Since I read the book Eat to Live
(affiliate link) a couple of years ago, I have been intentionally cooking with wholesome ingredients using healthier cooking techniques. For the most part, the switch to cooking everyday savory dishes has been an easy one.
However, I can’t say the same thing about baking. I have been trying my hand in baking with alternative flours (spelt, brown rice, almond, buckwheat, etc.) and sugars (honey, dates, maple syrup, stevia, etc.) for over a year now and it has been a challenge, especially when it comes to creating my own recipes.
After many failed attempts, I finally decided that the only way to learn is by following other people’s recipes to a ‘T’ and then adjusting them to my personal preference. These dark chocolate and almond butter brownies with sea salt are a great example.
One cookbook that has been a tremendous resource on this subject is Amy Chaplin’s At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen
(affiliate link). As I wrote about it in Fresh Peach and Walnut Tart recipe’s post, this book is a great source for those, who are like me, new to healthier baking. Also it hasn’t come out yet, but I am looking forward to getting my hands on Alanna’s (of Bojon Gourmet) new cookbook, Alternative Baker (affiliate link), for the same reason. She has a wealth of information on this subject and everything I made from her site turned out really good.
The last time I made these brownies was last year during Christmas time and had all the intentions of sharing it in here on the blog, but for some reason I totally forgot about it. So the other day when I found a package of Valrhona chocolate in my pantry and saw that it was about to expire, I decided to make them for you.
About this Vegan Spelt Flour Almond Butter Brownies Recipe:
I do not mean to go all Ina Garten on you by saying that you should use the best quality chocolate and cocoa powder you can get your hands on. However the truth is, if you want these to turn out really good the quality of chocolate you use matters. Here, I do not mean to say that you should get the most expensive one. Instead, I recommend using a chocolate brand that you think tastes the best. I love Valrhona and their cocoa powder for baking. Our local Whole Foods sells them in smaller portions making it more affordable than buying a pound of chocolate of the same brand. For almost all my baking, including this recipe, I use their 70% baking chocolate.
In the recipe below, I have made a few changes to Amy’s original recipe. First, I switched olive oil with coconut oil, because I really like the combination of coconut oil-dark chocolate-almond butter. Second, instead of using maple sugar I used coconut sugar (Trader’s Joes’ coconut sugar is my favorite) as I didn’t have maple sugar on hand. I am letting you know these changes just in case if you prefer to use olive oil and maple sugar instead of coconut oil and coconut sugar. Both set of ingredients work well while tasting mildly different.
The hands on time for the recipe is no longer than 20 minutes and it bakes in 30 minutes or so. I know that it will be hard to wait, but do your best to let it cool down before slicing. Amy suggests placing it in the fridge after it comes down to room temperature. Embarrassingly, I couldn’t wait that long but it still turned out amazing. The combination of almond butter, chocolate and sea salt is truly out of this world.
Dark Chocolate and Almond Butter Brownies with Sea Salt
Ingredients
- ½ cup Medjool dates pitted
- 1 ½ cups whole spelt flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder I used aluminum free baking powder
- 1/3 cup almond butter at room temperature
- ¾ cup coconut oil melted and cooled – at room temperature
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar OR organic Cane sugar
- 1/3 cup almond milk
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ ounces (100 grams) 70% dark chocolate, chopped and divided
- ½ cup toasted almonds chopped
- ¼ teaspoon fleur de sel or Maldon Salt
Instructions
- Place the dates into a bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let them soak for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9X13 sheet pan with parchment paper and spray it with non-stick spray.
- Sift the spelt flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder into a large bowl.
- Place the dates, almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar, almond milk, salt, and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Process until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the wet mixture over the sifted dry ingredients. Gently stir until combined. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the chopped chocolate and fold the rest into the batter.
- Pour the batter into the sheet pan. Using the back of a spatula distribute it evenly throughout the pan.
- Sprinkle it with the reserved chocolate pieces, almonds, and fleur de sel.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Let it cool for 45 minutes, slice, and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe adapted (with changes) from Amy Chaplin’s cookbook At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen.
Chai
It was very good!
Aysegul Sanford
Thanks Chai.
Meryl
Hi! I just made this and they’re super good, but mine turned out crumbly. I wonder what I did wrong? Thanks!
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Meryl,
How crumbly? I wonder if you baked it long enough…
It is a very moist cake, but it shouldn’t be too crumbly.
