Healthy Fudge Brownies

Now to be honest, the first time I tried this recipe, I was pretty doubtful about the success.

Boy, was I surprised. They're great! They taste a lot like fudge and are amazingly good. The first bite is always a bit surprising for some reason, but then I can't stop eating them--yum-o!

 I especially like them with fresh strawberries.

Whip some up and enjoy the rewards. :)

Healthy Fudge Brownies

1/2 cup pitted dates

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup almond milk

1 cup peanut butter (or almond butter)

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/3 cup chopped almonds (or walnuts or pecans)

1. Begin by soaking the dates and raisins in the milk for 1/2 hour or so. This will help them chop easier.

2. In food processor, chop dates and raisins until very fine. Pour chopped mixture into a bowl and mix in remaining ingredients.

3. Press into an 8x8, lined with wax paper, glass baking dish. Refrigerate for a few hours.

Chocolate, Date, and Walnut Baked Pudding

I hesitate adding this dessert because it's not particularly healthy (healthier than a lot of desserts though) and I also don't think it's very good without ice cream! But, if you just want something healthier than a lot of chocolate desserts, then this is for you. Plus, you can always eat it with low-fat frozen yogurt rather than ice cream. But while we're on the subject of ice cream, if you are going to eat vanilla ice cream, Dreyer's Natural Vanilla is the only way to go. It is truly the most delicious and only has "real" ingredients in it like cream, milk, sugar, etc. (none of that guar gum and such).

Now for the recipe:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 Tbsp. chopped walnuts
• 2 Tbsp. chopped dates
• 1 egg plus 1 egg white
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 Tbsp. whole-wheat flour
• 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp. skim milk

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 5 cup pudding basin or two ramekins with cooking spray. For best results, place a small circle of parchment paper in the base. Place the walnuts and dates on top of the paper.
2. Separate the whole egg into two separate bowls. Add the vanilla and sugar to the yolk and whisk to mix. Add the flour and cocoa into the mixture. Stir in the milk.
3. With a mixer, beat the two egg whites until soft peaks form.
4. Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg whites. Spoon mixture into the pudding basin or ramekins.
5. Bake for 30 minutes if in a pudding basin, 20 minutes if in ramekins. Run a knife around the pudding then turn it out and serve immediately.

I originally got this recipe from Guilt Free Desserts by Wendy Doyle