*click* *tap* *click *click* *tap*
That is the sound of some readers who having seen the rather bizarre title of today’s post, may have gone elsewhere for fear of what they were going to see. But lean in closer Dear Reader, because I’m glad that you’ve stayed and I’m going to share with you a rather unusual recipe today. Yes raw brownies with a chocolate avocado frosting.
I have a bit of a fascination with raw food stemming from one person. Demi Moore. I know, very random but when I read in a trashy mag (i.e. the Oracle 
) that she subsisted in a raw food diet I was suddenly sold on it. OK I know, the chances are highly probable that her youthful looks are more based on a combination of a few other factors that have nothing to do with her choice of a young husband. But considering I’m all kinds of hopeful about everything I choose to believe that it has something to do with it.
Delicious Raw Honey from Walkabout Apiaries, Milawa
I got the recipe from my wonderful friend Hannah from Wayfaring Chocolate who posted about how good these were. They were easy enough to whip up and even better they need to be eaten while frozen although they never quite freeze up hard. They are also vegan, gluten free and dairy free.
And the taste? Well it’s pretty good! It’s not the same as a gooey fudgey baked brownie but of course that’s nothing that a truckload of butter, sugar and eggs won’t fix. It does satisfy a chocolate craving, even if there is actually no actual chocolate in it. And there is icing too. Can you see how hard it is working to convert you? The icing, made out of avocado, honey and cocoa is actually pretty good and not at all “avocadoey” and gives it that more cake like quality. I would recommend perhaps putting this in a smaller tin, it was quite thin by the time it was all spread out. And best of luck not eating the medjool dates before they go into the mix!
I looked in the mirror-so far no Demi Moore like moments and I didn’t get the urge to post a picture of myself in a bikini and put it on twitter. Perhaps some things are best left to the experts!
So tell me Dear Reader, which celebrity or person (said as if the two were mutually exclusive) would you like to look like when you get older?
P.S. And I have to say a big congratulations to Lauren W. who won the auction for a dozen of my cupcakes and she chose the baby booties cupcakes in a pale blue. I am afraid that I let you all down a bit when I said that I’d let you know when the auction was on. When I had a look at Sabrina’s site, she was having technical difficulties with the software that she was using so I didn’t want to send anyone there just then and by the time I realised that it was fixed the auction was over! But in fantastic news, we raised $8,269 for Second Harvest Japan!! That’s over three times what she was aiming for and if anyone wants to give you can do so here.
And here is a message from Second Harvest Japan:
“Thank you so much for your efforts to raise fund for our disaster relief operation in Japan! We are SO grateful for you all. I’m so touched that all the bloggers got together and concentrated their energy on this. I think this inspires other people to participate in support for people in the affected areas.”
Congratulations on your baby Lauren and thankyou for supporting the people of Japan 
Raw Brownies with Chocolate Avocado Frosting
Adapted from Wayfaring Chocolate and here
- 1 cup (110g) walnuts
- 1 cup (150g) medjool dates, pitted
- 1/3 cup (30g) cocoa powder
For frosting
- 1 avocado
- 70 g/2.5 ozs raw honey (the honey makes them non-vegan though) or agave nectar
- 30 g/ 1 oz. cocoa powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- dash salt
- dash cinnamon
1. Combine walnuts, dates and the 1/3 cup of cocoa powder in a food processor and process until the mixture, according to the original recipe, “looks like potting soil”. Pat this into a loaf tin (I placed this in a 2x20cm square pan but found it a bit too thin).
2. In the food processor, whiz the avocado, honey or agave, second lot of cocoa, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon until smooth.
3. Spread the icing over the brownie base, then put in the freezer for about an hour to set. No matter how long the brownies stay in the freezer, they never become rock-hard.
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111 Comments | Add your own
Very unique and interesting! I bet they taste really good.
Cheers,
Rosa
I must admit, I couldn’t believe the title of this post! But I trust you, and they look delicious!
You are a crazy genius, my dear! I would definitely love to try this unique creation.
You made a raw brownie! They are so yummy and much healthier than the regular ones…
Wow these look really healthy!
What an interesting recipe! I’ve been following the raw chocolate trend a bit – been tempted to invest in that expensive tub of cocoa butter at Chefs’ Warehouse..
Wow!! What a recipe!
It’s kind of… Not bad for you at all and yet it looks so decadent!
The icing is so shiny too.
Congratulations on helping to raise so much money for japan.
