Real Food Brownies

This recipe is from the book The Healthiest Meals on Earth  by Jonny Bowden, Phd. When I first read it I thought there was no way these brownies were actually good. So, I had to try them for myself. They are good! If you are thinking they will taste like your grandmother's brownies smothered with butter and chocolate icing, you are wrong. If you are thinking they will be dense, moist, and chocolately, you are right! You can feel good about indulging in these babies! The only thing I changed from the original recipe was the type of oil used. He suggested macadamia nut oil and I had coconut oil on hand so I did not go buy a special expensive oil for only one recipe.

REAL FOOD BROWNIES

Serves: 9-12

1 ¼ cups pitted dates (about 10 oz)

9 Tbs cacao or cocoa powder, unsweetened

¼ cup coconut oil

½ cup agave nectar

2 cups canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained (about one 28oz can)

4 eggs

½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven 350

1. measure dates in a liquid measuring cup and pour in hot water to 1 ½ cup line, turning the dates over with your hands until the water reaches all the dates. Let sit for at least 10 minutes. Pour off 1/4cup of the liquid from the dates and process the rest in a blender or food processor until it forms a smooth paste.

2. Put the date paste into a large bowl and add the cocoa powder, oil and agave. Mix.

3. Combine the beans and eggs in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Add the garbanzo bean mixture to the date mixture, stirring well. Add the baking powder and cinnamon. Stir and pour into 8x8 pan.

4. Bake 40-45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes, cut and serve. Store remainder in refrigerator.