Hormone Friendly Grain-Free Brownies
Hormone friendly or not, these grain free brownies are decadent, easy to make, naturally gluten free, and did I mention delicious?
Not only are these brownies a really delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth, they’re also low in sugar, full of hormone supportive nutrients like iron and magnesium, and they sneak in plenty of healthy fats, fiber, and protein to support balanced blood sugar and healthy hormones!
And they’re one of my all-time favorite treats when I’m in need of a chocolate fix!
To boost the antioxidant content even more, opt for raw cacao powder, as it’s a more potent source of antioxidants than its dutch processed (or alkalized) counterparts. In its raw form cacao is one of the most nutrient dense plant foods on the planet, thanks to powerful plant compounds, including flavanols, which are thought to be beneficial for heart health, brain function, and improving insulin sensitivity.
Unfortunately, that’s not a green light to start skipping your veggies in favor of chocolate. Some of the health benefits are a bit overhyped, but these brownies are still perfect to enjoy on occasion.
They’re decadent, easy to make, naturally gluten free, and did I mention they’re delicious? I think they’re gonna be a new favorite!
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups almond butter (can sub cashew butter or tahini)
2 eggs (or sub 2 flax eggs, 2 T ground flax + 6 T water)
⅔-1 cup maple syrup
4 dates (pitted)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup dark chocolate chips (like Lily’s or Hu Kitchen)
1 scoop of collagen (optional)*
Sprinkle of flaky sea salt for topping
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350.
In a large bowl or food processor, combine the almond butter, maple syrup, and dates and blend until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and blend well combined.
In a separate bowl, add the raw cacao, baking soda, sea salt, and collagen (if using) and stir until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, reserving about a ¼ cup for topping the brownies.
Pour the batter into an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper. The batter will be quite thick. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and a generous pinch of flaky sea salt on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, and allow to cool before serving.
* These brownies also freeze perfectly, just be sure to allow them to cool completely before putting them into the freezer.
* The collagen powder is optional, but adding extra protein to baked goods is one of my favorite ways to minimize the spike in blood sugar that often occurs with sweet treats, and it helps make them a bit more satisfying too!
Enjoy, xx!