Still, I am glad to hear that it was tasty.
Cheers!
Brenda Niem
Hi Aysegul! I love this recipe and have made Amy Chaplin’s version before. The coconut oil does add an addictive aroma to the outcome. However, it looks like your recipe only calls for 1/3 c almond milk, whereas Amy’s recipe calls for 3/4 c plus 2 Tbsp. I think with less milk, the outcome is drier and crumbles more. Was the reduction of the almond milk intentional on your part?
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Brenda,
This recipe is a favorite in our home. And you are right, the coconut oil combined with almond butter adds a really nice aroma.
I just looked at the recipe and it said that it is 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of almond milk. I changed that to 1/3 cup to make it easy for the recipe follower. I have made this recipe from my own blog more than 10 times and it always came out good. So you should be fine if you go with 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk.
I hope this helps. I am always here if I can help in any other way.
Cheers!
Sarmishta
So, that was quick. I just commented and then couldn’t help but go into the kitchen and whip this up! It’s delicious! And I love that it’s so easy and unfussy to make. I’ve never baked brownies with spelt flour, but this was amazing.
Aysegul Sanford
I know, right? So easy to make it. I have a few more recipes coming using spelt flour. I love its earthy tones so much. 🙂
So glad to hear that you liked it. 🙂
Sarmishta
This looks heavenly! I can’t wait to bake it.
Hiromi
Hello, would it be possible to use buckwheat flour instead of the spelt flour? Thank you!
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Hiromi,
To be quite honest, I do not know the answer because I have never tried this recipe with spelt flour. So it is hard for me to tell you that it would work 100%. However, in the past I have used buckwheat flour in place of spelt flour.It was much less than the amount used here, but it worked.
Kindly let me know if you do try. I’d love to know.
Thank you for stopping by.
Cindy
Where are the dates used?
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Cindy,
They go into the food processor along with the almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, coconut sugar, almond milk, salt, and vanilla extract. It is a part of the wet ingredients.
I hope this helps.
Lili @ Travelling oven
These photos are beautiful Aysegul! And brownies are made with all the lovely ingredients I use in my recipes and love so much, definitely have to make these soon! P.S. I also can’t wait for Alanna’s cookbook, I have a slight feeling it will be amazing! 😉
Aysegul Sanford
I know.. I can’t wait for that book either. 🙂
These brownies are pretty awesome. Baking without sugar and AP flour is a working progress, but recipes like this make it all worth it.
Thanks for your kind words Lili. Hope all is well from your end. <3
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen
I think I need these brownies in my life ASAP. I love that gif of you cutting them and I kept secretly hoping you were going to next offer one to me through the screen! I’m going to have to look for that chocolate brand at Whole Foods to give it a try! (Ps. You reaaaaally have no idea just how much you’re gonna love Alt. Baker!)
Aysegul Sanford
You will love Valrhona Sarah. I wish I could give you a slice.
I-CAN’T-WAIT-FOR-ALT BAKER!! 🙂
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four
Oh I wish I could just reach into my screen and grab one of these! I can’t believe they’re wholesome too! They look so fudgey and perfect <3 Also, you’re totally right about using quality chocolate…I love Valrhona too, and also get mine from WF. 🙂 Beautiful job, Aysegul! You’ve got me positively drooling.
Aysegul Sanford
You are so sweet Beeta. Thank you! It only proves me that I am on the right track with my baking when a pro-baker, like you thinks that I am using good quality chocolate. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my dear friend.
Emily | Gather & Dine
I’ve made Amy’s version and yes, they are so good! I bet your coconut oil version is fantastic too. Although I loved the maple sugar, it was a bit expensive so I’ll try your coconut sugar idea next time. Pictures are so so tempting- makes me want to whip up a batch right now. 🙂
Aysegul Sanford
I know, right? I hate that maple sugar is so expensive. A friend from Vancouver gifted me with a package a while back. I remember how much I loved it. Though I think coconut sugar is still a really good substitute, especially in this recipe after it is paired with coconut oil.
Thanks for your sweet words my friend. 🙂
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire
These brownies sound incredible. I love the combination of flavors. I am saving this recipe for my daughter’s lunch box!
Aysegul Sanford
Yes.. If she is a chocolate lover, she will love these. :))
Thanks for stopping by my friend.