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    You are here: Home / No Bake Bites, Bars and More / The Best No Bake Brownies

    The Best No Bake Brownies

    Last Updated May 2, 2022. Published October 15, 2019 By Lorie Leave a Comment

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Stack of no bake brownies with chocolate icing and sea salt.

    These are the best No Bake Brownies you will ever whip up! So simple to make and only about 10 minutes to prep. A rich, fudgy frosting on top of these rich, chocolate date sweetened brownies will wow everyone. They will be a new favorite treat!

    Stack of no bake mocha brownies.

    No Bake Brownies? Why yes, indeed.

    Big fan of all things no bake and these Brownie Bites, inspired by my love for treats made of nuts and medjool dates, got me thinking about something a bit richer. You will be so amazed by these brownies--seriously no baking required!

    Why these are the best no bake brownies:

    • They only take about 10 minutes to make. Grab the food processor and whip everything up into a dough like mixture. Then press into a pan and add the frosting. Chill to set. So much quicker than baking brownies.
    • Two words: the frosting. The combination of coconut oil, cocoa powder and sweetener makes for a really creamy, decadent frosting. It adds so much to these and I don't ever want to know what a no bake brownie is without it!
    • Naturally gluten free and vegan. No gluten since these no bake brownies are made with nuts as the base. As long as you use a dairy free milk and chocolate chips then they are vegan. These will accommodate lots of dietary needs.
    • They are rich chocolate flavor thanks to espresso powder. Espresso powder can add a richness to brownies and chocolate baked goods. It does the trick in this recipe as well. If you don't have any, you will still be okay, but seriously it is so worth adding!
    Overhead shot of no bake mocha brownies.

    How to make this recipe:

    1. Start by adding the pecans and/or cashews into the food processor and processing them until a fine, grain like consistency.
    2. Add in all other ingredients except for the milk and process until a dough starts to form. It will start to ball up even. If the dough seems a bit dry, add the milk one tablespoon at a time. If your dates are dry this tends to be necessary.
    3. Transfer the mixture to a parchment lined pan and PRESS, PRESS, PRESS firmly.
    4. Whisk the icing ingredients together until smooth. Spread over the brownies. Chill for about 15 minutes to set. Cut and enjoy!

    Notes and Pro-Tips:

    • I have used both pecans and cashews for this brownie recipe. I prefer the pecans because they are a softer nut and release a bit of oil quickly which makes the brownies a bit fudgy. The pecans also don't seem to show up in the dough as light specs so they give more of an appreasnce of a brownie. And pecans just happen to be my very fave. I am sure you could use a combo of the two. Almonds or walnuts should work as well but I just haven't tried them.
    • Soaking your dates for about 15 minutes before making this recipe can be helpful. If your dates seem a bit dry, soak them in warm water to help them soften and moisten.
    • When I say press the dough into the pan, I mean PRESS. Like put all of your wait and force into it! You will get a much better brownie.
    • For a less sweet snack, you can skip the icing. If you prefer Lara Bar like energy bars, then making these no bake brownies into that is also a great option for a snack to fuel your day.
    • You could also skip this icing and opt for a rich Chocolate Buttercream frosting which if you ask me sounds PERFECT.
    • For best texture, let these sit out of the fridge for about 10 minutes before eating. It will allow the icing to soften a bit.
    No bake Mocha Brownies.

    Check out these other No Bake recipes!

    • No Bake Blueberry Lemon Mini Tarts
    • No Bake Pumpkin Crumble Bars
    • Copycat Perfect Bar Recipe
    • Mango Coconut Cashew Bars
    • Funfetti Cookie Dough Bites
    • No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (Buckeye Oat Bars)
    • Coconut Truffle Pops
    • Golden Oreo Truffles
    • Homemade Almond Joy Bars

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    The Best No Bake Brownies

    These are the best No Bake Brownies you will ever whip up! So simple to make and only about 10 minutes to prep. A rich, fudgy frosting on top of these rich, chocolate date sweetened brownies will wow everyone. They will be a new favorite treat!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Chill: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 292kcal
    Author: Lorie Yarro

    Ingredients 

    • 2 ½ cup raw pecans or cashews
    • 1 c medjool dates pitted
    • â…“ cup cocoa powder
    • ½ cup dark chocolate chips
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoon espresso powder optional
    • Dash of sea salt optional
    • 1-2 T milk of choice

    Fudge Icing

    • â…“ c coconut oil (use refined if you don't want the coconut flavor)
    • â…“ c cocoa powder (heaping)
    • 2 T maple or agave
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla
    • dash of sea salt

    Instructions

    • In a food processor, process pecans until fine and grainy. Pecans tend to release oil a bit faster than other nuts so they may get oily as well at this point.
    • Add in all other ingredients (except the milk) and process until a ball of dough starts to form. If the dough seems dry, add in milk one tablespoon at a time.
    • Press the dough FIRMLY into a parchment lined pan. (a 6x8 pan would probably work best because it will fill the entire pan but if you don't have one just press into one corner and there may be leftover space. You can make these thicker by using a smaller pan.
    • Whisk together all ingredients for the icing together until smooth. Spread icing over the brownies until covered and return to the refrigerator. Chill for another 10-15 minutes ( if you can wait that long!) Enjoy.

    Notes

    • When I say press the dough into the pan, I mean PRESS. Like put all of your wait and force into it! You will get a much better brownie.
    • For a less sweet snack, you can skip the icing. If you prefer Lara Bar like energy bars, then making these no bake brownies into that is also a great option for a snack to fuel your day.
    • You could also skip this icing and opt for a rich Chocolate Buttercream frosting which if you ask me sounds PERFECT.
    • For best texture, let these sit out of the fridge for about 10 minutes before eating. It will allow the icing to soften a bit.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you try this recipe? I would love to see it! Mention @LemonsAndZest or tag #LemonsAndZest!

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    Hello! I’m Lorie, welcome to lemons + zest! If you love to eat, and you love delicious, simple recipes, then you are in the right place. When it comes to cooking these days, I firmly believe that if it takes too long, or too much work to make, then it’s not for me. Read More…

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