Chipotle Cacao Raw Brownies
Quick: You are traveling, you don’t have any of your own kitchen equipment and someone asks you to bring a raw dessert to dinner. What to do? Raw Brownies! I recently posted a brownie recipe but instead of making the same recipe, I found myself thinking, “What else can I do with this raw recipe?”. The thought of adding a little heat and smoke to the chocolate was irresistible. I was so pleased with how these came out, I thought it was worth sharing with you.
This time around I decided to use walnuts instead of hazelnuts and throw in some ground chipotle powder to get the aforementioned heat and smoke. I rounded it out with cinnamon, an exciting addition of figs that created depth and a chipotle ganache. Gourmet raw brownies, here we come!
Walnuts are a great source of Omega-3’s, heart healthy monounsaturated fats, anti-oxidants to support your immune system and L-arginine, an essential amino acid which promotes healthy blood pressure.
Chipotle Cacao Raw Brownies
MAKES 16 2x2 inch Brownies
Brownies
- 2 cups walnuts
- 1 cup cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon ground chipotle powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch Himalayan salt
- 2 cups Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup dried figs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
- Process the walnuts in the food processor until finely ground.
- Add cacao, chipotle powder, cinnamon and salt. Pulse until combined.
- Add figs and dates, 1/4 cup at a time until all ingredients are well combined. Pulse in optional vanilla.
- Pat into 8 x 8-inch pan.
Chipotle Ganache
- 1/2 cup cacao
- 1/2 cup agave nectar or liquid sweetener of your choice
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Whisk all ingredients together. Pour over top of brownies and chill until set.
- Cut into 2″ squares.
Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFiles wrote on December 19, 2011
Definitely going on my raw Christmas recipe list!
Lizzy wrote on December 19, 2011
Wowza Susan! I made these brownies and my sister is visiting me in San Diego from Eagle Idaho. We are literally fighting over them. I can’t get over how they taste like baked brownies but they are not. AMAZING! Each one of our friends we see gets one 1 inch square of one of these because they are delicious and a bit costly to make. I made them exactly as you said and they look just like the pic. But I didn’t add the chipotle to the ganache. And Jenni…they do taste just like the picture looks. This is wonderful Susan. I have told some people at foodnetwork.com what wonderful recipes you have. I hope you don’t mind.
Jenni wrote on December 18, 2011
My chocolate obsession just met it’s match 🙂 The picture is almost enough to satisfy it by itself! I love the spicy idea…
Eco Mama wrote on December 14, 2011
These look wonderful Susan, and I love the rustic presentation.
xo
Eco Mama
Lou Whitcomb wrote on December 14, 2011
I love chocolate, chipotle and cinnamon…thank you for the recipe. Will be making them soon.
bitt wrote on December 14, 2011
I like the figs in there. I like a little heat with chocolate too. Helps speed up the metabolism. Someone told me that chipotle wasn’t raw. I don’t mind either way I’ll eat it, but do you know?
Raw Antonia wrote on December 14, 2011
This looks absolutely divine! Thank you for such a well inspired recipe! Every raw food blog i go to, i see these amazing sweet treat recipes that i am just dying to try out. I’m not sure about adding chipotle powder to my brownies though. I might try out the simple recipe, without chipotle, because i have a problem with handling hotness. 🙂
Is there a substitute that I can use, to give the brownies a bit of edge without making them too hot? Also, will using honey instead of agave still make them taste good or will it ruin the whole thing?
Thanks again and Happy Holidays!
Kerrie wrote on December 14, 2011
Just made these . They are delicious and are being used as little gifts . I didnt have any figs but substituted prunes which worked well …. hmmm pardon the pun .
Alex wrote on December 14, 2011
Hallo,
Please help. I don’t know what chipotle powder is, let alone where to get it, I live in Europe. Is there anything else, any other spice I could put inside because your brownies (by the way, my favourite dessert) look to die for. Thanks a lot!!!!!
Susan wrote on December 14, 2011
It is dried chipotle peppers that are ground into a powder. I am not sure where you would get it in Europe. A spice that delivers some heat and smoke would work.