Low-Sugar Date Brownies

Ingredients

• 1 cup pitted Deglet Noor dates
• 1 cup hot water
• 0.5 cups unsalted butter , softened
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 0.33 cups whole wheat flour
• 0.33 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.25 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 cups bittersweet chocolate chips , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Soak dates in hot water in a small bowl for 10 to 15 minutes.

2. 2

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving enough paper to hang over the sides of the dish.

3. 3

   Drain dates; transfer to a food processor. Pulse until completely smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. If too thick, pulse in hot water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until completely puréed.

4. 4

   Add softened butter to the food processor; pulse to combine, about 30 seconds. Add eggs and vanilla extract; process until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; pulse until just combined, about 30 seconds. Gently stir in chocolate chips by hand. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until edges just begin to set, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the dish for 10 minutes, then remove from dish by gently lifting up overhanging edges of parchment paper. Cool completely on a cooling rack. Cut into 16 pieces.