Surprise Chocolate Brownies

These delicious and healthy brownies are made with dates, banana, and wholewheat flour. They are vegan and can be frozen for later.

Ingredients:

• 225g dates
• 60g wholemeal flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 100g vegan margarine
• 1 very ripe banana
• 75g pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Prep time: 26 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Vegan: Yes

Freezable: Yes

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.
2. Place the dates in a medium saucepan with just enough water to cover them. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until soft.
3. Once the dates have cooked, drain off the hot water, and run them under a cold tap to cool.
4. Purée the dates.
5. In a small mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder.
6. In a medium mixing bowl, using a fork, cream together the dates and the margarine until light and fluffy.
7. Stir the sifted flour, baking powder and cocoa powder into the date and margarine mixture.
8. Add the banana, nuts (optional) and vanilla essence.
9. Lightly oil a baking dish, then evenly spread the mixture into it, smoothing the top with a spoon.
10. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the brownies start to come away from the sides of the dish.
11. Allow to cool in the pan, cut and serve.

Top tip: If using a metal baking dish, also line with greaseproof paper to prevent burning!