Naturally Nutty Brownie

Brownies in a casserole dish — Naturally Nutty Brownie

Indulge guilt-free in these delectable vegan brownies! Each decadent square is a harmonious blend of rich carob and velvety texture, boasting a moistness that rivals traditional brownies. Crafted with plant-based ingredients, they're a celebration of flavor. With a fudge center that melts in your mouth and a delicate, slightly crisp exterior, these brownies redefine the meaning of "irresistible". Whether you're a dedicated vegan or simply seeking a sumptuous treat, these brownies are sure to satisfy your sweet cravings while leaving a lasting impression of pure indulgence, full of nuts in every bite.

What is Carob? It is a fruit, in pods that hang from a tree found in the Mediterranean area, southeastern Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It is also referred to as the Locust bean or Locust gum - the same locust that John the Baptist ate in the wilderness . Read Matthew 3:4 and Mark 1:6. Everyone assumes that John ate locusts, the insect. Well, it was actually a fruit; from a towering tree reaching up to 50 feet in height and from which one (1) ounce has the dietary fiber needed for the day. The carob, or locust, has a complex, rich, chocolatey flavor, considered in African cuisine as the best-kept secret in many dishes. {Images from https://www.nexira.com/introduction-to-carob-tree-and-locust-bean-gum/}

Servings: 12

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Cook Time: 35 Minutes

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Equipment Needed: Measuring Utensils, Baking Pan, Large Bowl, Large Spoon

Ingredients:

Dry ~

2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Unbleached Flour

1/2 Cup Cane Sugar

1/2 Cup Carob Chips

1/2 Cup Carob Powder

1 Cup Walnuts OR Pecans OR a mixture of Walnuts & Pecans, chopped

1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt OR Pink Himalayan Salt

1 -1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder (aluminum-free)

Vegetable Spray, as needed to coat OR Vegetable Oil

Wet ~

1 Cup Vegetable Oil

1 Cup Maple Syrup

1- 1 /2 Tablespoon Vanilla Flavor (alcohol-free)

Spoon, Measuring Utensils, Bowl, Casserole Dish — Collect all the items that you will need.

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients.

Carob pods hang from a Carob Tree. bean pods are harvested when brown and dry. The hard seeds are removed and the pods can be ground into a powder, resulting in carob powder that tastes similar to chocolate. — Carob Powder has more calcium and fiber than Cacao or Cocoa which makes it healthier. Also, the Cocoa plant naturally has caffeine.

Tip: I actually broke the Walnut pieces by hand, but you can use your handy food processor to save time.

Carob Chips require processing. — Carob Powder and Carob Chips

Cacao, Cocoa, Chocolate ~ what is the difference? Chocolate is high in sugar AND high in fat. Dark chocolate contains cadmium and lead, two heavy metals which can lead to health problems. Cacao is a raw ingredient, while cocoa has been heated. Also, cacao and cocoa are also bitter in taste naturally, which is why many people choose chocolate instead. For more information, CLICK HERE.

2. Add all wet ingredients.

Be sure the scrape the sides of the bowl. — Just looking at this is making mouth water! It may not look like much right now, but just wait 30 minutes...

Tip: Make sure that ALL the dry ingredients have been incorporated into the wet ingredients- scrape off the sides to verify. (NEVER eat batter. Why? According to the CDC: "Flour doesn’t look like a raw food, but most flour is raw. That means it hasn’t been treated to kill germs that cause food poisoning, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella. These harmful germs can contaminate grain while it’s still in the field or flour while it’s being made. Steps like grinding grain and bleaching flour don’t kill harmful germs—and these germs can end up in flour or baking mixes you buy at the store. You can get sick if you eat unbaked dough or batter made with flour containing germs. Germs are killed only when flour is baked or cooked."

3. Spray the Casserole Dish with Vegetable Spray and spread the Brownie ingredients in a 9"x12" pan.