“Mmmmmm… they totally taste like Eatmore Bars!!” said my hubby, and the name was born. Healthy ‘Eatmore’ Fudge Squares, because that describes them perfectly. A chewy, yet crunchy, sweet, chocolaty bottom, topped with a rich, fudgey (is that a word?!), decadent, chocolaty layer, cut into a perfect little four bite square. YUM.
This recipe is a perfect ‘I-need-a-little-treat-but-don’t-want-to-actually-have-a-bad-treat’ treat! The squares are made with minimal ingredients, all natural and all good for you; nuts, unsweetened cocoa powder, dates, pure raw honey, almond butter, and banana. That’s it, that’s all – no flour, no refined sugars, no chemicals, no additives, no CRAP! Just good whole food to put you in a really good mood! 🙂
I made these squares in about 15 minutes flat, after letting the dates soak for about half an hour (this step is optional but makes the bottom layer come together easier), and then popped the tray in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
I still have some hanging out in the freezer, even though I made this batch a couple weeks ago, and they still taste as good as they did the day I made them – they don’t actually freeze solid, they stay nice and firm, but easy to bite into, and soften up in about a minute at room temperature.
The only drawback of these squares, is that at room temperature for too long they will melt and become a bit of a mess – so keeping them chilled is the key!
The hubby ate about 6 the night I made them, so be careful, they are really tasty, and although made with whole, unprocessed ingredients, they still do have about 140 calories a pop! Keep moderation in mind and enjoy one or two at a time 🙂
It’s so awesome to know that healthy desserts CAN be made, and enjoyed, and still taste amazing. I love seeing healthy alternatives to typical unhealthy dessert ingredients!
No more do cakes, cupcakes, brownies, pies, and squares need to be made with white sugar or white flour, shortening, or other processed garbage!!! The internet has a plethora of healthy baking alternatives… so no excuses!!
Ok, I will step off my pedestal… so you can go make these!!
- 1 cup pitted dates
- ½ cup almonds, unsalted
- ½ cup walnuts, unsalted
- ¼ cup + ¼ cup raw cocao powder
- 2 ripe bananas
- 4 tbsp natural almond butter
- 4 tbsp unpasteurized honey
- Put dates in a bowl with warm water, allow dates to soak for 30 minutes, then drain.
- Mix together dates, almonds, walnuts, and ¼ cup cocao powder in a food processor until well blended.
- Spread mixture in a 9x5 baking pan until evenly distributed, and press down gently with a spoon.
- Mix together bananas, almond butter, honey, and other ¼ cup cocao powder in the food processor until well blended.
- Spread mixture over bottom layer until evenly distributed.
- Place in freezer for 30 minutes.
- Cut into 16 squares. Re-freeze whatever you don’t eat and enjoy at another time!
Christal, I have been wanting to make these for awhile, finally did, and wow! SO tasty! Thanks, I will be trying more and more of your recipes. You have a great blog, keep it up.
So glad you gave them a try Justin! Thanks for stopping by the blog 🙂 I promise you won’t be disappointed with the other recipes!!
OK so these have only just gone into the freezer but already I know they are going to be awesome (after licking spoon of topping!) I am training for the London Marathon and live on bananas, peanut butter and dried fruit for energy so these are right up my street. I ran out of dates so topped up with some dried cranberries. I also used 2 tbls honey and 2 agave and used peanut butter in the topping. I reckon some sour cherries would be yummy too! Fingers crossed they work out!
Wow Lou! Those changes sound delicious!!! 🙂 I will have to try them with my next batch!
I’ve been following your blog for a few weeks now, after a friend shared the healthy eat-more fudge square link. Discovering your blog came at a perfect time as my husband and I decided to be even more deliberate about eating clean and to make a huge change and go sugar free. The fudge squares have made the transition so easy as we have had a piece each night for the past 8 nights. My husband says this is teh best dessert I have ever made! Don’t know what we are going to do tomorrow! Probably make one of your other fabulous recipes! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks so much Deb! I’m so happy you and your husband have been able to work on making the transition to healthier eating with the help of my blog! Let me know what else you decide to try! I think you’d love the energy bars too – they are naturally sweet and a great healthy snack to have during the day when you get a little craving for something sugary!
Thank you! I made it this evening and it was great! Our church is doing a Daniel Fast and everything was ok to use but the honey but I substituted it with agave. Thank you for posting!
That’s wonderful Kathy! I’m glad it was a hit! Agave is a great idea as a sub for the honey!
I can’t wait to try these out! My hubby and kids aren’t big banana fans and can suspect even the slightest bit, so I think I’ll try 1 banana with the flax seed eggs and see how that goes. Thank you so much for the recipe and ideas!!!!!!!!!
Can you taste the bananas in the finished product? I’m not a banana fan, though I’m very much a fan of your general concept! If the banana taste does come through, what might be a good substitute? I have all-natural homemade apple and pear butters on hand. All natural peanut butter? Obviously the fat and calorie counts would go up, but I don’t mind, as long as processed sugar and gluten are kept out.
Hey Michele, Yes the banana taste does come through a bit, however… in the second batch I made, I used only one banana and then I put about half a cup of plain yogurt and a tsp of vanilla extract in the mix. I couldn’t taste any banana in those, the only thing is that the fudge portion doesn’t stay as soft in the freezer, its a little more frozen almost like a fudgesicle consistency, but not too frozen that you can’t bite into it!
My book club loved these, and I’m sure they’ll be a big hit with holiday company as well. Thanks so much for the original recipe and the decreased banana modification suggestions!
I am very happy to hear that!! 🙂 No problem!
Ok, these are Ah-ma-zing!!!! I haven’t had a yummy, decadent, or brownie like treat in a really, really long time. This recipe is just heaven in my mouth! LOVE!!! Thanks for sharing. xox
-Tickled In Love
Thanks Michelle! 🙂
Christal, I’ve looked high and low for a 9″x5″ baking pan. I cannot find one in any store, even Bed, Bath and Beyond. I have a 9″x13″, a 9″x11″, and an 8″x8″. I’ve seen 9″x5″ loaf pans. Where does one buy a 9″x5″ baking pan? ARGH!
You can use 8×8 for this one! That was my bad! Oops!
Oh dang, I just saw your post. OK, next time I’ll try 8×8. Thanks, Christal.
Yes, because you used the 9×5 the mixture will be a lot thicker and will take longer to freeze through, but it will soon enough! 🙂 Try them in the morning when it’s hardened enough!
So I tried making them in a 9×5 loaf pan. Been in the freezer for about 40 minutes, but the top part is still very liquidy. And I think I maybe didn’t flatten out the bottom part enough. Should I leave it in the freezer a lot longer? Your photos show the top smooth part to be quite stable.
Yes you can actually store these in the freezer! 🙂 Don’t cut until the top is nice and firm!
I’ve just made these and oh my god! They are incredible! I’m always looking out for sweet paleo treats.
The topping would make a perfect cake filling as well.
Thank you thank you thank you.
Hi!! I’m glad you love them! They would! I’m already trying to think of different ways to alter this recipe to make more amazing treats! 🙂
Delicious! My daughter has a nut allergy, do you think I could do it with regular butter and without the nuts?
Unfortunately I just don’t think the recipe would turn out that way 🙁 The nuts are a key component to the base, and the nut butter to the top layer… I’m trying to think of what could be a workable substitute.. Hmmm! Let me think on that one!