Sweet Potato & Coconut Brownies

Ingredients:

• 2 medium to large sweet potatoes
• 1/3 ground almonds
•  2/3 cup of oat flour
• 1/3 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut
• 14 pitted dates
• 4 tbsp. of raw cacao
• 3 tbsp. of Organic Raw Honey.
• Pinch of salt.

Directions:

1. Peel and dice the sweet potato – steam them until they’re easy to ‘mush’ out.

2. While the sweet potatoes are steaming, combine ground almonds, oat flour, desiccated coconut, raw cacao and salt – transfer to a big bowl.

3. Place the 14 dates in a food processors and grind until they reach a smoother consistency.

4. When the sweet potatoes have reached the right consistency transfer them to the food processors and process until smooth (I like to keep the consistency a bit chunky though).

5. Combine the sweet potato and dates and mix together. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and also add the honey. Mix together – possibly using the hands.

6. Line a baking tray and firmly press the mixture together in the tray.

7. Place in a pre-heated 180 degree (fan-forced) oven for about 10-15 minutes. Pierce through with a fork to check when the brownies are done.

8. Remove from oven and let the brownies cool for about 20-25 minutes until the brownies are ‘firm.’

9. ENJOY!

Health Benefits:

I believe, no matter how healthy you are, you will always crave something sweet at one point – a lot of people don’t know how simple and easy it is to create a nutritious and naturally sweet dessert or cake without the additives, nasty’s and loads of sugars that you will consume if you buy a brownie or muffin from the café.

Being healthy and eating unprocessed foods is not about denying yourself what you can’t eat, but finding alternatives and healthier options to this. Too many people focus on what they cannot eat instead of seeing all the fantastic options they have of what they can eat that will nurture their body from inside out.

With these brownies, you get the sweetness from the sweet potatoes, the coconut and the honey. Sweet potatoes are incredible: Each cup contains an amazing amount of vitamin A, with more than four times your daily need of this antioxidant boosting vitamin, which is essential for strengthening your body’s immunity against infection. Sweet potatoes have been shown to reduce inflammation on the brain and nerve tissue, as they are incredibly antioxidant rich. Each serving also contains lots of wonderful fiber, which gives each brownie a ‘slow burning’ quality, meaning their energy is used up much more slowly than low-fiber carbohydrates – like normal brownies, so you’ll feel fuller and satisfied for longer than if you were to choose a sugary and refined muffin. Raw cacao is also a super food and a rich source of antioxidants, one of the best in the world.