Yum! These look so good. I make raw treats all the time – especially since I started having withdrawals from larabars and can’t get my hands on some until my boyfriend returns home! Next time I make some I will HAVE to try this frosting!
These sound terrific, Jr. and I must make these for our dessert today right away, we’ve got all the ingredients!
OMG! I so need to make these. And Lorriane, we are baking soul-sisters but I’ve recently have been hanging with some raw food minded folks. I can make them treats. I love making people treats!
On the raw food subject, have you seen or heard of the documentary film, May I Be Frank? (www.mayibefrankmovie.com)
It’s like the opposite of Super Size Me. They took an obese man and fed him raw food for 42 days.
I got to be the first poster, yeah and it’s me, Julianna. I just feel the need to clarify.
XO.
Those cupcakes are the best!!! I am still unsure about avocado and chocolate,altho I must say it looks fabulous and I am sure I would love it!
I was a raw foodie for 18 months and I’ve never felt so healthy. I don’t think it’s a diet you can sustain for any real length of time, and it’s not very social. But the more raw food you can get into your diet the better… especially delicious raw food like these ‘chocolate brownies’. Thanks for sharing
Oooooh! nice! I saw Hannah’s raw brownies and thought they looked good. Love the addition of avocado icing, YUM!
They are so healthy (at least in my book). I will have to make these and with each bite, convince myself that I look more and more like Demi.
Happy Friday, NQN.
SSG xxx
The secret is out! These raw choco beauties are amazing. Feed them to your friends and don’t tell them they’re raw and contain avocado till the complements start to flow. Winner!
These look yummy, Lorraine! I’ll definitely give them a whirl. I recently discovered raw food on a trip to Byron Bay. I had no idea you could make a decent dessert out of things like nuts, avocado, oil and dates. Admittedly, it doesn’t taste as good as baked desserts, but it’s a good alternative for people with food sensitivities. x
These look yummy, Lorraine! I’ll definitely give them a whirl. I discovered raw food on a trip to Byron Bay. I had no idea you could make a decent dessert out of things like nuts, avocado, oil and dates. Admittedly, it doesn’t taste as good as baked desserts, but it’s a good alternative for people with food sensitivities. x
hey lorraine – thats awesome –
i am so glad you have offered up some RAW FOOD treats to us all – it seems to becoming more and more widespread –
i will definately be trying these
xxx
I must try these. YOU!! Thank you.
Thanks for the recipe!
I’m fascinated by the world of raw myself (although yet to make a commitment). My daughter adores a very similar recipe that I make for her only as cupcakes with a chocolate ganache made with coconut oil. I’ve also made a divine avocado chocolate mousse that was surprisingly decadent.
How intriguing a recipe!
I try to follow a paleo diet and these would fit right in.
I love the variety of your posts
very interesting… though I must point out they cannot be vegan if there is honey involved.
Fabulous. I love raw brownies… and the avocado is perfect!
Much less scared once I read the ingredients! It actual sounds really good. I wonder if my kid would like it, she always eats cake batter but never the cake!!!
These look delicious Lorraine. And congratulations on raising so much money, it was a fantastic thing for you all to do. Happy Friday!
Oh you had me at chocolate!
I can’t wait to try this – I tried to make chocolate mousse with avocado and cocoa and it wasn’t very good so I will have to try this!
Your photography is so beautiful.
Where did you get that tea set? it’s gorgeous!
This recipe is perfect for someone like me, easy easy EASY! No danger of burning the house down if you aren’t using the oven, right?
Yay! I love checking out new vegan baking recipes. Plus I have quite a few hardcore vegan friends (we’re talking no salt, no sugar, no fat here) so I was freaking out about what to bake for them at our engagement party.. I reckon this one fits the bill pretty well! Thanks!
have to admit i had a WTF moment when i saw the heading but you kept me reading and now im very tempted to go out and buy all the ingredients.
Well, medjool dates I prob can’t find and agave nectar also may be unavailable – but this IS interesting enough to try, even for a non-cake lover like me! Who would I like to look like when older – ha! ha! ha! kind’of in my case – but have almost no wrinkles now and awfully good hair – so, I want to look like me without TOO much further obvious ‘deterioration’!!
Fascinating! I do believe the problem of browning opened avocados has been solved, just mix with lots of cocoa – it does look delicious!
OMG! Yes! Yes! Yes! This looks so Mexican, or at least Mexican-friendly. I can’t wait to try these.
