creates 1 cup of date paste which can replace one cup of sugar.
What do date brownies taste like?
These brownies sweetened with dates taste just like regular fudgy brownies, but have a deeper chocolate flavor and are a bit less sweet.
Do date brownies need to be stored in the fridge?
I highly recommend keeping these date chocolate brownies in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week.
Other Date Recipes to Try
If you try this Date Brownies recipe please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Doing so helps other readers decide if this is a great recipe to bake. Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram using @olivesnthyme so I can see what you’re baking! Happy Baking! - M
Date Brownies Recipe
Date brownies are dense, rich and fudgy brownies sweetened with soft, sweet and sticky dates. These decadent chocolate brownies with dates are quick and easy to make and are refined sugar free. Enjoy these date and cocoa brownies plain or topped with a simple fudge glaze.
Equipment
- 1 8X8 (20 cm) aluminum metal pan
- 1 sheet parchment paper
- 1 heat safe bowl
- 1 food processor or blender
- 1 stand mixer with paddle attachment or electric hand mixer with beaters
Ingredients
Date Brownies
- 1½ cups (265 g) pitted Medjool dates
- 1 cup (240 ml) hot water
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder, optional
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (60 g) cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (90 g) all purpose flour
Chocolate Glaze
- 2 oz. chocolate chips about ⅓ cup
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 - 2 tablespoons milk, as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (177 C). Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper along the bottom and two sides.
- In a heat safe bowl add the dates and espresso powder. Pour hot water over the top of the dates and espresso powder. Gently stir to ensure the dates are fully mixed into the water. Cover with a kitchen or tea towel to trap the steam and allow the dates to soak in the hot water for about 15 minutes. Pour the dates and espresso water mixture into a blender or food processor. Process until the mixture is smooth and like a loose paste consistency.1½ cups (265 g) pitted Medjool dates, 1 cup (240 ml) hot water, 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder, optional
- In a mixing bowl fitted with paddle attachment, add tablespoon sized slices of room temperature butter. Top the butter with the date paste. Incorporate the butter and date paste on low for about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium speed. Mix the butter and date paste for an additional 1 -2 minutes or until the butter and dates are smooth and well combined.¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- On low, mix in the eggs, vanilla extract and cocoa powder one at time until smooth and well combined. Once the wet ingredients are well combined, mix in the salt and flour on low until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips if you like.Evenly scoop the date brownie batter into the prepared pan.2 large eggs, room temperature, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , ¾ cup (60 g) cocoa powder, ½ teaspoon salt , ¾ cup (90 g) all purpose flour , 2 oz. chocolate chips
- Bake for about 25 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool the brownies in the pan for 30 minutes. Lift the brownies from the pan to fully cool on a cooling rack. While the brownies cool, make the chocolate glaze.
- Add the chocolate chips, cocoa powder, maple syrup and one tablespoon milk to a microwave safe bowl. Heat the mixture in 30 second increments, stirring in between until the mixture is fully melted, smooth and well combined.As soon as the mixture is smooth and glossy, like chocolate ganache, pour the glaze on top of the cooled brownies. Evenly spread the mixture and allow the fudge glaze to set for about 15 - 20 minutes.2 tablespoons (30 ml) maple syrup, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 - 2 tablespoons milk, as needed
Notes
Store: These fudgy brownies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container the day they are made. For longer storage, keep the date chocolate brownies in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week.
See the Variations section of the blog post to make these date brownies with almond flour or as mini, two bite date brownies.
did you make this recipe?tag @olivesnthyme on Instagram
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