The Best No Bake Brownies

Name: The Best No Bake Brownies
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 1/2 cup raw pecans (or cashews); 1 c medjool dates (pitted); 1/3 cup cocoa powder; 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips; 1 tsp Vanilla extract; 2 tsp espresso powder (optional); Dash of sea salt (optional); 1-2 T milk of choice; 1/3 c coconut oil ((use refined if you don't want the coconut flavor)); 1/3 c cocoa powder (heaping); 2 T maple or agave; 1 tsp vanilla; dash of sea salt

By Lorie Yarro

5 from 2 votes

Oct 15, 2019, Updated Nov 11, 2024

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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!

Why these are the best no bake brownies:
How to make this recipe:
Notes and Pro-Tips:
The Best No Bake Brownies Recipe
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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:

Start by adding the pecans and/or cashews into the food processor and processing them until a fine, grain like consistency.
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.
Transfer the mixture to a parchment lined pan and PRESS, PRESS, PRESS firmly.
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.