I admit I raised my eyebrows a bit when I saw you posted a raw, vegan baked good recipe. I thought, “NQN? Really???”
I’ve actually tried a few raw foods that I actually liked. The only drawback, though, is they often have far more calories than the real deal thing because of all the nuts they use. So, I’ll take the baked, non-vegan version instead.
And I look nothing like her, but I’d love to look as elegant and comfortable in her own shoes as Helen Mirren. In the age of botox madness, it’s refreshing to see a woman age gracefully and lovely like that.
I can’t wait to try these out. One minor thing though, if you use honey, they aren’t considered vegan.
Hmmm, it’s pushing the definition of a brownie for me… I do like the sounds of the icing though
those raw foodists are so creative! they come up with all kinds of crazy stuff.
i’m not a huge fan of nuts in baked goods/treats which is crap being a glutard and all.
Yummo, I saw this on Hannah’s blog. I love the combo of avocado and chocolate. Now im really keen to make these
That is so amazingly quirky. I would never imagine looking at those brownies that the icing has avocado in it. I think that’s definately something I’ll need to try it to believe it!
I was a bit bummed that I didn’t win your cupcakes as I bidded on them and wanted those gorgeous jam cupcakes! But it’s all for a good cause so the more raised the better!
OK, Carolyn Jung – I’ll go along with Helen Mirren – also happen to adore the lady and the joy her acting has given me! Class act all aling!! Disagree about raw foods having more calories/kilojoules – yes, nuts are fairly heavy, but their benefits are SO huge, a handful a day truly could keep the doctor away!!
The words ‘raw’, ‘chocolate’ and ‘avocado’ shouldn’t really go together, but your brownie looks really good! Not sure if I’d attempt it, though
And I want to look like Edna from the Incredibles when I’m older. Fierce Japanese/German fashion designer. *sigh*
I love avocado on anything and everything so I would probably love these. When I’m older I’d like to be Ms Dinsmoor from the 1998 version of Great Expectations.
Ha! As soon as I saw “avocado frosting” I was hooked! Looks amazing, Lorraine, and how creative
Dear ‘OohLookBe!’ – we normally eat avocado the way it comes from the shop, and ‘chockie’ out of the packet, as a rule – so exactly what makes them ‘not raw’ (apologize for the grammar!)? Why can’t they be put together if the end result justifies it? (And please don’t be ‘fierce’ – it’s bad for your BP!).
L, Oh, that’s a bit hard to swallow…Avocado? But the brownies look superb. I must admit….
I’m going to copy some of the other readers: Helen Mirren is one of the hottest, sexiest mature woman I’ve ever seen. I loooooooooooooooove her. I really loooove her. I want that body NOW.xx
Ugh I really should have learnt by now never to read your blog before I have eaten lunch. Now all I want for lunch is chocolate lol!
I think I would go with Drew Barrymore – Ok she isnt actually old now but she looks great for her mid 30′s and has always stayed very true to herself.
The word “vegan” is often enough to frighten me off from a recipe, but chocolate reels me right back in – I firmly believe it will improve just about anything!
Wow Lorraine…your timing is amazing!! I’ve been looking forward to afternoon tea next week with a girlfriend who has moved to Byron and just heard that she’s on a wheat-free, sugar-free, dairy-free diet… these will be absolutely perfect! Thank you!
))
These brownies look so good – I just want to bite into that frosting! Hmmm – when I get older, I’d be happy to look like Helen Mirren.
PS Speaking of raw food…did you see the cover story of this week’s Sydney Morning Herald Good Living supplement on Australia’s first raw milk cheese? It’s absolutely delicious and made by Bruny Island Cheese Company. My sister lives on beautiful Bruny Island, Lorraine…I’d love to take you there and introduce you to all her fabulous foodie friends…might need to swap the Jimmy Choos for gumboots but I assure you it would be worth it!
))
Hi Jaqi-well that sounds like an offer I’d jump for!
OK Lorraine…you’re on!
Let’s talk to the lovely people at Tourism Tasmania and see if we can organise a trip to Bruny Island (Tasmania is Foodie Heaven). Bruny featured on Matthew Evan’s TV programme Gourmet Farmer (and in fact he even visited my sister in one episode to learn how to use a wood-fired stove.) Bruny Island has the best oysters around…and cute fairy penguins! (although the latter are strictly for photographing not for eating he he
I’ve heard of chocolate avocado pudding, and now brownies:) They look wonderful. I love avocados! I just packaged my auction cookies to send off to France:)
Mmmmm this looks really perfect right about now actually. Always late at night
Hmmm well~considering that I’m Korean–I’m not quite sure who I CAN even look like! haha!
