Chocolate and cherries...is there a better combo?!? These two were made for each other. The sweet and tart flavor with the bitter cocoa and together somehow they turn into an aromatic... decadant....delite!
The past two weeks were the height of cherry season here in Michigan and me and my kids decided to head out one day to a favorite local picking spot and somehow managed to get 30 pounds in about 30 minutes. The picking was easy and they were just falling off the branches. The kids loved the experience and it has become a annual summer tradition now.
It's also a great experience for your mind-body-soul connection to seeing where your food grows, smelling and taking in the beauty of cherries and then enjoying them while nourishing your body with their antioxidants and vitamins. We put half of the picking in the freezer to enjoy over the winter months and the rest we all devoured by just eating fresh and then these brownies also made an appearance. It's cherries for days when they are fresh and wonderful...
{gluten, dairy, soy, egg, nut, seed-free, VEGAN}
1 cup of date puree paste*
1/2 cup of coconut sugar
1/3 cup of maple syrup
1/3 cup of coconut milk beverage
2 TB of apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup of avocado oil (or melted coconut oil)
1 cup of chocolate chips (ENJOY LIFE)
1/2 cup of cacao powder
1 cup of GF oat flour
1/3 cup of white rice flour
1/3 cup of tapioca flour
1/3 cup of potato starch
1 ts. of baking powder
1 ts. of baking soda
1 ts. of sea salt
1 ts. of pure vanilla (or sub in amaretto or almond flavor too)
1 - 1 1/2 cups of fresh chopped and pitted cherries (you can use frozen too)
*First make a batch of date puree by letting 1 cup of dates saok in 1 cup of boiling water and then blending in a high powered blender to make a puree paste. You can do this in any amounts of equal dates to equal parts water. I usuaally make a 4 cup to 8 cup batch and have it in jars in the fridge ready to use in recipes or in smoothies :)
Pour in the fresh chopped cherries last and save 1/2 cup of the cherries to sprinkle on the top after you spread in the pan right before you bake.
Then in a parchment covered 9 x13 pan pour in the batter and spread evenly. Sprinkle a few more chopped cherries and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes depending on your oven.
Pull from the oven and let cool completely before dusting with some organic powdered sugar.
Pull from the oven and let cool completely before dusting with some organic powdered sugar.
Cut squares and it's easy to serve and share these sweet treats!
These brownies can be made without the cherries, or you can add in other fruit if you decide. But truly do not underestimate the power of the choclate cherry combo. It is perfect in every way.
Hope you are enjoying summer and all it's gifts and treasures. Much love and light xoxo
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