To you I say: a) You can totally eat all of these deserts for any meal, they’re that delicious and healthy. So I do feel like I’m providing you with a pretty proper, rounded diet. And b) It’s almost Valentine’s Day, my friends! I’m overloading you with chocolate for the obvious reasons, but most notably because–while chocolate hasn’t necessarily been proven an aphrodisiac, nor have aphrodisiacs really been proven to exist–chocolate boosts serotonin levels.. and happier people are much more likely to, well, you know. It.. Do it.. To do it…. TO HAVE SEX, PEOPLE. GEEZ. So.. I think what I’m trying to say is, “You’re welcome.” In addition to the happy-happy-chocolate, the plant-based desserts are less likely to cause any bizarre reactions like one might experience post-white flour/sugar, or the general heaviness that tends to accompany more processed, animal product-based desserts. Throw in a bit of compassion for the animals, our earth, and your sweetums*, and it’s pretty much a sure thing. That’s a recipe for some lovin’, if I’ve ever heard one. This brownie is one of the very first raw dessert dishes I made, expecting it to taste like a glorified–and much cheaper–Lara bar. Instead, my mind was blown. I’d never been one for too cakey of a brownie anyway, foregoing the crackly tops for dense, nearly-molten textures, slathered in a rich, fudgy frosting. So when I blended up a few raw vegan ingredients and produced a decadently rich, dense, and chewy brownie, I basically had a heart attack.. because I was preventing them at the same time?! I mean.. what is that. You’ll be surprised just how much flavor can come packed in an unassuming little square, whipped together from only five simple ingredients. Because there’s no extraneous flour or eggs, the luxurious chocolate shines through beautifully, while the dates provide a chewy, cushiony platform. Packed with protein and fiber, not to mention magnesium and copper, these raw brownies are just as perfect for a little afternoon or pre-run snack as they are to cap a special occasion dinner. These keep in the freezer beautifully for, er, a long time. I still have a couple squares from this batch in my freezer, though I originally shot them almost exactly a month ago. I’m not too particular about “keeps for” lengths personally, but I’d say these easily keep a month in the freezer, as long as they’re in an air-tight container. Even if you opt to keep them in the fridge, freezing them at first helps you cut them into perfect little uniform squares, which you can then nosh upon however you like. If you do freeze them, I find that giving them just a few minutes to “thaw” before inhaling works best–no need for much time, just a bit. Make these!
