I am so sorry for skipping out on you this past week guys.

I know, I know I have been totally MIA and I am so, so sorry about it.

Like big time sorry.

I started out having some technical issues with my laptop, then came the sickness, and more technical difficulties, now our internet isn’t working properly, and did I mention the sickness?!

Ugh anyways . . . forgive me?

I come baring chocolate  . . .

In the form of brownies . . .

but not just any brownies, no siree’

Today, sweet invisible internet friend of mine – just for you, I am busting out the big guns

Super fudgey, secretly healthy, no bake, berrylicious brownies that are not only insanely (and I mean insanely) delicious but, they also happen to be a decadent and rich, dark and delicious, nutritional little powerhouse!

You see while I was away I had my first taste of the goodness that is the goji berry!

Oh my word you guys . . . These babies are delicious! Do you know?! Have you tired them? Do you love them? Did we just become best friends?! 😉

Honestly, I had no idea how good they were. I thought they were a bit of an over-rated fad but, one taste and I am hooked! Line and sinker baby!

Not only do they pack a nutritional punch, they really are seriously delish!

I love how they somehow manage to be just subtly sweet. Not tart or over-bearing in the slightest. Just perfectly, subtly sweet.

Safe to say I am head over heels in love, the fact that they also happen to be super, super good for you is just a delicious little bonus.

Did you know that research has shown that goji berries not only contain natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial compounds but they also contain all of the essential amino acids.

They also happen to be loaded with vitamin C, containing more carotenoids than any other food.

Not only that but, our pretty little goji berries also happen to be high in fibre, calcium, zinc, selenium and iron – research shows they contain 15 times the amount of iron found in spinach!

And did you know they also happen to be high in protein? Goji berries have the highest concentration of protein of any other fruit!

Well you do now!!!

Superfood say whaaattttt?!

So, these brownies . . . totally a health food and you need them in your life like, yesterday but . . . my silly laptop and internet wouldn’t let me share them with you . . . ugh annoying . . . anyways luckily these brownies come together in a matter of minutes, no baking required!

Simply throw your ingredients into your trusty ol’ food processor or blender and let it do the work for you, once your brownie batter is good and blended, pop it into a dish of some kind, smooth it all around, nice and even like then whack em’ in the freezer to set – boomshakalocka, done!

Not only are these tasty little brownies quick and easy to prepare but, they also happen to be all natural, made with just a handful of simple, healthy, real food ingredients that I bet you have on hand already.

They are sweetened naturally with a splash of vanilla and those sweet, juicy medjool dates. The trick to getting these brownies super fudgey is to soak our dates in a little hot water for a few minutes before blending. This helps re-hydrate them and makes for a seriously fudgey little treat.

So, not only are our brownies super fudgey but, they also happen to have an amazing contrast in texture – you get a nice little, melt in your mouth, crunch from those dark and delicious, antioxidant rich chocolate chips but, it doesn’t stop there because you also get a crisp, buttery crunch thanks to our hazelnut, almond base.

FYI – those buttery, sweet little hazelnuts give our brownies a divine little hint of nutella-like deliciousness. You’re welcome

Last but not least we get a subtly sweet, burst of chewy, berrylicious deliciousness from those divine little goji berries. Love, love, love!!!!

Oh and I forgot to mention that not only are these delicious little brownies secretly healthy and insanely delicious but, they also happen to be both vegan and paleo friendly! You could totally make them dairy free too depending on the kinds of chocolate chips you use. Everybody wins!!!

Gah seriously so good you guys, I could easily sit here and eat them talk to you about them all day long! But, I better go before my computer dies on me (again) and I lose my active window of functional internet time (again) #firstworldproblems

But you guys . . . these brownies . . .

All natural, secretly healthy, fudgey, rich, dark and delicious, brownies that are choc full of choc chips and bursting with goji berry goodness – A nutritional little powerhouse, no baking required!

No need to pre-heat that oven or risk burning your pretty little mouth because you can’t wait for those brownies to cool before you inhale sample them ← we’ve all been there right?! And we never learn. Ever. And when I say you I mean me . . . oh me?!

Anyways, please, please go make these brownies already!

Make them. Eat them. Love, love, love them

Healthy, No-Bake Berry-nice Brownies 
{Vegan, Dairy Free & Paleo Friendly}
Makes approx 24 secretly healthy, decadent, rich, super fudgey, bites size berrylicious brownies

Ingredients –

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup raw, skinless hazelnuts

3/4 cup pitted dates, about 6 – I used medjool

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 Tablespoons of cacao

1 teaspoon of instant espresso

1 Tablespoon of dark chocolate chips, roughly chopped

3 Tablespoon of Goji berries, roughly chopped

A pinch of salt

Method –

1 – Place your dates in a small bowl or jug and pour over just enough boiling water so they are completely submerged. Set aside for while you get your food processor out and gather up the rest of your ingredients.

2 – Place your almonds and hazelnuts into your food processor and pulse until crumbly, you want there to still be a few bigger chunks to give your brownies some contrast in texture.

3 – Drain your dates then add them to your almond/hazelnut mix along with vanilla, cocoa powder, instant espresso and salt process until combined and a nice sticky dough forms.

4 – Add your chocolate chips and 3/4 of your goji berries and pulse again until just combined.

5 – Transfer your brownie batter into a rimmed baking dish (I used my trusty old loaf pan) and spread evenly, firmly pressing down as you go. Sprinkle over your remaining goji berries and continue to press/smooth out to the edges, pressing firmly as you go. because the batter is quite sticky I found it helpful to place a piece of non-stick/baking/parchment paper over the dough and smooth it out that way. You could also place another pan/baking dish of the same size on top and firmly press down.

6 – Place in the freezer for approx 20 mins to set. Once your brownies are set, remove from the baking dish and slice into delicious rich, super chocolatey, berrylicious bites size pieces.

7 – Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer

Get on it!

Enjoy xo
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Question of the day –

Are you a goji berry lover too? What’s your fave way to enjoy them?

Feel free to share recipes or links to your fave recipes either in the comments below, on the Facebook page or tag me on twitter or Instagram – sharing is caring people 🙂 ♥

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