Hazelnut Chocolate Raw Brownies
There are a ton of raw brownies recipes on the net that are walnut and date based. I have avoided these recipes thinking that they can’t possibly be that good. I like dates, but in small quantities. So a recipe that was pretty much dates and nuts didn’t interest me at all. All of that changed today. I am eating my words and my brownies!

I had quite a large surplus of dates left over from making some nut crusts for the new 2011 Rawmazing Calendar. Thinking now is as good of a time as any create a raw date brownie, hazelnuts were the nuts of choice for me. The thought of a “Nutella” brownie with a splash of cinnamon was an exciting proposition!
I am happy to report that the brownies turned out great. Super easy and quick to make with a wonderful hazelnut-chocolate flavor dusted with just a hint of cinnamon. This recipe will please raw and non-raw alike. They are simply that good!
Hazelnut Chocolate Raw Brownies
Brownies
- 1 1/2 cup hazelnuts
- 1/2 cup raw cacao powder
- 1/3 cup dried, unsweetened coconut
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
- 2 cups dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
- 1 or more tablespoons of water, if needed
- In food processor, blend hazelnuts, cacao, coconut and cinnamon until finely ground.
- Add dates, 1/4 cup at a time, processing after addition until well blended. Add optional vanilla and process until combined.
- Press mixture in an 8 x 8 pan, top with topping and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Cut into small squares.
Topping
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts
- 1/4 cup dried, unsweetened coconut
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil, melted
- Pulse all in food processor until coarsely chopped.
Rose wrote on January 8, 2018
I’ve never worked with hazelnuts before…are you supposed to.shell them first?
Susan wrote on March 15, 2018
I didn’t for this recipe. Cheers!
Susanne Arena wrote on October 27, 2014
I was slightly disappointed with these they were very oily and I had to remove quite a bit of oil, maybe I overprocessed them. They were like a cookie dough in the end, if I e made them again I would not process them so much, definitely not finely ground and omit the coconut or just use 1 tablespoon of it. I added a lovely ganache (raw of course) and that kind of saved from being just a n oily dough. Flavour was good though, cinnamon a nice touch. Thanks 🙂
Susan wrote on October 28, 2014
Hi, Susanne, You hit the nail on the head with your over-processed comment. When you are working with nuts like this, if you over-process them you will start to get nut butter which explains the oily component.
Cheers!
Debbie wrote on November 24, 2012
Made these on Thanksgiving for my son’s girlfriend who is a raw vegan. Came out perfect the first try! Very easy to make and liked by everyone. Thanks for the recipe, I wanted to do something nice for her and these were a big hit.
Bonnie wrote on August 22, 2012
I followed the recipe but mine came out very crumbly;not moist at all. What did I do wrong? I could not cut it. I will use it as a topping as the flavor is very good.
Susan wrote on August 23, 2012
If your dates are very dry and not moist, you may need to use a tablespoon of water, or two. (see recipe) Cheers!