I was actually ingtrigued by the avocado! And with raw food, food for thought indeed
Love the tea cup set that goes so well with this post 
Haha it’s funny, when I first read the title I thought “brilliant!!!”
I am so making these, saw them on Hannah’s blog & now you’ve reminded me! I would like to look like Julia Roberts when I’m older – she’s ageing beautifully. Perhaps coz she’s not all that old 
Heidi xo
I think these sound great! I don’t think I will be adopting the raw food diet, but it’s great to try, and great to have these recipes in my collection for InTolerant cooking.
That is fantastic, I am super impressed by the frosting, it sounds weird, but I can see how it works and the natural fats in the avo would make the chocolate all shiny and fabulous.
When I get older… Hmmm… I’s like to age beautifully like Marisa Tomai, or perhaps Diane Keaton. If it were at all possible, I’d take Sarah Jessica Parkers cute little size 0 body too.
I’m definitely intrigued by these, as the chocolate / avocado combination caught my eye a while back (perhaps last season’s Masterchef?), and am tempted to try it out (given my obsession with brownies!).
I think I wouldn’t mind ageing like Catherine Zeta-Jones, for the fabulous hair, great legs and the dance ability. Or perhaps like Julia Child, for putting out her amazing cookbook when a little further along in life…
I’m not really a fan of anything vegan and a bout of vegetarianism in college led to a short period of embarrassing baldness. Still, these no-bake choc treats look gorgeously fudgy and tempting.
Think I need to try the frosting at least!
Hi Lorraine, Would love to try this but allergic to avocado, any alternatives you could suggest? Thanks.
I tried a vegan blueberry chocolate cake earlier in the week. It was not good but I’m so tempted by these. They look amazing. I want to go home NOW and make them!!
PS when I get older I want to look like my Mum (please don’t vomit!). She’s hit 50 and looks FAB!
Well, as intriguing as this recipe sounds, I’d have to opt for the comforting ( and fattening) butter, sugar,egg variety. Nothing can placate quite like it .
I choose Sophia Loren, she still has ‘it’ and attributes it to eating pasta!
Lorraine, if you partake in the delectable, gourmet Bruny Island trip and need some company, I’m putting my hand up
I have to say I was skeptical – mostly of the avocado frosting, but the photos make the brownies look so delicious!
I always thought Juliette Binoche looked beautiful at any age and would love to look like her!
Oh Lorraine! *hand over heart* I’ve been away from the Internet as a result of my first interstate work trip, and I cannot tell you how utterly thrilled I am to have had this pop up on my screen as I trawled through my suddenly-out-of-control google reader! Thank you so, so much for your lovely words! I’m so glad you enjoyed these, even without the truckloads of butter, but I’m even gladder for our friendship
*hugs*
I almost left before reading with my head bowed in shame – when it comes to these brownies I am in the must-try-harder corner – I discovered the hard way that it must be medjool dates and not the dried ones – yours look gorgeous
I was excited to see this post title! I’ve been interested in raw chocolate / avocado desserts since Skye on Masterchef but I still haven’t tried it. This looks and sounds pretty delicious!
Oooh that frosting looks like it would make a fantastic edible face mask!
I love chocolate and avocado… and congras to the winner
I just LOVE raw desserts, somehow you can kid yourself into thinking they are good for you and have a second serving. These sound pretty divine…
LOVE that you went raw girl!! These brownies look amazing & it is essential I do something like this pronto!
Oh what the heck, I’m in…
I’ll give anything a whirl that has either chocolate or avocado, so these must be good!
xxoo,
RMW
avocado, honey and cocoa..goodness that alone would have me baking these today!! congrats to Lauren!!
Despite reading the title and thinking uurrgh – this actually looks delicious. Lorraine you have done it again!
Great recipe! I have heard of the raw diet and the new trend to eat raw. A somewhat new restaurant called 105 degrees in Oklahoma City opened up, where nothing is cooked above…well, 105 degrees. It’s an interesting concept and can have some great health benefits. This is an innovative recipe. Thanks for posting.
Amazing how the raw food movement is taking off. I’m curious too! Lorraine, congratulations on everything… When does your book come out? I love the baby bootie cupcake. So detailed and adorable…
You’re braver than me!
These sound interesting, will definitely have to give it a whirl.
