Vegan Chocolate and Hazelnut Brownies

To eat well is to acknowledge that there are always moments that call for a slice of cake or a mouthful of chocolate.

And of course we are trying to avoid processed and ultra processed foods, so a few "treat" recipes, made from whole ingredients, will prove invaluable to keep your nourishing intentions on track.

These are also lovely to make as gifts for friends

Ingredients

1 cup ground almonds

1 cup oat flour ( I grind oats in Vitamix for this)

1 cup raw cacao powder

1 cup coconut sugar

100 g dates (about 5 medjool)

100g raw cacao block (melted)

100g cacao butter (melted)

100g water

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 cup hazelnuts

Method

First mix all your dry ingredients (almonds, oats, cacao, sugar) and dates • then melt your Cacao block and cacao butter in a bowl over a pan of boiling water • add half (that’s just a 1/2)

of the hazelnuts to the mixer and tip in the melted cacao+butter • add the water and vanilla essence and blitz • turn out into a square tin lined with parchment and sprinkle over the remaining 1/2 cup of hazelnuts • place the tray in the freezer (1/2 hour) or fridge to set and then cut into squares • these are Rich and do contain sugar so cut small squares and enjoy with a lovely cup of fresh mint or ginger tea xx •