The Deliciously Ella Sweet Potato Brownies

I finally hopped on the bandwagon and tried the famous Deliciously Ella sweet potato brownies that everyone seems to rave about. Honest opinion? I wasn't obsessed with the flavor and texture of them, but these are almost completely added sweetener free and pretty darn healthy. That is the appeal of them though, right? Eating dessert without actually getting the bad side effects of it? I just think they taste a little more like a Luna bar then a brownie, but I'd make them again. That icing though... I'm planning on making just that and eating spoonfuls of it. It was AMAZINGGG. 

Sweet potatoes are the star of this recipe as they are the base of the brownie. Nothing like mixing some healthy starch and fiber into dessert right? This recipe also calls for almonds and coconut oil, so they're also a very good source of healthy fats. They're super simple to make and full of good for you ingredients... Read on for the recipe if you're willing to give them a try.

Ingredients:

• Brownies:
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 12 medjool dates
  • 6 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup ground almonds
  • 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup ground oats
  • 6 tbsp cacao powder
  • a pinch of salt
• Icing:
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp cacao powder

Directions:

1. Preheat the over to 350 degrees.
2. Peel and cut the sweet potatoes into chunks and steam them until they are soft. I believe you could also boil them in water until soft too if you'd like.
3. Place cooked sweet potato and pitted dates in a food processor together and blend until well mixed.
4. Mix remaining brownie ingredients in a bowl together and stir.
5. Next, pour the sweet potato/date combo into the bowl with the remaining brownie ingredients and mix well. 
6. Grease or line a brownie pan with parchment paper, and pour the brownie mix into the pan.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until you can pierce the brownies with a toothpick and it comes out dry.
8. Remove from the oven and let it sit for about 10-20 minutes - do not touch it! It is important for them to cool down before you cut them up.
9. To make the icing, simply put all the ingredients into a bowl and melt them in the microwave (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). Stir well and place in the fridge for about 15-20 minutes to harden it up a bit so you can spread it! 
10. Allow the brownies to cool before icing, otherwise it will melt fast! Or just eat the icing on it's own like I plan to do. :) 

Energy Balls

Energy balls. I'm not sure if that's what they're actually called usually, but I like to call them that because they're full of good for you ingredients that will boost your energy and hold you over until your next meal. They're the perfect pre-workout snack. They also take about 10 minutes to make max, and you can throw them in your purse for a quick snack during the day. 

Almond and cacao are what gives these their flavor. They're sweetened with dates too, so they won't spike your blood sugar. Only 5 easy ingredients and you're done. Feel free to throw in additional nuts or powders or anything you desire. That's what is so great about these - you don't need to stick to a specific recipe. Read on below to make them, and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almonds
• 2 cups medjool dates
• 2.5 tablespoons almond butter
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 4 tablespoons raw cacao powder

Directions:

• Put the almonds in a food processor and process until they are completely crushed up.
• Add the dates and the coconut oil to the food processor, and continue to pulse until its fully mixed.
• Lastly, add the almond butter and cacao to the food processor and continue to blend all ingredients together.
• Take about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Do this with the rest of the mixture until no more remains. 
• Place the balls in the freezer for about an hour. Remove them and store in the fridge in an air tight container. Enjoy!!!

*Adapted from Deliciously Ella