Have always wondered what avocado tastes like in a sweet treat, but have yet to try it out for myself. This would be a great recipe for summer, when it’s too hot to use the oven!
Medjool dates can be found on the net. Try Hadley’s or Sniff’s.Organic agave, too.I was warned to be careful where I get agave from.
How does honey not fall into the raw food vegan category? Granted,
it is bee vomit, but it is not dairy or meat. I went through the raw food thing in the early 70′s and hated it so much that I moved on to raw fruit for a year. Then I started to work in restaurants and the bacon smell
seduced me. At 96 lbs., it was time to eat like the omnivore I am. I missed the dairy more than the meat. ….The avacado in the chocolate,… when this fruit turns brown it tastes like shoe polish. I always leave the pit in the guacamole to prevent this. Did you have any problem with that, or was it so yummy that you ate it before there could be a problem? You were brave to try this one!
Oops, quick one here. Sniff’s went out of business, but there is Shield’s in Indio, California,which is Coachella (the desert). Best medjool’s!!!!They even sell date crystals for to make date milkshakes. See their website.:-)
Hi,
I was wondering if sunflower seeds would make a suitable substitute for walnuts? (as have a nut allergy). Or are there any better alternatives?
I have actually made and eaten these and they are surprisingly good.
And I made Boo a green eggs and ham cake once when he couldn’t have gluten, milk, soy, colours or any freaking FLAVOUR in his food and made avocado icing and it was AWESOME.
This does sound quite yummy but I have a sneaking suspicion the dates would be gone before I had a chance to use them here
This sounds and looks really good. Thanks Lorraine and Hannah! I have bookmarked this recipe, but have not had the chance to try it yet. I really should get around trying some of these raw recipes soon:)
I had wanted to comment on this, Lorraine. The avocado took me by surprise but the idea is solid. Demi looks amazing, but as a friend pointed out… she spends more on staying that way than most of us make in a year (or 2). Still, she looks amazing but then, so does my hero, Helen Mirren who looks amazing in a bathing suit… staggering actually, and she’s almost 65, bless her heart. She’s also brilliant and an enormous talent which may have something to do with the glow!
The avocado icing looks super interesting. I wonder if it’s lower calorie compare to one that uses butter. But hey! Anything with an interesting twist is always more awesome
Unfortunately I’m not a fan of dates so maybe these aren’t my cup of tea.. but on a positive note i will definitely give this recipe to my vegan friend who is always looking for yummy treats that she can actually eat, so she will be very excited
This recipe is very cool, and perfect for surprising people with – telling them what it is after they’ve eaten it
Yes, I was taken back a bit when I read your title but I new it would look lovely & probably taste great as well. I love the booty cupcakes they look so cute.
this is unique, i will try it.,
excellent. i didn’t know the avocado was capable of such decadence, but that was foolish of me. it’s a magical fruit.
I made them! They certainly didn’t come out like they did in the Wayfaring Chocolate blog. I wish they had. They were still tasty though. http://tinyurl.com/5sxuc9u
I have seen these on Hannah’s site too and have been tempted to make it.
These brownies to seem to be a bit weird but I would never click away without giving you a chance, that’s how much I trust you. I hope when I get older I look like my mum, good news is I have her great genes on my side already.
Interesting! I’ve been dying to try avocado baking for a while now, but I still haven’t gotten around to it. On the older lady front, I have to say, I saw Barbra Streisand on Oprah the other day and I thought she looked really good. I’m sure she’s had some work done, but it wasn’t overdone like so many Hollywood ladies. It’s unfortunate that people feel like they need plastic surgery, but, if you’re going to do it, a subtle approach is better, I think!
Interesting! I think i’d prefer to taste these first not knowing what’s in them
I’d love to look like Helen Mirren when i’m older. All class
I made these again, mixing the icing and base together this time and they were good. Like a chewy date brownie. http://vegetariansweettooth.blogspot.com/2011/06/raw-brownies-aka-energy-bars-mark-3.html
I made these and they are divine!! A big hit!
Going to do them with goji’s and chilli next time…thx a mil
wow!!!! That icing is DEEEELICIOUS!!! Thanks!
These are the best brownies I’ve ever eaten! Simply masterful and a healthy treat at that.
These are the best brownies EVER!!!!!!! I FREAKN LOVE YOU .. thank you for sharing : )
Hi Veggie sweet tooth, Jane, Elaine, Dustin and Marryam! I’m so glad that you liked them!!
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