Whole Grain Carob Brownies With Dates |
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Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes |
Ready In: 40 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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This is a flavorful, vegan, healthy and non-stimulating alternative to regular brownies, thus making them adequate to serve to your 9-year old after supper, without worrying about the running all over the house. This is a lightly modified version of Whole Wheat Carob Brownies by Chef #236857 . The texture is somewhat cakelike, but they melt in the mouth. Also, don't expect a date taste, since it is quite overpowered by the strong carob flavor. Instead of flavor, the dates provide here some creamy brown sweeteness, more delicate than other sweeteners. And they are quite economical, too. Ingredients:
1/3 cup brown rice flour |
1 cup whole wheat flour |
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder |
1/4 teaspoon salt (preferably unbleached salt such as pink rock salt or gray sea salt) |
1/3 cup carob powder |
3/4 cup dates (chopped, lightly packed) |
water (enough to fill the spaces between the dates in the measuring cup) |
1/3 cup oil (i used extra-virgin olive oil and extra-virgin sunflower oil) |
1 -2 tablespoon molasses (i recommend unsulphured blackstrap) |
1/4 cup water (or aromatic liquid, such as chai, chicory or basmati rice milk) |
2 teaspoons vanilla (you could also replace by some almond extract and add almond slivers to the recipe) |
1 tablespoon rum (or other alcohol of your choice, such as brandy, amaretto or cointreau) |
1 teaspoon orange zest (optional) |
1/3-1/2 cup carob chips (optional) |
1/3-1/2 cup hazelnuts, chopped (optional. you could also put almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, macadamia... be inventive!) |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease lightly a 8 X8 pan.
3. Put the dates and the dates' water in a small saucepan.
4. Bring to a boil, stirring often.
5. When the dates look like a paste, remove from the heat.
6. Put the bottom of the saucepan in cold water.
7. Sift together in a medium bowl the flours, baking powder, salt and carob.
8. In a small bowl, whisk together the cooled date paste, oil, molasses, liquid, flavor and alcohol.
9. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ones and stir. If using optional ingredients, mix roughly. If not, mix well.
10. Add the zest, chips, nuts and combine well.
11. Pour the batter in your pan and spread it.
12. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
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