Keto Avocado Brownies

Ali Miller, RD, LD, CDE, author of The Anti-Anxiety Diet an The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook • October 1, 2019

These dense, chewy brownies are a great example of a real food keto recipe. Using almond flour and avocados as the foundation, they provide healthy fats and fiber to support satiety, brain health, and blood sugar balance, as well as B vitamins to boost neurotransmitter production. The jammy date paste aids in hydrating and sweetening the brownies while providing a nice rich mouth-feel.

These brownies are a great way to restore micronutrient deficiency, providing rich, mood-stabilizing minerals, fats, and antioxidants to promote cellular health. In my household, we add fresh-cut fruit like berries, and whipped coconut milk on top for guests who need a bit more sweetness, but they stand on their own just fine.

Makes: 12 (2 x 1-inch) brownies
4 dates, pitted
⅛ c warm water
½ c mashed avocados (about 1½ medium avocados)
1 egg
2 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp almond extract
½ c cacao powder
1/3 c almond flour
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp sea salt
¼ c coconut oil, melted
¼ c ghee or coconut butter, melted
⅛ c cashew butter
2 oz 80% cacao chocolate bar, coarsely chopped
¼ c nuts like pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the dates in a small bowl with the warm water and soak for at least 30 minutes, longer if dates are dense and dry, to soften to a squishy texture.
3. Once they are softened, pulse the dates with the soak water using a food
processor with an “s” blade until a paste forms.
4. Add the avocado and blend until combined.
5. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg with the additional 2 yolks. Add the vanilla and almond extracts to the egg mixture, then add the egg mixture to the ingredients in the food processor. Wait to blend.
6. In a separate bowl, combine the cacao powder, almond flour, baking soda and sea salt.
7. Add the dry ingredients to the food processor with the egg mixture and avocado-date blend, and blend for about 30 seconds.
8. In a small bowl, use a whisk to mix together the melted coconut oil, ghee and cashew butter. Pour the melted mixture (make sure it is warm, not hot) into the food processor and blend all of the ingredients for about 15 seconds.
9. Spread the brownie mixture into a greased 8 x 8-inch pan.
10. Sprinkle the brownies with chocolate chunks and nuts, if using, and bake in the oven in the middle rack for about 20 minutes, checking at 18 minutes and completing baking when corners pull from edges of pan and a cake tester comes out clean.
11. Allow to cool completely, then cut into 12 pieces.
12. Store for up to 1 week in an airtight glass container at room temperature or in the fridge for a denser, fudge brownie.

Nutrition facts per brownie
Calories: 204 | Carbohydrates: 12g | Fiber: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g

Ali Miller is a registered dietitian (RD), certified diabetes educator (CDE), certified weight management specialist, therapeutic lifestyle healthcare practitioner, and author of The Anti-Anxiety Diet, The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook and Naturally Nourished Cookbook. Ali developed her Food-As-Medicine approach to disease management through her background in natural food preparation and degree in Nutritional Sciences from Bastyr University. The diverse medical rotations available in the Houston Medical Center drew Ali to Texas, where she implemented clinical treatment plans provided in some of the top hospitals in the country. Ali has combined the strengths of both naturopathic and allopathic fields, practicing functional medicine that is guided by nature, yet grounded in clinical scientific discovery. For more information go to www.alimillerRD.com .

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