Chocolate oat fudge brownie with date caramel, cashew cream frosting

A simple treat with no added sugar, salt or oil, no baking, and just 6 ingredients.

Ingredients

2/3 cup packed soft, dried dates, pitted and chopped
1/2 cup and 1T unsweetened plant milk (I use soy)
2T cashew butter
3T cocoa powder (I used a fairly trade, Dutch process brand)
1 1/4 cup quick rolled oats, separated
1 cup water

Optional: A pinch salt or a tiny pinch red chili with the oats, or a little white miso with the cashew mixture will bring out the other flavours. You can use other nut butters, but cashew is naturally sweet. Add a little mashed banana to the oats for additional sweetener if you like. Quadruple the recipe for a 9″ x 13″ dish.

Method

Let the dates soak in the 1/2 cup plant milk for about 10 minutes while you make the oats. Warm the plant milk if you’re using a less powerful immersion blender.

In a small sauce pan with a lid, toast 1 cup oats on medium heat for 2 – 3 minutes until they are lightly toasted. Add the water, cover and simmer for 5 – 8 minutes (follow the instructions for your oats) until the water has been absorbed.

Remove from heat. Add the cocoa powder. Stir to combine. Add the remaining 1/4 cup oats. Puree until mostly smooth. Set aside to cool.

Add the cashew butter to the dates and plant milk. Puree smooth. Let rest 2 – 3 minutes. Puree again. Add about 2/3 mixture to the oats and stir to combine.

Press the oat mixture into a 3″ x 9″ glass baking dish. Add the remaining 1T plant milk to the cashew mixture and stir to combine.

Frost the pressed oats with remaining cashew mixture (it will be creamy but will thicken as it cools). Chill uncovered for 1 hour. Cover loosely. Chill over night to setup. Cut and serve when ready.