Nutty Chocolate Orange Fridge Brownies (VG) from The Fast 800 Treats Recipe Book

By Erin Brown
Related Categories: Cookbook Confidential

“Sweetened by fruit and packed with fibre and protein, these super-healthy, orange-flavoured bars might become a favourite. They are ideal in a lunch box, good enjoyed with a coffee or great as a dessert with a spoonful of Greek yoghurt. And you don’t even need to turn the oven on.” Dr Clare Bailey, co-author of The Fast 800 Treats Recipe Book

Makes 9

100g pecan nuts

100g ground almonds

50g unsweetened cocoa powder

100g soft pitted dates

4 tbsp coconut oil

1 large ripe banana (or 2 small), peeled and mashed

Zest of 1 orange

Line a 18cm square tin with non-stick baking paper.

Place the pecan nuts, ground almonds, cocoa powder, dates, coconut oil, mashed banana and three quarters of the orange zest in the bowl of an electric mixer, and whiz until smooth but retaining a bit of texture.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared tin and flatten with a spatula until tightly packed.

Scatter the remaining orange zest over the surface of the brownies, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting into 9 squares.

Cook’s tip

Along with the orange zest, scatter some extra pecan nuts on top of the brownies and press them firmly into the mixture for decoration if you wish.

These brownies will keep in the fridge for 3–4 days.